173: Penny
Awkward.
Awkward is the only word I can think of.
Actually, scratch that.
Awkward would be forgetting someone’s name. Or waving at someone who wasn’t waving at you. This? This is… so, so much worse.
It all started about an hour ago, when Asher pulled up to my driveway after we dropped Max off.
I expected to just get out, say goodbye, and disappear into my house with all the quiet, unresolved heartbreak in my chest. But my parents had other plans. They came running out like I was bleeding out in the passenger seat.
“Are you okay? What happened? Did you fall again?” my mom asked before I could even unbuckle.
My dad was next, looking at me all over to see if I was hurt.
“I’m fine–better than fine,” I said quickly. “I just… didn’t want to be there anymore.”
They looked confused but nodded slowly. Then my mom turned her attention to Asher like she was seeing him for the first time. “Oh my, come in, come in! Thank you for driving her back! Come, let’s have tea.”
Asher tried, he really did. “It’s okay, she’s here now, I’ll let you all catch up-”
“Nonsense!” she said, grabbing his arm.
And I swear on every ballet slipper I’ve ever owned, she pulled him. She. Pulled. Him.
My mother weighs maybe a hundred and twenty pounds soaking wet and this man is built like a tank–but he let her drag him inside like he weighed nothing, going along with whatever she had in store for him.
Then he winked at me over his shoulder.
And I nearly melted into the front porch.
Inside, they sat us down, poured us tea, and asked about everything like it was just a casual Tuesday evening and we hadn’t just crawled out of a blizzard and emotional disaster.
“Hiking? How fun!”
“Murder mystery game? You?”
“Pizza night? Yum!”
1/4
Chapter 173: Penny
We listed things like a cute camp itinerary. We told them about all the positive things that happened ove the week, so they wouldn’t suspect anything other than me wanting to come home early because I was tired. It was almost going too well.
Then my dad narrowed his eyes, blinking like he just woke up from a daze. “Wait. Where’s Tyler?”
Oh god.
I opened my mouth. “He… uh. He wanted to stay till the end of the week. With his friends.”
“Really?” my mom said. “Why? That doesn’t sound like him.”
“I mean-” I tried to sound casual. “He just… wanted to. They still had more activities planned.”
They both looked at me. Too long. Too deeply.
“We’re not stupid, Penelope,” my dad said.
And then they turned to Asher.
200
“Now, you’re military, son” my mom said. “You were taught not to lie out of respect, right?”
Asher, who was sitting like a full damn soldier in our living room, nodded once. “Yes, ma’am. Unless
necessary.”
“So,” my mom said, like she was cross–examining a witness. “Did Tyler hurt my daughter?”
Asher looked at me.
I gave him the widest eyes I could, like PLEASE LIE NOW, NAVY SEAL.
But this man has absolutely no tactical mercy.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said quietly.
My mom stood.
And everything descended into chaos.
They called Tyler. No answer.
They called Asher and Tyler’s parents.
And to my absolute horror, said they were coming right away.
I tried to stop it. “Please, can we just-”
My mom ignored me. My dad was already walking toward the door.
2/4
Chapter 173: Penny
I glared at Asher.
He sipped his tea like it was a martini.
I punched his shoulder, whispering, “This is when your espionage lie techniques were necessary.”
He smirked. “I don’t want to lie to your mom. She scares me more than combat. And I want her to like me.”
I thought about that for a second. He wants her to… like him? Why? Does he plan to… no. Wait. What?
Then the doorbell rang.
And now?
Now we’re all gathered around the coffee table.
My parents. His parents. Asher. Me.
And it’s awful.
“Well,” my mom said, still trying to breathe evenly, “I think you owe us a bit of an explanation.”
“What do you mean our son hurt you,” his mom added, eyes flicking between us. “You two seemed like a good match.”
“Wait-” my dad raised a hand. “You’re breaking up?”
Everyone looked at me.
I nodded slowly. “We, um. Yeah. We broke up.”
Gasps.
Groans.
No less than three people saying “Noooo.”
“You can work through this,” his mom said. “It’s probably just a misunderstanding.”
“She’ll forgive him,” my dad else muttered. “They’re good together.”
Meanwhile, I’m sitting here thinking: yeah well I just slept with your other son at least three times in the last twenty–four hours and you all think this is salvageable.
So I opened my mouth. And I didn’t filter.
“He cheated on me.”
3/4
Chapter 173: Penny
Silence.
It was like someone sucked all the air out of the room.
I looked up. “For weeks.”
Someone whispered, “What?”
“The ringtone at the studio?” I said. “It was Zoe’s. His… new girlfriend, I guess. The reason Luc dropped me, the reason I nearly broke my neck and lost my role at the Gala-”
I couldn’t even finish.
My mom was clutching the edge of the table like she was about to flip it.
“And he lied,” I said. “He knew. And then he punched Max, my friend. And tried to hit Asher too.”
No one spoke.
Not even Asher.
Finally, their dad rubbed a hand down his face. “So that’s why he was saying that this was all his fault.”
His mom stood again. “I’m going to kill him.”
Asher muttered, “You’ll have to get in line.”
My parents were red in the face, pacing up and down the living room.
And me?
I just sat there, sipping my now–cold tea, thinking:
Yep.
Awkward doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Chapter Comments
4
POST COMME
