Olivia Westview
“Wait, James—this is too sudden,” I protested as I stood up. “I haven’t even told my parents about this trip. They’re going to freak out if I just pack up and leave for another state without any notice.”
James looked at me with that calm, confident expression he always wore. He leaned back in his chair, fingers steepled together, and sighed.
“Olivia,” he began, “you’re a grown-up. You’re a full-grown adult, capable of making your own decisions. Do you really think your parents need to approve every move you make?”
His words stung, a slap to the face because deep down, I knew he was right. But that didn’t stop the anxiety from gnawing at me. “It’s not that simple,” I replied. “My father… he’s very protective, and he wouldn’t approve of me traveling to a different state w
