Indulgence (198 page)

When my stomach had calmed and the shaking subsided, I
returned to my laptop. There was no mention of a drug overdose or suicide, but
there wouldn’t be. I found a link to a memorial page and clicked on it and
there I came across several pictures of Mrs. Whitford, her husband, a much younger
Jane and Jason. I scanned through and found one of Jason and James. In fact,
most of the pictures were of James and Jason as I scrolled further down. There
were none of Dan that I could find, which I thought was odd if Jason and Dan
were such good friends like Dan claimed.

Before I knew it, it was after 5p.m. I had to stop obsessing
and start getting ready. I put the laptop down and pulled myself off the couch.
Of course I was in no mood to go out now, and after spotting the flowers on the
floor by the front door, I gathered them up, took them to the kitchen and
tossed them in the garbage. I headed up the stairs and proceeded to take the
longest shower in history.

~ JAMES ~

I used the spare and let myself in after failed attempts at
knocking. When I entered, I could hear the shower running and I spotted a small
envelope on the floor. It wasn’t sealed so I opened it up and was immediately
fuming mad. The card was from Dan and was a feeble attempt at an apology and a
plea to get back together. I put the card in my wallet and pulled out my cell.

“Smith, he’s back. God dammit, I don’t want to hear excuses.
Find out where he’s staying. He’s made contact with Cassidy. I don’t care. Just
get it done.”

I put the phone back in my pocket and headed to the kitchen
for some water, noticing a flower smashed in the lid of the garbage. Opening
the lid I found a fresh bouquet of flowers in it. Well,
that
was a good
sign. Shit. Who knows what he said to her. It was probably going to go one of
two ways. Bad and worse.

Deciding to try my luck I headed up the stairs and the
shower was still running. I sat on the end of the bed and waited for a while.
What
was she doing in there?
Just as I was about to interrupt her, I heard the
water shut off before hearing her move around the bathroom for a few moments.

She walked out the bathroom door and was startled when she
spotted me. “James, you scared me. How did you get in?”

She pulled her towel tighter around her body exhibiting that
she was nervous and self-conscious. I got up to walk toward her as she started
fidgeting.

“Cassidy, what’s wrong?” I knew exactly what was wrong, but
needed to hear it from her.

She was chewing her nails and I could tell she was trying to
figure out what to say. “I thought I said no more secrets.”

“Jesus Christ, Cassidy. What does that mean, what secrets?”
My adrenaline was pumping as I started pacing the floor.

“I know about Jason and Melissa.” She just watched me,
gauging my reaction.

I took a deep defeated breath before sagging back down to
the bed and put my head in my hands. “Cassidy…I…FUCK. I’m sorry. I should’ve
told you.”

“So it’s true? You and Melissa, since high school? How could
you do that to Jason, your cousin?”

“Whoa, hang on. How could I do
what
? You’re talking
about things you know nothing about.” I was trying to keep my temper in check,
“I was waiting for the right time.”

“The right time? You had the perfect opportunity last night.
You didn’t tell me that this thing with Melissa started fifteen years ago. I
can’t compete with that!” She was fucking mad out of her mind screaming at me.
“And your cousin Jason, Jane’s brother. I mean, I don’t even know how to
process this.” Her voice began cracking and I went to get up and headed toward
her. “DON’T TOUCH ME!”

I flinched at her harsh tone. “Cassidy, please let me
explain. I don’t know what Dan told you.”

“This doesn’t have anything to do with Dan.”

“The hell it doesn’t. He’s a snake Cassidy. I know he was
here.” My temper got the better of me as I turned from her and punched a hole
in the drywall.

“What! So now you’re spying on me? You don’t own me, this is
MY house!”

She was screeching in my face, and if I hadn’t been so
pissed off, I’d congratulate her on her balls for challenging me. “You can’t
believe anything he says.”

“I could say the same about YOU!” She covered her mouth like
she regretted saying it or like she was going to be sick. She ran back into the
bathroom and started splashing water on her face and I realized she was white
as a sheet.

“Cassidy, please let me explain.” Softening my tone, I began
rubbing the ache that was forming in my hand.

“James, I think you should leave. I don’t know what or who
to believe. I’m on complete information overload.”

“With the WRONG information. Dan can’t be trusted!”

She whipped her head up to me, “What are you talking about?”

“Dammit, Cassidy, he’s a drug addict and a thief. You can’t
trust him.”

“GET OUT!” She picked up the closest thing to her, a brush,
and chucked it at my head. I ducked just in time as it snapped in half after
hitting the wall behind me.

“Have you lost your mind?”

“Apparently! But I’m not the one punching holes in the wall.
Get out!”

“Hey, what’s going on?” Whipping my head around, I saw Cal
standing in the doorway to the bedroom.

“Your sister is off her rocker.” I was shoved back and
realized Cassidy had slammed the bathroom door in my face before locking it.

“I’m not the only one. Cal, I want him out of here NOW!”

Cal had a hint of concern on his face while smiling, too.
“Dude, she’s a redhead
and
a Scorpio. What the hell did you do to piss
her off?” He spotted the hole in the wall by the bathroom, “Come outside, she
needs time to cool down, alone, and you could use some fresh air, too.”

Knowing he was right, I followed him down the stairs.
Cassidy and I both needed to cool off. I reached the bottom of the stairs and
Jane was just glaring at me.

“What’s going on?”

“Why are you looking at me that way?”

“Please, James. I know you. What did you do? Or should I say
what
didn’t
you do?”

I sighed, “Let’s go outside. I’ll fill you both in.” We all
stepped out the door and to the small front yard, the street lights and front
porch our only light.

I filled Jane and Cal in on the surprise visit Cassidy had
from Dan that I was confident had taken place that afternoon. Telling them she
had asked about Jason, Melissa and high school, Cal acknowledged the info I had
already divulged to him. Jane, being fully aware of Dan and his slithering
ways, put it all together in no time.

“So Dan and Cassidy were an item?” Cal and I nodded. “Damn.
And she doesn’t know about his drug use?”

“Apparently not.”

“And you knew this, too?” She was looking at Cal now.

“As of a few days ago.”

“Hey!” She smacked us both up the side of the head like a
mother scolding her kids.

“You stupid asses. What the hell is wrong with you two? No
wonder she’s pissed off. I’m pissed off
for
her.”

We were all standing there quietly as I looked up to see
Cassidy glaring down at us from her bedroom window. Cal and Jane caught sight
of her too and Jane let out a big breath.

“How much does she know?” We both shrugged our shoulders.
“You’re useless. I’ll try to fix this.” She marched back up the stairs and went
inside. Turning, she said, “Does she at least know you own the townhouse, not
my mom and dad?”

“Dammit, Jane.” Cal looked at me all confused.

“I’ll take that as a NO.” She disappeared inside before
slamming the door shut.

~ CASSIDY ~

I glanced out the window just in time to see Jane slap them
both and couldn’t help but laugh. James spotted me and I removed the smile from
my face. A moment later Jane disappeared from my view and I went back to the
bathroom. Picking up my discarded brush that was now broken, I started pulling
the tangles out, which proved difficult with the handle no longer attached.

Then there was a knock at my door. “Cassidy. It’s Jane. Can
I come in? I’m alone.”

“It’s open.” Coming out of the bathroom, broken brush in
hand, I sat on the bed. I had already pulled on some jeans and a light sweater.
She made her way in and closed the door behind her. “I assume you’re here to
plead your cousin’s case?”

She laughed, “Cassidy. He has no excuses, but I am here to
make sure you have the story straight.”

That caught my attention, “I’m listening.”

“They told me that you were dating Dan Young and that he was
here today.” She sighed once I confirmed. “Cassidy, I don’t know what Dan told
you, but he can’t be trusted.” I began to speak and she stopped me, “Please
hear me out.” I accepted defeat and let her speak.

“Jason was my older brother by a year. Jason, James,
Melissa, Dan and I all went to high school together and we ran in the same
circle for the most part. Jason and James were inseparable, like brothers. Dan
and Melissa were the wild kids; drugs, parties, you understand. Jason started
dating Melissa, therefore Jason and Dan started hanging out. Jason didn’t
listen to any of us that they were bad news. Still with me?”

“Yes.”

“James’s freshman year of college was Jason’s senior year in
high school. James was home over Christmas break. Melissa and Dan were seniors,
too, and I was a junior. Anyway. Jason was on the verge of flunking out. He was
partying almost every night with Dan. Melissa was even getting fed up with
Jason since it meant she wasn’t the center of Jason’s universe anymore. James
stayed at my parents’ house the night before New Year’s Eve, eager to talk to
Jason. They had made plans and Jason never showed. I confided to James my
fears.

In the early morning hours we all woke to Jason and James
yelling at each other. Jason threw a punch and they started fighting. We let
them fight it out, but Jason grabbed a bottle and smashed it against James’s
head. That’s how James got the scar.”

“Oh no.” It was barely a whisper, but she heard me, nodded
and continued.

“My parents had to pry them apart. It finally became evident
to them that Jason was out of control and needed help, but it was too late.
James stormed out, covered in his own blood, and shortly after, so did Jason.
That’s the last time we saw Jason alive. We searched for him all day and night.
James
still
blames himself for it.”

“But he tried to help.” We were both crying as I couldn’t
begin to imagine losing Cal like she lost Jason.

“We all know that, but he’s a stubborn, overprotective ass
and thinks it’s his job to keep everyone safe.”

“I’m so sorry, Jane.”

“Thank you.”

“But, what does this have to do with Melissa and Dan today?”

She exhaled, “I don’t know what Dan told you, if anything…”

I filled her in on my visit with Dan.

She was turning red, “He’s a liar Cassidy. When I went to
Melissa’s that night looking for Jason, Dan was with her, IN BED. She told me I
had just missed Jason, but that he was fine. I suspect that Jason caught Dan,
not James, in bed with Melissa.”

“Oh. My. God.” I put my head in my hands.

“Melissa and Dan were too strung out that night to even
realize how far gone Jason was. He was head over heels for that tramp. We were
all kids, but if anyone is to blame for what happened, well, it’s not James.
Anyway. Cassidy, James’s biggest problem is that he has a huge heart, and
people take advantage of that. The worst mistake he ever made was thinking
Melissa had changed. And maybe she has, but Dan? Dan will always be a snake. He
made some ridiculous speech at Jason’s funeral about them being best friends.
Needless to say, he was escorted out. Melissa didn’t even show up.”

I was utterly mortified, “I didn’t know. God, I feel like an
ass. I had no idea.”

“Cassidy, we all have ghosts in our closets. It’s nothing to
be ashamed of. There’s more you should know.”

I didn’t know how much more I could handle, but asked her to
continue anyway.

“Dan was dealing the night of the shooting.” She paused and
waited for me to get her meaning. “The drugs found in James’s office were
Dan’s. He swore to James he was clean and that’s the only reason James let his
band play at the bar. Dan is dangerous. You need to stay away from him.”

“Jesus, I’m an idiot.”
How could I have been dating a
dealer? What the hell was wrong with me?

“James has been looking out for you ever since that night.
He’s completely smitten with you, Cassidy. I’ve never seen him like this.” Just
then there was a knock at the door.

“Who is it?” Jane went to the door, opened it and I saw
James peek his head inside. He looked wretched. They exchanged a few whispers,
“Cassidy?”

“He can come in.” Jane made her exit. “Thank you, Jane.”

“No problem. Oh, and by the way. Cal knew about Dan on
Monday and James is your landlord, not my mom and dad.”

My head snapped up as I saw her smile at James and he in
turn slammed the door in her face. “What?”

“Cassidy?”

“You’re my landlord, but I thought.” I let out an
exaggerated screech, “Is there ANYTHING else?”

He was on his knees in front of me, clasping my legs,
“Cassidy, I’m so sorry. I was just trying to protect you.”

“I’m sorry, too.” Placing my hand on his cheek, I ran my
thumb over his scarred eyebrow and he closed his eyes. “This is all so stupid.”
His head shot up. “We’re fighting over ridiculous shit.”

He relaxed and laughed, “You forgive me?”

Leaning my head to the side I smiled at him. There really
wasn’t anything to forgive because we were fighting over things from his past
that we had no control over. Dan, well, Dan could go to hell.

“You’re my landlord? This could get complicated.” I pursed
my lips and raised my eyebrows.