My eyes widen, and my eyebrows climb up into the hair falling on my forehead. She’s in love with me? What?
“And judging by the look on your face,” Quinn continues, “she didn’t tell you. Dammit.”
“Give me your phone,” I tell her, holding my hand out.
“Why?”
“Because I know Cass won’t answer if it’s my number.” I’m taking a chance, but I need to talk to her, and explain, before it’s too late.
Quinn huffs. “Fine, but as soon she hears your voice she’ll end the call.” I don’t care. It’s a risk I’m willing to take. Dialing Cassey’s number, I bring Quinn’s phone up to my hear and listen as the phone rings twice before she answers.
“Hey, Quinny.”
“Cassey, it’s me,” I say.
The line goes quiet, and then it goes dead. She hung up on me. I stare at Quinn’s phone feeling dejected.
“She hung up,” I murmur, handing Quinn’s phone back to her. “She’s hurting, Kyler, and if you really care about her, then give her some time. Figure out what it is you want, because Cassey deserves everything, not some half-assed fuck buddy relationship. She’s had enough people making her feel like she’s not good enough, and I’ll be damned if I allow someone like you to bulldoze through her life only to make her feel the same way. I know she chose to have this friends-with-benefits thing with you, but she wants more, and if you can’t give that to her, then let her go and give her the chance to find the man who will make her his world. I know she loves you, and it hurts me to see her deny it out of fear of losing you, especially when you weren’t hers in the first place. I love her like a sister, and seeing the mess she was in last night killed me.
She deserves better, Kyler, and you need to decide if you’re willing step up and be the man she deserves, or walk away.”
I feel like I’ve been punched in the gut, Quinn’s words knocking the wind right out of me. She turns to leave, but I grab her arm and stop her. “Quinn, wait.” I steel myself. Once I say the words that are floundering on the tip of my tongue I can’t take them back. Not that it would matter. They’re still true, whether said or unsaid. “I love her.”
Quinn’s lips tip into a small smile. “I know,” she replies. “Now prove it.” I watch Quinn leave my apartment, the sound of the lock echoing. What happened last night? I walk to my bedroom, and pick up my phone, scrolling to the message sent to Cassey from my phone. There’s only one person who would’ve sent this. Jessa. Despite the ache in my skull, my anger simmers. Before I can speak to Cassey, I need to find out what the fuck happened last night and make sure that nothing did really happen between me and Jessa. With that, I take a quick shower, and head to the office.
I look up from my desk when there’s a knock on the door. My assistant opens it, and in walks Jessa. Her fiery red hair is tied up, her make-up is overdone, and the dress she’s wearing reveals a little too much chest than necessary. Jessa smirks, and saunters towards me. I used to find her attractive, and only God knows why. She’s too skinny, her voice can crack a beer bottle, and her sense of entitlement aren’t attractive qualities at all. I stand, and after dismissing my assistant, walk around my desk to meet Jessa.
“Hi baby,” she purrs. “You miss me already?” Her hand reaches for my arm, and I grab her wrist. “Don’t” I growl.
“Oh, touchy touchy, Kyler. Need me to fix that for you baby?”
“Stop!”
Jessa flinches, and drops her hand. “God, Kyler, what the hell is your problem?”
“You are. Tell me what the fuck happened last night, Jessa.”
She grins, and nothing about it is polite. It’s malicious, calculating and venomous. I wish I’d never gotten myself involved with this woman. “Would you like me to give you a play-by-play, or would you like me to reenact it for you?” She goes to touch my face but I step away, rather than smacking her hand away.
“I don’t have time for games,” I snarl. “Tell me the truth, or I swear to God…” I let my words hang in the air. I have enough dirt on Jessa to ruin her social reputation and she knows it.
“You won’t do anything,” Jessa says with a cackle.
I step up to her again, and get right in her face. “Oh yeah? Try me Jessa, I dare you. I’m in a really pissy mood, so push me and see what I’ll do.” I’ve never threatened a woman before, but my rage wins over any guilt I should feel.
Jessa straightens her shoulders. “I told you you were mine, and I had to make sure your little ‘friend’ knew it.”
“We fucked, Jessa, that’s it. It wasn’t more than that, and you know it.” “NO!” Jessa shrieks. “You love me!”
I throw my head back and an empty laugh escapes my mouth. This woman is crazy.
“No,” I reply. “I don’t. I never have and I never will.” I level my glare on Jessa. “Your little stunt has probably ruined the best thing to ever happen to me, and I want to know how you did it. Now.”
“Why is she so important to you?” Jessa asks. Her voice is laced with disgust. “Because I love her, Jessa, goddamit, and I’m in love with her. So tell me what the fuck happened last night!” I roar in response. I’ve had about as much as I can handle and all I want to do now is see Cassey.
Jessa’s eyes widen, and I’m not sure whether it’s out of shock or fear. “Ok fine! I saw you at the bar last night, and after you’d had a few drinks, I slipped something into your last beer. I followed you home, and after you stripped naked, I sent a text from your phone, and climbed into bed with you.” “You did what? What the fuck is wrong with you?” I bang my fist on my desk, and Jessa jumps.
Before she can say anything else, I yell, “Get.The Fuck. Out. Of My. Office!” Jessa stumbles back as if I’ve hit her across the face, and runs out of my office crying. I could care less because those tears are as fake as her personality. All I care about is getting Cassey to hear me out. Quinn asked me to give Cassey time, and I will, but not long. I won’t lose her. Not ever.
~ Cassey ~
My phone vibrates for the thousandth time. It’s probably Kyler, but I haven’t bothered to check. Instead, I have Miley Cyrus’s “Wrecking Ball” streaming through my speakers in my office while I go through some unsolicited manuscripts. It’s the only way I can keep my mind busy, and off Kyler. I haven’t seen him in a week, and as much as I’d like to reason with myself that it’s been easy, I’m lying to myself. I miss him. Fiercely. He became my drug of choice, and I’d gone so far out on a limb with my feelings that I didn’t know I was out there alone. The first two nights without him, I decided to sleep in the guest bedroom. My sheets still smelled like Kyler, and I didn’t want to wash them. That would’ve felt like I’m erasing our brief yet incredible time together and I wasn’t ready to let it go yet.
But then the anger set in, and I threw the sheets away like a real girl. I told myself that was me walking away, and moving on from Kyler, despite my body craving him with every fiber. I was determined to block it out, switch it off. I should thank my parents for that. They might’ve been crappy people, but at least they took the time to show me how to live with hurt. I decide to brave it out and check my phone, frowning when I see it’s a Georgia area code. My feelings bounce incessantly between disappointment that it’s not Kyler’s number I’m seeing, and anger because it’s probably my parents calling for money. Again. It’s like they knew I was talking about them. I sigh, and against my better judgment, return the call. It rings a few times, but I wait it out because I need to get this over with. For good. “Cassey?” My fathers gruff, one-box-a-day voice comes through the phone. “Hi, Dad,” I greet flatly.