Chapter 31 Heart breaks and Pizza &wine
Outside, Kevin was waiting with the release papers, his expression grim. He'd obviously heard the shouting everyone in that section of the hospital probably had. He took one look at her tear-stained face and set the clipboard aside, pulling her into a gentle hug without saying a word.
"Everything's taken care of." he said softly, his voice full of sympathy. His arms were warm and steady around her, and for a moment she let herself lean into the comfort he offered. It was such a stark contrast to the violence of Greyson's rejection that it almost made her cry harder.
Cassie nodded numbly, her hands shaking as she signed where needed.
The pen felt heavy in her fingers, and she had to concentrate to keep her signature legible. Each letter felt like an enormous effort, her whole body trembling with the aftermath of their fight. She could feel Kevin watching her with professional concern, probably noting her elevated pulse and the way her hands wouldn't stop shaking.
When she finished, she stepped out into the cooling evening air, pulling the jacket Kevin had given her tighter around herself as she took shaky breaths. The night air was crisp against her heated skin, and she welcomed the cold. It helped ground her, brought her back to her body after the emotional devastation she'd just experienced.
She started walking toward the hotel, her mind reeling from what had just happened. How could things have gone so wrong so quickly? This morning she'd been the happiest she'd ever been, wrapped in Greyson's arms and planning their future together. Now their marriage felt like it was over before it had even begun, destroyed by forces she didn't understand.
The streets were mostly quiet, with only the occasional car passing by. The sound of her heels on the pavement created a steady rhythm that helped calm her racing thoughts, but couldn't quiet the echo of Greyson's voice shouting at her to get out. She pulled out her phone and stared at it, wondering if she should call someone, but who would she tell? She couldn't exactly explain that her secret husband had just screamed at her in a hospital with a rage that had actually frightened her.
Kevin caught up with her as she reached the intersection near the hotel. His familiar presence was a relief in the chaos of emotions swirling through her mind.
"Hey, you shouldn't be alone right now," he said, slightly out of breath from jogging to catch up.
"Let me call Brendan and we'll get some pizza, okay?"
Brandon her college roommate who'd moved to the city after graduation and had become one of her closest friends. Someone who knew her history, who'd seen her through other heartbreaks and disasters. He was getting married tomorrow and she knew deep down, he loved Meagan.
The thought of his steady, uncomplicated friendship made her realize how much she needed that right now.
Cassie didn't have the energy to protest. She felt hollow, like someone had scooped out her insides and left her empty. The fight with Greyson had drained her completely, and she wasn't sure she had the strength to process what had just happened, much less figure out what came next.
"Okay. "
Kevin pulled out his phone and made the call while they walked. She could hear him explaining the situation in vague terms, that she'd had a rough night and needed some company. Brandon didn't ask questions, just said he'd meet them at Tony's Pizza in twenty minutes.
The walk to the restaurant gave Cassie time to think, and she found herself replaying not just the fight, but the look in Greyson's eyes. There had been something there, something beyond anger or jealousy. Something that had made her genuinely afraid for a moment, though she didn't want to admit it even to herself.
When Brendan arrived, his familiar face was a balm to her frayed nerves. He was exactly what the doctor ordered, with kind eyes and a gentle manner that had always made him easy to talk to. He took one look at her and immediately wrapped his arms around her, holding her tight.
"Friend, what's wrong?" he asked, his voice gentle and concerned. The simple question, asked with such genuine care, nearly undid her completely.
"I messed up." Cassie whispered against his shoulder, her voice barely audible. It was easier to blame herself than to try to explain the complex web of emotions and circumstances that had led to this moment.
He squeezed her tighter, and she could smell his familiar cologne—something woodsy and comforting that reminded her of simpler times when her biggest worry was passing Physiology.
"Talk to me."
As they settled into a booth at the pizza place, Cassie glanced back in the direction of the hospital. Somewhere in that building, Greyson was probably getting discharged, possibly regretting his harsh words, possibly planning his flight home.
The distance between them felt impossible to bridge now, like a chasm that had opened up and swallowed everything good between them.
The restaurant was warm and dimly lit, filled with the comfortable sounds of conversation and clinking glasses. It was the kind of place where she could blend in, where no one would stare at her red eyes or whisper about the drama they'd witnessed. For the first time in hours, she felt like she could breathe.
"So," he said gently, sliding a glass of water across the table to her, "want to tell me about this mess you think you've made?"
Cassie looked at her two friends,Kevin with his doctor's pragmatism and Brendan with his artist's sensitivity and realized she was going to have to tell them everything. The secret marriage, the fight, the uncertain future stretching ahead of her. Maybe it was time to stop carrying this burden alone.