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“I mean it.”

“I know.” Bridget saw Eli pull up out front with the old truck she used only on the farm. She grabbed her crutches and stood up, stretching what muscles she could. As she maneuvered her way outside and down the porch steps, she shook her head at Eli. “Ask and I’ll kill you.”

Eli threw her hands up. “Duly noted.”

As soon as they were in the truck and taking the uneven path out to the lower fields, Bridget sighed heavily and pinched her nose as pain worked its way into her head again. “I told them.”

“Told who what?”

“My parents.”

“I thought I saw their car.” Eli couldn’t lie for shit. Bridget knew she was aware of exactly what had happened in that dining room, and that Karen had been in there so she didn’t have to be. Bridget hadn’t realized just how much the Wilson family had always protected her and had her back. “Were they asses again?”

“When are they not?” Bridget leaned back into the seat. “I told them I was going to yourwedding.”

“Which, I hope, naturally led to other topics of conversation.”

“Some.” Bridget nodded. “Dad said he loved me, but he wasn’t sure how he could love me through this.”

“That’s probably quite an honest answer. I imagine you’ve overturned a lot of their world today.”

“Maybe,” Bridget muttered. “But he knew before today.”

“He may have known, but he probably didn’t have to face it. Your parents are really good at avoiding life.”

Snorting, Bridget nodded. “That’s true.”

“They are also pretty toxic.”

Bridget wanted to object and say something different, but she couldn’t disagree with it. She’d known it, somewhere in her head, even if she hadn’t wanted to admit it. In some ways, she was so like her father, she supposed. Sighing, Bridget agreed. “They are.”

“Sometimes the only way to deal with toxic people is to cut them out completely, but that’s hard to do.”

“It is.”

“Other times, you can set some pretty firm boundaries, which I think you’ve actually been doing lately.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.” Eli drew her brow together as she turned to look Bridget in the eye. “You kicked them out of the hospital room, not once but multiple times. You refused to go stay with them even though they insisted, multiple times. You have withstood conversations with them, made your point and stuck to it. You’re really coming into your own, Bridge. I love it.”

Bridget’s heart warmed. “I guess you’re right.”

“I know I’m right. I got to witness it.”

“How the hell do I deal with them living in such a small town, though? I can’t avoid them forever.”

“I imagine you won’t be the only one avoiding. Not after today at least.”

“True.” Bridget stared out at the cattle grazing in front of her. “Is Buddy going to try to eat me again?”

“Eat you? He never tried to eat you. He just wanted to join in on your little date.”

Bridget slid Eli an unamused look. “That was not funny.”

“It was hilarious. It’ll be hilarious when you and Jerica are married and I get to roast you at your wedding.”

“Jesus, we’re not getting married.”