Conflicted

“Could you sound any less enthused?” Mum snaps. “Your father is beside himself. He’s been trying to reach you all week,” she adds, not waiting for me to respond.

“Sorry, I’ve been busy,” I mumble. I rub my head, all that tension returning.

“Too busy to pick up the phone and let us know you’re still alive?”

“I’m sorry,” I repeat, knowing the only way to end this conversation is to admit that I’m wrong. In my parents’ eyes, I’m always wrong. “Was there anything else or did you just call to have a go at me?” I cringe as the words leave my mouth. All I’m doing is adding fuel to the fire. I have no idea what’s wrong with me, but this conversation can only get better.

“Lacey,” Mum gasps. “Excuse me for wanting to see how you’

re going, and for thinking you might be interested in us.”

“I’m sorry,” I say for what feels like the tenth time. If there’s one thing my mother does well, it’s lay on the guilt. “I will get back soon to see you guys. It’s just I’m really busy at the moment.”

“That’s the other thing.” Mum pauses, choosing her words carefully. My grip on my phone tightens as I dread her next words. “Your father is pretty upset. He heard through one of the younger prosecutors that you’re working for Aaron Wilmot?” She laughs, her pitch rising. “I told him that’s ridiculous. You’d never do such a thing and not tell us.” She pauses for effect. “Would you?”

She knows I would. I’ve done it before.

“I didn’t tell you because—”

“God, you’re kidding me. Do you have any idea how embarrassing it is for your father that you’re working for him, of all people? You know how he feels about Aaron Wilmot. And why? What could you possibly be learning from him when you made it very clear that law was something that didn’t hold your interest?”

“I never said law didn’t interest me,” I say quietly. “And to be honest, I’m learning a lot. This internship is one of the best things to happen to me. It’s going to be great for my career—”

“Your career, Lacey?” Mum lets out a harsh laugh. “Please don’t insult your father and I by calling what you’re doing a career.”

I sigh. I’ve had enough. Every single interaction with my parents is like this. God forbid I do something that they don’t approve of. I’ll never do anything right because it’s never what they planned for me. The sooner I accept that, the better off I’ll be.

“My phone is going flat,” I lie, rubbing my forehead. “I’ll call you back later, okay?” She’s still arguing with me as I end the call, and I can’t help but laugh. So much for relaxing. I throw my phone across the room, watching it bounce off the carpet and skitter along the tiles in the kitchen.

I get more support from a cheap bra than I do my own parents.

They’ve never been there for me before and I don’t need them now.

Chapter Twenty-Three

Lucas

It’s another day, and I’m dealing with another crisis call from Lacey. At least that’s what it feels like. She’s been sitting here for hours ranting about God knows what, and I’m sick of listening because I can’t get the image of her leaving his place out of my head.

I slam down my glass, making her jump. She frowns at me, her brow furrowed, no doubt trying to figure out what my problem is. I laugh to myself. She’s my fucking problem. She always has been.

“Are you even listening to me?” she asks, her tone accusing.

“I’ve been listening to your shit for the last three hours,” I growl.

Her eyebrows shoot up. I know I should shut up, but I’m nowhere near done.

“Maybe if you’d spend less time in his bed you wouldn’t be finding the whole process so stressful,” I snap.

The blood drains from her face. The room is so quiet I can hear the ticking of the clock as I try to gather the words to apologize. I open my mouth, the words stuck in my throat. Not that it matters. I can’t take back what I’ve just said.

“How do you even know that?” she whispers.

I cringe, realizing how big I’ve fucked up. How could I possibly know that unless I was there, watching her? I shudder, embarrassed and ashamed by my own actions.

“Lucas?” she asks, her voice shrill. “How did you know I…” She stops and stares at me, realization hitting her face. My heart pounds so hard that it’s ringing in my ears. “Tell me how you knew that.”

“I saw you leave his place.”