Page 217 of Always Love You More

“Yeah,” she says, “butyoucan do shit to them.”

“Baby, I—”

“We just need to lay low for a bit—that’s all,” she cuts in. “It’s just like Carson’s DUI. My dad lost it, and he’s fine now. Acts like he walks on water again.”

I run a hand through my hair. “I don’t know.”

“The one benefit of him not actually giving a shit about me is that he doesn’t care,” she says simply, as if that’s not fucking heartbreaking. “Not really. He just has to feel like he’s in control.”

“So, what? We’re just supposed to wait out his tantrum?”

She exhales. “Pretty much.”

“I don’t like this idea,” I mutter. “I don’t like you in that house.”

“It’s the best option,” she reasons.

“Are you—”

“I don’t want to make things worse,” she interrupts.

As much as I hate it, what she’s saying makes sense. At least for now, given the options. Or the fuckinglackof options.

But still, I don’t like it. I don’t want her there where I can’t protect her.

“Jamie?” she whispers.

“If this is what we do,” I respond, “you’ve gotta make me a promise.”

“Okay,” she offers hesitantly.

“From now on, if someone hurts you, makes you feel uncomfortable, scared, you tell me.”

“Jamie, I—”

“I know you’ve kept some of it from me. That you say you’ve got a handle on it.” I let out a breath. “But, baby, I’m gonna go out of my fucking mind wondering if you’re okay if I think you won’t tell me when something’s wrong.”

She’s quiet.

“Can you do that?”

I need her to say yes.

I need her to promise.

“Yeah,” she finally says. “Yeah, I can do that.” Clearing her throat, she adds, “You’ve gotta make me a promise, too, then.”

“What is it?” I ask, not liking the idea of promising anything around this.

“Unless you really need to”—she pauses—“unless things are really bad, I need you to stay away from my house.”

“Sam …”

“I mean it. And I need you to make sure I don’t fuck this all up, that I don’t get myself into more trouble.”

“What do you mean?”

“My drinking,” she explains. “If I’m not … If I can’t think straight … I need you to tell me no if I want to go back to your house or if I want you to come to mine. I just can’t risk …”