“Why are you doing this to us? You know we don’t care for the boy.”
Her words take the air right out of my lungs, and my eyes burn with tears. I hate that my family is this way. Darian is always judged for things he cannot control, and it makes me heart ache that they are so openly rude to him when he’s only ever been nice to them and treats their daughter with nothing but sweet kindness. They should be happy I’ve found someone like Darian because I truly believe he’s a rare breed of man.
“I love him,” I say firmly, and my mom drops her head.
“You’re a silly little girl, and I’m putting an end to this now.”
“I’m an adult. You can’t tell me who I can and can’t date.”
“I can while you’re under this roof,” she seethes, and I grab my purse off my bed and pull out my phone. Darian is almost here, and as I’m about to text him, she grabs my arm. She might be mad, but I know she’s not going to kick me out. If word got around she’d lose face, and that’s the one thing she would never sacrifice.
“Don’t make me pick, Mom. You won’t like the answer.” I pull my arm free from her grip and leave my bedroom.
When I get to the front door, I pull it open right as Darian is about to knock. I step out quickly, shutting the door behind me and smile a little too brightly up at him.
“You look handsome,” I rush to say. I’m so used to the school uniform it’s nice to see something different.
“I’ll wear it every day if you come running toward me like that.” He threads his fingers with mine before he leans down for a quick kiss on my lips. “You look beautiful.”
I still remember the first time I saw Darian, and even then I didn't think he could get any bigger. He’s still growing, and somehow I feel like I’ve only gotten shorter as he towers over me.
“Thank you.” I lean into him as we walk over to the old Bronco he got a few months back. He was working all kinds of odd jobs to save up and when he finally got it I piled into it with his sisters as he took us around town. It was such a happy day for him…and all of us, really. Darian is unstoppable when he puts his mind to something.
“I take it I’m not seeing your parents?” He tries to play it off like he doesn't care, but I know he does. I can see it in his eyes, and it makes me want to go back inside and yell at them.
“No.” I shake my head and look away.
“Hey.” Darian puts his finger under my chin until I turn my eyes to his. “Don’t feel bad about shit they do. You’ve got no control over that.”
“I know, I’m not going to let them ruin this.” I place my hand on his chest as I smile softly. “I’ll always choose you.”
He opens the door for me to get in, and I really don’t want to go to prom anymore. I want to be alone with him, and I want him to know I want him.
“I promise you that you’ll never regret choosing me,” he says, and it’s not just a promise, it’s a vow.
Chapter 4
Darian
After Lindsey graduated high school, she convinced Gina to let her stay as long as she pays rent. The twins did the same two years ago when they graduated, and I always wondered if it was because they didn’t want to leave me behind. I never had the courage to ask, mostly because I liked believing this version.
Things changed from the state paying Gina to keep us up to all of us paying her so we didn’t have to separate. When I turned eighteen two months ago, for my birthday gift my sisters paid my rent until I leave for college this summer so I didn’t have to worry about money while finishing school.
I didn’t know what to say, but I know that somehow, some day, I’ll return the favor. The three of them give me shit twenty-four hours a day, but I also know that they believe in me and push me to be the best I can be. They even filled out college applications and scholarship paperwork for me.
Luckily, Kingswood Prep opened all the doors it said it would, and I got a full ride. They not only cover my room and board all four years, but I got a grant to cover everything else while I studied. Lindsey cried the day I gave her the letter, and the twins jumped on the couch so hard it broke in half. Gina wasn’t happy about any of it because she knew it meant our time with her was coming to an end.
Lindsey’s been working as an assistant manager at the local diner for the past couple of years. She works every hour the restaurant is open, but she likes the place and it’s decent money. I know she’s been saving up for a house so that Amber and Allison can move in with her, since I’ll be taken care of in school. She told me the other day she’s hoping to become manager soon, and I have no doubt she’ll be running that place before they know what hit them.
The twins work as maids in one of the nicest hotels in town. From the stories they’ve told me they seem to love the hotel gossip, and the tips are better than any of the other jobs they’ve had. One of the perks is they get discounts on rooms and they got me a suite for prom.
My three sisters crossed their arms over their chests and all gave me “the talk” before I left to pick up Rosy. Being older and all in my business, they know I’m still a virgin and that Rosy and I haven’t had sex. I have no doubt they gave Rosy the same talk, only I’m positive I was the one that got the extended version that included getting her off and not being a selfish asshole.
They were the ones that took Rosy to the health department to get on the pill last year because that’s what Gina did with them. It might have been the smartest thing she ever did with the way the twins cycle through guys.
As I hold Rosy’s hand in my Bronco on the way to prom, I think about how my sisters have had a hand in keeping us together. Rosy’s parents don’t like me; they’ve made that clear every time I’ve been in their presence. Even though Rosy doesn't tell me what they say behind my back, I see it in the way they look at me and the questions they ask. Try as they might to push me away, none of it matters because I’m still here, right where I’ll always be. But for them trying to keep us apart, my sisters have somehow managed to make us closer. For that alone, I’ll forever be indebted to them.
“You look like you don’t want to go in,” I say as I take the key out and turn to face her. Rosy shrugs and looks down at her hands. “Hey,” I say, and her eyes find mine. “It’s my prom, too, you know.”
“Like you care.” She rolls her eyes, but I see the smile tug at her lips.
“I care about having a dance with you.”
“Really?” she counters, raising her brows in challenge.
“Really.” I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles. “We have to be able to tell our kids someday that we actually danced at our prom.”
She bites her bottom lip to hide the smile as I lean in and kiss her. I know she loves when I talk about our future, and I do too. We’ve got our lives planned out, and I’m ready to blow this school and get to it. But before then, I want to make sure we get all the experiences, including the ones we might not be too excited about.
We make it in and get our picture taken, then slow dance to a couple of songs. There’s no one else here tonight that we want to hang out with, and when Rosy tells me she’s ready to go, I nod in agreement. Maybe we should have done more to make friends, but after years of people trying to put us in boxes, we decided to create our own and keep everyone out.