“There’s nothing wrong with who you are,” I tell him as he pulls onto my street. “Don’t drive up my street. It’s hard to do a turn around.”
He pulls up outside Lily’s, blocking her driveaway. “Try telling that to my mum.”
“Is that why you never answered her calls?”
“Yeah,” he admits. “My sister who is getting married is great and is fine with what I want to fucking wear or not wear. Mum is just being difficult.”
I’m not sure what to say. I have empathy for him, but I can’t relate. My family are nothing like his. I’m not saying none of them can be mean, because they can, but they’re never mean to family.
Unless you count the time Hayden shaved off Liam’s eyebrows the night before his first date.
“I’m sure it will work out.”
“You really don’t need to come to the wedding.”
“If you don’t want me to, I won’t, but I honestly do not mind. It will be nice to get away from everyone’s concerned stares.”
“Okay, thank you.”
I push open the door but then stop, turning back to him. “As hard as it is, don’t let her change who you are, don’t become what she needs. Because there are people who need the real you. She might not see it, but I do.”
His brows pull together. “You don’t know me.”
“I don’t need to,” I tell him, pushing the door open further. I get out and duck my head back into the car. “If you hadn’t been you, I wouldn’t have gotten to my family that night. I wouldn’t be attending self-defence classes.” I pause, hoping he hears the truth in my words. “My uncle is always telling us: ‘change the game, don’t let the game change you’. And he’s right.”
“He is?”
I nod, but then frown. “Unless it applies to Monopoly. That game has started wars within our family.”
His lips twitch. “Thank you, Charlotte.”
“Thank you for tonight and for bringing me home.”
“Goodbye.”
“See you soon,” I tell him, shutting the door.
Maybe self-defence classes really will be good for me.
I already feel empowered.
CHAPTER TEN
CHARLOTTE
Warmth trickles down my arm as I quickly rush to the kitchen, grabbing some kitchen roll. I press it to the scratch, biting my lip at the sting.
“It’s okay, Katnip. We will get through this,” I cry out. “I promise.”
She had been asleep in the bathroom sink and I reached for my hairbrush on the side behind her.
I moved too quickly.
So stupid.
By now, I should have learned not to make any sudden movements, catch her off guard, or move my feet under the bedsheet.
Or go anywhere near her.
“It’s a work in progress,” I mumble to myself, just as the doorbell goes off. I head down the hall, knowing it’s Mum waiting to take me shopping.
And to get a new dress now I have an engagement party to attend. I hadn’t told anyone about it yet, other than Harriet, but only because I couldn’t believe I actually offered to do it.
“Mum, I’ll be five minutes. I just need to finish up,” I greet.
Mum takes one look at my arm and lets out a pity-filled sigh. “Katnip?”
I nod sadly. “Yeah. I caught her off guard.”
“It’s fine. I thought we could have a natter first anyway.”
I head into the kitchen, and move right over to the kettle and flip it on. “How are you? Jacob still studying?”
“He’s working hard,” Mum tells me, taking a seat at the breakfast bar. She takes in the room, her lips pinching together. “Honey, I’m worried about you.”
“Worried about me?” I ask, busying myself with the cups.
“Stop and look at me.”
I exhale, setting the cups on the counter before slowly turning to face her. “I’ve been wanting to talk to you too.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “You have?”
I swallow, Drew’s words floating through my head.
Talk to her.
“Yes, I, um… I was wondering if you know of anywhere we can go to look for dresses.”
Her shoulders slump. “Charlotte.”
“I’m fine,” I lie.
“No, you aren’t. A mother knows these things,” she tells me, arching an eyebrow. “And a dress?”
“Yeah, I—” The doorbells rings, saving me from answering. “I’d best get that.”
I leave Mum in the kitchen and head down the hall. I pull open the door, surprised to find Gabby and Emily on the other side.
“Good, you’re in. Your receptionist didn’t know where you were. Do you even ask for a CV before you hire people, or references?” Emily rants, pushing inside.
My mouth opens and closes, no words forming.
“Harriet called us,” Gabby explains.
I close the door behind them. “Um…”
“What we want to know is why didn’t you,” Emily scolds. “You get a hot date and don’t call your friends? Nuh, uh.”
“Date?” Mum chokes out.
My eyes widen as I find her standing at the end of the hallway, gripping the kitchen doorframe. “Mum,” I begin.
Emily gapes. “Your mum?”
“My god, you are gorgeous,” Gabby breathes out, before turning to me. “Why couldn’t you be gay?”
“We would never suit,” I tell her absently, more worried about what’s going through my mum’s head. The girls have taken it all wrong. “And you don’t like cats.”
“I don’t like your cat.”
“A date?” Mum repeats.
“It’s not what you think,” I explain, heading back into the kitchen.
She shakes her head. “Honey, you are moving too quickly. You need to slow down. You’ve been through a major trauma and need time to heal.”
“It’s with Drew,” I blurt out.
“Drew?” Her forehead creases as she follows me back into the kitchen. I grab another couple of mugs down. “Drew who owns the gym?”
“Maybe we should come back,” Emily suggests, picking up on the tension.
“It’s fine,” I rush out, before turning to Mum. “And it’s not a date. I said I’d go to his sister’s wedding with him because he doesn’t want his mum to set him up.”
Her shoulders slump as tears gather in her eyes. “Why didn’t you tell me? You never tell me anything anymore.”
“Mum,” I softly whine, sitting down next to her as Emily continues to finish our drinks. “I was going to tell you about it today.”
Her expression crumbles. “You’ve been through so much and you keep pushing me away.”
“Because I hate that I remind you of what you went through,” I blurt out, grimacing.
“W-what?”
“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that,” I whisper. “I, I need to go check on Katnip. She gets upset if I leave her too long after an incident.”
She reaches for my hand, stopping me from escaping. “Honey, no. What has made you think that?”