Stuck in the Middle (Two Stories in One) [Calum Hood & Luke Hemmings AU]

16. Sloane

"Do you have any idea how—how ridiculous this is? How the hell did you decide this was a good idea without consulting us? What gave you the right to even go through with this?!"

Sloane's jaw tightened at her mother's words, matching her glare with her own as she remained seated on the couch in the living room of their home. Calum was right next to her, his presence a comfort as his parents, too, hovered over them in their own outrage. Eyes locked with her mother's Sloane said, "Nobody needed to give me the right—it's my life and it was about time I decided to live like it."

Mrs. Thorne bristled, the fire still alight in her eyes. "Watch your tone with me, Sloane."

"No, screw that," she retorted, getting up to her feet. All eyes were on her, trying to weigh her down, but she pushed forward. This was a long time coming, and she wasn't going to be treated like some fucking toddler. She looked between the two sets of parents, staring at them in disgusted incredulity. "Don't you guys get it? You're so desperate to save your businesses that you don't even care that you're ruining your childrens' lives!"

Her father, the calmer of her parents, sighed. "Honey, that's not what we're doi—"

"Yes, it is," Calum spoke up, getting to his feet as well to stand beside Sloane. She glanced up at him, appreciated his stone set features as he came to her aid and both of their defense. "Sloane and I have been friends for years, just like you all have. If you trust us to run the companies, you should trust us to be able to do it as partners, and not force a damn marriage on us that, frankly, makes no sense." His gaze shifted to Mr. and Mrs. Thorne, an insulted scoff escaping him as he said to them, "You know if it was Jacob instead of Sloane, you never would even propose such a ridiculous idea."

Sloane saw the way her dad's features fell, and the haggard look that washed over her mother's face. While Calum's parents called his name warningly, Mrs. Thorne ground out through gritted teeth, "How dare you—"

"He's right, Mom," Sloane said with a frown, feeling a familiar tug in her chest at the mention of her brother. "I know it had always been part of the plan for Jacob to take over, but you need to trust that I know what I'm doing in terms of the company and not have a marriage clause to tie up loose ends that don't even exist. It's not fair to me and Calum. We'll work as partners, but never in a marriage.

She saw the looks Mr. and Mrs. Hood exchanged with one another, and Sloane had a feeling they were getting through to them. And maybe even her father. Her mother, on the other hand, just shook her head. "So, what, you married Luke to void this arrangement? That's so childish, Sl—"

"I married Luke because I love him," she cut in sharply, not allowing to give her mother the opportunity to say anything against the man she loved. Her husband. She fought the ill-timed smile threatening to quirk at her lips. God calling Luke her husband was still something to get used to. "It wasn't out of spite. We got married because wanted to. Because it felt right and he makes me happy. I don't expect you to understand—" Her eyes locked with her mother's as she gave a subtle yet sad shake of her head. "—Not that you'd try to, anyway."

Her mother frowned, and Sloane wondered if she'd imagined the hurt she'd saw flash across her eyes. Next to her, Calum firmly stated, "The merger can proceed exactly as planned—just without the marriage part of it all. You guys have trusted us with these businesses; try to trust us with our own lives, yeah?"

Mrs. Hood let out a soft snort. "So you can continue to make questionable decisions like dying your hair blue?" she questioned, unimpressed gaze going to his head. His roots were starting to grow out, the blue blending in with the natural dark brown.

Before Calum could respond, Sloane's father spoke up again. "They're right." Sloane looked at him, feeling the hope swell her chest as he nodded. "They're adults—who are we to try and control every aspect of their lives?" He walked past her mother to stand in front of Sloane, cupping his daughter's cheeks as he said, "I've already lost one kid. I'm not losing another over what I thought was a good decision. Sloane and Calum are smart and capable enough to make overall comprehensive choices in their lives and for the sake of the business." He sighed, giving a shake of his head as he dropped his hands from Sloane's cheek and wrapped an arm around her shoulders, and Sloane instantly leaned into her dad's side as he added, "I just wish I'd been there for the wedding."

Sloane couldn't fight the grin from her face as she glanced at Calum, who was smiling over their obvious victory. He had been right, which didn't surprise Sloane. She knew she had made the right decision in trusting him. This was, she felt, only a small show of how their partnership was going to go. And she couldn't wait to be his partner, complete with overbearing responsibilities of running a company and being in charge of thousands of employees. All the while being partners. Not husband and wife.

Sloane twisted the silver ring on her finger, feeling her grin widened as she told her dad, "That could be arranged."