Page 195 of We Shouldn't Be Together
“You’re arguing with me.” Mom huffs. “At this meeting, I want you to sit there politely and not make a sound.”
“You don’t want me to talk? Then what’s the point of going?”
“Being there is the point. I want these women to see you as a lovely young lady.”
“Well, Camila and Yvette won’t be there, so I’ll probably have no compulsion to open my mouth.”
“Oh, yes. The Andersens think they’re too good to organize an event. They just like to show up and be seen. And the Garcias.Oof. That’s some drama.”
I wave it off. “I don’t want to talk about them.”
Mom smiles at me. “Good call.”
Mom drops me off in front of the studio. She wishes me luck, only after making a snarky remark about not all the tuition fees going to waste.Sheesh. And she calls me the brat.
Once out on the sidewalk, it takes all my willpower to actually go inside. I’ve never walked into the dance studio without following directly behind Camila.
“I’m glad you’ve returned,” Miss Taylor welcomes me as I enter. “Your friends didn’t decide to join you?”
I shake my head. “No, I’m solo.”
Miss Taylor smiles. “Not anymore. You have an entire class of friends waiting.”
Okay, that was super sappy, but I appreciate the sentiment.
Miss Taylor shows me where to take my position, and ahead of me is Camila’s step-sister, Penelope.
Penelope brushes back a loose strand that has fallen out of her soft blonde ponytail and smiles at me. “Hi.”
I wave, feeling like I’m fraternizing with the enemy. “Hi.”
“Is Camila here?” Penelope asks.
“Ah, no.” When will it get through my head that Camila is the enemy? “She’s not coming back.”
Penelope sighs, looking down at the shiny timber floor. “That’s a shame.”
“You wanted to see her?”
She looks up, nodding. “I never get to see her. It would be nice if we could get along.”
I suck in a breath, gritting my teeth.
Her shoulders slump. “That’s never going to happen, is it?”
I raise my palms in a shrug. “Never say never.”
“I know Dad wishes we were closer.”
“Dad?” I question. “You don’t mean Cammy’s dad?”
Penelope blushes and gives a slight nod.
“You call him Dad?” Whoa. No wonder Camila’s pissed.
Penelope fidgets awkwardly. “Yeah, he wants me to. It’s nice to finally have a dad.”
At that, it’s like a knife has plunged into my heart. I can’t imagine longing for a dad. Mine might be tough, but he’s a provider and I know he loves me.
