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She looked up "Good"

"Good?"

"Yeah" She closed her book with a snap "I always thought he was a prick Walking around Muskogee with a huge ego because his dad is the ers together in the air "It’s not like he’s the president’s son or souy in the photo with youI confess I was hoping you had moved on Especially with soed Maybe entle knock sounded at the door Moht have been addressing us both, but her gaze was fixed on me Mom crossed her arms and cleared her throat in that way she did when she was settling in for a long talk

A the cue She grabbed her keys and phone "I’ over to Jere for severalon the bed, I listened to my sister back out of the driveway until her Prius faded fro

It was a little bit after noon Mo I did wonder why she didn’t wait for hiht beconversations together It gave me hope Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad since he wasn’t present

"Georgia" Mom pulled out Amber’s desk chair and sank down onto it "I’ve taken these two days to cool downI adreatly upset s "But you know I don’t believe inI liked where this was headed She had cooled off There was no real hares had been pressed It was just aAs for the fact that I had been at a "sex club," maybe she could just pretend she never knew that You know, like how she kneas having sex and took et me on the pill but a conversation about sex never actually took place

"You’re going to withdraw from Dartford andin Hohit into her this was home Only it didn’t feel like home to me anymore

When I found my voice, it cas and closed both hands primly around her knees "It’s too late to apply to Auburn, so you can attend coht be great experience for the future In the spring you can transfer into Auburn and finish your degree while living here"

Pain slicked through my chest at her words "You’d do this toout for you I always have You’ve had thisside to you, Georgia" She shook her head "It’s alorried h ed inside me What had I ever done to concern her? Enjoy et into trouble with the law one ti to plan hty miles an hour in my chest

She cocked her head "You don’t seeia"

I opened my mouth to tell her that this was my life That she couldn’t dictate my future, but then she added in succinct tones, "Let ia You’re done at Dartford We are no longer paying your way unless you do this Your tuition Your living expenses It’s all gone Oh, and your car isn’t in your nao your oay, you’re paying your oay"

I sat there, the air sucked out of me, stunned

Mom tsked "Don’t look so miserable This is for the best There was a tiht You wanted to pleaseher was harder Ih And she didn’t really mean listenshe ia Harris will be home in two years, and he’s already expressed to hisdown so for hiraduates from Dartford"

I stared at irl ould live at ho for Harris to take her back on his terh for me That I couldn’t possibly want more? Or deserve more?