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“You’re not at all concerned that you’re sharing a house with a man who was in jail for battery?”
“I know about that, and honestly, while I don’t agree with the methods, it was justified.”
She scoffed. “Are youthatblinded by that town?”
“Mom, I’m safe.”
“God, I can’t do this!” she wailed, and my eyes widened at her tone. She sounded like I had when I’d left after the party, like she was losing everything. “I can’t watch you waltz into a place that will eat you alive.”
“But—”
“Mollie, no. You don’t know that town like I do. And you don’t know what you’re in for. Just come home!”
I was silent for a long time. I would be lying if I said I wasn’t tempted, but I knew exactly where I wanted to be.
“No,” I said. “I won’t be doing that.”
“Then I can’t talk to you,” she said with a sob. “I’m putting my foot down.”
“So, you’re just never talking to me again?” I replied. Now my voice was high.
“I’ll always be here for you. Call me if you need anything, but I can’t continue to reach for you when you’re so stubborn about this choice. I hope you see sense before it’s too late, Mollie. For your sake.”
And then she hung up.
I had to sit in silence to process. Had she just ... cut me off? Just like Trevor had said he would make sure of?
Fuck.He’d won. He’d taken my parents and gotten them on his side.
And I’d let him. Like a fucking idiot.
The fields were still barren when I went outside, and there was nothing to do. Cain probably had a handle on the animals, but I didn’t want to take him away from his work while I was dealing with the consequences of my own actions.
I meandered to the cow fields where they grazed for food. Most of them paid me no mind as I leaned on the fence.
With my new jacket, I could stay in the cold for a while. Maybe I needed to, considering the wind wouldn’t judge me for crying about what Mom had said.
Behind me, I heard a huff, and I turned to see Moosley had found me.
“Hi,” I sniffed. “Having a good day?”
She looked at the field and then back at me.
“I’m not,” I said, wiping at my eyes. “I think my ex has ruined my relationship with my parents. And I let him when I came here, like an idiot.”
She looked back out at the field.
“At least you won’t judge me.”
Then she turned, giving me a side-eye that lookedveryjudgmental.
“Or you will,” I said with a laugh. “That’s fine.”
I figured she would wander off in search of more food, but her large head leaned against my arm.
The tears came harder, and I let them fall. I didn’t regret my decision to come here. Even now, when I was crying in a field, I still felt something. Back in the city, I hadn’t.
But I wished I’d done it differently. I wished that I’d never dated Trevor in the first fucking place.