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“She was younger than me, so not really. But trust me, there were plenty of people like that when I lived there.”
“What happened when you were there?” I asked.
“It was years ago.” She shook her head.
“It still seems to affect you.”
“Oh no, don’t turn this around on me.”
“But maybe it’ll help me understand,” I said. “Please?”
Her lips thinned, but then she nodded. “Fine. I had a friend once. A close friend. And we did the kind of things friends do—be honest with one another. She was dating this man who wasn’t good for her. I kept trying to tell her, but she never listened. Eventually, I told her I couldn’t watch it happen, and that she needed to dump him or I would walk away. Of course, she told everyone, and you know who they sided with?Her.”
“Really?”
“Yes. They tried to shame me into submission, tried to tell me I was jealous of her perfect little boyfriend.” She crossed her arms. “No one spoke to me up until I left for college. And I never looked back.”
I looked down at my tea, stomach roiling. “That’s terrible.”
“It’s not the kind of place for you,” she said. “I just hate that you had to see it this way.”
My shoulders slumped, but not out of relief. I didn’t want to be done with the town; I only needed a break to think things through.
But would I even be welcomed if Ididgo back?
Maybe Cain would only grow angrier over time. Maybe the town would too. And I would come back to Nashville.
The thought made me want to cry all over again.
The front door opened, and I looked up. Dad was walking in, a concerned expression on his face. For half a second, I was happy to see him. Then I realized he wasn’t alone.
Trevor was with him.
Fuck.
“Your mom texted me that something happened,” Dad said. “We came right away, Mollie-bear.”
“We’re worried,” Trevor added, smiling down at me.
It felt more like a smirk.
“I’ll catch you two up while I refill Mollie’s tea,” Mom said. “Come on.”
Dad nodded and headed toward the kitchen.
“Actually, I’ll stay here,” Trevor said. “Mollie doesn’t need to be alone through this.”
Mom put a hand on her heart. “You are so sweet.”
He was a fucking liar. My fists tightened as they walked away.
“Seems like you learned your lesson,” Trevor said.
“Fuck off,” I hissed.
“Not entirely, I suppose. You still have that damn attitude. You know, I really had you trained until you went and whored yourself out to some lowly farmer.”
For a second, all I could do was gape. Had he really said that?