Page 3 of The Summer of Wild

"I think I'm going to walk home." My hands shake as I begin stuffing the sunscreen and my water bottle into my bag.

"No," Cash lays a comforting hand on top of mine. "I've gotta meet my dad anyway. I'll drive you home."

"And me?" Wilder butts in.

"And you," Cash furrows his brow. I ignore his curious stares as I roll up my towel and slip it into my bag.

The drive home is short and quiet. Wilder doesn't say anything from the backseat—for once—and Cash keeps his hand on mine until he stops in front of my house.

"My parents won't be home until later," I tell him. "You want to come inside?"

Cash runs a hand through his damp, blond hair. "Sorry, babe, I have to meet my dad at the Country Club."

Rejection. That's what this is. It's been two months and 13 days since I last saw Cash naked.

"Huh," Wilder's annoying voice echoes through the cab of the truck.

"What?" Cash twists in the driver's seat to look at him.

"Nothing," Wilder answers before shooting me an I-told-you-so look. "Tell your dad I say hi."

Wilder hops out of the truck as I grab my bag.

"Have fun with your dad," I say to Cash. He leans over the middle seat to kiss me, but I turn my head to the side. The moment his lips connect with my cheek, my heart dips in my chest. Does he not want me anymore? Did I do something wrong? Is he really punishing me for staying here when he wants me to go to Baltimore with him?

"Love you," he says into my hair.

I get out of his truck and shut the door harder than I mean to. Cash takes off down the road. He didn't even notice.

"So," Wilder pushes his blacked-out sunglasses up the bridge of his nose with his middle finger. "I guess three months it is."

"Why are you always so mean?"

Wilder tosses his towel over his shoulder and shrugs. "For the record, any guy who turns sex down is either gay or not interested anymore."

I hug my bag to my stomach. "Yeah, well you fuck anything in a skirt so excuse me if I don't take your word for it."

"Wow," Wilder raises his eyebrows. "I didn't realize little miss goody two-shoes said the word fuck. I guess you're not as innocent as you pretend to be."

"I'm not pretending to be anything," I say with defeat. "I don't know what game you're playing, but if you're going to tell Cash about my parents, can you wait until after his birthday?"

"Why?" Wilder frowns.

"I'd like one last birthday with him before my entire world blows up in my face." I step around Wilder and start heading toward my house.

"Hold on," Wilder grabs my shoulder. "Why would your world blow up if he knew your parents are struggling?"

I take a deep breath. "Because Wilder, I'm not you. I don't get to be the screw-up best friend. Cash has an image to uphold, so I have to be the perfect girlfriend."

"You think he only likes you because you look like you have your shit together?"

"I don't know," I say as I cross my arms over my chest. "Kind of feels that way sometimes."

"Cash would never look down on you," Wilder defends his best friend. "If anything, he would help you guys out. And he wouldn't make you feel bad about it either."

"We don't need help," I raise my chin. "We'll be fine." We're Winthrops.

"Alright," he shrugs. "See you tomorrow, Blondie."

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