“I’m so sorry, Record. I’ve been a terrible sister. I should have helped. I should have told them to stop or something. I just… couldn’t.”
I’m probably never going to be able to understand why she didn’t help me, but I can’t leave her with them. Not when she’s sobbing like this after only being alone with them for a few days.
“You’re eighteen. You can move here with me until you start college in the fall,” I offer.
“Mom and Dad will never pay for my college if I don’t stay with them.”
“I hate to break it to you, but they don’t have money for their own mortgage. There’s no way that they’re paying for college.”
She sniffles and I let out a deep breath.
“You can still go though. Do what I did. Take out loans then. Work and save your money. Maybe see if you can get financial aid or some scholarships. Hell, pick a cheaper school.”
She nods, looking away from me.
“It’s that, or get back in that car with them and drive all the way back to Grand Rapids.”
She actually turns pale at the thought, and I wonder just how bad things have been at home since I left.
She takes a deep breath and then nods as her eyes meet mine.
“Do you know anywhere that’s hiring?”
“I might,” I say with a small smile and she gives me a tentative one in return.
“We’ll have to find an apartment or something. I’ve been staying with Madelyn and Flynn.”
She nods and then surprises me by stepping forward and wrapping her arms around me.
“I’m so sorry. I know that it doesn’t make up for any of it, but I promise that I’ll always keep trying to make it right.”
I squeeze her back and nod against her head.
“Let’s get rid of them.”
She nods and lets me go, and we head back to where my friends are still facing off against my parents.
“Callie is staying, but you can leave,” I tell them and I watch as their eyes widen and their nostrils flare.
They were not expecting that and they’re not happy with the news.
“Absolutely not. Both of you, get in the car. Now!” my father snaps, and I shake my head, my hand squeezing around Callie’s.
Gavin takes my free hand and squeezes, urging me on.
“We’re done with you.”
With that, I turn, taking Callie and Gavin with me. Hudson opens the restaurant doors and we all file inside, leaving my parents standing on the sidewalk, fuming.
As soon as the door is locked behind us, I turn to Gavin and wrap my arms around his neck.
“I’m so proud of you,” he says as I cling to him.
“Me too,” Madelyn says, and I smile as she wraps her arms around Gavin and me.
I laugh when Flynn, Sutton, Teller, Iris, Arlo, Lyla, and Hudson all join in. We pull back and I see Callie standing there, looking unsure.
I’m still not sure about all of this either, but I don’t regret inviting her to stay. Maybe we can finally fix our relationship and even be friends now that our parents aren’t here to mess it up.