“I don’t know. I’ve given up trying to figure them out. Truth is, if Mom knew, like you said, then it’s on her that she decided to stay. I’m not saying that makes Dad right in any way, shape, or form. I know I couldn’t forgive someone if they cheated on me. I think once the trust was broken, I’d question everything after that, and that would just be exhausting for both of us.”
“Once a cheat, always a cheat, huh?”
I shrug. “I’m not the expert on this. I’ve been cheated on, sure, but I didn’t care enough about them to try and forgive them and make it work. For Sorrow, I’d try. I can’t imagine giving up on us so easily.”
“She wouldn’t cheat on you in the first place, and that’s the crux of it. If your love is strong enough to forgive them, then it’s strong enough for them to resist temptation.”
I nod. Do I think some couples can get past cheating? Sure. I’ve even seen some couples become stronger afterward. But that’s the exception to the rule, not the norm. Most of the time,once trust is shattered, it is impossible to put it back together again.
“Is it weird to admit I’m glad things turned out the way they did? I mean, it sounds fucked-up, right? Alec is dead, and Mom and Dad have gone off the deep end. But for the first time in forever, I feel like I can breathe. I feel like I can just be me and not worry about everyone else’s feelings when it comes to my life.”
“No, I get it. You’re seventeen, you’re the least selfish teenager I know. It’s just not right. Now is the time when you’re supposed to be thinking about yourself, or you’ll be worn out by the time you reach thirty. That’s why I won’t stand in your way when it comes to enlisting. I want you to be happy. And the truth is, if Mom, Dad, and Alec were still a part of your life, I think you might have capitulated to their wants to keep the peace.”
“Maybe.” She nods before looking at her watch. “You sure the guys will be okay with helping me pack up some things?”
“You know they will. It’s Saturday tomorrow, and as far as I know, none of us has anything scheduled. So if we get started early, we’ll be done in a day. No point dragging it out. Besides, I don’t trust them not to sell the house out from under you, contents included, out of spite. Dad might say he’s sorry, but his actions and his words never seem to match up anymore.”
“Yeah, I know. I’ll be glad to get it over with. It will likely be the last time I go back. I feel like I’m supposed to feel sad or something. But honestly, I’m just relieved that this chapter of my life is over.”
“I still wish it played out differently for you.”
“Don’t be sad for me, Banner. I’ve got you and Sorrow. I honestly don’t feel like I’m missing out at all.”
I grab her hand and squeeze it as Marcus walks in. He spots us and heads over, taking one of the empty seats at the table.
“Hey, you good?” I ask when I see the distracted look on his face.
“Huh? Or yeah, miles away. What are you up to anyway? And where’s Sorrow?”
“We were having lunch and I was telling Banner that I wanted to enlist.”
“Ah.” He doesn’t say anything else, already knowing I’ll find it hard, but that I’ll be supportive. Hell, he probably knew that before I did. I’ll admit, sometimes I can be a little slow on the uptake. My first instinct is to protect. That means I often take over when the situation calls for me to take a step back.
“Sorrow’s gone to the cemetery. She wanted a little alone time to say her goodbyes,” I tell him.
“She’s okay, though, right?”
“Yeah. I think this is her way of severing the last of the ties. Which reminds me, are you free tomorrow? It turns out that Mom and Dad are gone and are selling the house. We want to get Katy’s shit out tomorrow before that happens.”
“No problem. I’ve got nothing on. Want me to round up the rest of the guys?”
“Yeah, that would be great.”
I turn to Katy once more. “You ready to go?”
“Sure. We meeting Sorrow?”
“Yeah. Marcus, you wanna come?”
“Nah, I’m meeting someone. Thanks, though.”
“Like a date?” Katy tilts her head as he shrugs.
“It’s just coffee. Less pressure on both of us that way. And if we like each other, then I’ll take her to dinner next.”
“Anyone we know?” I stand up and throw some money on the table, enough to cover the food and a tip.
“Not yet.” He smirks.
