Falling Forward ✔

Chapter Thirty-Three - Reece

"I don't see why I need to be here Lukas, it's not like this behavior is anything new." Natalia sneers, arms crossed over her chest where she regards me coolly. I remain calm, despite my urge to punch her in her pretty, maternally incompetent face.

Dad sighs heavily and draws a hand over his eyes haggardly. "Natalia, please, just this once, shut up and pretend you give a damn about your daughter. Can you do that?" He snaps, I gawk, nearly unable to suppress my amused snort.

Natalia looks scandalized for half a second before her features smooth out and she settles down on the couch beside him, chin up and eyes disdainful. I glance between the two of them from my place beneath a heavy blanket.

They'd showed up not even thirty minutes before—I've been counting—and started asking questions about Bas and me.

Well, Dad had. She'd stared around my apartment in frank horror, face twisting at the unwashed dishes, pillows and blankets strewn across the floor, and half-naked couple sitting in the living room.

The speed with which Kaila bolted, Spencer in tow, had been comical. Better yet, Dad's face looked white. The whole situation had been the highlight of my week.

Now, we were sitting in awkward silence. Natalia a mix of emotion, Dad unsure how to proceed, and me, well, that's yet to be determined.

"How are you Reecie?" Dad probes gently, I flick my eyes up to his and shrug.

"Been better."

He frowns, clasps his hands in his lap, and tries again. "Did you want to talk about it? You know I'm here."

I nod my acknowledgment, wait for him to say more. Dad shifts uneasily and side-eyes his wife.

"Natalia, do you have anything to add?" He urges. I want to laugh at how distraught he looks, but I bite my tongue and catch my mother's displeased gaze.

She watches me for a moment, then clucks her tongue, and says, "Scared off another one, did ya? Well, I hope you learned something."

For a long moment, I just stare. Beside her, Dad clenches his jaw. Then it's like a storm starts somewhere inside me and I burst out laughing.

Dad stares at in surprise, starts to rise and approach, expression tight. "Reece—"

I wave him off, laughing too hard to string anything coherent together. "Wait—just—gimme one—"

"Goodness!" Natalia lurches up from the couch, hands fluttering as she balks at me. "What's wrong with her Lukas?"

Dad scowls at her, still reaching uncertainly for me. I shake my head at them, work to reign in my emotions. Natalia glances nervously around, as if a crowd of camera-wielding vultures might melt out of the walls and capture my breakdown on tape.

I almost wish they would.

Once I'm able to gather enough oxygen to speak, I bolt up from my chair and advance on my mother.

"What in the hell is wrong with you?" I seethe, hands flexing at my sides. Natalia blinks, eyes wide as she retreats a step. "You know, Mom, I'm really tired of taking your bullshit. In fact, I'm done."

From the corner of my eye, I see Dad starting to move between us. I throw him a look and give a small shake of my head.

He hesitates, looking pained as he attempts reason. "Reecie, just calm—"

"Fuck no!" I roar, jabbing my finger in my mom's direction. "I'm sick of her treating me like a screw-up!" I move my gaze back to Natalia.

She's recovered from my attack and meets my fury with equal vehemence. "How dare you speak to me this way, right now, of all times! Do you know what I've been through this week?" She presses her palms to her chest, eyes wet and glassy. "My daughter is being dragged through the mud on every major gossip station and my client had the nerve to hit me! Your father came and—"