“Tell me what?” Cash asks as he crosses his arms over his chest.
“Nothing,” I quickly reply.
“If you know something about my mom,” Cash says, “I’d like to know.”
It always falls to me.
I have to be the bearer of bad news.
“Your mom called me,” I tell him. Cash goes still. “She said she’s leaving. For good.”
Cash shrugs. “Is that all?”
Wilder and I share a worried glance.
“I mean… yeah?” I say.
“I don’t care if I ever see her again.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“She made my life a living hell.”
And mine, but who’s counting?
“Cash,” I say gently, “she’s made a lot of mistakes and—”
“She’s a terrible person,” Cash interjects. “Let it go, Ingrid. In case you forgot, you’re not my girlfriend anymore. So, not your problem.”
I see red.
“And whose fault is that?” I snap.
“Ingrid,” Wilder groans. “Don’t start.”
Cash smirks. “You’re the one who cheated.”
I lunge for him, but Wilder’s arms circle my waist, holding me back.
“I never cheated,” I snap. “Don’t you dare rewrite that.”
“Blondie,” Wilder chuckles as he struggles to get me on my feet. “You’re not fighting Cash.”
“Yeah.” Cash waggles his stupid eyebrows. “You’re not fighting me.”
“I may be a lot of things,” I say to Cash. “But you ended things. You left. I didn’t cheat.”
“You knew I’d be back.”
“Did I?” I yell as Wilder puts himself between Cash and me. “Could have fooled me. Oh wait, you DID!”
“Stop bellowing,” Wilder scolds me. “People are starting to stare.”
A few of Britta’s neighbors are outside, pretending to water their lawns.
Cash rolls his eyes. “You’re so dramatic. No wonder Wilder was too afraid to tell you about NYU.”
All the fight leaves me.
