Chapter 75: CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

Cassie POV

I had just stepped out of the shower when I heard Jericho chatting on the phone.

“Whose Jericho talking to at this time of night?”

I quickly wrap my towel around me and hurry back to my room.

As I walk in Jericho is cursing something serious and the other person on the phone which is on the floor by the way is anxiously waiting for him to answer.

“Jericho.”

“Hello.”

“I’m still here.”

It sounded like Alex.

Odd.

I go to reach for the phone when Jericho snaps out of his trance and gets to it before me.

“Meet me tomorrow.”

“We’ll discuss this then.”

And he ends the call.

He looks at me.

Still wet from the shower with nothing but a towel on.

I saw the lust in his eyes, but it was overthrown by…

Sadness.

Regret.

Why?

“What’s going on Jericho?”

“Who was that on the phone, Alex?”

“Why is he calling you so late?”

“And why do you look so frightened?”

I wait for answers.

Or at least an explanation.

He takes both my hands in his.

“Look, Cassandra I can’t get into this right now, but I have to go.”

I was not expecting that.

I stand there with my mouth agape.

Nothing willing itself to come out.

“You don’t know how hard this is for me to say this to you.”

“Especially standing here in front of me dripping wet with nothing but a towel.”

“The things I want to do to you right now…”

I start to bite my bottom lip.

“And biting your lips, you don’t know what that does to me.”

“But I have to go, really.”

“I’m so sorry.”

“I’ll explain everything I can later, but right now I have to go.”

He starts gathering his stuff off of my floor.

Suddenly, I start feeling lonely.

All I can muster up is…

“Ok.”

As he rushes to get dressed and heads for my bedroom door, he turns to kiss me.

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

I nod my understanding.

“See you later.”

And he walks out my bedroom door, down the stairs and out the front door.

Leaving me alone once again.

I slump onto my bed still in my towel wondering what the hell was going on.

How did the night end this way.

As I look at my phone, I notice it’s well into the early morning.

The situation in the Hamptons didn’t seem so long ago.

How the day played out was extremely odd.

Going from having a peaceful day at the beach to Alex showing up then finding out that Alex is a rapist, which I still haven’t gotten the full scoop on that yet.

He did promise me the rest of his story.

That I will have to collect on and soon.

Then me finding out I got a writing gig at a new company to now.

And do you know what…

It still feels like I’m left in the dark.

And the only person I feel remotely comfortable with talking about any of this crap with is gone.

What I wouldn’t do to give to have Alexis here with me right now.

Help me make sense of all of this.

I wanted her home.

I needed her home.

It was too weird not having her around.

She was like my protective blanket.

I missed her.

I look at my phone and hover over her number.

Was it too late to call?

I should wait until the morning.

The actual morning.

I finally put my cell down and went to my closet to put some pyjamas on.

My phone beeped.

I ran to see who it was from.

Hopefully Alexis missing me like I miss her.

I look.

It’s a txt from Jericho.

“I really am sorry about running out on you Cassandra let me make it up to you, come to my parents with me on Sunday for a luncheon I would love for you to meet them.”

I was taken back by the last part.

Lunch at his parents.

Were we dating.

Wasn’t meeting the parents awfully too quick.

I didn’t know the protocol on meeting the parents.

I hadn’t dated in so long.

I needed to get Alexis back here with me she was good in these situations.

I was definitely giving her a call in the morning.

As I lay in my bed, I wait hopelessly for sleep to come.

I felt like I could sleep for a week.

As I laid there longer, I felt myself drifting, my eyes getting heavier by the moment.

I knew I was about to find sleep.

And I couldn’t wait.

It was a long time coming.

Jericho POV

I didn’t want to leave her, but I had no choice.

Alex’s call spooked the fuck out of me.

I never in a million years thought that I would hear her name again.

I hadn’t thought about her for years.

Well, not until today anyway.

God why did Alex have to bring her up.

Why did he have to tell Cassandra the sordid details of our stupid adolescence.

She didn’t need to know the ins and outs of the whole situation.

He really did want to fuck up any chance I had with her.

Regardless, he could have chosen a better way.

And now she was back.

What did that mean, anyway?

Back for what?

To cause trouble I bet.

But this was one guy she wasn’t causing trouble with.

And no way was I going to let her anywhere near Cassandra.

I wouldn’t allow her near her to spit her lies.

Twist the truth.

Try turn her against me.

No.

Me and Alex needed to come up with a plan to deal with this.

To deal with her.

Sarah was back and she was mine and Alex’s problem to deal with.

I didn't like it but that's how it was.

Our demons were coming back to haunt us and i didnt want Cassandra in the crossfire.