Page 122 of The Summer of Wild

"Why him?" Cash furrows his brow.

I rub my arm, trying to comfort myself. I didn't show up here to have a heart-to-heart about why our relationship ended and why I fell into bed with Wilder. I came here to fix what I helped break.

"It just happened," I honestly answer. "We were both sad you left us for the summer. You didn't even say goodbye to Wilder. You were a shitty friend, Cash. We decided to make a bucket list and do all the items on it before the summer ended. I suppose... I suppose we realized we had more in common than just you."

"I'm pissed, Ingrid."

"I know," I inhale sharply. "But it doesn't have to end your friendship."

"It does," Cash scoffs. "It does."

"When you needed a place to crash, Wilder didn't hesitate to share his room with you."

"Oh, wow, one time," Cash blows out a breath of hot air.

"Junior year, you accidentally got drunk at that birthday party we went to at Craig Drummond's house. Wilder covered for you and sobered you up in time for church the next morning. Sophomore year, when you were failing math, Wilder spent every night for two months tutoring you. You passed Algebra with a B+. You guys have been there for each other through every high and low. I'm not worth throwing that away on."

"No, you are not," Cash agrees. "But it's the loyalty part I can't get over."

"He chose you," I whisper. "When I begged him to choose me, he chose you. He ended things. We're over. He doesn't want anything to do with me." I place a hand on my heart, willing the tears forming in my eyes not to fall down my face. "He chose you knowing you were done with him."

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?"

"I'm not sure," I shrug. "But his loyalty isn't the problem. It's the fact that you had something, and you think he took it without asking."

"You will never understand," he mutters as he shakes his head.

"Then explain it to me," I challenge.

"I thought I was making a big, sacrificial decision. I knew it was going to be hard, but I figured you'd spend the summer missing me and waiting for me. When you didn't, it was... it hurt. You moved on so fast, Ingrid. You moved on with Wilder in record time."

"I know," I run a hand over my face. "I'm sorry."

"I wasn't blind, you know?" Cash forces a smile. "I heard all the fights, and I witnessed all those intense staring contests you two had. But I never thought you'd move on so fast."

"You left me," I reiterate. "Before that, you ignored me, barely acknowledging my existence. And every time we went somewhere, Wilder went with us. We... we weren't in a relationship those last few months. It didn't feel like it. So, I did move on. Not because I didn't love you but because I had already grieved all the good parts of our relationship."

"I never meant to hurt you," he clicks his tongue as he sways back and forth.

"But you did."

"I'm sorry," he apologizes. "I thought I was doing the right thing."

"We live under a microscope," I say. "One that's hard to get out from under. You know that better than anyone."

"I'm not going to Johns Hopkins," he reveals.

"Then why does your mom think you are?"

"Because I have proof she embezzled money from your dad's company," he grins. "And I'm going to make sure she pays for everything she's done to you over the past four years."

"You h-have proof?"

"We're having a dinner party tomorrow night. Would you like to come as my date?" My face flashes with worry before Cash adds, "Platonically. Just as friends."

"And prove that your mom framed my dad?"

"Yep," Cash sinks his top teeth into his bottom lip.

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