“Wait, wait—” I slip my fingers round her elbow, however she rapidly tugs free. “Caleb, cease.”

I swing in entrance of her to dam her.

“What would you like?” she asks.

Her eyes keep low like a cowering animal, outright refusing to have a look at me, and I bleed inside. There’s nothing I need greater than to carry her proper now however the spiked armor she’s bought on received’t make that straightforward.

“I need you to know which you can discuss to me,” I say. “Anytime you need. I’m right here.”

Caleb shakes her head. “I don’t wish to discuss, Field.”

“Then, what do you want?”

She lastly seems up and I see that darkness overwhelming the inexperienced in her eyes. “I want you to go away me alone.”

“I can’t do this,” I say, digging my heels into the sand. “We have to stick collectively. Now greater than ever. I don’t know who this Paxton man is, however I don’t assume he’s who he says he’s—”

“No.”

“No, what?”

“The staff is gone, Boxcar,” she says, her voice a useless tone. “You’re free to go house. I’m not your bodyguard anymore. Let’s simply be grateful we made it this far in any respect and transfer on.”

“Caleb…” I sigh. “You don’t need that.”

“It doesn’t actually matter what I need.”

“It issues to me,” I whisper. “I’d prefer to assume that what I need issues to you, too.”

Her eyes drop once more. “No.”

“You’re mendacity.”

“What distinction does it make?” she snaps. “We go house and what occurs?”

“We glance out for one another.”

“I don’t want anybody to look out for me.”

I grit my enamel. “Don’t shut me out, Caleb.”

“You have been by no means in, Boxcar,” she says. “Excuse me.”

“Caleb—”

She steps round me, however I don’t have the persistence to chase her down once more.

Goddammit, Caleb.

I’m unsure why I’m so stunned. Caleb’s private bubble is fortified with titanium, however I assumed perhaps we’d grown previous that. Apparently not. I’m nonetheless simply Boxcar, the boy who follows her round like a lovesick pet and that’s what I all the time will probably be even after every little thing we’ve been via.

Possibly there’s a silver lining to all of this. I’m lastly going house. No extra drifting for scraps of meals or locations to sleep. I’ve bought an all-expenses-paid flight again to American soil. Again to Tennessee the place I belong. Not that there’s a lot ready for me once I get there aside from my dad and mom however they determined a very long time in the past that they didn’t need me round.

And Caleb? She’ll return to Oklahoma. Her mom will most likely be completely happy to see her — completely happy that she got here house alive, in contrast to her father. They’ll reminisce and catch-up. Possibly she’ll ask Caleb if there have been any cute guys deployed along with her. Caleb will certainly roll her eyes and dismiss it however, if I’m fortunate, she’ll consider me.

Positive. I assume we’ll name {that a} silver lining.

Chapter 21

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