"What? No--"
"Yes. If you weren't with me, no one would say shit about you. Your reputation, your job, the kids--" I shake my head. "You're going to lose everything because--"
"Stop. Stop it. We're in this together, right? You and me against the world?"
I chance a look at her, softening when our eyes meet. "You and me against the world."
We're quiet the rest of the way to her house, lost deep in our thoughts. The second I'm parked, I flip up the console and pull her across the bench and into me. "I can't control what they do, but we can control whatwedo. And we're not backing down."
The feel of her in my arms soothes me, my heart hammering against her cheek. I kiss the top of her head, draw a breath through my nose so I can fill my lungs up with her.
"Do you think it'll blow over like she said?" she asks.
"I don't know. But we'll deal with it together. Okay?"
"Okay."
I sigh, not wanting to let her go. "I should skip practice."
"No, don't skip. I'll make dinner. You go to practice. They've already affected us this much, let's not give them the power to stop our lives."
I pull back, study her face. I want to stay. But I want to listen to her more. "You sure?"
"I'm sure."
"I hate leaving you."
"Me too."
I watch her for a moment longer, then sigh. Again. "Call me if you need me. For anything. I'll leave practice, I don't care."
"I will. Now kiss me and get out of here. Your team needs you."
So I do, a long and hard and desperate kiss. And she scoots out of the truck, shuts the door, waves at me as I back out.
All I want to do is stay.
CHAPTER 42
NEIGHBORLY AND ALL
MOLLY
Ifeel like a wrung out dishtowel.
As soon as he left, I dragged myself inside, feeling like a marionette with cut strings. The door was unlocked again, though IswearI locked it, and I'm glad Grey didn't notice. He worries too much. I dumped my bag next to the front door, tossed my keys and purse on the table. Shuffled into my room to change, pulling a pair of sweatpants and a red Rambler's sweatshirt. It smells like Grey. I gather up the front a couple of times to bury my face in it like a freak.
Every time I do it, my nerves unwind a little bit more.
The house feels stuffy, dark, stale, so I make my way around opening windows before heading out to the front porch swing.
It creaks and groans but holds my weight well enough, and I push myself off, staring at a honeysuckle on the property line. It's just started to bloom, filing the spring air with its sweet, heady scent.
I've never been so hurt.
I've never been so tired.
With a sigh, I pick up my phone to text Cass, knowing she's probably bugged out, waiting for news. This is confirmed when she texts me back within seconds.
