“Aubrey?” My mother’s voice took the smile right off of my face. “Aubrey, were you listening to your father just now?”
“No, I’m sorry.” I sighed, dreading that I was still sitting at a dinner with them.
They’d called me the second my rehearsal was over and demanded that I drive home so we could all ride to our “favorite” restaurant together. It was where all their country club friends ate regularly, and I knew they just wanted to come here to assert our seemingly perfect family image.
“Are you listening now?” My father raised his eyebrow.
“Yes...”
“We brought you here so we could tell you that...I’m running for governor in the next election,” he said.
“Do you want my vote?”
“Ugh, Aubrey.” My mother huffed and snapped her fingers for the waiter. “This is one of the happiest moments of your life.”
“No...” I shook my head. “I’m pretty sure it isn’t...”
“All those years of hard work, building our firm to be one of the most impeccable in the city,” she said as she looked into my father’s eyes, “it’s about to payoff in a huge way. We already have a few verbal commitments for the campaign’s budget, and since we’re going in on the same side as the incumbent—”
“You have a really good chance of being governor.” I cut her off. “Congratulations, Dad.”
He reached over the table and squeezed my hand.
My mother couldn’t seem to shut up. “We’ll have to take new family photos—stocks, you know? Photos we can give to the press for their write-ups, so you’ll have to wear your hair in something other than that ballerina thing.”
“It’s a bun.”
“It’s an eyesore.”
“ Margaret...” My father chided. “It’s not an eyesore...It’s just—”
“It’s just what?” I looked back and forth between them.
“It’s important for us to look like a cohesive All-American unit on the campaign trail.” My mother took a glass of wine from the waiter and waited for him to step away. “We may have to make some stops together as a family.”
“You’re running for governor, not President, and what twenty-something do you know travels with her parents during a campaign just for photo-ops?”
“Our opponent has twenty year old twins who are homeschooled,” she said. “They travel to third world countries every summer to help the poor and I’m pretty sure they’re going to be at every stop on the campaign trail.”
I snorted. “Why are you trying to compete with genuinepeople? Don’t you think they’re the type that deserve to win?”
“Aubrey, this is serious.” My dad looked upset. “This has been a dream of mine for a very long time and we want to make sure that nothing stands in the way.”
The two of them exchanged glances and I raised my eyebrow.
“Nothing like what?” I asked.
“Okay...” My mother lowered her voice and looked over her shoulder before speaking. “We need to know if there any skeletons in your closet—any pictures on social media that make you look like a party girl, any ex boyfriends’ or sexual partners that you may have dealt with, or anythingthat would make us look like bad parents.”
“You arebad parents.”
“Stop it, Aubrey.” My father gripped my hand and squeezed it hard. “The two of us have given you everything you could’ve ever wanted growing up and all we’re asking for is a small sacrifice from you.”
“I don’t have any skeletons in my closet.” I gritted my teeth.
“Good.” My mother put on her fake smile. “Then, when you pull out of school for your senior year to help us on the trail, it won’t look suspicious. We’ve already spoken to your department chair about online classes and they are, in fact offered. For the ones that aren’t, you’ll have to show up to campus to take those, but they make special considerations for students with circumstances such as yours so—”
“No.” I cut her off. “No, thank you.”
“This isn’t up for discussion, Aubrey. This is for the benefit of—”
“Dad’s dream, right?” I tried not to lose it. “Because he’s the only person in this family who has a dream?”
“Yes,” my mother said through her smiling teeth. “We’re talking about realdreams, Aubrey. Not no-chance-in-hell and failed ones.”
“Excuse me?!” I stood up. “You want to talk about failed dreamswhen the two of you have failed more than anyone I know at the expense of your own daughter?” There were tears in my eyes.
“Aubrey, sit back down.” She grabbed my hand. “Let’s not make a scene.”
“ Let’s!” I snatched my hand away. “Let’s discuss how I’m twenty fucking two and I’m a juniorin college when I should already be a graduate! Shall we? Can you explain why that is?”
My father’s face reddened and he motioned for me to sit down, but I stood my ground.
My mother clutched her pearls. “Aubrey...We did what was best at the time, and even though switching school systems twice in two years was unfortunate, it made you who you are today. Now, the campaign won’t start until—”
“I don’t care when the hell it starts. I’m not going on a pointless campaign trail, and I’m not taking any of my classes online because guess what?” I could feel my blood boiling. “You can’t learn fucking ballet online!”
The restaurant was suddenly silent.
“You two are beyond selfish and you don’t even know it.” I shook my head. “I’m voting for the other guy.” I stormed off amidst gasps and whispers from the other tables—slightly content that my parents’ picture perfect family had been publicly scratched a bit.
“Your number, Miss?” The valet said to me as I stepped outside.
“My what?”
“Your number?” He tilted his head to the side. “For your car?”
Shit...I sighed and looked over my shoulder.
Patrons were pointing in my direction and I couldn’t bear to go back in there just because I didn’t have a ride home.
I considered calling a cab, but I knew that was pointless. It would take forever to get here, and I could probably walk back to my apartment faster than they would arrive.
There was a bus stop a mile or so down, but I only had a credit card. I doubted Andrew would come get me, but I decided to give it a try.
Subject: A Ride.
I really need a favor...
—Aubrey
Subject: Re: A Ride
Wanting to take a ride on my cock in the middle of the day shouldn’t be considered a “favor” at this point.
—Andrew
Subject: Re: Re: A Ride
I’m not talking about your dick. I’m talking about your car...Would you be able to pick me up right now? I was at a dinner with my parents but it didn’t end well...and I don’t have my car.
If you can’t, I’ll understand.
—Aubrey
Subject: Re: Re: Re: A Ride
Where are you?
—Andrew
Half an hour later, he pulled into the country club’s driveway.
I slipped into his car before he could even park—not looking back at the snooty members who were probably whispering and wondering about what had happened between me and my parents.
“I’m taking you home, right?” he asked as he pulled off.
“No...”
He looked over at me. “Am I taking you to GBH?”