Page 123 of Tobias

“No, how dare you?” I say, taking a step closer to her. “You don’t know a damn thing about me, about why I’m mad, yet you want to judge the hell out of me anyway.”

“You have no reason to be mad at Mom. Dad dying wasn’t her fault!”

“Honey, please stop,” Mom says, ringing her hands together.

“No. He needs to hear this.” Molly gets in my face, ignoring our mother who is reaching for her. “You act like I don’t missDad. I do. But I don’t blame Mom for it because I accepted that it was an accident. Acaraccident. They happen all the time. Every damn day. And it sucks and it’s sad, but I’m not going to ruin the relationship with the only parent I have left over anger!”

I hold her gaze, part of me wanting to spill everything right here, right now. But I don’t, because it’s not going to matter. It won’t make anything right. So instead, I turn to our mother.

“Are you ever going to tell her?” I ask, hating how my voice breaks.

“Oh, Tobias,” my mother says, her hand coming up to her mouth, eyes watering.

“Tell me what?” Molly says, turning her heated gaze towards our mother.

My mother’s eyes stay on me, and I plead for her to finally say something.Dosomething. Maybe if it comes from her, Molly will understand. Maybe if my mother tries to make it right by explaining, this will all be easier. But she says nothing. So I leave.

Chapter Forty-Seven

Theodore

I let out a heavy sigh, squeezing Marianne’s hand. We’ve been sitting in the car for nearly ten minutes, trying to get ourselves together to go into the house and break the news to our parents.

It’s been a month since Tobias left. The longest month of my life that has been absolute hell. The only thing that has made it tolerable is having Marianne’s full support. We’ve busied ourselves with perfecting our plan, going over every possible scenario and how we will manage it. It’s also helped having Biscuit with me. She’s an emotional support dog I didn’t know I’d need.

“We’ve got this, Theo,” Marianne says. “We’re going to be okay.”

“Are we?”

“Yes. And if all goes to hell, we have a back-up plan.”

I groan, my head hitting the seat. “I really don’t want to live with Asher and Morgan.”

“Better than the street.”

I suppose it is. I’d live in a trash can if it meant getting Tobias back.

Move over, Oscar.

I say, “Wouldn’t it be nice if they were just like, ‘Oh, Marianne and Theo, it’s okay. We love you no matter what. Your happiness is so much more important than business.’”

Sneaking a glance at Marianne, I see her holding in laughter, but that doesn’t last long. It bursts out of her, and I can’t help but join. The impression of my mother was a little ridiculous.

Marianne shifts in her seat, turning to face me, and takes both of my hands.

“Remember why we’re doing this,” she says firmly. “Once this is done, you can get Tobias back.”

“You don’t know that.”

I wish it were so simple, but I know that it won't be. And I don't deserve easy. The least I can do is fight for him after what I did. Even fighting for the rest of my life wouldn't equate to what I deserve.

“I’m choosing to believe that true love trumps everything, because life wouldn’t be worth it otherwise.”

“I hope you’re right,” I mutter.

She leans in to kiss me on the cheek and then hugs me.

“Love you, Theo. You’re still my best friend.”

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