“No,” Cash answers. “But I'd like to sit in the front seat since I've been wide awake all morning and Ingrid's been—”
“While I've been what?” Ingrid challenges as the door whips open.
“I'll drive,” Cash mutters to me. “I'll be in the car.”
I watch him go as Ingrid heads toward the coffee machine.
“Why did we agree to do this with him again?” she asks me.
“Because he's our friend,” I answer weakly.
“He'syourfriend,” she makes clear.
“Which makes him your friend by default,” I remind her.
“No.” She shakes her blond head as she grabs a Styrofoam cup out of the dispenser. “He’ll always be the guy who used me to get back at his mother.”
I pinch my nose with my thumb and forefinger. “Here we go.”
We’re only a few hours into this road trip and I’m already starting to think it’s the worst decision of my life.
“What?” Ingrid whips her head back.
“Nothing.” I sigh. “Just going to be a long week with you two butting heads.”
“He's the one who can't keep his mouth shut,” she argues.
“I know this is a huge ask,” I breathe through my nose, “but can you please not engage with him?”
Ingrid furrows her brow. “Is everything okay?”
I scratch the side of my face. “I'm tired of being in the middle. Kind of feels like it did when my parents separated and I had to go between houses.”
Her face fills with mortification. “I-I didn't realize... I'm sorry. I never meant to do that to you.”
“It's mostly Cash,” I admit. “But when you play right into his hand, it...”
“Bothers you,” she concludes.
“Ingrid.” I cup her cheek in my hand, searching her face. Did I ask too much of her by begging her to come on this road trip? Am I putting too much pressure on our relationship by forcing her to spend time with her ex-boyfriend? “You know if the choice came down to it, I'd choose you, right?”
Her impossibly large eyes crinkle in the corners. “I know.”
“Is this too much?” I ask, not sure I want to hear the answer.
She chews on her lower lip. “If I'm being really honest with myself—and you—I'm still angry with Cash.”
“You are?” I inhale sharply.
“I'm mad he wasted so much of my time.” She swallows hard. “Time I could have been withyou.”
“We're together now,” I assure her.
She shifts uncomfortably.
She thinks I'm going to get tired of her. I know she thinks I want to release Wild Cox into the...wild. The fear is written all over her face every time we have a serious conversation or disagree about something inconsequential. So, I do what I always do. I lean forward and kiss her. I kiss her to remind her that no version of her would ever make me run in the other direction. Not jealous Ingrid. Or angry Ingrid. Or doubtful Ingrid.
“I love you,” I say to her, making sure she hears every word. “I'm not going anywhere.”
