Chapter 61

Matt

July-Two Years Ago

Cara paced the beach under the pier in pouty strides, pure pissed off vibes shooting into the night.

I watched her, determined not to give into her this time. Tomorrow, I'd be heading back home to Greensboro, and I wasn't leaving things like this between us. She was beginning to come down off her high, her hands shaking, and I braced myself for the sharp lash of her tongue.

Slowly, I drew in salt-tinged air and struggled for patience. We'd been at this an hour already. "I'm willing to try if you meet me halfway."

She rounded on me. "You're insane. This was a fucking hookup, nothing more."

"Then why are you still here arguing with me?" My gaze wove over her too-thin frame, her short knotted black strands. "I'll tell you why. Because you want to try, too."

"Bullshit," she muttered, but it was weak.

"Go to rehab. Get clean. Work this shit out of your body and I'll come back down to Myrtle. Or you can come up to Greensboro."