Dad ordered, then he looked at Mom. He stood up and prowled toward her, stopping less than a foot away, and pointed a finger straight down at her nose.
"If you ever call my daughter a slut again, I will ruin you. Do you understand me? Ruin you. You'll never be able to show your face in this town again." Dad’s voice was deadly calm. Xavier nodded next to me and I almost fainted. He squeezed my hand. He had so much more bravado than I ever did.
Naturally, it didn't tame Mom in the least.
"Ruin me? Not a chance. Not the way I could ruin you." She fought back with a sneer.
Dad glared at her with fire in his eyes. "Don't fuck with me, Joy."
She hesitated for a moment. "But I didn't mean—"
"Yes, you did. In so many words, you did. Don't try and retract your statement now. Did you forget who you're talking to?" Defiantly, she pursed her lips together and propped her hands on her hips. She should've been an attorney. "If I ever hear you call her such a derogatory name again, you will regret it for the rest of your life."
"Is that a threat?"
Dad didn't hesitate. "Yes."
Mom lifted an arrogant brow and shifted her fiery gaze toward me. The tension between them was fierce. "Tell her to change her outfit…please."
"No."
"No?" she squeaked. Any minute now she was going to combust.
"I said, no. I don't see anything wrong with her outfit. A little revealing, maybe, but if she can live on her own, she can pick out her own clothes and live with her choices. Do I think she looks like a slut? Not at all, not even close. I'd never allow my daughter to walk around looking like trash. I think she looks like a young, beautiful woman."
Staring at the floor, I smiled on the inside.
"What will our guests think of us with her walking around like that?"
"I'll go change," I said, my voice barely audible.
"No, you will not," Dad snapped at me. I flinched at the bark in his tone. He looked back at Mom. "If I remember correctly, you used to dress very similar."
"It's not the same. I wasn't a child."
Dad swirled his glass. "Joy, I'm not going to entertain you. This discussion is finished."
Mom's nostrils flared. She pushed her shoulders back and lifted her chin. If looks could kill, he'd be a pile of ash.
Hell, I'd have been one first.
"Ana?"
"Yes, Dad?"
"You're excused."
I hesitated, swallowing hard. I glanced back and forth between my parents. I didn't want to leave. More than anything, I was afraid of leaving because I had a sinking feeling she wasn't through with me yet.
"Go," he ordered. Xavier tugged me toward the door.
Turning the knob, I left my dad's office, and shut the door behind me with a soft click. I flipped my hair to the side, fighting back the tears that blurred my vision. Under normal circumstances, standing up for myself wouldn't faze me, I'd brush off their indifferences. But when it came to my mom, I couldn't do it. I couldn't brush it off because she was my mother and I loved her and I wanted to make her happy.
"Hey," Xavier said softly. I couldn't look at him. I was too embarrassed. I wasn't as strong as I perceived myself to be. He crouched down to get in my line of view, and I chuckled sadly. "We may live miles and miles apart, but I'll always have your back. Don't ever let anyone speak to you like that, not even Mom. Stand up for yourself."
I nodded. Easier said than done.
"I'm almost sorry for encouraging you to wear that dress now," Xavier continued. "I didn't expect Mom to act that way. I mean, I knew she would flip a lid, but it never occurred to me she'd call you names and take it as far as she did. For that, I'm so sorry."
I looked away.
"Hey." He pushed, his voice full of concern. "She doesn't usually talk to you like that, does she?"
"She's never called me a slut, but you’ve seen how she treats me, how she’s picked on my weight, what I wear, how gymnastics is a joke to her and I should be doing what she does. I never do anything right in her eyes. I guess it was a matter of time before she took it a step further."
Xavier's gaze fell deadly. He stood and pulled me into a hug. He pressed a brotherly kiss to the top