Chapter 21

The woman's eyes widened, her skin paling to a ghostly white. "Zoe," she stammered, unable to form a coherent response.

"Mom? What are you doing here?" I repeated.

Seattle was the last place I'd expect to bump into my mother, considering the last time I'd seen her and my dad was months ago; a few days before I moved out of the old house in Arizona. They hadn't called, they hadn't texted, they hadn't checked in with Emily, Abbie, or I at all.

And now, a weekend meant for relaxation had been tainted because of this untimely run-in.

My mom cleared her throat, standing up straighter to appear calm and collected. Her eyes flicked to Ryan for a quick moment before landing back on me. "Your father and I flew out yesterday morning to meet with a few witnesses for an upcoming case," she explained. "We're here for the next couple of days, though we certainly didn't expect to see you here."

"I'm sure you didn't," I mumbled, only then catching on that she'd mentioned my father. "Dad's here too?"

"Of course he is," my mom replied. "We need to put up a united front when dealing with clients, and..."

Before she could finish her explanation, the man in question rounded the corner in a hurry, stopping in his tracks as he bumped into his wife. "There you are," he said, having not noticed me yet, "I thought we were meeting at Fiore."

When she didn't reply immediately, his eyebrows furred in confusion, his gaze shifting in my direction. His green eyes widened with recognition, an unreadable look sweeping across his features. Where as my mom's hair had grown longer and healthier since I'd last seen her, my dad's had become shorter, grey patches beginning to take over his once dark hair. In fact, pressure and work seemed to be taking a toll on both of them, as I could pinpoint wrinkles and stress marks that hadn't been there before.

"Zoe."

My lips pulled into a dry smile. "Hey dad."

He picked up on my tone immediately, his eyes narrowing as he spoke in a bitter voice. "What are you doing all the way out in Seattle?"

I wanted to laugh. I wanted to tell him that I could've traveled across an ocean without him knowing, and yet, with the words on the tip of my tongue, I couldn't muster up the courage to let the free.

He was trying to be civil, and so the least I could do was try.

"Ryan surprised me with a weekend out here," I replied, taking a deep breath to calm myself as I intertwined my hand with Ryan's. I could feel him tense beside me, realizing he'd been brought into the conversation. Having skimmed over the details of my home life with him, I was sure that he'd caught on that this was not a reunion I was thrilled about. "Mom. Dad. This is Ryan Adams, my boyfriend."

My tight-lipped smile was enough to show the two of them how I truly felt introducing them to him, but as I turned to Ryan, my features softened ever so slightly. Although I hadn't thought that meeting with my parents was even a possibility this weekend, I was glad that I was getting it over with.

Ryan held out his free hand, shaking my dad's hand with a firm grip. "Nice to meet you," he greeted, addressing both my parents with a nod. Though, having known him for a while, I could hear the tight edge to his voice.

My dad however, didn't pick up on the undertone to Ryan's voice. Or if he did, he didn't show it. "You too," he replied, seemingly friendly, as if he was being introduced to a new client. Though after taking a better look at him, I could tell he was concentrating a bit too hard on Ryan's appearance. "You look very familiar son. Have we met somewhere before?"

As the word son fell from his lips, a hostile feeling surged through my veins. The word was a term of endearment, and after neglecting my sister and I for the better part of our childhood, he was using it to greet a man that he'd met just short of five minutes previous.

Ryan's gaze shifted to me, silently asking if I was okay with them knowing of his fame, but before either of us could get the words out, my mother's voice cut into the conversation.

"You're in the movie that's coming out soon," my mom began quietly, having figured it out all on her own. Turning towards my dad, she explained further, "He's on the billboard across the street from our firm; that's where you've seen him before."

"Is he now?" my dad asked, racing an eyebrow curiously before the recognition sunk in. I gulped, hesitantly shifting my attention between my parents and Ryan. A gut feeling bubbled in the pit of my stomach, and not a pleasant one either. "Then I'm sure you've been busy recently. So tell me, when did you find the time to start seeing our daughter?"

Meeting Ryan's gaze, I could sense that he was uncomfortable with the situation, his hand tightening around my own. He wanted to say something, anything to my father, but he also wasn't wired that way. Ryan was too nice and caring to explode on someone he'd just met.

So it was me who responded after the lull of silence. "We met a few months ago dad," I replied, not holding back my irritation, "Not that it's any of your business though."

"It most certainly is my business," he countered authoritatively, clenching his teeth in an effort not to raise his voice. "I think I deserve to know if my daughter is suddenly going to be paraded around on the arm of some. What am I supposed to say if someone recognizes you? That I knew nothing about it?"

"Exactly, because then they'll know what kind of parent you really are."

Seeing a vein pulse in my father's neck should've been a warning sign for me. I knew I should've regretted the words that slipped past my lips, but in the heat of the moment, I couldn't stop them from tumbling out. And I wasn't sorry.

"Alright you two, break it up," my mother intervened, sensing the tension that was starting to build between my father and I. Stepping outside the bubble the four of us had been entrapped in, I noticed that people around us were casting their gazes in our direction, and it wasn't because there was a celebrity in the mix. "Why don't we go somewhere else to talk?" she asked, looking between us with a nervous look before her eyes stopped on me. "Your father and I were going to meet at Fiore; it's a quiet café a few blocks up. We can go there if you want."

I was about to decline, not wanting to spend any more time than needed in my parent's company, when I felt a subtle movement on my hand. Ryan had began running his thumb over mine gently, soothing the mess of feelings fighting in my stomach and clearing my thoughts. It was a small gesture, but it was also a silent conversation. He wanted me to talk to them, to clear the air between us.

Inhaling slowly, I closed my eyes. "Okay," I breathed out, "Okay."

"Then let's go, before we make a scene," she said, also having noticed the attention we'd been attracting. Her gaze turned to Ryan and she cleared her throat. "Will you be joining us?"

Ryan seemed hesitant at first, but when he glanced my way, his eyes apologetic, I already knew his answer. He shook his head as he faced my parents again, confirming my suspicions. "I think I'll just head back to the resort on my own," he replied, slipping his hand from mine as it reached out and took the shopping bag I'd been holding. He bent his head to kiss my cheek, whispering quietly in my ear as he pulled back. "Give me a call when you're heading back, and try not to kill them."

I snorted under my breath. "No promises."

Ryan laughed as well, sobering up as he stepped back from me, bidding farewell to my parents. I watched him retreat down the sidewalk, his hand out to hail a taxi, and all I wanted to do was yell at him to come back. He was a safety blanket that I'd gladly wear while dealing with my parents. He was a source of fire beneath my feet, but as he took one final glance back before sliding into the back seat of a car, my silence was all that could be heard.

This was something I had to do on my own.

"So," I gulped, turning back towards my parents, "Shall we?"

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Fiore wasn't exactly what I was expecting for a café, but with my parent's expensive taste, I should've anticipated it.

Stepping through the front door, there were no jingling bells above our heads that sent feel-good vibes through my body. The usual feeling of comfort that came with a hole-in-the-wall café was missing, as this was not a place of comfort. The interior looked to have one belonged to a small five-star restaurant, having only been converted into a café in recent years, and the prices made my eyes widen, seeing as they were almost triple what Colette's family charged back home.

The menus were sleek and sophisticated, printed onto boards five feet above the front counter, and the two workers behind the counter both wore black dress shirts with the café's name embroidered just above their hearts.

It was quiet though, which meant there would be less of an audience if this conversation escalated as quickly as it had on the street.

Approaching the front counter, I saw one of the workers cower in her stance at the sight of my parents. They looked intimidating, I'd give them that, but there mere presence shouldn't frighten an innocent worker. Though I'd assumed they'd visit this place previously, having not once glanced at the menu before ordering.

Requesting two coffees for themselves, I butted in and ordered a frozen lemonade. If I was going to make it through the next hour or so, I needed a lot more than coffee to keep me sane. I'd caught sight of freshly baked muffins in the display cases, however, with an unsettled stomach, I didn't think I was capable of stomaching more than a small drink.

After being handed our drinks, I followed my parents to a table near the back of the café. Even though there were no other customers, they seemed to be keen on keeping our conversation private.

"So, are you guys actually here on business?" I asked, breaking the silence after taking a sip of my drink.

My mother's hands curled around her coffee mug. "Yes," she replied, clipped and quietly. "Why? Did you think I was lying?"

I shrugged. "How would I know? I just find it a bit weird that, after not talking to you guys for the past six months, you just happen to bump into me in downtown Seattle."

"We didn't plan to bump into you," my father responded gruffly. "Your mother and I are in the middle of an important lawsuit, and some of the key witnesses in our case live in the downtown area."

"Yeah, mom already told me."

"Don't interrupt me young lady," he said sharply, taking a deep breath before continuing. "And if your mother already mentioned it, then why ask? We're here because our job needs us to be, yet you seem to be here gallivanting your time away with some boy that we didn't even know existed."

My blood was beginning to boil at how he was speaking down to me, as though disappointment and shock were emotions too mediocre for him, and I was trying exceptionally hard to keep my temper under control.

"And how would you know he existed, or anything about my life for that matter? Do you know what I'm taking in school, or do you know that Emily's been in a relationship for the past two years?" I asked. "No, you don't, but that's because we don't feel the need to tell you the significant details of our lives any more. We moved out for a reason."

I could see the fury light up in my dad's eyes, though my mother spoke before he could. "To be more independent, we know," she said, her eyes casting down to study the hardwood glaze of the table. There was a pause in conversation as she struggled to figure out her next words. "And where is Abbie? Have you left her alone somewhere?"

A sardonic laugh escaped my lips. "Oh, such a great grandparent you are, noticing after more than half an hour that Abbie's not here. Bravo," I said, not giving any thought to the fact that the filter between my brain and my mouth was fading by the second. "And that's rich coming from you, considering that once your careers began to take off, you more or less abandoned Emily and I."

"That's not fair."

"It's completely fair," I continued, my voice rising to a higher volume before I brought it back down. "When Abbie and I lived back in Arizona, you guys never took the time to care about her, so why start now? And if you must know, she's staying with Emily for the weekend."

"So what?" my dad started, "You suddenly catch a guy's attention and then you forget all about your daughter?"

"Just like you suddenly got invested in your work and forgot about yours," I threw back, angry that he'd even suggest such a thing. "Ryan may not be a father to Abbie, but he sure as hell cares about her. He's never looked down on me for being a single mother, and never once expected me to give up plans with her to spend time with him. Abbie comes first, she always will, and he knows that."

"And if you really believe that he'll be okay being your second priority for much longer, you're more naïve than I thought."

My father had been treading a dangerous line, but with that comment, he fell face first over it. My anger was in full throttle, and there was no reigning it back in.

"Ryan isn't you dad. He isn't just going to forget about other responsibilities when things get hard."

"I never forgot about you."

"You're right, you kept such a watchful eye on me that I ended up getting pregnant and your other daughter ended up arrested. Well done." It was tough throwing my own mistakes back in their face, but it needed to be done. "You let Greta practically raise Emily and I. She was the one that ate with us, that helped us with our homework, and who we went to talk to when times got hard. You two were always at work or locked away in your office, and when we were old enough to finally recognize what was happening, we didn't need you anymore."

"This conversation isn't about us," my father replied, grinding his teeth as he spat out his next words, "This is about you and that boy."

"You don't suddenly get to step back into my life." I spat out. "What? Are you scared that I'm suddenly going to be thrust into the spotlight and spill all your dirty little secrets? If so, don't worry. I don't plan on wasting my breath on people who don't matter to me."

"Ryan's only going to hurt you Zoe," my mother chimed in, appearing concerned as she took my father's side in this argument.

"How would you know? You met him for less than ten minutes, and during that time, he barely said a word to either of you."

"He's famous," my dad replied, as though the words spoke for themselves, "He'll get bored with you soon enough."

"What, did you want me to end up with someone like you? An up and coming lawyer with a solid job and a massive trust fund to match his high-class attitude?"

"We want you to end up with someone who has a promising future, yes," my mom replied. She seemed to have a better hold on her temper than my father and I. "An actor's career doesn't always last, and once his fame goes away, what more does he have?"

"Are you kidding me right now?" I asked. My eyes were hooded with rage and disbelief. "He's a good person! Which is more than I can say for you two. When was the last time you guys held a conversation that didn't revolve around your firm or a client? You guys have a partnership, not a relationship, and I don't want that."

"He's not good enough for you..."

I couldn't stand hearing them belittle Ryan any longer, and if we were anywhere but a public place, I would've considered throwing something to calm my anger. Pushing myself up from my seat, I was seething, my eyes glinting dangerously. "That's something for me to decide, no you," I said resentfully, "And trust me, he's more than good enough."

I didn't wait around to hear what else they had to say, turning on my heel and making my way to the front of the café. Yanking the door, I stomped onto the sidewalk, stopping when the fresh air hit me. Once I'd made my way around the closest corner, I rested my back against the brick, trying to calm my ragged breaths.

It had been a long time since my parents and I had gotten along. There were years of resent, anger, and distance separating us, and one conversation wasn't going to change that.

Only when I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts, did I become aware of the newsstand that I'd stopped beside. And of course, as if a fight with my parents wasn't enough drama for the day, the front cover of one of the most popular magazines had a picture of Ryan and his female co-star from Knights of Fury plastered across the front page.

The headline read, Just Co-Stars, Or Something More?

I caught the date of the magazine and saw that it was more than a week old, meaning the picture had more than likely been taken on the press tour in New York.

I trusted Ryan, I really did, and although I hadn't wanted it to happen, I realized that my parents words had gotten underneath my skin. I knew in my heart that there was nothing to this article, but that didn't stop me from second-guessing myself.

Clenching my eyes shut, I forced my racing mind to slow right down, stopping the thoughts that began to develop. Pulling myself together, I waved my hand, seeking out a taxi.

Giving the name of the resort to the driver, as I didn't know the address, I was lucky enough to learn he knew the way. Resting my head back against the seat, I let the events of the past hour replay in my head. The collision, the shock, the spitfire accusations, and the hostility. It was a lot, and I was surprised I was holding myself together.

It only clicked that I hadn't called Ryan when the taxi pulled up to the front of the resort, dropping me off once I handed him a few bills to pay the fare. Stopping at the front desk, I got directions to my suite, as I hadn't thought to check which one we were staying in, before heading up to meet Ryan.

"Please tell me you didn't somehow know that my parents had work in Seattle this weekend," I said, slamming the door of the room in a huff.

Shedding my coat and my shoes, I turned to see Ryan sitting in the middle of the bed, where he'd been scrolling through his phone before I'd taken him by surprise. His eyes were wide with alarm and hurt. Pushing himself off the bed in a hurry, he quickly made his way across the room. "No, of course I didn't," he rushed out. His hands sought out my shoulders as he crouched down, making our eyes level as his gaze seared into mine. "I had no idea your parents would be here, or that we'd bump into them. I wanted to plan a relaxing getaway for you to give us some alone time, but this, you being upset, was never my intention."

I sighed, collapsing against his chest while his arms circled my waist. "I believe you," I mumbled quietly. I felt the burning ache of tears welling up in the corners of my eyes as I pressed my face closer to his skin. "It's just been a rough day."

One of his hands trailed up my back, rubbing slow circles at the top of my spine. "I'm guessing the conversation with your parents didn't go too well?"

Sniffling a bit, I felt a few tears escape as I replied, "Not even in the slightest."

He let the silence linger for a few moments, just holding me. I accepted the comfort because, as I stood in his arms, it was easy to forget about the guilt that was gnawing at my stomach. It was what I needed; reassurance that he wasn't going anywhere.

"You don't need to explain," Ryan said softly, pulling back only as my breathing leveled out and my tears ceased to fall. One hand stayed wrapped securely around my waist, while the other trailed up my body, pushing stray wisps of hair away from my face. "Just know that if you want to, I'm here to listen."

A smile managed to tug at the corner of my lips. Without answering, I didn't take my eyes off him, grabbing his hand and guiding him towards the bed. He looked as though he was getting the wrong idea when his eyes widened and he sat stiffly on top of the covers.

"I don't... we shouldn't... you're not..."

I shook my head, silencing his protests with a strong pull on his arm. He laid down beside me, hesitant at first, but when I made no moves towards him, his legs intertwined with mine and his hands sought out my waist.

"I want to tell you what happened," I sighed, moving further into his touch, "I just don't know where to start."

"Well," he said softly, "You can start at the beginning, or the middle, or even the end if that helps."

It was a wonder how his teasing was able to resonate through my blurred thoughts, but never the less, a light laugh escaped my lips before I dove head first into the explanation. I skipped the unimportant bits, like what I'd ordered and where we'd gone, and jumped right into the memories that had my teeth grinding as I recounted them.

Not once did he interrupt, though when his jaw clenched and his hold on me tightened, I knew he was listening to every word. It hurt to repeat the cruel and disgusting things my parents had said, but he needed to know. He needed to know that, while their words and advances had played with my mind, I still trusted him.

I still loved him.

When I reached the end of the tale, my gaze locked with his, my hand running over the delicate features of his complexion, committing them to memory. "I know it's a lot, but please understand that, even though they think they have control over me, they don't," I said, my voice just above a whisper. "They haven't since Abbie was born, maybe even before that, and there is no way that they'll ever come between our relationship."

The wheels were turning in his head, and when he finally sank into my touch, I was able to breathe easier.

"Why couldn't your parents be like mine?" he asked. "What's so wrong with welcoming someone into your family with open arms?"

My chest tightened as I heard the agony he was attempting to mask. "My parents aren't wired that way," I said, trying and failing to find the bright side to the situation. "Don't worry, considering how much I love you, I'm voiding their opinions."

I moved closer to him when there was nothing else I could say. My head fell perfectly in the crook of his neck as my lips met a small patch of skin, underneath of which laid a beating vein flowing towards his heart. His arms tightened around me in an instant, pulling me so that my soft curves were aligned with his hard physique. A shiver rang through my spine when the soft outlines of his lips left a ghost of a kiss against my forehead.

A day that had started out adventurous had taken a turn, leaving the two of us in shambles, wondering when we'd feel complete again.

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"So, how were mom and dad?"

It was Emily's first question when I'd arrived home the following afternoon. Our plane had touched down less than an hour before, and knowing I had to work at four, Ryan had dropped me off before heading off to a meeting with his manager.

The night before had been rough, and while Ryan had confessed he had planned to take me out to a local diner, we ended up ordering room service for dinner, neither of us wanting to escape the sanctuary of our room. It was a quiet evening, eventually filled with miscellaneous small talk and subsidiary gestures, but the events of the day still loomed around us, casting an eerie shadow over the remainder of our trip.

I had sent Emily a text before I'd fallen asleep, summing up the talk with our parents, but was left with no energy to explain anything further.

Letting my luggage drop to the floor, I moved to collapse against my sister, my body sinking deep into the sofa as I pulled my legs up to my chest. It was a reflex when I was scared, a position where I felt like nothing could hurt me.

"Horrible," I said simply, sensing the feelings of hate and despair working their way back into my head. "They haven't been an active part of our lives for months, years even, so what made them think that, after one short run in, they had the authority to say things like that and get away with it?"

Emily had dealt all too often with my parents harsh and frivolous words before she'd moved away, and while I'd been the one to comfort her then, it was now her turn to ease away my stress.

"It's just the way their minds work," Emily reasoned, moving a supportive hand across my shoulder. "They think now that we're mature enough to step into the real world, they can all of a sudden reign us back in to follow their unrealistic expectations."

"They said that I shouldn't be wasting my time with Ryan because he's only going to hurt me," I forced out, sounding weak and worried as a hiccup of tears followed suit. "And they tried to say I wasn't a good enough mother."

"Assholes."

I laughed through my sadness, bringing a hand up to my eyes to soak up the tears. "You can say that again."

"Zoe," she started, shaking her head, "You can't let them get to you, because if you do, you'll end up ruining your own happiness. Ryan is one of the most genuine guys I've ever met, and what you two have is something special. If it doesn't end up working out, it's because you both put everything you had into the relationship, but wanted different things in the end. That's just what love is, sometimes even your best isn't good enough, but you two are so in sync and supportive of one another, that if you can't make it work, then there's no hope for the rest of us." I couldn't help the tiny smile that quirked upon my lips. "And they haven't been around to know that you're a damn good mother. Abbie adores you, and I know that there isn't anything you wouldn't do to see her smile."

Those were the words that carried me forward the rest of the day. They replayed on a loop in the back of my mind as I played with my daughter for the first time in days, as I texted Ryan letting him know I was headed to work, and when I stepped foot into Corner Café, ready for my shift.

I was distracted, momentarily, by the fresh aroma and the undertones of burnt coffee grounds, that I hadn't realized the room was uncharacteristically busy.

People old and young were littering around the front of the café, casting their gazes towards me with a drop of curiosity. Their eyes were bright with excitement, which only had me more confused. I could see Colette struggling behind the counter with the mad rush, and when I slipped into work mode quicker than I'd expected, a coo from customers alerted her of my presence.

"Zoe," Colette said, stumbling with wide eyes, as though caught off guard, "I didn't think you'd be coming in today."

My forehead creased together with concern. "Why wouldn't I?"

She sent me a sympathetic gaze, wiping her sugarcoated hands off on a spare tea towel before pulling a load of newspaper out from under the register. Casting my curiosity towards the crumbled papers, my eyes were drawn to the front page, of not one, but several of them, that read:

Ryan Adam's Mystery Girl – The Inside Scoop on Zoe Hamilton

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Turns out that only about 5-10% of you actually guessed correctly with the cliffhanger, and yes, her parents have returned. On a side note, Abbie's father does not make an appearance in this book at all, which is what most of you assumed, so I thought I'd let you all know.

Anyways, I don't have much to say except that I'll be writing up the next chapter for this story as soon as possible, so hopefully you'll be able to see another update before the end of the weekend. While you wait however, I did just post the first chapter of a new story on my profile, and I would love it if you guys went over and showed it some love!

Please be sure to vote and comment, as I'd love to know what you guys think <3