Chapter 22
The next day when I landed at New York’s airport, of all the fucking luck, I ran straight into Tanner’s group returning from their trip.
I’d heard they planned to be gone for a month, but apparently they’d cut it short by two weeks.
When our eyes met, Tanner looked like he’d seen a ghost.
Even Harper stood there with her mouth hanging open.
After the world’s most awkward staring contest, Tanner finally snapped out of it as I started to leave and jogged over.
“Drielle, you’re flying back today too?”
The shock in his eyes was unmistakable, and he couldn’t filter his thoughts fast enough.
“I almost didn’t recognize you just now. I had no idea you could look like… damn, you look incredible.”
“Thanks.”
This was the first time Tanner and I had been apart for longer than a week.
But as reality hit me, I realized something liberating–it didn’t fucking matter at all.
I had zero interest in playing catch–up. I grabbed my suitcase and headed for the exit, my heart pounding with a mixture of fury and vindication.
Mom was waiting at arrivals, and I speed–walked toward her like my life depended on it.
She’d just taken my luggage when Tanner’s voice called out behind us.
The audacity of this guy–he’d actually followed me.
“Drielle, why are you running away like that?”
“Hey, Mrs. Marlowe. Drielle, you must’ve gotten your acceptance letter too, right? My parents are throwing me this whole celebration thing.”
“Oh, and didn’t we talk about our families doing a joint party? My parents already booked the country club.”
Mom didn’t respond right away.
She glanced at me–clearly pissed off and staying silent–then stepped in to handle it with her trademark diplomacy.
“Tanner, we’ve decided against throwing Drielle a party.”
“I’m drowning at work, her grandmother’s in the hospital, and we just can’t manage it right now. We’ll do something quiet with family when things calm down.”
“Please thank your parents for thinking of us though.”
Mom’s explanation was perfectly gracious, but I could hear the ice underneath.
She only knew the surface level–that Tanner and I had fought and that he’d completely switched his college plans. I hadn’t filled her in on the gory details, but she was clearly unimpressed with his life choices.
Tanner rubbed his nose awkwardly and asked about Grandma’s condition.
Mom gave vague answers and politely declined his offer to share a ride home, then basically dragged me away before I could say something I’d regret.
At the hospital, I learned that Grandma needed surgery at a specialist facility in Washington D.C., and everything was already arranged.
I immediately volunteered to go with my aunt to help care for her.
Ever since Dad passed eight years ago, Mom had been running the company solo and was completely burned out.
19 30%
Chapter 22
Since I couldn’t contribute much to the business anyway, spending my last bit of summer break doing something actually meaningful felt right.
That same day, I flew to D.C. with Grandma.
Which meant I obviously missed Tanner’s big celebration.
And honestly? I’d never felt more relieved about missing a party in my life.
