Turning to head up the stairs, my mother said, “Wonderful! I can’t wait to see what she has planned for tonight. I’m going to go say hello and see if I can help her pick out a dress. ”
Once she was gone, my dad looked at me. “What happened?”
“Lynda called, and I took the call outside. Heather overheard me talking to her, and that led to a fight. ”
“Josh, you need to cut these ties with Lynda…now,” Dad said as he took a water bottle out of the refrigerator.
“Oh fuck. You, too, Dad? What exactly am I doing wrong? The girl has problems, and I’m just trying to be her friend. ” I sat on the bar stool and put my head in my hands.
My dad let out a laugh that caused me to look up at him.
“What the hell is so funny?”
He stopped laughing and gave me a look. “Are you kidding me, Josh? The only problem that girl has is the fact that you love Heather and not her. The other night, your uncle told me he saw Lynda out with his neighbor, and she was hanging all over the kid. Wake up, Josh. Stop acting like a fucking idiot, and give a hundred percent of yourself to the girl you love. She deserves at least that. I think she’s been patient enough with your ass. ” He reached for an apple and took a bite.
“Well, shit. Don’t hold anything back, Dad,” I said, standing up.
My mother walked into the kitchen. She stopped and placed her hands on her hips, shooting me the look she always gave when she was pissed. “What in the hell did you do to Heather?”
“Oh. My. God. You, too?” I said as I started to walk past her.
My mother grabbed my arm, stopping me. “She just left, Josh. She said she’s not going to the office party tonight. She wanted me to tell you that she’s heading to Mason. So, I’ll ask you again, Josh. What the hell did you do or say that caused her to walk out of my house with tears in her eyes?”
When my father cleared his throat, my mother and I looked at him.
“Lynda,” he said, raising his eyebrows.
Traitorous bastard.
“Josh, oh no. Josh, you didn’t…” My mother started shaking her head.
“I didn’t, what?”
“Will you just kick that girl to the curb already? Can’t you see that she’s trying to pull you two apart?”
Holy hell. Not her, too? “This is bullshit. I’m going upstairs to take a shower and get ready for your Christmas party, Mom. ”
“Josh, what about Heather? She left!” My mother pointed toward the front door.
Reaching down, I held on to the ring box in my pocket. “I’m not going to force her to go to the party. If she doesn’t want to go with me, then I’ll have to go without her,” I said as I walked out of the kitchen.
Before I hit the stairs, I heard my father say, “Stupid bastard is going to lose the only girl he’s ever loved just because some twisted nutcase won’t let go of him. ”
With each step I took, my heart starting beating faster. I couldn’t lose Heather. I’d rather die than live without her.
What the hell am I supposed to do?
Chapter Three
Sitting in the waiting room, I thought about everything that had happened between Josh and me. The love I felt for him was beyond anything I’d ever felt before. My hands started shaking as I recalled what had happened yesterday. I had walked out of his parents’ house without even telling him that I was leaving. I’d just left, like I had done with my parents. I’d just left without a single word to him—no, I love you…no, we’ll talk later about things.
Nothing.
“Heather, I see the wheels spinning in your head. You heard the doctor. Josh is going to be fine. ”
I looked over toward Ari. She was curled up next to Jeff on the small sofa.
“I just left him. I didn’t even say good-bye to him. I just walked out. What if—”