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Now Meg was standing next to Jason, who was rubbing her back, trying to calm her. Her mother sat at the kitchen island, her head down, wringing her hands.
Josh looked stunned and sad. Caroline didn’t care.
She grabbed her bag and started out of the house, taking out her phone as she walked. “I’m out. See you... whenever.”
Jason shook his head. “You’re not calling a car. I’ll take you to the train.”
Josh pulled his keys from his pocket and his hand drifted to Caroline’s arm. “You stay. I’ll take her.”
Caroline was getting sick of being handled and pushed Josh’s hand away. “I already have an Uber coming”
“Don’t be stubborn.”
“Stubborn? Everyone seems to have an opinion of me today.”
Jason walked over and kissed Caroline’s cheek, understanding that he needed to back off. “Feel better. If you don’t want Josh to drive you, I will. It’s going to take the Uber a while to get here.”
“Thanks, Jason. I’ll just hang out on the porch.” She nodded toward the door. “Hopefully, the fresh air will clear my head.”
She hugged Molly again and turned back to Josh. “See you around.”
She got as far as the side door before she stopped, took a deep breath to calm herself and looked at Josh, who’d followed her.Who was stubborn? Jeez.
He leaned in and ran his hand over her shoulder. “Don’t be pissed. I’m sorry.”
There was a shudder that let her know he could still own her and there was no way she could allow it. No stinking way. “You had no right to talk about my writing. None.”
“Maybe not, but you need to stand up for what you believe in. Don’t expect people to take you seriously if you won’t talk about it.”
“You have no idea...”
“If you’re not even able to talk to your family about it, why should anyone care? I’m your friend and I had no idea…”
“We’re not friends, Josh.” Caroline stepped back because if she was too close to him, undoubtedly, she was going to get all stupid again. “We’re just not.”
“Why?” His face, his tone, told her that what she said didn’t land well.
“It can’t... I just...” How was she going to say this? “I’m too emotional and you don’t really want to be friends. I’m a responsibility.” It was happening again. She was rambling, but she wasn’t wrong.
“You make me crazy,” he muttered. “You know that, right?”
“Right back at you,” she said.
“Caroline…”
She said nothing, and closed the door behind her.
* * *
She wasa pain in the ass. Stubborn. So fucking stubborn, but he had to admire the way she pushed back. It was a long time coming, but she did it.
When Josh walked back into the kitchen, everyone’s eyes were on him. His brother appeared confused. Meg looked like she was going to kill him, and Mrs. Rossi…well, she looked content. Maybe even a little happy.
Molly was holding her lynx-sized black cat, and she was looking at him, too. So was the damn cat.
“You really need to back off of her, Meg.” Why did he say that? He should have made a run for it, just like Caroline.
“I can’t,” Meg said. “Why don’t you tell me what went on between you two? I really think you’re the reason she left.”
