Once we enter town, my phone starts blowing up. The Kluft girls need to know what to do and where to go, Tessa’s an absolute wreck, and Piper and Joe are on our heels. Without thinking, I do the one thing that I should have done a long time ago. “Cash, it’s time.”
“Time for what?”
“It’s time to go downtown. I need to talk to the police before they come after you. I can’t let you go down for my mess.”
“Char-coal, no! Regardless, I’m gonna get in trouble, but you are not putting yourself through this. I don’t want you to have to keep reliving this.”
“Don’t you get it? I’m always gonna relive this! Until I tell the truth, it’s not going to end. Please, I’m begging you! You’ve protected me for so long; it’s my turn now. Let me be the one to rescue you like you have done for me as long as I can remember.”
As we get closer to the center of town, I’m positive that Cash is going to keep driving and not stop. “Cash, if you don’t stop now, I’m coming back as soon as you drop me off. It’s better off if we do this together. Remember, Char-coal plus Cash Money equals forever.” I take his swollen hand in mine.
“Are you sure? Once we do this, there is no turning back, ya know?”
“I know.”
“Things will be different, people are going to talk, and your parents will know it all.”
“It’s time.” With those two words, Cash makes a left-hand turn for the police station. I send Piper, Tessa, and Georgia a brief text. I’m a mess of emotions. Can I really do this? Is this what I want? What will happen to Cash? What are my parents going to think? But as we pull into the station, I’m only one emotion—calm. Just like the eye of a hurricane or the calm before the storm. I know that things are going to be a battle from this moment forward, but it’s one I’m ready to fight until the end.
He puts the truck in park with his left hand and turns off the ignition. I see Piper and Joe pull into the space beside us. Cash looks at me, and I fall into those eyes of his. No words are spoken at first because I can read his thoughts. We are walking in together, but I doubt we will be walking out the same. Placing my hands on his scruffy cheek, I place my lips slowly on his as the tears stream down my face.
Knowing time isn’t on our side, we pull ourselves apart. “I love you, Cash Money, and no matter what happens, I’m here. We will come out on top. Now, let’s get this over with.”
He opens his door and slides out, and I follow right behind him. Piper and Joe are getting out of the car as well. “I think y’all might need to go on to the farm. This is about to be a mess, and I need someone there with Tessa.”
I hear a strong, yet sweet, voice behind me. “No one needs to check on Tessa because I’m not going home.” I turn around, and we meet each other in the middle. “Char, I wasn’t there when it happened, but I’m sure as hell not gonna let you do this without me.”
“What about the Kluft girls? Did they just drop you off?” Then, I see them, sitting in the distance near Tori’s Explorer. “Any word from Dustin?”
“I know they are on their way to Trent’s. I’m pretty sure Dylan doesn’t want to go to the hospital, but I bet he’s gonna have to. Cash whooped his ass, and it’s about damn time!”
“Yeah, he did, but I gotta take care of this before Dylan gets admitted or Cash could get in big trouble.”
I turn from Tessa, but do a one-eighty. I pull her in for a hug and tell her thank you before grabbing the hand of the man I love and walking into the police station.