Lasting Attraction (Cassie Series) (14 page)

             
"That is awesome Pierce. I'm so proud of you. I really hope you know just how proud of you I am."

             
Her hand comes out and holds onto mine and I let her. I smile at her beautiful face and see her adoring me. I adore her too. We had something unexplainable that I'll never be able to get with anyone again, but I know damn well I'm doing the right thing. "Thank you. I'm sorry I hung up on you the other night."

             
"I wasn't hurt you hung up so much that you never called me back. But I don't blame you."

             
"I fucked up Cassie. A lot."

             
She shrugs her shoulders. "We both have."

             
"No Cass, I really fucked up." I pull my hand from herd and play with my soda can, keeping my hands busy so I don't just pick her up and fuck her against the damn wall. "I, uh... I cheated on you Cassie."

             
As much as I want to look away, I don't. The look on her face, the one that says how disappointed in me she is, that look will be engraved into the back of my mind forever. "I'm so sorry," I whisper and grab for her hand once again but she doesn't let me know hold it.

             
"I deserve that," she finally says. I start to argue but she shakes her head. "No, Pierce, I really do. I know I've messed things up before, but the feeling I have right now, I can't believe I've made you, Avery and Carson all feel like this one time or another. It hurts, Pierce." Her voice breaks and I pull her into me, not letting her fight away from me. "I'm so sorry."

             
"Don't apologize."

             
"I have to. I've hurt you all so much. I'm so selfish."

             
I rub my hand up and down her back and let her cry, and its good her face is buried into my chest because then she'd be able to see the tears drop from my face as well. We both hold onto one another like this for several minutes. In fact, its probably close to ten minutes when she moves her head to look up to my face. I look down to hers as well, and move some of her hair that stuck to her lip, tucking it behind her ear.

             
"If this baby is mine, Cassie, please know I'll be an amazing father. I couldn't think of a better gift. A child that is part mine and part yours. I'll always have a piece of you, as you will me. I'll be there for everything I can be. I want to be involved. But if this child isn't mine." I rest my hand on her stomach and look her in the eyes. "If it isn't mine, Cassie, I think its best we say goodbye to each other."

             
A sob leaves her mouth and she hurries to cover it up. She nods her head quickly as the tears flow even heavier. She pulls her hand from her mouth and says, "Okay. I... I understand."

             
"I'll love you forever, Cassandra."

             
She hops off her stool and hugs me tight to her. "I'll love you forever, too. God I'll love you forever."

             
We separate and walk towards the door together slowly. "Will you please tell me when we can do the paternity testing?"

             
"I have an appointment in four weeks, and at that appointment I'll know the date. I'll let you know."

             
I grab her cheeks in my hands and just stare at her. I cannot believe I just did that. I just said goodbye to Cassie, and that was the end of us. All this time together, the love we've share, it'll all be gone the second I walk out this door. "If you need anything, and I mean
anything,
you better let me know. And if Avery hurts you, so help me God, I will fucking murder him."

             
"But Avery and I aren't-"

             
"Stop wasting your time, Cassie. It'll never be anyone but Avery for you."

             
I kiss her forehead and walk out the door before she can stop me. A few more tears fall from my eyes but I quickly wipe them and continue my tread to my truck. Once I hop in, I drive around for three hours until I'm running out of gas and I'm still nowhere. When I realize there is no way in hell I'll be able to sleep tonight, I drive to the gym and get all my frustrations out on a punching bag. I have a feeling I'll be visiting the gym a lot now.

             
I thought the fucker wasn't supposed to show up until tomorrow. Fuck it. The little fantasy world I woke up in disappeared the second we pulled into the parking lot. I saw him leaning against his truck but I was hoping Cassie hadn't, but of course the second we climbed out of her car she didn't take a second glance in my direction.

             
I arrive at Austin's just minutes later, not sure where else to go. I know I have to go to my mom's tonight for dinner, so I won't be here long, but I'm sure Cassie and Pierce need alone time.
Fuck!
Why would I even think about that shit? I just wish they'd break up once and for all.

             
When Cassie told her mom about being pregnant, I saw the look she gave me. It was pride. She was glad I was the father. Except, reality came crashing down, proving it was just a little dream, because dammit I'm not the father. Or I could be. We don't know yet. And this shit is... well... its bullshit.

             
Thankfully Austin is around today and I'm able to get my mind off that bullshit. I can't help checking my phone ever ten or twenty minutes to make sure I don't miss dinner at my mom's. I don't even want to see my mom, and I definitely don't want to see Cassie's dad, but I want to be there for her. I want to prove to her that I'm going to stick around this time.

             
Two hours of playing Call of Duty, I tell Austin I'll see him later. I'm glad I can just go there and blow off steam, without having being asked about Cassie or my fighting or anything else in my life. We can laugh, joke, and I can focus my attention on something else. We make plans to play golf next weekend, just the two of us and no girls whatsoever. It'll be good to have guy time with Austin.

             
When I arrive back to Cassie's apartment my first thought is how glad I am to see Pierce's truck gone. Then I think about the fact that since I'm here to stay now, I have absolutely no idea if I'm allowed to stay in that extra room or not. I may have to find a roommate or something, which sucks ass.

             
I decide to ask Cassie after dinner. I'm not sure why, but I knock on the door when I get to outside her apartment. She opens the door and cocks her head to the side. "You don't have to knock, you know."

             
"I guess I was just making sure you were alone."

             
She snorts out a very unattractive laugh but its adorable on her. "You don't have to worry about that anymore."

             
I pause right before I'm about to head down the hall. She just walks to the living room, plopping down on the couch and grabbing the remote to continue watching whatever show she has on now. "What did you say?" I ask.

             
She looks over at me and lifts her brows. "I said you don't have to worry anymore."

             
I walk until I'm in front of her and grab the remote out of her hand, pausing her damn Netflix shit. When I look back at her, its then I notice the bloodshot eyes and dry lips. She’s been crying and is usually pointless TV shows stop herself from overthinking. Fuck, how did I not notice this?

             
"What did he do? You know I'll find him and I will kick his god damn ass." I start to walk towards the door again when she yells at me to stop. I turn back and look at her confused. "What? You need to tell me what that prick did!"

             
"Nothing you haven't done, Avery. Nothing I haven't done. Who cares! You and I are not together, stay out of my business. Pierce and I broke up, we've decided we're not good together, and that is that. I was planning on leaving him anyways, I just hadn't expected this shit to hurt quite this much!"

             
She grabs a pillow, hugs it to her chest and bites down on her bottom lip while looking away from me. "Oh." I don't know what else to say. I want to tell her I'm sorry, but I'm not. I'm fucking thrilled. I hate that she hurts, but finally. Finally Pierce is out of the damn picture.

             
"Are we still going to dinner together?"

             
She looks back over to me and nods her head. "Yeah, I want to finish this episode first."

             
I walk over and sit next to her on the couch, putting my arm over her shoulder and pulling her into me. We finish this girly show of hers, that I'll never admit I actually somewhat enjoy watching, then she goes into her bedroom to get ready for dinner.

             
On the ride over, I look over to see her leaning her head against the passenger side window, quiet and lost in thought. I really do hate that she is hurting. I lay my hand on her leg and continue watching the road in front of me. The only time my hand leaves her leg is when I pull into her dad's house. It’s weird coming here, knowing my mom know lives here too. I don't think this is something I can get used to.

             
We all sit at the table and their new house maid delivers us a pretty delicious meal. No matter how great the food is, the awkwardness at the table makes this a horrible dinner. Once we're done eating, we go into the remodeled family room, which I can tell irritates Cassie, and we all sit down in different chairs. I sit close to Cassie but I don't hold her like I did at her mom's.

             
"So you're really done fighting?" My mom asks, not too impressed at all. Of course she isn't impressed, its money down the drain.

             
"Yup," I give her a curt answer.

             
"You do know you're ruining your future, right?"

             
"I got a job with Mason at the garage."

             
She clears her throat and plays with her pearl necklace, probably embarrassed to have a son working in a garage. She was always a great mom, hell I'm sure she still is, but she used to be proud of me, used to support any of my choices, now she acts too good for me. She had a damn affair with her best friend’s husband, she doesn't have the right to think she is better than me. I don't say as much though, I just let her know by my actions I don't care what she thinks of me anymore.

             
She turns her attention to Cassie without saying more to me. "How are you Cassie? How is Pierce? You two still doing well?"

             
Cassie gives her a closed lip smile. She loathes my mom, and I don't blame her. I don't think she is all too crazy about her dad still either, but since we didn't exactly talk the last three months, I'm not sure if they've gotten closer or not. "We broke up, and I'm not doing the best but not because of that."

             
"Oh?" My mom actually seems concerned, wow.

             
Cassie's dad interrupts though. "What is the matter, Cassandra? What happened?"

             
She rolls her eyes. "I'm knocked up and I don't know who the father is. I'm exhausted and need to get home to eat junk food and watching mindless television." She stands and walks towards the exit, but her dad slams his fist down on the table, jumping both Cassie and myself. Hell, I think he just jumped himself with that loud thump.

             
Cassie twirls around and I stand up, almost as if that'll protect her. Protect her from what? I have no idea. I just feel the need to. "What a damn minute. What did you just say?" Her father stands and points his finger in her direction. "Do not just tell me you're
knocked up
and leave!"

             
"You know, I'd learn to respect you if you weren't still with her!" She points her finger towards my mom. "I just don't want to be in this house with her, in the room you never spent time in, but mom and I did. I try so damn hard every time I'm here to connect with you dad, but I just can't. I'm sorry! But yes, you're going to be a grandpa."