“I appreciate you saying that,” I say, treading carefully.
But it doesn’t change anything. He hurt me. He left me. He left Wilder. Then, he came back and expected everything to be the way it was.
We all live in difficult houses. I do. Wilder does. Cash did.
Every house has its problems. Cash doesn’t get to be the only one wounded.
I’m not Wilder. I won’t let Cash off the hook because his parents are shitty people. They were shitty, but they still gave him everything he wanted.
“Please, come with us,” Cash practically begs. “It could be good for the three of us.”
I shake my head. “I don't know.”
“I will try my best to keep my mouth shut,” Cash promises. “But it's hard. That's not an excuse. It’s just hard because I thought I gave up everything for you. I'd do it again if I had to. I didn’t think I'd lose you to Wilder. It's been hard to wrap my mind around for the past year.”
Cash didn't give up everything for me, but whatever. It doesn’t matter anymore.
“Okay.”
“Okay, as in you'll go?” Cash leans forward.
“I will talk to Isla tomorrow.”
I head for my door and grab the handle.
Cash takes the hint. When he reaches me, he stops. “Thank you.”
I'm not doing it for him. I'm doing it because Wilder is running from something. And staying here and dealing with it scares me more than running.
I don’t want to lose him.
I can’t lose him.
“Have a good night.”
“Wild is...” Cash trails off. “Just be careful. The last thing I want to see is you hurt.”
Could have fooled me.
“Wilder isn't you,” I reply. “He's not going to hurt me.”
“You sure about that?”
No, I’m not sure.
But Cash was raised by people who manipulated everyone around him.
I don’t trust him.
“Yes,” I answer.
Cash leaves without saying another word, but that look Wilder and Cash shared earlier pops into my head.
They're not telling me something.
But is it for Cash's benefit?
Or Wilder's?
