Edward coughed, as though he was trying to cover something up. Bridget narrowed her gaze at him, having to twist to look over her shoulder to see him. Everyone ignored him.
“It’s not right to put this on strangers,” Sharon tried again.
“Eli is hardly a stranger. I’ve known her my entire life.” She didn’t add the part about living together in college, since she’d never shared that with her parents, just that she’d had a roommate. She also hadn’t mentioned it had been a one-bedroom apartment where they’d shared the bed. Sharon would no doubt have a heart attack if she knew that.
“She’s not family.”
Bridget wrinkled her nose. “She’s more family than a lot of my family.”
It was probably the closest she would get to outright saying she didn’t really consider them family except that she was biologically related to them and had been forced to live with them until she turned eighteen.
“How dare you say something like that?” Sharon screeched.
“Because it’s true.” Bridget raised an eyebrow. “And I’m not going to say more or less about that. I will not go home with you, and if that’s the reason you came here, then feel free to leave.”
Eli grinned at her like she’d won the lottery, while Sharon shifted in her chair unable to sit in the awkwardness of Bridget standing up for herself. Bridget couldn’t honestly remember a time when she’d actually told her mother to leave, but they were disrupting Eli’s routines, not only by being there, but by being an hour late.
“Was there anything else?”
Sharon’s look hardened. “We think it would be best if you came home with us.”
“You can think that all you want,” Eli chimed in. “Bridget has clearly stated where she wants to stay, and she is welcome here no matter what. We may not have always had the easiest of friendships, but I like to think those small blips don’t matter in the long run. She’s been my best friend for as long as I can remember.”
Bridget stared wide-eyed at Eli. While she felt the same way, she hadn’t been sure Eli would ever say that out loud, not since they broke up. When Eli faced her, her look softened. Bridget smiled at her, glad to have found someone who was so damn near perfect for her, even if they wouldn’t ever date again.
“You disgust me,” Sharon snapped. “If you corrupt—”
“Stop right there.” Eli put her hand out. “If you’re about to say something derogatory about the fact that I’m a lesbian, you can kindly shut up. I don’t want to hear it, and you’re in my house.”
“It’s unnatural.” Sharon leaned forward. “You’re unnatural.”
“Well, I’m glad you didn’t bring God into this, because I have been working on a damn good argument for that one.” Eli flashed Sharon a brilliant smile. “Are you done lobbing accusations around?”
Sharon seemed stunned. It was the first time Bridget had ever witnessed it, though it was also the first time she’d ever seen Eli be so blunt about her sexuality in front of someone who very clearly didn’t support her.
“Good.” Eli slapped her hands against her thighs. “Now, if you’re done trying to get Bridget to do something she doesn’t want to, you are free to leave. Bridget has stated she doesn’t want you here any longer.”
Sharon took a second before she stood up, huffed, and stormed out the front door. Edward, however, stayed put, eyeing the two of them with his lips thinned. “I hope I don’t find out the two of you are together.”
Bridget’s stomach sank. She flicked a glance at Eli, who didn’t look at her but stared at him, nothing revealed on her face. Damn, she wished she could do that. Eli was so much stronger than she was, able to be out and proud in a town and part of the country that would almost never be supportive. At least not in their lifetime. Bridget had seen the devastation that had come to those who were out. Their old teacher, Azalea, being one of those who had felt her parents’ wrath.
“We’re not together. However, I don’t think that’s any of your business. You’re making quite the assumption about your daughter.”
“I know you two dated, went against God.”
Eli curled her lips up as if he’d just invited her into the best debate ever.
Bridget interjected, not wanting to cause more conflict than necessary. “Daddy, we’re not together. Eli is helping me recover in a calm and quiet environment, which you know wouldn’t happen if I went home with you.”
He nodded at her firmly. “I will agree with you on that. But I also don’t think this is the best situation.”
“I promise you it is.” Bridget held her ground. “I’ll see you around, Daddy.”
When he stood up, Eli escorted him out of the house, shutting the door. She came back, sitting in Sharon’s vacant spot and sighed heavily. Bridget cocked her head in Eli’s direction. “That could honestly have gone worse.”
“Sure.” Eli pinched the bridge of her nose. “Does everyone really think I’m going to take advantage of you?”
Laughing, Bridget grinned. “No, only them. I promise. No one else would ever dream of it.”