I knew the moment I walked into the country club that I shouldn’t have come.
My mother was sitting with Jessica and her mother, Mrs. Russell, and they all fit together so perfectly. They fit in with everyone else in the room. Everyone except me.
I adjusted my glasses on my face as I made my way to their table.
“Hey, Kennedy.” Jessica grinned at me before pressing her wine glass to her lips.
Our mothers turned toward me at the sound of my name. Both of their eyes calculating. Judging.
“Hey.” I pulled out the chair next to my mother and took a seat.
“It’s about time you got here. I was about to give up your seat,” my mother said it quietly, but I knew Jessica and her mother could hear her.
“I’m ten minutes early.” I looked around the room that was practically still empty.
My mother rolled her eyes as if my answer was ridiculous, but then planted her fake smile back on her face.
It was the annual mother daughter luncheon, and I had been forced to come for as long as I could remember. There were very few faces in the room that I didn’t recognize, but very few that I actually knew. Very few that I would consider my friend.
“So, Kennedy.” Mrs. Russell’s pale pink lips pulled into a tight smile. “Are you seeing anyone?”
“No.” I shook my head. “I’m not really looking for a relationship right now.”
“That’s good. That gives you plenty of time to think about your career.”
My mother grinned at her friend, and I rolled my eyes.
“I have a career, Mrs. Russell.” I took a sip of the water that sat in front of me in a crystal glass.
“I know, dear,” she said sarcastically. “But you have time to consider your options and think about what you really want to do.”
I nodded my head because there was no use arguing.
“Jessica just graduated, and she’s so excited.” She smiled over at her daughter with pride in her eyes. “Tell her, Jessica.”
“It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.” Jessica tucked her perfectly curled hair behind her ear. “I can always talk to the Dean for you if you’re interested.”
“That’s sweet, Jessica.” There wasn’t an ounce of that girl that had ever been sweet. “I’ll let you know if I change my mind.”
A woman stepped up to the podium at that moment saving me from further conversation about my future, and I sighed in relief. She started talking about how much money they had all raised for charity, about the events they had planned for the rest of the year, and how excited they were to see all the daughters.
After about fifteen minutes of her droning on and on, I excused myself to the bathroom.
I searched my eyes before I removed my glasses and splashed water on my face. My lungs filled with air as I took a deep breath for the first time since walking through the front door. I let the silence surround me, and I reminded myself that I would be home soon. I would be away from these people.
The bathroom door opened and I glanced up in the mirror just as Jessica walked through it. I patted my face with a paper towel before pushing my glasses back onto my face.
Jessica leaned against the counter next to me and watched me closely. She stared at me the way she had since the moment I met her.
“You know they aren’t going to stop, right?” She crossed one heeled foot over the other.
“I’m aware.” I looked in the mirror and straightened out my already straight hair.
“Why don’t you just drop this whole photography gig and go to school? You’ll have everything handed to you on a silver platter if you do.”
“I don’t need everything handed to me on a silver platter, Jessica. I’m doing fine on my own.”
“Really?” She laughed and my spine straightened. “Look at you. You’re a mess.”
I recoiled as if she had hit me. Every cruel thing she had ever said to me came rushing back.
“No wonder you don’t have a boyfriend, Kennedy.” She turned toward the mirror and pulled her lipstick out of her purse.
I watched her as she rimmed her lips as if she had done it a million times.
“You’ve lost some weight, but that isn’t everything.” She glanced at me through the mirror with a saccharine smile on her face. “You’re going to have to try harder if you want to end up with someone who’s worth a damn. Someone who your parents will approve of.”
Tucker flashed in to my mind at that moment, but I wouldn’t let him stay there. I wouldn’t let myself consider what my parents would ever think of him.
“I don’t care if my parents approve of me and my choices.” At least that was what I told myself.
“Don’t you?” She cocked her head. “If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t be here right now.”
I narrowed my eyes at her.
“You’ve just never managed to measure up. Not in high school. Not now. Maybe you have the right idea. Just stop trying.”
My stomach flipped with the anger that ran through me, the anger that was always there when I was around her.
“You’re right.” I smiled as her as she faced me again. “I will never be you, Jessica. I will never be the woman my mother approves of.”
She looked so smug and I wanted nothing more than to wipe that look straight from her face.
“And I couldn’t be prouder.”
She stared at me as I walked past her, but I didn’t spare her a glance.