Page 14 of Broken Desires
The word “never” is on the tip of my tongue. “Coming home for what?”
“It’s important for you to be with your family.”
“Since when?” I can’t hide the skepticism in my voice.
My mother sighs, the taut lines around her mouth and eyes reflecting her frustration.
“I can’t afford the plane ticket. I’m not coming.”
“We’re willing to pay for your plane ticket, Vanessa Claire.”
Willing? I want to snort. Why is she making it feel like it’s a favor to me? When there’s probably a hidden reason for why she’s asking me home? Is she in need of milking the pity cow again? I am tired of lying, of playing games. I’m not that girl anymore. “I don’t want to come.”
She nods, her face hardening. “If you don’t come, I won’t give you your allowance.”
My heart sinks. “You can’t do that. It’s Grandad’s money.” My grandfather, the only family member who truly cared for me, had set up a college fund, but since the wedding incident, my parents have controlled it, doling out five hundred dollars a month.
“Maybe not permanently, but long enough to make you feel it,” she threatens.
Frustration boils within me. “Why do you even want me there?”
“Because we’re a family,” she states as if it’s the most obvious thing in the world.
Laughing softly at the sheer absurdity of the situation, I shake my head in disbelief. My family has never truly acted like one, not in any meaningful sense. Yet, here I am, presented with a golden opportunity to show them the person I’ve become—strong, independent, and unafraid. This is my moment to defy their bleak predictions and prove that I am not the failure they expected.
“Fine, I’ll send you the dates,” I concede, feeling a strange sense of defiance and satisfaction. It’s time they saw the new Vanessa, the one who isn’t afraid to stand up for herself. The woman who’s blooming far from their toxicity. It may be time for me to show them that they were what was wrong with my life and not the other way around.
“Good night, Mom. Have a great dinner,” I add and hang up before she even gets a chance to add anything else.
I don’t want to give her more chances to argue and bring me down today. I’m excited—I’m going to a proper ball in a ridiculously expensive evening dress with a stunning older Brit guy.
Hanging up, I’m enveloped in a newfound determination. This ball is more than just a dance; it’s a declaration of my independence, a chance to show the world—and myself—who Vanessa really is. I head back to the living room, ready to savor the simple joys of the present, leaving the shadows of my past where they belong.
I return to the living room, where Eva and Poppy wait with curious eyes. “Family drama,” I explain with a shrug, not wanting their night to be dampened by my issues.
Poppy nudges me playfully. “Nothing that a good movie and junk food can’t fix, right?” I smile, grateful for their light-heartedness.
Lying back on the couch, I let the laughter of my friends wash over me, their presence a soothing balm to the chaos of my thoughts. “You know, I never had a prom,” I say, more to myself than to them. “This ball… it’s like getting a piece of that back.”
Eva squeezes my hand, and Poppy raises her glass. “To second chances and new beginnings,” she toasts, and we clink our glasses in a moment of solidarity.
I feel the remaining weight on my chest lift at once. No matter what happens in California, I know it’s not permanent, and the fact that I’ll be coming back here to my new family makes it all better.
Chapter 6
Liam
The silky fabric of my red tie glides under my fingers as the limousine cruises toward the hotel. Nerves, a sensation unfamiliar to me, churn in my stomach. Despite a life spent in the limelight, tonight’s anticipation feels different. Unique. It’s not a date, just an evening among acquaintances, a favor for a friend. Or so I keep telling myself, even as the voice in my head accuses me of lying.
“They’re here,” Ethan mutters, adjusting his cuffs with nervous energy as Cole stands straighter. It’s somewhat reassuring to know I’m not the only one feeling the tension of the night.
Yes, but they are not you, are they?
As the limo pulls up in front of the hotel, I can’t shake the inner voice that challenges my calm facade. When the door swings open and Nessa steps out, any semblance of my composure falters. She moves with an effortless grace that leaves me momentarily speechless. Her dress clinging to her lithe figure sends a twist through my gut and an unwelcome stirring in my pants.
She should come with a warning label, as each glance shatters a bit more of my composed exterior.
I’m transfixed, caught off guard by her presence. The way she looks up, locking eyes with me, only knots my stomach further. A smile breaks across my face, unbidden and genuine, as I descend the two steps to meet her. There’s an involuntary lightness in my steps, drawn in by her presence as I extend my hand for her to take. I’m about to tell her how beautiful she is when Cole’s voice breaks through the magic of the moment.