Page 137 of The Summer of Wild

"Good talk or bad talk?" I raise an eyebrow as I grab a clip off my dresser and throw my hair into a messy bun.

"Come here."

I am going to be late, but I walk over to him and stand between his legs.

"I love you," he grins as he grabs my left hand and slips something on that finger.

I swallow hard before my eyes slide to my hand. There's a white gold band with a tiny diamond heart in the middle.

"What's this?" I hold my breath.

"It's not an engagement ring," he rushes to get out. "I just... I love you. And I know we haven't talked about our future, but I want you to know I see one for us. This," he holds my hand up, "is a reminder that I'm serious about you."

"I already knew that," I tilt my head to the side and run my fingers through his hair. "And I want to talk about this, but I am so late right now."

"Go," he motions with his eyebrows.

I give him a quick peck on the lips before grabbing my bag and racing down the stairs.

I have 12 minutes to get across town, park, and arrive in time to take my final. No pressure or anything.

Cash is sitting on Wilder's front porch as I walk up the concrete pathway after the hardest final of the year.

"Hey," I say to him.

He glances up from his phone. "Hey. How were all your finals?"

"Okay, I think," I say, grimacing. "I felt good about English, math, and history, but astronomy is up in the air."

"Wilder forced me to study all weekend long, so I'm pretty sure I passed everything," he scrunches his nose. "Why is your shirt on backward?"

I groan. "I'm going to kill Wilder."

"I don't want to know details," Cash shakes his head.

"Any updates on your mom's trial?"

"Prosecution wants me to be a witness," he sighs.

"I thought your mom wanted you to be a witness for her," I take a seat beside him.

"In her dreams," he scoffs.

"You should only testify if you want to," I suggest wondering if they can force him to.

"My dad said I should be supporting my mom," Cash shrugs. "I guess he feels if I'm supporting her, then he doesn't have to."

"How's your new baby sister?" I ask.

Cash hitches a shoulder. "She looks just like Clementine."

"You always said you wanted a sibling," I nudge him with my shoulder.

"Not like this," he forces a smile.

"You and Wilder have more in common than I originally thought," I sigh.

"Yeah, but I see my half-sister more than once a year. He doesn't."

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