Chapter 9

My bedroom feels strange when I get home. As if I"ve been off having adventures without any of my things…or, more precisely, without any of my baggage.

I"ve grown and experienced so much in the past few days that my head is still spinning.

The interview went incredibly well. They were pretty friendly when asking questions, and I think they liked my answers. They also seemed impressed by my art portfolio, which I was easily able to plug into their presentation monitor.

After the interview, as promised, Riggs had a car waiting to take me to the train station, even arranging for sandwiches, juice and a piece of carrot cake. I don"t even recall telling him that was my favorite, but he must have remembered. He also sent me links to a variety of movies and podcasts for the trip. Of course I had my own list of things to keep me entertained, but having him make suggestions was incredibly thoughtful.

He"s even sent me a few texts saying that he misses me, and can"t wait to see me "soon, whenever that is". He pays so much attention to giving me what I need.

So different from Dad, who has ignored me since I got home. I"m supposed to go back to work in the bakery, but honestly, I don"t want to.

The work itself is pleasant enough. I love seeing customers looking so happy when they pick up their fresh bread, pies or cupcakes. Yet it was never my choice to do it. That"s what paints everything with a negative hue. I was never once asked if I wanted to work at the bakery full time. Or part time, even. It was dropped on my head as soon as I turned sixteen.

Ever since Mom left, it"s like Dad has wanted to keep Lisa and me under his thumb. And I hate it.

When Riggs takes control, though, it comes from a deep place of caring. Not just caring…nurturing. He truly wants me to be happy. My mind is still reeling from how much he"s done for me.

Not just convincing me to make it to that interview. He taught me to be way less afraid of flying. That"s huge! Sure, I"ll still be a bit jumpy in the future, but not terrified. Hell – he actually let me touch the controls. That"s wild.

And I can"t forget the way he awakened the sexual side of myself that I"d always been nervous to tap into. With him, exploring it was effortless.

I don"t know if I"ve ever really believed that some people are meant to be together. It"s something from cheesy movies, not the real world.

Yet…he"s real…even though I don"t know yet if we are. Everything"s happened so fast.

I finish unpacking and throw on a load of laundry, then my phone rings just as I"m plugging it in. "Hello?"

"Good evening. Is this Olivia Nelson?" The smooth, crisp female voice sounds familiar.

"Yes."

"Professor Grayson. We met this afternoon."

"Oh, yes. How are you?"

"Fine, thank you. I"m sorry to call you so late, but I like to share good news immediately. We"d like to welcome you into the program."

It"s difficult not to let out a hugely unprofessional squeal, but I manage to swallow it back. "Thank you. Thank you so much!"

"You"re very welcome, Olivia. We"ll be emailing all of the details first thing in the morning. Have a great night."

"Thanks."

My thumb is shaking as I hit the end button. Even though I want to call Riggs right away to tell him the good news, I can barely find my voice. Rushing downstairs to the kitchen, I slowly drink a glass of water, trying to calm myself while my mind is racing.

Once the first wave of shock clears, I call Riggs, but it doesn"t connect. No wonder – if he"s on a flight, his phone will be in airplane mode.

Olivia: I got in! I"m accepted! They just called! I can"t believe it, and I"m losing my mind, and I don"t know how I can possibly thank you!!!

"Who are you texting?"

My chin snaps up as I meet my father"s cold eyes. "You don"t normally giggle and grin like one of those idiotic girls," he grumbles.

It"s clear that he"s had a stressful day from the dangerous set to his jaw. He"s exhausted, hungry, and ready to be ticked off by anything. Great.

"How was your day?" I ask, ignoring the fact that he completely failed to welcome me home.

He marches over to snatch the phone from my hand. "Riggs? You"ve never mentioned a friend named Riggs before. What the hell kind of name is that?"

I can"t stop him from scrolling back through our messages. Dad"s mouth falls open. "He misses you? This is a boyfriend?! What the hell, Olivia – and what"s this about you being accepted to college?"

Backing away slowly, I sit down at the kitchen table, trying to make myself into as small a ball as possible. "You said that if I got into college you"d pay for my first year"s tuition."

His eyes burn into mine.

"I meant that I would pay for a few classes around here, preferably pastry school. You think you"ll get into the University of North fucking Carolina? You couldn"t even afford to fly there for the interview. And you certainly can"t afford room and board in the dorms."

He scrolls through the messages again. "Wait. You already went to the interview?"

"Yes."

"And this Riggs person helped you?"

"Yes."

He steps closer and I cringe. "You"ve actually been whoring around with some guy just so that he would help you get into school?"

"What? No, nothing like that."

"You"re not going, and that"s final. You"re also not seeing that kid ever again."

I feel my cheeks burn. If Dad knew that Riggs was in his thirties, he"d lose his shit. "You can"t?—"

His arm jerks and my phone smashes against the wall. I close my eyes, twisting away, but fragments of shattered glass nick my cheekbone, and the back of my hand. Holding my breath, I"m afraid to move.

"You"re staying right here, young lady." His voice is thunder, booming straight through me. "I need you at the bakery. You know this. I only let you take those stupid art classes so you"d get better at decorating cakes. Now put all of that art therapy bullcrap out of your mind. I"ll expect you in the shop at five am."

I can"t speak, staring at fragments of plastic and glass scattered all over the kitchen. "And clean this up," he snaps before leaving the room.

My breath catches in my throat. Without that phone, I have no way to reach Riggs, and he has no way to reach me.

If I can"t move to Charlotte, he"ll never want to speak to me again anyway. I hate to think of what he"s already given up because of me. And for nothing.

Tears fill my eyes as I grab a broom and start sweeping.

My dream of school is over, and my dream of being with Riggs is shattered all over the floor.

We can"t be together.

Worse, I can"t even call him to say goodbye.