Page 137 of When a Soul Cries
“I’m not ordering you.”
She blinked.
“I’m asking you.”
Her face softened slightly.
“You and Halo can stay here until you figure out what you want.”
“I don’t want to owe you.”
“You won’t.”
“People always say that.”
I knew exactly what she meant.
I shook my head.
“I will never make you pay me for kindness.”
Her eyes filled again.
“And I will never use what you told me tonight against you.”
Her chin trembled.
“Okay.”
“Okay what?”
A tired smile appeared.
“You always gotta push it.”
“Pretty much.”
She wiped her cheeks.
“Okay. We’ll stay.”
Something in my chest loosened.
“For tonight,” she added quickly.
I smiled.
“Of course.”
She pointed at me. “Don’t start.”
“I didn’t say shit.”
“Your face did.”
That made me laugh.
And somehow, sitting there after one of the heaviest conversations I’d ever had, Sol laughed too.
