Nash lets out a bitter chuckle. “Honestly, I’m fine with it. I messed up the least,” he tells us, his tone laced with a hint of resentment. “North would drag all of us down the hole he dug himself, and I can’t have that. I need her back.”
“Youneedher back?” Hunter asks, disbelief and bitterness in his tone. “The last time I checked, you didn’t even want a relationship, and now youneedher? Playing games is over, Nash. You can’t bring her to forgive you only to tell her, ‘Well, cool that we’re good again. Wanna fuck?’”
“Fuck you, Hunt,” Nash exclaims from next to me. “Things change, okay?”
I’m just as surprised as Hunt about Nash’s revelation, but I understand. Things do change.
Shechanges things.
Us.
“Then make sure these things have changed for good. We can’t have you promising her stuff only to turn around and let her down while you go back to fucking other girls.” Hunter’s tone is unusually icy, but it has been a long four days for all of us.
“Oh, you mean like the promises you made to her?” Nash accuses sharply.
Way to go using what Hunter confided in us against him, but I get it.That was a low blow.
I shoot a glare at Nash, my jaw clenched. “Stop it,” I snap. “Both of you. We each have to take responsibility for our own actions. Sloan deserves individual apologies from each of us. Not a half-assed, panicked,we’re sorry.”
“Fine, whatever. If that’s what you think is best,” Hunter agrees, his voice resigned. “But I want to make it clear that Iwon’t help either of you when it’s time for her to forgive us. If we’re doing this alone, we’re doing italone.And if she forgives me but not either of you, I will not make her. This only happened because I prioritized family over her. That won’t happen again.”
I glance at Nash, his resolve clear in his eyes as I agree, “Fine, every man for himself.”
It’s time to make things right.
SEVEN
“Eat,”Tally commands as she sets a sandwich in front of where my head is laying sideways on the table in her café.
It’s late afternoon, and I’ve been hanging out here for most of the day after not sleeping a wink last night. I couldn’t stop replaying how they barged their way back into my life,demandingI forgive them. The fact that Saylor’s still not back didn’t help my overthinking at all.
I groan and lean back into the chair, my head falling back on my shoulders. “I can’t.”
“Why? You look like you’ve already lost some weight, and it’s not like there was much of you in the first place,” Tally accuses, eyeing me from head to toe.
“I feel constantly sick, okay? I ate some crackers, so I’m not going to starve,” I mumble, rubbing my stomach.
“Are you pregnant?” Tally asks with wide eyes, hope shining in them.
I point a finger at her. “Stop that shit right there. I’m not pregnant. My stomach is tied to my emotions. It’s always been like that. I can’t eat when I’m sad or upset.”
“Sorry, girl. They’re all such dickheads.” Tally sighs when she sits down in the other chair at the table, stroking her belly.“But you can’t let them have so much power over you. Right now, you’re letting them dictate your life choices. And that’s just something they didn’t earn themselves.”
I frown at her. “What are you even talking about? Just because I don’t eat that sandwich doesn’t mean they have a say in anything.”
“Oh, they don’t? So why are you already planning your escape?” She cocks an eyebrow at me, challenge in her eyes.
“I’m not running away,” I protest, crossing my arms over my chest.
“Of course, you’re not. You love living in that shitty van just as much as you love aimlessly driving around without a destination, and you cherish your solitude. Don’t you? Who needs a home or friends? Screw the family you found yourself.” Her tone is bitter.
“That’s not fair, and you know it,” I mumble, looking down at the table’s surface.
“Boo-hoo. Life isn’t fair, and you need a reality check. Where would you even go? You drove through the whole damn country to find a place where you belong. And you did. You found a home with people who love you and who care. And you want to give all of this up because of some stupid boys? You weren’t even in a relationship.”
Ouch.
I look at her, hurt, and she deflates a little. “I’m sorry. I get mean when I care. I know they meant a lot to you and you to them. It’s obvious. But you also mean a lot to me, Tim, and Mac. And right now, it feels like we don’t mean enough to you to choose us and stay, that you’re giving the ones who fucked up more power over you than the ones who are here for you.”
