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You could’ve waited at home.I tamp down my anger. It’s best to remember Bobby started as a friend.
“What do you want, Bobby?”
“I want to know why you suddenly dumped me for a . . .” His lip curls in disgust, but he doesn’t finish that sentence. And in true Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde fashion, his mood shifts from sad to angry.
I scan the surroundings. No one is close or nearby. An uneasiness creeps up my spine, but I don’t understand why. It’s not as if he’d do anything nefarious. Bobby was a friend who got me through some of my darkest days. He wouldn’t hurt me. I shake off the feeling and move toward my car door. “If you can’t be civil, we have nothing to discuss.”
He shoves his fingers through his hair and keeps them there. “Tell me why you threw us away? I deserve to know that much.”
Deserves to know.
My bullcrap meter just filled up and spilled over. I snap, no longer holding back. “Itriedtalking to you. You wouldn’t listen. You cut me off. When I did talk, you minimized what I said. You told me how I felt. Gee, I wonderwhyI would want to end our relationship?”
“That’s not true.”
“But yet, it is. I told you I didn’t want to work as a missionary, and you said it was just my nerves. I’m not nervous; I justdon’twant to go.” I let out an exhausted sigh. “I’m not even going to touch the stunt you pulled at your welcoming party.”
“I thought all you needed was an extra push to snap you out of this funk.” He tugs at his hair that’s still woven in his fingers. “Your dad is all for it.”
“My dad doesn’t decide who I marry. And a funk, really? I’m still missing Mom. Coming home this summer to her being gone is freaking hard. Have you ever considered that? So, no, I’m not in a funk. At least, I wasn’t until . . .” I don’t finish my thought because I’m certainly in one now.
“Until Dalton left?” he guesses.
I nod, looking at the ground. I hate hurting Bobby even though he deserves it. He’s not completely innocent in this.
“You really like this punk?”
“He’s not a punk. He’s a sweet, caring guy.”
“He’s broody and standoffish.”
I shrug. “Not with me.”
And that’s the truth. Dalton has been nothing but a gentleman to me. When he was mad, he still treated me with respect. I still wield power over him just as he does with me. We blend in aBeauty and the Beastkind of way—he, the brooding bad boy; me, all wide-eyed and innocent. Somehow, we work past the differences and click.
“That’s real cute, Cassie.”
“It’s the truth, but even if he had never come into the picture, I still wouldn’t marry you.”
“But what about everything we talked about? You’re just going to throw it all away?”
I feel like a broken record, constantly replaying my words. I don’t know how to phrase it any differently. “This right here is why. You don’t listen. You have this image of what a perfect housewife is supposed to be. It’s not the same image as me. It never was. I told you that last year before you left for Peru.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Yes, I did. When we sat outside looking at the sky before you left, you mentioned it would be us going next time.”
“Yeah, and you didn’t say a word about not wanting to go.”
“Do you even remember what I said?” When he stares at me blank-faced, I fill him in. “I told you that wasn’t my dream. Do you remember what you said after that?”
His lips flatten. “You could’ve been more assertive.”
“You told me you knew what my dreams were. You then went on to reassure me how great it’ll be once we get there.”
“Still. You could’ve—”
“No, I wasn’t going to get into a huge fight right before you left. But when I tried breaking up, you still wouldn’t listen. I tried multiple times the night you came back. You kept interrupting. I made it clear when we went out for dinner. You turned around and told everyone I accepted your proposal. Look, I’m not going to rehash it again.” It seems like we’re starting round three of the same song and dance. “I’m sorry if you feel like I led you on, but I did try telling you.”
