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But the annoying, pesky voice in the back of my head rears her ugly head. Why the sudden change, Cash?
In his bedroom yesterday, Cash and I had our first real talk. The kind where we didn't sweep our feelings under the rug or tiptoe around the issue. It was the first time I've been honest about how I feel and what I want. I didn't expect it to make a difference, but as Cash sucks my bottom lip into his mouth, I realize it must have. He wouldn't be acting this way if it didn't.
When we're both breathing hard and my lips are swollen, Cash finally breaks our long, overdue make out sesh and rests his forehead against mine.
"Hey," Cash finally replies.
I smile as I hug him tight. "I've missed this."
Cash clears his throat as his hands rest on my back. "I leave tomorrow."
My heart dips in my chest. "I know. It's your birthday tomorrow, too."
"We need to talk, Ingrid."
I'm so caught up in how much I've missed kissing Cash that I miss the strange tone in his voice as the words slip out of his mouth.
"What about?" I close my eyes and hold him tighter. He smells like sandalwood and home.
"I talked to my parents," he begins.
At the mention of his parents, I notice that he's not really holding me. His fingers are barely resting on my back, and his body is rigid.
I pull away from him and frown. "You talked to them about what?"
Cash's jaw tightens. "I love you, Ingrid."
Nope. That's not a good start.
"What does that have to do with your parents?" I lick my lips nervously.
"They... they think we're too young to be this serious," he answers.
"They've always felt that way," I point out.
"And they think that... that you're a bad influence on me." The second blow.
"Me?" I guffaw. "What about Wilder?"
"They… they think you might talk me out of doing something I’ve spent my whole life preparing for." He scrunches his eyes closed.
"Like what?" I can feel my face heating with anger.
"Like not going to Baltimore."
"I love you," I defend myself. "And I’ve always wanted what’s best for you. I’d never talk you out of going to school."
He touches my forearm. "I know that."
"Did you defend me? Did you tell them that I wouldn't jeopardize your future? Or mine?"
"I tried," Cash shakes his head, "but you know how my mom is."
Fanny Allred is Satan incarnate.
"I... I'm sorry, Cash. I didn't mean to cause problems for you." Heat builds behind my eyes as I force myself to keep it together.
"My parents think it's best if we spend the summer apart," Cash deals the final blow. "They think it would be good for us to figure out who we are without—"
