Page 32 of Final Drive

“Margot, you look stunning as always.” Jessica turns to us. “And this must be your daughter. She’s beautiful. Who’s this handsome young man?”

“This is Tyler Wu.” Margot’s voice has gone warm, nearly proud. “A friend of Reese’s from university. His grandmother is Margaret Wu.”

“Oh, how wonderful!” Jessica beams at me. “The Wus are such a lovely family. You two make an adorable couple.”

“Thank you,” I say, because that’s the expected output.

They talk for another few minutes and move on, and the warmth goes out of Margot before they’ve cleared the doorway.

“You see how easy it is,” she says to Reese, low and hard. “To present well. To behave appropriately. To not embarrass your family.”

“My choices aren’t embarrassing.”

“Living with eight men isn’t embarrassing? Reese, people are talking.”

“People always talk.”

“Not like this.”

“Then say what you mean, Mother.”

Margot’s mouth tightens. “Fine. Do you enjoy having the entire rowing community think you’re sleeping your way through the boat?”

Reese’s face goes hot, but she doesn’t look away. “Do you actually care what I’m doing, or do you care that somebody might know about it?”

“I care that you’re humiliating yourself.”

“I’m not humiliated.”

“You should be.”

“Margot,” James says, though there’s no real warning in it.

“No, James. Apparently she needs it said plainly.” Margot leans toward her. “Do you imagine we don’t know what happens in that house? Our daughter, the team whore, spreading her legs for anybody who asks.”

Reese flinches like she’s been struck.

I set my fork down. “Mrs. Callahan. I’m going to give you an opportunity to withdraw that.”

“Excuse me?”

“You heard me. Apologize to your daughter.”

“Who do you think you are?” James starts to rise.

“Somebody who’s watched you spend the last hour hurting her because she stopped doing what you told her.”

“Young man⁠—”

“I’m not finished.” My voice comes out harder than I intended, but I don’t take it back. “You invited her here to remind her what she owes you. You’ve insulted her, threatened her, and now your wife has called her a whore because she made a choice you don’t like.”

James’s face has gone red. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“I know exactly what I’m talking about.” I stand and button my jacket. “Reese is not a problem to be managed or a reputation to be maintained. She’s a person, and a remarkable one. The fact that you can’t see that says everything about you and nothing about her.”

I hold my hand out to her. “We’re leaving.”

She takes it. Her fingers are shaking and her chin is up.