Chapter 69: CHAPTER SIXTY-EIGHT

Cassie POV

I had just gotten comfortable in my bed when I heard a noise outside.

I didn’t often get scared of weird noises coming from outside but then I’d always had Alexis for company.

But at the moment it was just me…

Alone.

In this big god damn mansion.

Maybe I should just call her tell her to come home.

Nah.

She needs her space as do I.

I need to just stop being such a pussy and just ignore it.

I go back to my original position in the bed when…

The door knocks.

I jump out of my bed with a grunt.

I so hoped this was Lexi.

Couldn’t be gone for half a day.

Forgot her key again.

I walk down the mountain of stairs grumbling to myself.

When I see a tall silhouette’s shadow.

‘Well, that’s not Alexis.’

I think to myself.

Maybe me opening the door at this time of night ALONE isn’t such a good idea after all.

It could be a mad man serial killer escaped from an asylum.

I could be murdered this very instant.

Or worse.

My mind started to spiral with all of the possible horrible scenario’s that could lead to my death by opening the front door.

I watched way too many documentaries.

I go to turn away and head for the stairs.

Run back to my room and hide under the bed like a child when I hear my name.

“Cassandra.”

Was that…

Is that…

Jericho.

No, it couldn’t be.

There was no way he would be at my door this time of night.

“Cassie it’s me Jericho.”

Well, there you have it.

It was Jericho at my door this time of night.

What the actual fuck was he doing here.

I head back to the door ready to open it to him when I actually use my head and look through the door curtain first just to make sure it actually was him standing there.

And it was.

To my surprise he looked…

Just put it this way.

He had seen better days.

I open the door but leave the chain on.

God knows why.

It was Jericho.

He night be a lot of things, but he would never harm me.

I believe that to be true.

“What are you doing here?”

I ask him.

He looks at me with a stupid grin on his face.

He was drunk.

“Have you been drinking.”

Another question.

He still hasn’t answered the first one yet.

“I came to apologise to you.”

He slurs.

“And to make sure you were ok.”

I chuckle at this.

He looks so goofy drunk.

“It could have waited until the morning.”

“You didn’t need to come all the way here just for that Jericho.”

I didn’t want to sound like I was giving him the brush off and that I didn’t appreciate the gesture, but he was clearly wasted, and I was tired.

I was about t tell him I was going to call him a cab home when he started falling to the side.

I quickly open the door and catch him before he fell.

I couldn’t leave him like this.

“Come inside you goof.”

“I’ll make you some coffee.”

He leans into me as we start to walk inside.

“I love you, Cassandra.”

He slips out.

It caught me totally by surprise.

“I just wanted you to know that.”

I was speechless.

I didn’t know how to reply to that.

I knew he loved me he had told me and Alexis prior to all this drama.

But to hear him say it directly to my face…

I was taken back.

And then all of a sudden, his lips were crashing into mine.

I was caught off guard, but my body reacted on its own.

I found myself jumping into his arms and wrapping my legs around his waist just melting into his embrace.

The world around me melted away.

It was just me and him.

All of the problems we had seemed so insignificant to this moment we were sharing.

I didn’t want to lose it.

But somewhere in the back of my mind I knew it couldn’t happen.

I pull away from him as quickly as I had jumped on him.

I jump off of him and step away.

Holding my lips.

Remembering the kiss.

My lips felt naked not having his on them.

But it was wrong.

It couldn’t happen.

Shouldn’t happen.

He looks at me with sadness in his eyes.

He wanted this as much as I did.

“I’m sorry.”

“We shouldn’t…”

He holds up a hand to me.

He doesn’t want me to finish that sentence.

He knew exactly what I was going to say.

“Don’t.”

Is all he says.

“Just don’t Cassandra.”

So, I don’t.

I turn and carry on down the hall to the kitchen.

I hear Jericho silently follow behind.

I still wanted to make him his cup of coffee.

Any more than that and we’re in big trouble.

I switch the light on in the kitchen and head directly for where the mugs are stored.

I hear Jericho behind me pulling out a chair at the table.

I fill the kettle with water and place it on the stove.

I’m trying my hardest not to gaze at him.

Even when asking how he likes it which is a dumb question considering I’ve been making them for him for the past 4 months.

“Black 1 sugar please.”

I nod in acknowledgement.

I also make one for myself.

I don’t particularly want one I just need something to focus on instead of him.

The kettle boiled and I pour the water in both our mugs.

After a few seconds I’m heading over to the table Jericho is at at and hand him the coffee.

I take a seat opposite.

If I sit too closely, I might not be able to control myself.

We both sit in silence for a bit until I break it.

It was just too uncomfortable for me.

“So…”

“Why are you in this state Jericho?”

“Why are you really here?”

He looks over his mug at me.

Our eyes instantly finding each other.

I shy away.

I feel under pressure.

I wait for an answer.

He finally clears his throat after sipping the coffee.

“I’ve told you already Cassandra.”

“I wanted to make sure you were ok and how deeply sorry I was about hurting you.”

I contemplate this for a moment.

I see that his apology is genuine.

But I still wanted to bust his balls.

Just a little bit.

“So, you wait to tell me this until you are shit faced drunk and it is stupid o clock in the morning.”

I have half a grin on my face.

“Something like that.”

He chuckles.

“Ok, I believe you.”

“Now answer me another question.”

His eyes widen.

He’s gone white in the face.

I know he thinks I’m going to ask about him and Amy, but I couldn’t care less about that.

I wanted to know about the Alex and him beef they have.

I know Alex has told me his version of events, but I want to know form Jericho’s side.

He takes a deep breath.

“Ask the question and I will see if I have the answer.”

I wait for a moment.

Let his pulse resume to normal.

Before I go in for the kill.

I smile.

“What the deal between you and Alex?”

“You’re supposed to be brothers, but you hate each other.”

“What’s up with that?”

Coffee mug back in his hand he looks at me before taking a sip.

“We’re going to need more than coffee for me to tell you that.”

He says.

“You got the cliff notes be grateful for that because the full story is 100% worse.”

I chuckle.

He definitely is drunk.

“Come on Jericho just tell me.”

He has a serious look on his face.

“Are you sure you want to know?”

He asks me.

I reply excitedly.

“Yes, I want to know so spill it.”

He finishes the coffee and then slams the mug on the table.

“Ok, but remember you asked for it.”

I nod.

“Well, you know the jist of it, but what Alex failed to mention was Alex and I weren’t the only ones on Sarah’s hook.”