Unconditional

“I don’t think you should go to any of those. Maximize your potential, girl.”

“None of this is even the point. You think I’m the problem? You try to set Cal up with every girl in Oregon, and he’s not interested!”

“He never even gives anyone a chance because he takes your opinion so seriously!” she exclaims.

“Heaven forbid he cares about my opinion. I’m important to him, Aria. I know I don’t need to tell you that.”

She huffs. “I swear if I didn’t know any better, I’d…” She shakes her head, her dirty blonde hair dragging along her shoulders as she pinches the bridge of her nose. “It’s going to be a nightmare getting you two apart.”

“What?”

“You need space, Maddie. All you’ve ever known is him and I think it’s messing with your psyche.”

“What does that even mean?”

“I was going to bring this up to Cal first, but maybe it’s best if I talk to you.”

My eyes dart around the restaurant. I need an escape route, and I find myself looking for the nearest exit. “About what?”

“I was thinking maybe for this second half of the year you should live with me and Henry.”

“What? Fuck that,” I snap.

“Okay, you might be able to get away with that with Cal, but don’t forget who you’re talking to.” She gives me a motherly look and I grit my teeth.

“Excuse me. F that.”

“Mads, you’re going to be eighteen and…” She trails off and although she doesn’t say it, I can hear the implication. You’re seconds from seducing Cal, I can see it.

“And?”

“And…I just think you’d do better with a constant female presence.”

“I don’t see how the two correlate.”

“Mads, I just…”

“How about you say what’s really on your mind? Instead of dancing around it?”

“Okay, I think you living with Cal now will…blur some of the lines between you two.”

“Meaning…?” She cocks an eyebrow at me and before I can blink, the words are out of my mouth. “So, you think I’m going to try to have sex with him? Is that what you’re saying?”

She squeezes her eyes shut. “Yes.”

I cross my arms over my chest and let out a breath. “I d

on’t…I have nothing to say to that.” My mind is spinning and I don’t know how I’m going to navigate the rest of this conversation with someone who could practically see inside my mind.

“Well, your reaction is certainly puzzling. I figured you’d have a more dramatic response.”

“To what? I’m not moving in with you and Henry, so there’s no real point in discussing this further.”

“Maddie.” She looks at me, her face concerned, her voice even and I know, in this moment, I won’t be getting up from this table without spilling the truth.

“What, Aria?” I avoid her gaze, peering around the restaurant. Memorizing my surroundings of the moment my life changes forever. Large floor to ceiling windows line one side of the restaurant. Every empty table is covered with a white linen tablecloth, complete with silverware and plates and glasses and flowers in the center. There’s a couple seated adjacent to us, but far enough away that they won’t be able to hear Aria’s hysteria. They’re holding hands over the table and I long for the day that Cal and I can do that in public.

“Look at me, Madeline.” I pull my eyes away from the couple and look at Aria—the woman that had become my mom all those years ago and I see the tears in her eyes. “No.”