Page 101 of Worth the Fall
I ignored my own tears slipping down my hot cheeks. “Mom…”
She gave me a pleading look. “I can’t be homeless.”
Oh gosh, that word was like a dagger in my heart. “I…” I looked down at her arms, at the scabs that had been picked and dried over again and again. I glanced back at Colton, who was still holding my precious box.
He glanced between us, giving me a helpless look.
I took a breath, knowing the next words I said would cause a horrible reaction. “Mom, I can’t give you any more money.” My shaking voice was really ruining my fake confidence.
Her head bounced back in surprise. “You what?” She asked harshly.
I nodded, sure of my answer. “I’ve given you over a hundred grand over the past few years. I’ve lived on a tight budget, despite my generous paycheck, so that you would have enough. I can’t give you anymore.” I pulled my arm out of her tight grasp. “I can’t fuel this dangerous fire anymore.”
Her face screwed up in a furious snarl as she screamed, “I HOPE YOU BURN IN HELL!”
Tears were streaming down my face, but I turned on my heel and started walking.
I felt her hands on me a second before she shoved me hard into the wall.
I heard a thud, and she was pulled away from me. I looked back in surprise. Colton was holding my mother against the wall.
“Get out of here,” he demanded.
I was shaking so bad I didn’t think I could move, but somehow, I picked up the box and practically sprinted out of the house.”
I threw the box in the back and climbed into the passenger seat. Colton was seconds behind me, slamming his door shut and throwing the truck in reverse. He peeled out of the gravel, flung the truck into drive, and soared out of the park.
We drove in silence, going well over the speed limit.
Once we were a few miles away, Colton drifted onto a dirt road, drove for a minute or two, and parked the truck again.
We were completely alone.
He yanked his door open, slammed it closed again, raced to my side, and opened the door. He was on the step, leaning into the truck as he hurled his arms around me, holding me close.
I lost it, sobbing hard into his shoulder. My body was shaking so hard I could barely move. He didn’t let go for a long time, didn’t say anything, just held me as tight as he could and let me cry.
“It’s okay,” he started to whisper over and over again. I couldn’t be sure, but the way his shoulders were shaking, I was almost positive he was crying with me. “It’s okay.”
Chapter Thirty-One
Colton gently peeled my hair back away from my face. He cupped my cheek in his calloused palm and tilted my head to look up at him. “Ally, I…” he trailed off. What was he supposed to say?
Your family is freaking insane. I don’t think I can be with you anymore. You’re probably just like your mom.
I blinked; my eyes felt like they had been rubbed with sandpaper.
“I’m so sorry.”
We were sitting in the dirt beside the truck, both of us needing a minute to breathe before we did anything else.
“I’m so sorry,” he whispered again.
I was so tired of being mad; it was utterly exhausting. I had spent the last thirteen years being mad.
Mad at my dad for dying and mad at my mom for giving up on being a parent.
I was so tired of being so furious that I had given myself tinnitus.
