Chapter 20: Platform Four

"Say it again," I said.

It was the only thing in my head that wasn't in any contract.

Cain let go of my sleeve.

"Mara," he said.

It was quiet, and it was angry, and it was mine.

"Again."

"Mara."

I put my forehead against his chest.

He stood very still with his arms at his sides.

"I'm not ready," I said into his shirt. "I don't know what I'd owe you."

"You would owe me nothing."

"That's what everyone says before the bill."

He made a sound that was almost a laugh.

"Then I'll wait for the bill," he said. "I'm told I'm good at waiting. Gus keeps a list."

We stood there a minute longer.

Then he said, into my hair, "Lydia is leaving Friday. Will you come with me to the train?"

Friday was gray and cold.

Penn Station smelled of coffee and brakes.

Lydia stood on Platform Four with two suitcases and a tote bag, in the green coat she had worn the night I met her.

Gus carried the second suitcase.

He had volunteered, and he looked sorry about all of it.

"Philadelphia," Lydia said. "A friend has a spare room and a job lead."

"I sold my mother's house on Tuesday."

"You could stay," Cain said.

"I could. I'd spend the rest of my life as the girl you didn't ask."

"I would have asked."

"I know." She smiled. "That's the saddest part of the whole thing."

Keep reading free with an account. Start She Played His Perfect Girlfriend, He Couldn't Let Her Go from Chapter 1, then sign up free to read the rest of this chapter.