Ican’tlook back and risk seeing the mistrust written all over her face.
I can only hope that whatever I said will hold her over until I can come back and prove that there is nothing in this world I want more than her and the family we can have.
Even if it kills me in the process.
The only thing saving me from collapsing face-first into my bed after Cal leaves is Cami needing to get to camp. After her spending a week away from all her friends, she is beyond excited to go back, which motivates me to get moving.
It’s not until I finally drop her off that I am able to process everything. At least, that is what I had planned before my friends showed up at my front door, each of them carrying a bunch of grocery bags.
“What are you two doing here?” I gawk at Violet and Delilah as they shuffle into the guesthouse.
“We were summoned.” Violet drops her set of plastic bags on the counter.
“By whom?”
Delilah begins unpacking the bags. “Cal.”
I rear back. “Calasked you to come here? Why?”
“Because he might be an idiot, but at least he’s a thoughtful idiot who knew you would wallow in your misery for a few days before giving us a call.”
I drop on to the couch and cradle my head in my hands. “Oh my God.” My chest tightens to the point of pain.
He called your best friends because he knew you would avoid everyone until you could face them.
The way he can predict my every move… It makes me both happy and sick at the same time. Happy because I found someone who understands me on a cellular level, and sick because that person has all the power to abuse it.
And abuse it he did.
My eyes itch.
Don’t you dare cry.
I rub at them until the tears disappear, although the heaviness pressing against my shoulders remains.
“Did he tell you about…” My voice drifts off as I think better of revealing the inheritance.
“The will?” Violet finishes for me. “Yeah, after he swore us to secrecy.”
“He told you?”
“He didn’t want you to feel obligated to keep a secret like that from us.”
Oh, God.My shoulders slump. Why would he risk the consequence of losing his inheritance for me?
Because he cares.
I shake my head. “I can’t believe he told you about the will.”
“He did emphasize how we couldn’t tell anyone or else his brothers will most likely ruin our lives.” Delilah’s lips press together.
“Either way, I still can’t believe he said anything.”
“He was a bit nervous, but I think only because he didn’t like the idea of leaving you behind.”
My chin trembles.
Delilah drops on to the couch on the other side of me and pulls me into a hug. “It’ll be okay.”