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?”

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