Page 146 of As It Was
“Then I’ll do what feels right,” I said. “I’m goinghome.”
“I’ll make sure they never talk to you again, Mollie! Do you understand me?” He was screaming at me, which was my cue to leave.
I blinked back tears as I stormed to my car and drove away. I didn’t know if he really could convince my parents not to talk to me or if he was talking out of his ass.
My hands shook as I drove; I was in no place to deal with the traffic of Nashville. I needed to leave, but I also needed to calm down.
The second the car was in park, the tears started. Trevor had shaken me in ways I hadn’t known he could. What Dad had given me felt heavy in my pocket. I fished out Trevor’s stupid ring and regretted that I hadn’t shoved it up his ass where it belonged.
Then again, he had been too busy threatening me. I bet he wouldn’t have even taken it back.
What if Trevor did have the kind of power to make my parents leave me?
Should I go back? Did I want to lose my parents over my happiness?
I was torn. So torn that I didn’t know what to do.
Then my phone rang.
It wasn’t Mom or Dad. It was Cain.
I answered the second I saw his name.
“Mollie.” His deep voice interrupted the second ring, and I let out a breath, snapped out of my contemplation. I threw the ring in my glove compartment, unable to look at it anymore. “Where are you right now?”
“A gas station in Nashville.”
“Are you okay?”
“No,” I muttered. “Not really.”
“I just saw your text. Trevor was there.”
“Y-yeah. And it was bad.”
“Which gas station?”
“Does it matter?”
“Princess.” His voice was firm. “Please tell me which gas station.”
I read off the name and what street I was on, confused, but needing to hear his voice.
“Thank you,” he said. He took a second before he spoke again. “What happened?”
“It started out fine. Well, mostly fine. Trevor was an ass from the second I arrived, but then when I saw Mom, she was so happy to see me.”
“But it got worse?”
“Dad made me choose. I either stay in Nashville or go back to Strawberry Springs and lose my job.”
“What?”
“He said Trevor convinced him I needed an ultimatum. I thought I was free of him, but now he’s going after myparents.And Dad believes him.” My voice went high as emotions hit me again. I leaned against my steering wheel, hoping no one pulled in next to me to witness my meltdown.
He was quiet for a second, but then finally spoke. “Do they know?”
“No,” I managed to get out. “B-because I still can’t fucking talk about it. What if they don’t believe me, Cain?”
