Page 81 of Vicious Sentiments

Before I can ask him for what, Margo’s head snaps up like she’sbeen waiting for him.

“Now, I can’t a hold of Denny,” she launches at him.

Cape shrugs, but I notice the tiniest bit of tension in his jaw.

“You’re going to have to swallow your shit, Caperson,” she snaps at him. “I want you on the first flight.”

My heart picks up, my body coming to life for the first time in two days.

“I don’t do coach.” He picks a chocolate chip off a muffin and pops it in his mouth.

“God damn it!” She smacks a hand on the counter, and I flinch.

“Don’t use the lord’s name in vain, Ma. It’s not becoming,” he drawls nonchalantly, and I start to feel the same anger as Margo.

“So somethingiswrong?” I ask, looking between the two of them and ignoring Cape’s dig.

“Nothing’s wrong.” Margo shakes her head but looks at the floor. “But Cape needs to—”

“Stop, Ma.” He pushes off the counter and I can practically see steam coming out of her ears. He comes to me and pokes me in the side. “Hurry up and get dressed. The DMV waits for no one.”

What? I look at him like he’s insane.

“Your appointment. It’s today.”

Oh, my god. I roll my eyes. I could care less about that, I want to know what’s going on and why Margo seems in denial.

“Julian—” I start but Cape cuts me off.

“Julianwas supposed to take you but he’s not here right now, so I’m taking you.”

“Don’t you think we should—” I start.

“Cape, we need to react rationally—” Both me and Margo start to talk, but Cape booms over us.

“Both of you need to stop!” he yells, and it echoes through the house.

I’m surprised when I don’t shrink in my seat. I don’t know if I’m loosening up or if I’m just too distracted to care about my own well being when Julian’s is all I care about.

Cape drags a hand through his hair as if trying to compose himself after his outburst.

“Just… Stop,” he says more gently. “Julian is fine. You both are overreacting. I’m not going to fly down there. Bad shit happens when I get involved.”

My heart aches for him when I notice his eyes go distant and I can imagine what he’s seeing, what Dillon told me Cape found when he finally got to Madison.

“Cape, that was a one off. You need to get over this,” Margo pleads through her teeth.

He comes to and raises his chin. “Julian is fine,” he says to Margo and then looks down at me. “Now fucking get dressed. We’re going to get your license.”

* * *

I’m not happy as we wait to be called in the DMV. There’s so many people talking and kids running around, that I feel like a live wire just waiting to be tripped. I understand where Cape is coming from, I really do. He thinks that whatever he did caused Madison’s death and he’s scared to have it happen again. But he’s being stubborn. I don’t think this is the same scenario, and he’s in denial, convincing himself that Julian is fine so he doesn’t have to get involved. And I’m stupidly enabling him by agreeing to take this drivers test. Not that I think I had a choice. I think I was one more ‘no’ away from being carted into the car in my pajamas.

Once I’m in the driver’s seat with a woman named Donna, who has a scowl on her face in the passenger seat, I’m all nerves. I can’t eventhink about Julian as my palms sweat on the steering wheel. I actually need to concentrate so I don’t crash and kill the miserable woman next to me. God, this was a bad idea.

I’m in the McLaren that Julian made sure to leave the keys for, and this is the first time I don’t have him next to me, guiding me. Although, Cape is still in my line of sight. I haven’t pulled out of the space yet and he’s leaning against the wall of the stucco building, one foot lifted and planted against it.

He wasn’t too happy that I refused to drive us here, making him fiddle with the bells and whistles of the car. Apparently, it’s been a while since he’s driven and he usually takes his motorcycle everywhere. I thank my lucky stars that it wasn’t Cape that found me on the bridge, otherwise I’d be taking a motorcycle test right now.

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