In this scene, Pearce tells his mother what really happened in Vegas. (Contains spoilers if you haven’t read Needing Her.)
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“Pearce. You need to leave.”
I look up at my mother again. “I’m not done talking to you.”
“There’s nothing more to say. We already know what you’ve done.”
“You only know part of it.” I pause. “When Royce and I were in Las Vegas last weekend, I asked Rachel to meet me there.”
My mother’s arms drop to her sides. “Please tell me you didn’t.”
I nod. “I married her. We got married last Saturday.”
“Shit.” She whispers it as she looks down the hall toward my father’s office. My mother never swears, so I know this is bad. He’s definitely going to kill me.
She grasps my arm. “Why would you do this, Pearce?”
“Because if I didn’t, I couldn’t be with her. They’re voting in a week. They’re making it a rule that you have to marry whoever they choose. And I couldn’t do it, Mother. I couldn’t get married again to someone I didn’t love. I know you don’t approve of her, but I love Rachel. I can’t live my life without her. I know, deep-down, you want me to be happy. So why can’t you accept this and just be happy for me?”
She takes a step back and folds her arms over her chest again. “Your father’s right. You’re a fool, Pearce! A complete and utter fool! It doesn’t matter if there isn’t an official rule in place. You know how it works. You know they make the decision.”
“You said I could have a say in the matter. When you tried to set me up with Sydney—”
“Sydney was on the approved list! I was trying to help you! Give you a woman you might actually enjoy being with. Someone you could someday come to love.”
“I already love Rachel. I love her more than I could ever love any other woman.”
“Then you’re an idiot for getting involved with her in the first place. We taught you better than that. Were you not listening to us all those years? Did you really think you could marry this girl without any consequences?”
“I know there will be consequences and I will take whatever punishment they impose upon me. But I will not give up Rachel.”
“You may not have a choice,” she says, glancing down the hall at my father’s office. “Your ignorance and careless actions are going to cause you harm, Pearce. And this time, I can’t protect you.”