Fern smirks.“What are you going to do tonight?”
“I don’t know.I want to give in to this thing between us.I want what you have with Jameson, but I don’t want to be with him, then demand that we move so he has to give up his whole life here.”
“Do you see a future with him?”
“Yeah,” I whisper.“He’s the only man I’ve ever envisioned a life with.He’s smart and so sweet.Protective and generous.He’s always looking out for me, and it’s good to have someone doing that.”
Fern sighs.“Sounds perfect.”
“I just… I wish he weren’t so overprotective.I want to be able to make my own decisions, and he doesn’t always let me do that.”
“He’s just trying to keep you safe,” she points out.
“I know, but after my parents and those weeks with the cult, I need some freedom and breathing room.”
“You should tell him that.I know he’d do anything for you, including giving you space.”
“Maybe.”
The front door opens, and Jameson stalks in.He’s always kind of intense, but tonight it’s on a whole other level.
“Mate,” he growls.
Fern tenses beside me.
I look at her and see the flush of need on her face.
“I should go,” I blurt, jumping to my feet.
They both nod distractedly.
I grab my things and head for the door.Neither of them pays me any mind as I leave and close the door behind me.
The sun is starting to set, and I know I should head back to Abe’s house.He’s been giving me space all day, and I wonder if Fern is right.Would he stop his overprotective tendencies if I asked?
I step down off their front porch and jerk to a stop when a car starts and heads up the drive.I frown when I see that it’s Abe.
“Have you been parked at the end of the driveway all day?”I ask as he climbs out of the car and heads my way.“I thought you went home after you dropped me off this morning.”
“I didn’t want you to walk home by yourself,” he says.
I sigh.“I think we need to talk.”
“Talk?”he asks nervously as he opens the passenger door for me.
“Listen, I appreciate all you’ve done for me, but I need some space.I need freedom.It feels like I traded one cage with the cult for this one with you.”
“You feel caged?”He looks stricken at my words.
“Yeah.You never let me decide anything.”
“That’s not true,” he argues.
I glare at him.“You asked me if I was hungry the other night.I said no, but you made me food anyway.”
“I don’t want you to be hungry.”
I roll my eyes.“I wasn’t!That’s my point.”