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I grab my jacket and bag and slip out of the room, trying to be as quiet as possible, but within a few seconds of heading down the stairs, Cash appears at the bottom.
“Is Boh here?” he deadpans.
“No,” I say as I walk past him and toward the door.
“Then where are you going?” His footsteps thump behind me.
“To wait outside, he will be here in a few minutes.” I grab the door handle, and Cash’s hand lands above it, slamming it shut.
“You can wait in here until he arrives.”
I’m done with his moody shit. I spin on the spot, giving him a death glare. This exact moment reminds me of when he turned up at my apartment drunk and told me he couldn’t stay away from me. He stares down at me, and the blue in his eyes has darkened and his eyebrows drop into a sharp point.
“I would rather wait outside, thanks.”
He steps in behind me so I can’t get to the door.
“Like I said,” he grits out before bending down to look me directly in the eyes. “You can wait in here for him.”
“What is your fucking problem, Cash?” The doorbell rings. “Saved by the bell, I guess.” I shoulder check him out of the way, and he moves away from the door as I yank it open. Boh eyes us both, and the tension could cut glass right now.
“Perfect timing, Boh. Let’s go.” I slam the door behind me, and Boh winces. I don’t even try to justify or make out it was an accident. I’m too pissed off.
On the way to the airport, Boh makes small talk with me, but I hate the tension in the air. I have never had this with him before. He was always the person to break the tension, to turn everything into a joke. Since Jace left this world, his light has been missing. Life is dull without him.
“Rylee, can I ask you something.”Don’t panic, Rylee, it could be anything.
“Cash seems . . .”Oh hell.“I don’t know, different.” I keep looking out the window. I have always been a terrible liar.
“I think we all are, Boh. Including you.” It’s not a lie, he is, we all are. Who would be the same after everything that has happened.
“Yeah.” He sighs. “I guess you’re right.”
“He just seems different with you.”Fuck my life.
“How do you mean?” As much as I want to defuse the situation, I want to hear what others see.
“He’s gotten extra protective of you all of a sudden. Don’t get me wrong, Cash has always been protective, he was hell to grow up with.” He laughs.
I smile to myself because I bet it was actual hell growing up with an older brother like Cash. I bet he was nightmare for poor Bridge.
“And please don’t get me wrong, we are all here for you, Ry. We will always protect you.” He grasps my hand, and I look over at him as his gaze flicks to me and then back to the road. “Maybe it’s just me, but he’s just different, I can’t explain it really.”
I can’t either, Boh. I wish I knew what was going on in that man’s mind.
We wait at the gate for Bridge, and the minute she walks through and her gaze lands on me, she bursts into tears, abandons her luggage, and runs toward me. I sprint toward her, and we jump into each other’s arms. Bridge’s hold is all it takes for me to break down. Everything in my life is a mess, and with Bridge here, I feel like she can make it all better, even if at the back of my mind I know she can’t. Cash called her and told her what happened and what James had done. He didn’t want to wait until she was here, he felt she had to know when everyone else did. Bridge called me, while we both cried and she reiterated it wasn’t my fault and that I shouldn’t blame myself. It’s easier said than done.
“My darling girl, I’m here, I’m here,” she whispers through sobs. I grip her tight, taking in her smell that grounds me like nothing else.
“God, I’m never leaving you again, Rylee.” I stay in her arms, letting her hold me. I never want her to leave me again, but a niggling feeling stirs in my body. Would she leave me and never talk to me again if she found out I kissed Cash? The thought has me holding her a little tighter. She would hate me if she found out, I know she would. Some days I hate myself.
“You can stay with me tonight, we can have a girls’ night and eat lots of snacks, what do you think?” She continues to hold me. I know Cash will cause a scene if I do this, and I don’t want to cause any more suspicion. Boh is already questioning stuff, and Bridge will clock within an instant. It always scared me how well she knew me and Jace, so I have no doubt if she saw the way Cash acted today, she would know something has happened. I pull myself away from her.
“Maybe tomorrow, Bridge. I’m so tired. I think I’m just going to go back to Cash’s and crash.” My eyes snag on to the floor and then the wall, everywhere but at her.
“Cash?”Oh no.
“Yeah, he, uh wants me to stay there for the time being. Just until James is found.” I brave it and look at her, and her eyes soften, and she gives me a gentle smile.
