“Try to bulldoze everyone into what you want. Just let the kids figure out what they want on their own.” He gestures to Finn and Zahra.

Zahra shifts uncomfortably and keeps glancing at Finn as though she’s not sure what to do.

“I do not do that! Even if I did, better that than to not give a shit. Do you think everything just comes together on its own, Greg?”

My chest feels as though it’s collapsing and putting pressure on my lungs. It’s a sensation I’m familiar with, and if I closed my eyes, I’d probably feel as though I was back in my bedroom in the house I grew up in. I hate that their arguing puts me right back there in the past. I feel like I’m a helpless teenager again, walking on eggshells whenever both my parents are home.

But I’m not helpless to do anything anymore. I’m a grown adult, and I don’t have to stay here to listen to this shit.

“I need some air.” I rush down the hall, find my coat on the bed in the guest room, and shove my arms through it, continuing up the hall as fast as possible and out the door without a backward glance.

The sound of my parents’ raised voices can be heard all the way down the hall. I stab the elevator button so hard I hurt the tip of my finger and wait there tapping my foot until it arrives. The silence on the way down is welcome, and I draw in deep breaths to try to temper the adrenaline surging through my system.

When I reach the ground floor, I walk out of the lobby and brace myself against the cold wind, quickly zipping up my jacket. I didn’t think to take my purse or my phone with me when I bolted, so there’s nothing I can do but walk to burn off some of the irritation coating me like a thick layer of paint.

I decide to head right for no reason, and when I reach the corner and I’m about to cross the street, I hear my name called from behind. I turn to find Andrew running toward me.

“Kenzie, wait up!”

At the sight of him, my shoulders slump. I can’t believe he witnessed what went down. Not only were my parents embarrassing, but so was my reaction.

He reaches me and scans my face. “Are you all right?”

The concern in his eyes makes me want to break down now that someone safe is here, but is Andrew safe?

“Me? What about you? You looked like you wanted to disappear when Finn was proposing to Zahra, yet you’re insisting nothing is going on.”

His lips form a thin line. “I told you, I’m fine. I’m not the one who just ran away.”