Page 19 of Stay With Me

“I’m not his girlfriend anymore!” Magnolia interjects.

I shake my head at the part she’s focused on. “And I clearly didn’tabductyou…”

“Well, duh.” She takes a bite of a brownie that Mom and Gramma Grace baked yesterday. “Can’t we just call the sheriff and explain what actually happened? We can give our statements, and Tripp will be off the hook.”

“It ain’t that easy.” Dad shakes his head. “It’d be better for Tripp to turn himself in and give his full testimony. Then they’llconfirm his story with the witnesses, and if he agrees with your version of events, you’ll be released.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Better to get ahead of it. Our lawyer will show up first thing in the mornin’, and if the sheriff’s in a good mood, you’ll get points for not makin’ him drag you in.”

“This is fuckin’ bullshit.” I’m close to losing my temper and the only thing holding me back is Magnolia being close enough to inhale her perfume.

I’d punch and kick Travis a thousand times if it meant he kept his slimy hands off her.

I’d face the sheriff, give my statement of thetruth, and then prove I was within my rights to defend myself and Magnolia.

“Fine,” I spit out before Mom can scold me for my outburst. “But the girls need to stay here tonight. That asshole laced her drink with ecstasy, and Noah drank from it, too. The comedown from it could make them depressed. They probably have a couple more hours until it’s out of their system.”

“I’ll stay up with ’em,” Wilder says, finally approaching from watching the shitshow. “No way I’m going to bed now anyway.”

“Aww…youloveus,” Noah teases.

Magnolia chuckles. “No, he loves the drama.”

“C’mon, son. I’ll drive you.” Dad goes to walk past me but then pauses with his hand on my shoulder. “Proud of you for watchin’ out for Magnolia.”

Lowering my gaze, I nod, then follow behind him.

“Don’t lose your temper with the sheriff, Tripp. Orange ain’t your color,” Wilder taunts.

I flip him off, and he smirks.

“And don’t worry about your chores. They’ll be waitin’ for ya when you get back from prison.” He chuckles, and I’m tempted to get one last punch in before leaving.

“Tripp, wait.” Magnolia comes up behind me and wraps her arms around my waist, pressing her cheek against my back. “Thank you for riskin’ your life to save mine. You’re a good friend.”

Friend.

Maybe I’ll ask the sheriff to shoot me instead of putting handcuffs around my wrists. At least it’d put me out of my misery.

But I’m the one who called her a friend first, so I can’t even be mad at her for it.

I pat her hand once before removing her body from mine. Without facing her, I say, “Go to bed, Rose. Sleep it off and don’t get your stuff from his house alone.”

She pulls my arm, quickly grabbing my attention, and I meet her eyes over my shoulder.

“If you insist on callin’ me flower names besides my own, Sunny’s my favorite. Sunflowers are a sign of positivity, happiness, and hope.”

The corner of my lips tilts up slightly that she’s not giving me shit about it for once. “I’ll remember that.”

Then I walk away before doing something I’ll regret—like kissing her for real this time.

Chapter Four

Magnolia

PRESENT DAY, TWO AND A HALF YEARS LATER