by D. Kelly
Cassidy has been spending more time at my house and he hasn’t stopped her. I think he’s afraid we’ll go to the police—not because he’ll get in trouble for hurting us but because he’ll have his money taken away. The only thing he does for Cassidy with that money is pay for her school and I actually don’t think he does. I think the estate is set up to pay that for her. By the time she turns eighteen, I know her inheritance will have magically disappeared. He doesn’t work; all he does is drink away his days. The house used to look like all the other estates in this area, at least that’s what my dad says. He said Cassidy’s grandma was a very nice woman and she’d be turning in her grave if she could see how John let the house fall apart. My parents don’t know he beats Cassidy; they just think both of her parents are alcoholics. Which is true, but I think Cassidy’s mom drinks to avoid. She’s forever passed out and rarely present for anything.
Rylee and I just turned eighteen and in less than six months, Cassidy will be eighteen, too. I want her to marry me but I know no one will let that happen. Especially not Cassidy; she pretty much told me so that night.
I’m sitting in a chair next to Cassidy’s bedside at the hospital. My ribs are taped up and I’m uncomfortable as hell but I’m not going anywhere. Cassidy has been moaning off and on for about an hour but she still hasn’t woken up. It’s been six hours since we were brought in. The doctors performed a cat scan and an MRI. Thank God she has no broken facial or skull bones. And no internal bleeding, either, just a severe concussion, a dislocated wrist, and tons of bruises.
My parents and Rylee have been and gone but I refuse to leave. However long Cassidy has to be here, I’ll be here, too. Aside from Rylee, I’m all she has. It kills me to see her this way. Her beautiful face is so swollen, the bruises are dark purple, and her face is scraped up from where she hit the asphalt. If only she wouldn’t have tried to help me. While I hold her good hand gently in mine, I try and hold back my tears but it’s no use. I was so fucking scared I was going to lose her tonight and it’s all catching up to me now.
“Zack,” she croaks out, squinting as she tries to open her eyes. The lights have been dimmed because the doctors knew she would be sensitive to them and from the way she’s blinking, I can tell they were right.
“Cassidy, shh, babe. Don’t try and talk. Let me get the nurse,” I tell her as I excitedly push the nurse’s call button. They didn’t expect her to wake up this soon; it’s a really good sign.
“Well, hello,” the nurse says quietly as she walks in and checks Cassidy’s vital signs. “How are you feeling, Miss Pope?”
She tries to lick her lips but her mouth is dry. “Sore and thirsty,” she manages to say.
The nurse nods in understanding. “Everything looks good here, so I’ll get you some more pain medicine and some ice chips. You need to take it slow and make sure your stomach can handle it.”
When the nurse leaves, I pull Cassidy’s hand to my mouth. “Baby, I was so worried about you but it’s okay. You’re okay and your dad is never going to touch you again. I promise.”
A strangled gasp escapes her. “Is he in trouble?” I hate that she’s worried about him but that’s also what I love most about her. No matter how much they’ve put her through, she still loves him and wants to make sure he’s okay. Most people would be hoping he’s rotting in hell by now, but not my Cassidy.
“No, he’s not, but I wish he was. Nick got the entire thing on video and we’re blackmailing him with it. He’s going to leave you alone from now on or he will go to jail.” My tone is filled with anger and her fingers reach my cheek and trail down softly.
“He’s not worth you getting worked up over. If it’s really over let it go, Zack.”
She’s so beautiful and kind and I’ve waited for so long to ask her. Even though this is a less than ideal situation, I can’t stop myself.
“Marry me, Cassidy Pope,” I say, pulling her hand to my mouth for another kiss.
Her eyes fill with fear, and though her response doesn’t surprise me, it still hurts.
“Zack, I can’t…”
“You can and you will,” I say, interrupting her.
The nurse brings in the ice chips and a spoon and hands it to me. “Give them to her slowly, one at a time.” She pulls a syringe out of her pocket and a bottle of morphine. I know because that’s what they’ve been giving her since we got here. “The doctor says we’ll give you morphine tonight and reassess tomorrow if you can be moved to oral medications. This will probably make you pretty sleepy, but that’s a good thing. You need your rest after what you’ve gone through. The police will be back tomorrow for your statement, but we’ll keep them at bay until you’re feeling up to it.”
She smiles at us and closes the door behind her on the way out. My dad made sure Cassidy had a private room and I’ve never been more grateful for the Stafford influence than I am right now. After I feed Cassidy a few ice chips, she pushes the cup away.
“Zack, when I'm with you, every part of me wants to be the girl you want, the one you deserve.” She emphasizes the last word then releases a sigh. “But then, inevitably, something always happens and I'm painfully reminded I don't know how to be the girl you need. Just look at what happened tonight. I’m not good enough for you, Zack. I don’t belong in your world,” she whispers sadly.
“You’ve got that so backward. You’re better than anything in my world. I don’t deserve you but I don’t care. You’re all I’ve ever wanted, Cassidy, and I’m going to continue to ask you to marry me until you say yes.” I lean over and place a gentle kiss against her lips as her eyes begin to droop.
“You can’t marry trash, Zack. Hell, your mom won’t even let you take the trash out,” she whispers with her eyes closed. “There’s someone better for you out there, you just need to find her,” she mumbles as she falls asleep. My heart hurts for her and I decide I’m going to make it my mission to help Cassidy feel worthy.
“You couldn’t be trash if you tried, Cassidy, and I’m going to prove it to you. You will say yes one day. You will be Mrs. Zachary Stafford.”
“Hey, baby.” Cassidy wraps her arms around me, effectively pulling my thoughts from the past to the future. She looks beautiful in a blue sundress which enhances her blue eyes and hugs all her curves. “What were you thinking about? You looked a million miles away.”
“I’ll tell you later. Let’s go get a drink,” I say, taking her hand in mine as we work our way through all the people in Nick’s house. As we walk into the kitchen, I notice a group of football players in the corner and they’re all looking at her as if she’s their next meal. Bastards. They know she’s mine and I have no issue showing them.
Wrapping my arm around her waist, I pull her to me and kiss her deeply. Cassidy hates PDA but she loves kissing me. I feel her hesitate, so I quickly part her lips with my tongue and take control. Her arms wrap around my neck as she gives in and I take possession of her mouth with mine. When I pull away, she’s flushed and a round of cat calls aimed at the two of us makes her blush.
“You did that on purpose,” she says accusingly.
“Hell yeah, I did. They want what’s mine and they can’t have it,” I reply arrogantly as she crosses her arms and glares at me.
“I’m not a possession for you to claim, Zack,” she spits out as Rylee crosses the room, heading in our direction.
“I never said you were a possession. I said you’re mine. It goes both ways, Cassidy,” I say, pulling her close and whispering in her ear. “You own my heart and soul. I’m yours, too… forever.”
“You better be,” she replies, giving Angelica a dirty look as she walks by us and intentionally brushes against me. I love when she’s jealous.
“You know I don’t want anyone but you. Rylee is behind you, tapping her foot impatiently. Why don’t you go see what she wants and find me in a bit?”
“Okay,” she says with a smile, and after placing a lingering kiss on my lips, she goes off to see what the hell Rylee has her pan
ties in a twist about now. Hopefully it’s just something dumb because I’m really not in the mood to kick her douchebag boyfriend’s ass tonight if he did something stupid.
Nick walks over and brings me a beer, which I take gratefully.
“You and Cassidy staying here tonight still?” he asks as he finishes his beer and opens another.
“Absolutely. Did you lock up the room already?” People have a habit of making themselves at home in empty bedrooms during Nick’s parties.
He laughs as he hands me the key. “Man, I locked them all up this time. After the last party, when Constance told my mom it looked like someone had ‘soiled’ the sheets in the spare bedroom and I had to listen to her sex talk, there’s no way I’m going to risk that again.”
I smile, remembering how weirded out he was by that. His mom has a great sense of humor and she only did it to embarrass him. “Well, maybe next time you won’t be such an arrogant fuck and assume it’s part of her job to wash sexed up sheets after one of your parties. Constance has been a part of your family since you were a baby. You had to know she’d say something.”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever... the one time I didn’t have time to wash all the sheets. In my defense, sex with Hilary was completely worth the embarrassment.”
Angelica is heading our way. I can use this as the perfect wingman opportunity; all he needs to do is take the bait.
“Speaking of… who are you trying to score with tonight?” I ask as his eyes widen and a perfectly manicured hand lands on my thigh.
Damn, I wish she’d take the hint that I’m not available or interested.
“Bethany was just talking about you, Nick,” she purrs in the way only Angelica can. It’s sexy and a complete turn off all at the same time. “You should go talk to her before someone else snatches her up.”
I remove her hand from my thigh as Nick stands. “Later,” he grumbles as he walks away, leaving me in Angelica’s clutches. Damn, he’s dense at times. He had the perfect chance to try and claim her as his. My eyes scan the room for Rylee and Cassidy but they’re nowhere in sight.
“They went to your house to get their things since they’re sleeping over. We have a little while before they get back,” she tells me with a smirk as her hand starts roaming up and down my arm.
I pull away quickly. “Follow me,” I tell her and lead the way out to the garage. I’ve been nice but I’ve had enough. I’m not going to go off on her in a house full of people, though. I’m not that much of a dick. The smug look she has on her face pisses me off. I can read Angelica like a book; she thinks I’m dragging her out here because I’m going to finally give in to her.
Once we reach the garage and the door closes behind us, I let her have it. “Angelica, I don’t know how much clearer I can make this to you. I’m. Not. Interested. You know I’m with Cassidy and that’s never going to change.”
“Zachary,” she purrs and I hate it; it reminds me of my mother. “When are you going to realize Cassidy is just using you for your money?” With every word she speaks, she inches closer and closer to me and it’s making me seriously uncomfortable.
“Cassidy doesn’t care about money, but you’d never know that because you can’t get over your mean girl attitude enough to even get to know her.”
She lets out a peal of laughter. “You’re adorable, Zack. People like us don’t associate with people like her. She’s a scholarship kid, a nobody. But you and I, Zack, we’re legacies. Everyone knows legacies shouldn’t date let alone consider a future with someone who isn’t a legacy. It just doesn’t work like that.”
What a cunt!
“First of all, let me make this very clear. Cassidy isn’t a scholarship kid and even if she was it wouldn’t matter. The world is changing, Angelica, and you should get with the times. If you want to be stuck in some semi-arranged marriage with a man who most likely won’t love you the way you deserve to be loved, then go for it. That’s not what I want for my life. Maybe this isn’t all your fault. I see your mom and mine with their heads together at the country club. I’m sure they’re plotting our eventual nuptials.”
She smiles and motions her hand for me to continue, as if I was going to stop there. “You don’t know me, Angelica. You don’t know who I am. I’d give up every single penny of my fortune if it meant keeping Cassidy with me for life.”
The gasp escaping her mouth is priceless. But then the shocked look on her face quickly becomes an eerie smirk as she reaches out and pats me on the hand. “It’s okay, Zack, you can’t see our future yet but I can and I’ll wait. I’m even okay with being the girl on the side for now. I’ll happily give you what I know must be lacking from your relationship with Cassidy.”
As she speaks the last sentence, the garage door opens and Cassidy and Rylee hear everything. Fuck, could this night get any worse? Cassidy is frozen in her spot, looking back and forth between Angelica and me, but Rylee is beyond furious.
“Who the fuck do you think you are?” she screams as they both walk in and the door closes behind them. “Do you think you make yourself look good by offering to ho yourself out to my brother on the side? Do you think he’ll want you or even respect you after that?”
Rylee laughs and looks back at Cassidy for a second before going full force at Angelica again. “You’ve been after my brother for years but I can tell you right now that even if he and Cassidy split, he’d never go for someone like you. Get a fucking life, Angelica, and while you’re at it, find some self-respect along the way because, honestly, you’re pathetic. Too bad you can’t buy a personality with all your money because you desperately need one.”
Angelica doesn’t even look ashamed, she just pops a kiss on my cheek, walks to the door, turns around, and blows me a kiss. “You know where to find me when you decide you want a real woman.”
“Oh my god. I can’t believe the nerve of that bitch! What the hell are you doing out here with her alone, anyway, Zack?” As Rylee screams at me, Cassidy runs out.
“Dammit!” I scream at no one in particular as I stalk to the door so I can follow her and explain. Rylee catches my arm and turns me to her instead.
“Let her go, Zack. Let her calm down. Do you want to tell me what’s going on?” she asks gently.
“No, Ry, I don’t. I just want to go find Cassidy and explain. Fuck, this night could not possibly get any worse!”
“Well, about that… we knew to find you out here because everyone inside was taking bets on what exactly you guys were doing. When we walked in, everyone was giving Cassidy sympathetic looks. I’m sure this is all on Angelica but it looks really bad, Zack. They’re saying she was all over you in the kitchen and you brought her out here for sex.”
“You’ve got to be kidding me. Jesus, Ry, that’s not what happened. She was all over me and I told her to follow me here so I didn’t act like an ass by going off on her in front of everyone. I was trying to be nice. Even if I liked Angelica, which let’s be perfectly fucking clear here, I don’t, I would never hurt Cassidy like that.” No wonder Cassidy was so freaked out.
“Okay, Zack, let’s go find our girl,” Rylee says as she links her arm through mine.
We look around and can’t find her so we decide to split up. I know she wouldn’t go to the room because she’d have to ask Nick for the key and he’s in a big group with Angelica and all her friends. She’s got to be out back. There are a ton of people out here but I think I know where she is. As I walk across the yard, people keep trying to talk to me but I’m not in the mood. My friend, Gus, hands me a beer as I pass by and I take it gratefully.
Behind the pool house is a set of steps that lead down to Nick’s basketball court. Nick doesn’t like people going down there in the dark so he keeps the lights off so no one will even know it’s there. Cassidy likes going down there in the dark to look at the stars so I’m hoping that’s where I’ll find her.
Before I make it to the bottom of the stairs, I hear her crying and I feel like absolute shit. Even though I was defend
ing her and myself, somehow Cassidy still managed to get hurt.
“Cassidy,” I call out softly, trying not to scare her.
She sniffs and then sighs loudly, “Go away, Zack.”
“Not a chance in hell, babe.”
“I’m serious. I just want to be alone right now,” she says, trying to control her breathing. “Please, Zack, just go.” A sob escapes from deep down inside of her.
She’s crying because of me. No, she’s crying because of that bitch, Angelica. I lower myself behind her on the grassy hill she’s sitting on and pull her close to me. Thankfully, she doesn’t fight me. Instead, she releases a sigh as she sniffles through her tears.
Pushing her hair to the side, I speak softly in her ear, hoping she’ll hear what I want her to instead of what she wants to.
“I love you, Cassidy Pope, and that will never change.” She stiffens under me and tries to cut me off but I’m not having it.
“No, you ran again, Cassidy. It’s my time to talk now.” Her body relaxes slightly against me and I know she’s ready to hear me even if she doesn’t want to.
“You, of all people, should know what a tramp I think Angelica is and that it doesn’t matter what she wants. I don’t want her. I’ll never want her because my heart is already entwined with yours.”
She sighs again and relaxes all the way into me. Cassidy is fearful and insecure but I always hope to find the right words to bring her back to me when she gets like this.
“There’s never been a girl whose hands fit mine like a glove as if they are an extension of my own, until you. There’s never been a pair of eyes that see into my soul and set my world right again, until yours. There’s never been a set of lips that have locked onto mine like the keys of a lost kingdom until yours touched mine. Every part of you completes every single part of me.”
Her tears fall against my hands and I lightly kiss the back of her head.
“Zack,” she says on a sigh, “I don’t know how to do this. I love you more than life but I don’t know how to let you all the way in. I don’t know how to not run away when things get bad. My instincts are always to run now. I’m so sorry my relationship with my parents is affecting us, but I don’t know any other way. I’m trying. God, Zack, I’m trying so hard, but I just don’t feel good enough. Maybe Angelica isn’t the one for you, but she’s not wrong. I’m not meant for your world.”
