Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 82474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82474 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 412(@200wpm)___ 330(@250wpm)___ 275(@300wpm)
“Don’t talk about her like that.” I scowl at my own reflection.
“Not denying it, are you? Interesting. I wonder what she’d say if I told her the truth about us.”
“You’ve done enough damage already, believe me.” I shut my eyes. I need to stop giving her a rise. I need to stop letting her get under my skin so easily. “Just sign the goddamn papers Sheryl. I’ll have the lawyer bring them by your office tomorrow.”
“Then I’ll see you in court the day after tomorrow,” she retorts. And I know exactly what she’ll be gunning for.
“You know what?” I’m at the end of my tether. “Fine. Let’s play this out. But you leave Cassidy out of this, or believe me, I will make it a thousand times worse on you.”
“As if you have the guts,” she hisses, just before I disconnect the call.
It doesn’t matter. Sheryl doesn’t matter anymore. She’s my past. Even if it ruins me to claw my way free from her, I’m going to do it. Because I can’t pretend anymore. I can’t dance on her leash. Not now that I’ve met Cassidy, now that I’ve tasted what true happiness could be like.
Whatever happens now, whether she accepts me or not, I’m choosing Cassidy. If I wind up alone and heartbroken, at least I can say I gave it my all.
I shove my phone into my back pocket and stride across the apartment, grabbing my coat along the way. It’s time to make this right, once and for all.
24
Cassidy
I stare across my wine glass at my mother, on the opposite end of the restaurant table. Behind her, the lights of the city glimmer. We’re on a rooftop, one of the slightly bougie ones in midtown that I’ve never actually been to before but always wanted to try.
Between us on the table are two finished plates of steak. The portions were, naturally, ridiculously small. But the food was delicious. And at least the sides had a bit more meat to them—metaphorically speaking, anyway—so I’m decently full. And it feels nice. It feels good, to reconnect.
We’ve spent the whole meal catching up. Mom told me some hilarious stories about a guy she was dating for a few months, a firefighter in her town who sounds like he was more entertaining than an actual prospect. But at least he’s got a real, regular job. He’s not like her usual types. It sounded like she actually had fun with him, even if it was only for a little while.
It also sounds like she wasn’t actually using him for cash.
“So, what are you doing these days?” I ask her, because she just ordered us another bottle of one of the mid-range wines to split, and I can’t help it. Even though she told me on the phone it would be her treat tonight, I can’t shake the sneaking suspicion that there’s something else she wants. That this is some kind of setup.
How terrible of a daughter am I? whispers a voice in the back of my head. That I’m suspecting my own mother of setting me up, just because she invited me out to a nice meal.
God, maybe my head really is messed up. Maybe I don’t have any idea how to trust anyone, anymore.
“Oh, you know.” Mom waves a hand, grinning at me over the rim of her wine glass. I really don’t, actually. “This and that, trying things out, seeing what I enjoy.”
I run my tongue along the inside of my cheek, resisting my gut instinct, which is to keep pressing her until she admits she’s unemployed, yet again. Maybe you’re leaping to conclusions, Cassidy. Before I can actually reply, though, Mom leans forward, setting her glass back down.
“You know, Cassidy.” She stretches her hands across the table, palms up. After a moment’s hesitation, I place my hands in hers, and bite back a wince when she squeezes my fingers too tightly. “I’m really proud of you. I don’t tell you that enough, and I’m sorry for that. But it’s so exciting what you’ve been building for yourself. Your whole little makeup empire.” She winks and squeezes my fingers one last time before releasing me. “You must be so happy. It’s everything you’ve always wanted, no?”
“Yeah,” I reply, a smile stretching across my face. “It is.”
“And now that you’ve finally got those career goals out of your system, I’m sure the right man will come along soon too.” Mom’s grin widens. “After all, men love a successful woman these days, don’t they?”
My cheeks flush, and my gaze drops before I can help myself. “I guess.” When I look back up again, Mom’s frowning this time.
“What’s wrong?” She tilts her head, narrowing her gaze. “Is there someone you haven’t mentioned?” She straightens in her seat, her eyes brightening. “Did Norman come back into the picture?”