The condo my parents rented out for the weekend was in the heart of Southern California. When I called them this morning to say that I was fired and being sent home, Mom insisted that I just meet them there.

I showed up with red eyes and wrinkled clothes, clutching the handle of my suitcase. “Oh baby, it’s okay,” Mom said, flinging open the door and rushing to hug me. “Come in. I made pancakes.”

I could barely eat. My stomach was in knots, and it was embarrassing to tell my parents what had happened. I told them about Dale escaping, and my reunion with Chuck and Legacy. I expected disappointment or frustration from them. This was the second time I’d fucked up, but surprisingly, their reaction was the opposite. “Oakley defended you?” Dad asked.

“He punched Chuck. The dude was out cold when paramedics arrived.”

“Good,” Mom sneered. “What hospital is he at? I’m going to skin him alive. Did he hurt you when he grabbed you?”

“I already filed a police report,” I said. “I’m fine.”

“I knew I liked Oakley,” Dad grumbled. “Is he okay? Does he need anything?”

“He needs to stay far away from me,” I said in a low voice while stabbing my plate. My phone started buzzing, and texts from Oakley started coming in rapid fire succession. His ears must have been burning.

Oakley: Did you get a flight?

Oakley: What flight are you on?

Oakley: Call me when you get home.

Oakley: I just want to make sure you are safe.

Not that I was planning on answering, but if I was, he was barely giving me a chance to read his texts, let alone send a response. I looked at my phone for a minute and then did something that I never did. I turned it off. I didn’t put it on silent or do not disturb, I turned it completely off.

“I’m exhausted. I didn’t get any sleep last night,” I announced to my parents as I stood up from the table. “I think I’m going to try to take a nap before the game.”

“Ok, honeybunch,” my mom said. “I love you, and we’ll talk more when you’re up for it.” I loved that my mom got me. She just knew that I was going to want to talk about this later, but I wasn’t able to right now.