Chapter 20 Chapter 21
Jace’s quiet afternoon….
The house stayed oddly peaceful after Marvin left. Dad was out golfing, bragging somewhere about his sons like they were trophies instead of human beings. Miss Carway retreated to her room, exhausted.
Jace sat on the couch, one leg stretched out, scrolling through playlists. His phone buzzed with Cass’s reply.
Barely surviving. You?
He answered before he could overthink.
Trying to undo the damage of being related to Marvin.
Her laughter-filled reply made something warm press against his ribs.
He didn’t message again immediately. He never wanted to overwhelm her. Instead, he thought about her about how strong she had been all week. The posters, the whispers, the way Marvin kept targeting her like she owed him a piece of her soul.
She didn’t crumble. She didn’t hide.
But he could tell she was tired.
And he hated that.
Cass’ midday pressure whiles her mom was breathing down her neck.
Her mom dragged her into chores with the energy of someone who needed control to stay upright.
“Clean the living room. And for heaven’s sake, wash those dishes properly this time.”
“I did wash them properly.”
“No, Cassandra, you pretended to wash them.”
Cass gritted her teeth. “I’m tired.”
“Tired?” her mother snapped. “Try being a single parent and see how tired you get.”
Cass stood there, still as stone, stomach twisting painfully.
Her mom softened a little only a little and sighed loud enough to make the walls vibrate.
“You need to try harder,” she said. “Life is already hard enough.”
Cass didn’t argue. She couldn’t. She simply cleaned in silence.
Then her phone buzzed again.
If you need a break, you can come out. A walk might help.
Jace.
She stared at it for a long time before replying.
Maybe later.
The truth was, she didn’t want him seeing her like this. Worn out. Fragile at the edges. Not sharp or sarcastic or strong.
Just tired.
And scared of how many people wanted to see her fall.
Jace had an evening with tension. Marvin!
Marvin burst through the front door around six, dragging noise behind him like a curse. Jacinta trailed after him, perfume flooding the air as half the hockey team stomped inside.
Jace lay on the couch staring at the ceiling. Miss Carway muttered something about needing a vacation and hurried up the stairs.
He felt irritation itching under his skin.
He picked up his phone.
Still alive?
She responded fast.
Barely. Mom keeps breathing down my neck.
He hesitated.
Then typed what he meant.
If you need to talk, you can. I won’t judge you.
Her reply didn’t come for several minutes. He almost thought she wasn’t going to answer.
Then finally:
Thanks. Really.
He let out a slow breath.
⸻
Cass — night
Her mom eventually disappeared into her bedroom, leaving Cass curled on the living room rug with a blanket around her shoulders and a bag of chips she wasn’t supposed to eat.
She stared at the ceiling, chest tight. She didn’t want to cry. Crying felt like admitting defeat.
Her phone buzzed on her stomach.
You okay?
Jace.
Her heart squeezed.
I will be. she typed.
After a few moments:
I’m glad you’re here, Cass.
Cass’s eyes stung. She pressed her hand over her mouth to steady her breath.
And I’m glad you’re here too.
She locked her phone and closed her eyes, holding the blanket closer around her. She felt fragile. Tired. But warm, too. Like someone had reached into the darkness and switched on a small light.
The weekend wasn’t peaceful.
It wasn’t restful.
It wasn’t kind.
But tonight, Cass didn’t feel as alone.
And in another house, Jace felt the same.