Page 162 of Rhodes
His face changes before he finishes the sentence. I see the pieces move. He looks at me differently.
“That wasn't just Oak Moss.”
“No, it wasn't.”
“Jesus Christ, Rhodes. You broke her heart, didn't you? I swear, if you treated her like you treat other women you've—”
The words go straight through me. He doesn't finish, but I know he would do anything to protect her. So would I, but I can't tell him that, because he's absolutely right to want to punch me.
“I would never hurt her intentionally. I love her.”
His jaw clenches.
“She was trying to put her life back together, and I handed her to my best friend because I thought you were the one person who wouldn't take advantage of that.”
“I didn't take advantage of her.”
Cooper steps closer.
“You were older. She was living in your house. She was barely sober, Rhodes.”
"She had two years, Coop. Two years, and a sponsor, and a Tuesday meeting she never once missed. Why the fuck does every single one of you still say barely? Jesus, I know exactly who she is.”
“I’m not so sure.”
“You can hate me for lying to you. You can hate me for hurting her. I earned all of that.”
“Good.”
“But don't turn her into somebody who didn't know what she wanted because it makes me easier to hate.”
His face hardens.
“Don't you dare lecture me about taking away her choices.”
He's right. I nod.
“I don't get to.”
“Damn right.”
“But neither do you.”
His eyes flash.
“She chose me, Coop. More than once. Whatever I did wrong after that doesn't make her choice disappear.”
He gives me one last look, shakes his head, and walks out.
The door closes behind him.
I stay at the bar with two beers neither of us drank. Tallulah's name is already sitting at the front of everything I have to do next.
THIRTY-FIVE
Tilly
Removing the Shoring: The bracing comes out and the wall either stands or it does not. There is no way to learn the answer while the shoring is still holding it up.
