Page 32 of The Long Way
They colored in silence for a minute, while Damon stood staring at the back of Cain’s head through the low branches of a pine tree, wishing he could read Cain’s mind. Was it really that simple for him?
Trusting people was such a weird and rare thing, Damon didn’t totally understand it. There were people he trusted because they’d earned it, like Cort, who’d grown up with him, sacrificed for him. There were people he trusted because he couldn’t help it, like Chelsea, who should have been his family all along. And there were people he trusted because he understood how their minds worked, like Sebastian Seaver, whose loyalty to Damon, such as it was, stemmed from guilt.
Cain didn’t fit neatly into any of those categories, and even though Damonwantedto trust him, wanted to believe that the unguarded man hanging with Molly could never turn on them, even to please his father, he had no idea how to make himself believe it.
“Do you ever get scared?”
Molly’s voice was so low, Damon could barely hear it, but he saw the back of Cain’s head move as he nodded.
“All the time. Anyone who says they’re not ever scared is telling a big, fat fib.”
Molly nodded, and Damon could see her eyes widen.
“One thing I do when I feel bad or scared is to play a little game calledWorse.”
“I never hearda that game.”
“No. I made it up. It’s just something that reminds me that no matter how bad things are, they’re still pretty okay. Like, hmmm. What’s your least favorite food?”
“Cauliflower, because it is nothing like a flower even though it says so in the name.”
Damon could see Cain’s shoulders shake with his chuckle. “You know, you’re right! Okay, so, if you had to eat cauliflower with your dinner, that would be annoying, right? But what’s worse than that?”
Molly’s eyes narrowed. “Eating it for two dinners?”
“Yes,exactly! You’re really good at this game. So when you have to do something yucky like eat cauliflower, just remember, it’s notsobad. It could always be worse.”
The little philosopher nodded sagely, her dark curls sweeping her shoulders. “Cain, you know what’s worse than that? Eating nothing but cauliflower for the rest of your life.”
Cain laughed. “Right? That would be awful.”
“And know what’s worse than that?” Molly said, bracing her hands on the tabletop in excitement. “Would be having no foodforever.”
“Wow. That escalated quickly,” Cain said. “But, uh. Yeah, I guess.”
“You could go onforeverthinking of worse things!” Molly told him as she resumed coloring, and Cain’s voice was gentle as he replied.
“You could, princess. But I hope you don’t have to.”
“He’s sweet with her.” Chelsea’s soft voice off to his side startled Damon.
“Yeah,” he said, stepping back from the tree, but keeping his eyes on the pair at the table. “He’s a good guy, I think.”
“You’re not together,” she said. It was a statement, not a question, and Damon shook his head wordlessly. “Why not?”
He really didn’t want to talk about Cain, not when he barely understood his own feelings about the guy, but the fact that Chelsea was talking to him at all aboutanythingfelt like a miracle. He forced himself to be patient. To be honest.
“He… I…” Damon brought a hand up to rake through his long hair. “For one thing, he’s a kid.”
“That’s an excuse. He’s an adult who’s older than me, and I have a daughter. Try again.”
Damon snorted. “He’s rich and fucking gorgeous. Totally out of my league.”
“And he looks at you like you hung the moon. Try again.”
“How about he and I both dated and got screwed over by the same guy?”
“Weird,” Chelsea agreed, arms folded across her chest. “But not insurmountable. Common experience brings people together.”
