“Did you not hear what I said? What he said he’d do to you if I didn’t listen? We were kids; we had absolutely no chance of winning against him.”

I fold my arms in front of my chest and level her with a cold stare. “Okay and what about when we weren’t kids anymore? Why didn’t you come back then?”

“I…I…” she sputters over her words. “I didn’t think you’d want me to.”

“Right. You would’ve known if you had just fucking asked. But you didn’t ask me shit through any of it. I was nervous as fuck when you got pregnant, yeah, but I was excited. When you said you changed your mind and got the abortion, I was upset but I accepted it because it was your body and I had no right to tell you what to do with it. When you broke up with me and then disappeared, I let you go because you made it seem like I wasn’t what you wanted anymore. Like I was a burden and I didn’t want to hold you back from accomplishing your dreams if that’s what you thought I was doing. If you had just told me what was going on, I would’ve done what I had to do to protect you. I would’ve fought for you. You fucking took that chance from me.”

“What were you gonna do?! He would’ve ruined you!”

“You think I gave a fuck?!” I give it right back to her. She is standing on one side of her bed while I am standing on the other, but it feels like we have miles more distance between us than just the bed. “There wasn’t a goddamn blow he could land that hurt me more than when you walked away that day.”

“You say that now but trust me, his blows hit hard.”

“I’m not scared of your dad, Olivia.”

“Well, maybe you should be! I’ve seen what he’s capable of. I’ve seen him follow through on the threats he’s made, and it is fucking devastating.” She looks like she’s about to say more, but she bites her lip to stop herself. She lets out an exasperated sigh before continuing. “If I hadn’t done what I did, do you think you’d be where you are today? Do you think G would have the care she needs? Would you be able to spoil Kylie the way you do?”

“First of all, don’t throw G’s care in my face. I pay for her nurse because I can and I want to help my parents. If I couldn’t do it, my parents would be perfectly capable of doing so and you know that. And maybe Kylie’s ass should be less spoiled, so you’re not helping your case. Just admit you folded.”