Chapter 29

Ellie

I hoped to god standing my ground and not looking weak did it for him. I didn’t feel very strong, no matter what I said. My bones itched for me to grab that wine glass and down the whole thing in one go, but I resisted. I needed my wits about me for this, and I knew it would only taste like failure. I heard my father in my head, telling me to drink. I saw him pouring me wine with dinner when the conversation would get to be a little too much for him. I saw the look in his eyes when he figured out I’d started drinking without him, and how he pretended not to notice how often I smelled like alcohol.

“Are you planning on telling your father we met today?” Urie asked me. He set his glass of wine down and I tried not to stare at it.

“Should I?” I asked.

“That’s up to you. I’m sure you know our relationship is a little contentious at best. He might be angry to find out that we shared a meal together.”

Ah. I needed to turn up the dad hate. “I think he would be very, very upset. Whi