CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
CHAPTER EIGHTY-TWO
Jericho POV
I had never seen her like this.
Cassie.
She was unravelling.
I didn’t blame her though.
There was a lot going on.
I had made her go through a lot in the past week.
But my mother’s luncheon was fast approaching, and I wanted so badly to ask her to join me to it.
I just didn’t think that now was the right time.
Which was funny as I was running out of it.
As Alexis watches her best friend start to lose her shit.
I try to calm her.
“Cassie, Cassie listen to me.”
“Everything is going to be ok.”
“Just breathe.”
As she copies my breathing exercises, I fell her body become less tense and her breathing become less rapid.
I finally relaxed also.
I didn’t enjoy seeing her this way.
All I could think was…
Somebody was going to pay.
And I knew exactly who I was going to make pay.
Fucking Alex.
This all started with him.
And I sure as hell wouldn’t be in this situation if he never called me last night to tell me a certain somebody had made herself known.
I wouldn’t be here trying to calm the woman I love down if Sarah didn’t decide to come back.
Now we’re here wondering what the fuck she wants and why.
I’m deep in thought when I realise that Cassandra has pulled herself away from me.
She has a look in her eyes that’s telling me she blames me.
And to be honest…
I’m blaming myself.
I shouldn’t have involved her.
But Alex was right.
For a change.
We don’t know why Sarah’s here or what she’s up to.
The best way to protect Cassie and Alexis is by letting them know off the bat.
So, if anything does happen, they know why.
She looks over to Alexis.
“Lex could you give us a minute?”
She doesn’t argue.
She just nods her head.
Rises off of her seat and leaves the room.
After she’s gone Cassie sits in the now vacant seat.
“Jericho, we need to talk.”
I didn’t like the sound of it, but I obliged.
I sat opposite her and waited for her to start.
I wasn’t going to rush her on this.
Clearly, this was something she had to do.
And I respected her way too much to not allow her to.
The silence between us was deafening.
Moments were passing by and still she hadn’t spoken a word.
Still, I didn’t want to push.
A few more moments have gone by when she finally clears her throat.
“I have to be straight with you Jericho.”
Here it comes.
“This is all too much.”
“I know I said that I wanted to know all of it but…”
“I didn’t realise how dark it all was.”
I could see the fear in her eyes.
She wasn’t lying.
She was terrified.
Of me…
I wasn’t sure.
“How have you been able to live with this weighing on your shoulders.”
“I can’t even imagine what Sarah was feeling.”
I didn’t know how to answer that, but I tried to the best of my ability.
“Cassandra please understand we were kids.”
“Yes, what happened to Sarah was a tragedy, but please understand I would never let anything like that happen to you.”
She gets up and starts pacing.
“I know that Jericho.”
“But you have to understand…”
“Why I’m having my doubts.”
“It just seems like anyone who gets close to you gets hurt.”
She wasn’t wrong.
She was the closest thing I cared about in this world, and I was putting her in possible danger.
Not by Sarah.
Hopefully.
Just in general.
There would always be people who would want to bring me down.
Joys of the biz.
I couldn’t subject her to that.
It would be selfish to.
Right.
But was I able to sacrifice someone I love for the greater good.
Maybe I was being selfish.
But not having her was not an option.
“Cassandra believe me when I tell you this…”
“There is nothing I wouldn’t do to protect you.”
“I will never put you in any danger that you have my word.”
As she watched me, I could see she knew I was telling the truth.
“I just want us to be able to have a start Jericho.”
“We love each other.”
“So, why is it so hard for us to have something.”
“It’s like the universe is always throwing something in our way.”
“Are we not supposed to be together.”
“Is this not meant to be.”
I walk over to her.
I stroke her cheek.
“I know it feels like that sometimes but believe me when I say we will have our chance.”
“Right now, just think of it as a little hurdle we have to get over before we can truly be happy.”
She smiles under my touch.
“Hey quick question.”
I ask.
“How would you feel about Lunch on Sunday?”
Her eyes widen.
Shock I presume.
“Really, at a time like this you’re asking me out?”
Now I start to grin.
“Seems like the right thing to do.”
I start to chuckle.
“Oh, I don’t know.”
She replies shyly.
“Maybe going on a date isn’t the best idea right now.”
She was probably right, but I didn’t care.
“My mom’s throwing some stupid family brunch that I have to go to.”
“I just wanted to see if you would honour me with your Prescence in allowing me to drag you along too.”
She starts to chuckle.
Throws her arms around my neck and gives me a nod.
“What the hell.”
I start laughing.
“Why Miss Knox I do believe we have a date.”
“I can’t believe I’m meeting the fam already.”
“You do love me.”
She starts laughing.
“Just a heads-up Alex will be there.”
She loses the smile.
“I wouldn’t expect him not to be.”
“Are you guys getting along now?”
I ponder this question for a moment.
I had to be honest.
“No.”
“But then we never have.”
“We’re just civil to each other because we have the same objective.”
“And what’s that?”
She asks sweetly.
“Finding out why Sarah’s back.”
“Oh.”
“And keeping you safe.”
I see the blush show on her cheeks.
I have never seen anyone so beautiful.
I had to kiss her.
And so I did.