“You left early.”
And there it is.
“Yeah, well, Brantley didn’t want to go to Sunday school.”
“Well, he didn’t have to come then.” His voice is tight and the line goes painfully silent. “This is the kind of stuff I’m talking about, Addison,” he adds, a hint of aggression in his voice.
The stomach drops. Is this actually happening right now? We just got past all this stuff. I thought he was going to back off.
“I didn’t want to—”
He cuts me off. “You shouldn’t be putting him before God.”
My voice tightens. “Wesley, I’m not. I just don’t want to jam the Bible down his throat.”
“Well, maybe…” His voice trails off. The silence that sits between us again is unsettling.
“Well, maybewhat?” I challenge.
“I don’t know. Never mind.”
“No.” I sit up. “Just say it.”
“Well, maybe heneedsit shoved down his throat so he can learn how to have some respect for you,” he retorts.
My jaw drops. It feels like I’ve entered a dream, or rather, a nightmare.
“Wesley…” I warn.
“What? It’s true. I don’t care anymore. I’m tired of trying to support this relationship you want with a guy who doesn’t even seem to care about it.”
“You need to stay out of it!”
“I have been! But you’ve gone completely blind for this jerk! I’m just trying to be a good friend!”
“Well, then, maybe we can’t be friends! If you can’t support me and what I want, then—” I stop to prevent my voice from cracking. Tears well in my eyes at my own words. I can’t believe I just said that to him.
“Friends don’t support each other’s bad decisions, Addison. I’m sorry,” he says dryly. “Goodbye.”
And the dial tone sounds.
Chapter 12
Wesley
I cast the line into the creek and watch it drift with the slow current.
“Mom said you were out here,” Dad’s voice comes from behind me, steady and sure as always.
I don’t say anything, just nod. He settles onto the carved-out log seat beside me.
“Rough day?” he finally asks.
I sigh. “Something like that.”
He waits. Doesn’t push, just waits.
“It’s Addison,” I say, like that’s enough reason.
