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David for his part had gone all out, wearing a gray button-down shirt with the sleeves secured to his wrists It covered the bulk of his tattoos Black jeans and plain black boots co he’d refused to dress up for a ballroom full of Hollywood royalty, I was iuely James Dean do On most men I would not have liked it David was not hty awesoracious manner hich he dealt with my parents’ abysmal behavior only reinforced my belief in him My pride that he’d chosen to be witha detailed synopsis of her plans for classes for the upco all the appropriate questions Nate falling for her was beyond my parents’ wildest drea tihted But more than that, she see the changes in him When Lauren talked about Nate’s work and his responsibilities, they listened

Meanwhile, David was only on the other side of the table but I missed him There was so much to talk about that I didn’t knohere to start And hadn’t we already talked over the bulk of it? So as the proble, so away from me David had moved to Portland All would be well But it wasn’t Classes started back soon The threat of the plan still hung over ?" Dad sat at one end of the table, his face draith concern

"No, Dad," I said, ritted teeth There’d been noup on hiirl rage or so sihter goes back to school next week"

"Ah, yes," said David "She did mention that, Mr Tholasses "Her studies are very iripped ht before my eyes "Dad Stop"

"Yes, Mr Tho the in to give a lecture "But the fact is, young wo themselves in love have a terrible tendency to not think "

"Dad--"

My dad held up a hand to stop irl, she’s planned to becoo on tour, David?"despite my commotion "As you inevitably will Do you expect her to drop everything and just follow you?"

"That would be up to your daughter, sir But I don’t plan on doing anything to make her have to choose between ot my support"

"She wants to be an architect," Dad said, his tone absolute "This relationship has already cost her dearly She had an important internship cancelled when all of this nonsense happened It’s set her back considerably"

I pushed back, rising frolare he’d first dealt David, hostile and unwelconizedaway your future for hier had been pooling inside ofme up No wonder I’d barely touched my dinner "The person you’ve both been unconscionably rude to for the past hour? David is the last person ould expectthat mattered to me"

"If he cared for you he would walk away Look at the daed on the side of my father’s forehead as he stood too Everyone else watched in stunned silence It could be said I’d gone the bulk of s that didn’t "

"You’re out of control," er at me

"No," I said to my father Then I turned and said what I should have said a long tio to irl in the entire world"

A s to keep the happy contained in the face ofup and not evenfor once

He pushed back his chair and rose to his feet, facing me across the table The promise of unconditional love and support in his eyes was all the answer I needed And in that one perfectwas fine We were fine We alould be if we stuck together There wasn’t a single doubt inside of me In silence, he walked around the table and stood at my side

The look on my parents’ faces … whoa They always said it was best to rip the Band-aid off all at once, though, get it over and done with So I did

"I don’t want to be an architect" The relief in finally saying it was staggering I’ down, however David took ave it a squeeze

My father just blinked at me "You don’t mean that"

"I’m afraid I do It was your drea with this That was my mistake and I’m sorry"

"What will you do?" asked"Make coffee?"

"Yes"

"That’s ridiculous All that er

"I’ll pay it back"

"This is insane," Dad said, his face going pale "This is about him"

"No This is aboutwhat I really wanted Heto fit in with your plan for so long … I rong to do that"

My father glared at me "I think you should leave now, Evelyn Think this over carefully We’ll talk about it later"

I guessed ould, but it wouldn’t change anything My good-girl status had well and truly taken a dive