myself to learn any lessons from him.
Which is what I should’ve been doing to honor his memory instead.
As my arms drifted around Hailey, I felt her pull me closer. It was as if she was trying to wrap me in her light and shield me from the dark that was looming over our heads. I thought back to the painting, how dark and brooding it felt, and it was like she was physically trying to squeeze it out of me. The closer she pulled me against her beautiful body, the more whole I felt. It was like she was setting the glue she’d sprayed onto my broken pieces, making sure that when she let go, I wouldn’t go clattering back to the floor.
That’s why I loved Hailey they way I did.
Because she completed me in a way no one else had.
Not even my brother.
Chapter 24
Hailey
I was shocked when Bryan told me he wanted me to meet his parents. I knew he had a strained relationship with them, and I guess I simply assumed it was like mine. I never in a million years would ever think of caring about what my parents thought of Bryan. In my mind, they stepped out of my life the moment I took up art instead of some medical career. They didn’t take my calls or send me holiday cards. They didn’t call me on my birthday or reach out to me in any way. I simply assumed Bryan had the same tense relationship with them.
But apparently, it wasn’t quite like my relationship with my parents.
I told him I would love to meet them, but deep down, I was nervous. I didn’t really know what to expect, but when Bryan showed up at my place in a suit coat I realized I was vastly underdressed. He kept telling me I looked just fine, but I started rummaging through my closet trying to find something else. All I had were oversized sweaters, painted-on jeans, leggings, and skirts. I didn’t have one single nice dress I could put on for this dinner.
But I did manage to find one lone pencil skirt from my college days.
I slipped it on and really had to suck it in, so I could zip it up. It really hugged my curves... much more than I thought was appropriate... but the way Bryan’s eyes darkened when I stepped out of the room made me smirk. I paired the skirt with the only pair of heels I owned and slipped on one of my nicer tops. It still fell off the shoulder, but it was looser around the bust area, so I wouldn’t look like I was flaunting every aspect of my body known to man.
Or to Bryan’s tongue.
He held my hand and traced loving circles on top of my skin to try and calm me down. I could feel myself trembling in the seat of his truck as we pulled up to their house, and all I could do was gawk. If I’d thought his house was massive, then theirs was a behemoth. Bryan opened my door and gave me his hand, so I could slip out easily, but my eyes couldn’t peel away from the decadence of it all.
They had a massive fountain in the front yard filled with birds drinking from it. Their grass was routinely maintained, and flowers lined their pristine concrete driveway. The looming brown house had dark green shutters and a six-car garage, and I’m sure if I dared to walk out back there would’ve been some sort of forest oasis complete with a hot tub.
“Just keep in mind, my parents aren’t always the nicest people,” he said.
“Then why in the world would you want me to meet them?” I asked.
“It’ll be the only time you have to do it. Just understand they are the epitome of snobs.”
“They sound a bit like my parents,” I said. “Do I look all right?”
“Hailey, you look outstanding. That skirt. Holy shit, you shouldn’t have worn it. It’s going to be hard to concentrate on dinner.”
“Remind me again why we’re doing this?” I asked.
“Because you’re an important part of my life, and I want them to understand how important you are to me.”
I looked up at him and smiled as the front door slowly opened. I could smell the light scent of chlorinated water wafting from the back of the house, but the rapture and the beauty of it all soon died when his mother raked her eyes over me. I was worried about this from the very beginning, but I was familiar with the look she was giving me. I wanted to be strong for Bryan. I wanted to get through this dinner and show them how much I loved their son. But the look she was giving me the moment her eyes stopped at my hair was one my mother gave me the first, and last, time she saw my hair different like this.
It was blue at the time, but the reaction was still the same.
“I don’t believe I’ve seen that color in my salon before,” she said, smiling. “It’s very ... unique.”
“Oh, I did it myself. It’s called ‘hot flash’.”
“Yes, I suppose because it induces them. Won't you come on in?” she asked.
I looked up at Bryan and clocked his stare on his mother. It was wholly disapproving, but his hand on the small of my back ushered me into the home. We followed her into the dining room, and I couldn’t help but look around. The vases were trimmed in real gold and the furniture was large and plus. There were windows that spanned from floor to ceiling, looking out over a backyard that boasted of a bubbling hot tub. We rounded the corner and came upon a massive table that sat twelve people, and a kind man with a broad smile got up and offered his hand.
“It’s wonderful to meet you, Hailey. I like the hair color,” he said.