“Bullshit,” I snapped. I glanced past him at the kids still standing in the doorway and pressed my lips together. I wasn’t going to have this argument in front of them.
“Go into the bonus room and turn on a movie,” Curtis ordered, turning toward them. He walked to the door. “Got it?”
“Got it,” Dylan replied quietly, setting his hands on Jesse and Finn’s shoulders to lead them away.
Curtis closed the door and turned to face me. “How’s it different?”
“It just is,” I hedged. “This isn’t working anymore. We brought all thisshitto your doorstep. Dylan nearly died! We need to go before anything else happens.”
“What do you think is going to happen?”
“Who the hell knows?” I yelled, flinging my arms out. “Kidnapping? Drive-by? Bombing? Who the hell knows what’s going through that monster’s head? He’s not going to give up!”
“He already has.”
“He hasn’t, and if you believe that, you’re an idiot.”
“You don’t think I can protect you?” he asked quietly.
“That’s not what I’m saying.”
“Then what are you sayin’?”
“You shouldn’t have to! I knew what he was capable of, and I brought it straight to your doorstep. I can’t believe how fucking selfish I was.” Reaching up, I rubbed at the headache forming above my eyes. “It’s better for everyone if we go. We can go further. Out of his reach. We don’t have to bring anyone else down with us.”
“What’s this really about?” he asked gently.
“I just told you.”
“No, you didn’t.”
“Stop acting like you don’t understand what’s happening,” I said, my voice thin with frustration. “You know you’ll be relieved when we’re gone. Okay? You know it.”
“Baby, that’s not true.”
“Just stop,” I ground out.
“What the fuck, Teddy?”
“Go take a look at your son,” I yelled, my patience gone. “Watch how he moves so carefully. Check out how he jumps at every sound. How he watches Jesse and Finn like a fucking hawk. Then tell me it’s not true!”
“The attack wasn’t your fucking fault!” he yelled back.
“You know it was!”
“It wasn’t!”
“Just fucking stop! You know it was my fault!”
“Why the hell do you keep saying that?”
“You haven’t even fucking touched me!”
Curtis reared back like I’d slapped him.
“You know it’s different now,” I said, lowering my voice. “And we both know why, all right? Let’s just move on.”
“Baby.” He reached for me, but I skittered backward.
