Fearless Attraction (Cassie Series) (2 page)

             
"Mom, what is going on?" I ask from the door of my dad's office. He glances up at me the same time I look at him, and the look of sorrow covers all his features. He looks like he has aged several years in the week since I have seen him last. I look back to my mom and she is starting to sob, unable to tell me what is going on.

             
When she finally catches her breath, she glances at dad before looking me directly in the eyes, her hazel ones looking sadder than I had ever seen.

             
"Sweetie," she says, "I'm leaving your father."

              "What are you doing out here all by yourself?" I jump drastically when my thoughts are interrupted. I hadn't noticed my eyes were filling with tears, but thankfully the lids are closed so you're not able to see them. I quickly blink away the rest before they have a chance to fall, and since its dark outside, you shouldn't be able to tell I'm upset.

             
I look over at him next to me and my stomach hurts in an instant. "I needed breathing room."

             
"Mind if I join you?"

             
"I'd rather you not." I stand up and walk back into the house.
Who does he think he is?!

             
I spot Kevin and smile, but by the look on his face I know I look like crap. "Hey, I think I'm going to get going."

             
"I'll walk you to your car," he replies, and does just that.

             
When I get to the car he runs his hand down my arm. "Thanks for the date Kevin, I had a pretty good night. Sorry I wasn't better company."

             
"Next time," he says, "if you still want to."

             
Not sure why I say yes, but that is the word that leaves my mouth. Kevin leans in and kisses my cheek.

             
"Night Kevin," I say as he pulls away.

             
"Goodnight Cassie. Drive safe."

             
"Since I live in walking distance, I'm sure I will," I smile and accept his hug.

             
I watch as he starts walking back towards the frat house and out of the corner of my eye I see another figure staring at me.
Why can't he just leave me alone?!
I hurry and get into my car, but it's not fast enough, because as I'm about to pull away from the curb my passenger side door opens.

             
"Seriously? Do you not get the hint?" I snap at him.

             
I can't resist those perfect green eyes staring back at me though, so I try my dammest to look straight ahead.

             
"Cassie, we need to talk. You've been avoiding me for a month now!"

             
"Avery, you need to get out of my car. If I'm avoiding you, it's for good reasons."

             
"The bullshit going on in our parents' lives is none of our concern. Please look at me. We can talk about this, we can work through this."

             
"There is nothing to work through," I yell. When I turn towards him my eyes are filled with unshed tears. "Seriously, how can it work?"

             
As I stare at Avery, I notice he is losing tone and definition. Is he not doing his physical therapy anymore? He was supposed to for six months after being in a coma for a week, and it's only been three months. His face looks sunken again, like he hasn't been eating, and his smile is not nearly as breathtaking as it always had been.

             
He reaches over and puts his hand on my knee. "Can we please just go back to your place and discuss some things? I think it'd be better for both of us. I won't ask us to work things out if you don't want, but can I at least get some answers. You can't break up with me through text message and expect me not to try and chase you down."

             
"I thought you'd stop after a while. I mean, it's been almost a full month, come on!"

             
"Cassie," he says with the saddest tone I've ever heard him use. It breaks my heart, and although this is going to be hard to be alone with him, maybe it is for the best he gets some answers. He looks horrible.

             
I don't answer, instead I continue to pull away from the curb and head towards my apartment. I hope to God Aubrey is there so that the two of us aren't alone in the apartment together. I might, just maybe, give in. And that wouldn't be good. I've been doing so well the last month, I can't give in to temptation now. And I certainly cannot be with Avery, no matter how much he begs, or pleads, or attempts to seduce me.

             
I see Aubrey and Mason's vehicles parked outside the complex and know they are home.
Thank you God!
Avery seems to notice too and he gets uncomfortable for a moment. "Can we go to my place? I want privacy."

             
"We'll have privacy. If you want to talk, then you can come into my place and talk to me." I get out of the car, do a dramatic slam of my door, and walk into the apartment building. I'm not even sure if Avery is following until I open the apartment door and feel him standing a little too close. He still gives me those goosebumps and butterflies, which now make me nauseous.

             
When I make my way towards the living room, where Aubrey and Mason are sitting, Aubrey sits up on the couch and her eyes pop out of her head. I assume it's because of Avery, but apparently she doesn't notice him, and instead screams at me. "You bitch!"

             
She doesn't sound like she is joking, not in the least. I pause and my mouth drops a little. Mason tugs on Aubrey's arm and gives her the same look as me. "What the hell?" he asks Aubrey, but she is still giving me a look of disgust.

             
"What the hell?" I repeat Mason's words.

             
"You need to start asking me before you wear my stuff! I hadn't worn that for a reason, and I hadn't wanted you or anyone else wearing that either."

             
I look down at the dress and remember thinking I had never seen it before. I should have asked, but she has never had a problem with me wearing her stuff before. But she is also extremely hormonal, so I need to take that into consideration. "I'm sorry," I tell her and shrug. "I didn't know, I'll ask next time."

             
Mason nods his head towards Avery, and I think it's the first time Aubrey notices him. "What is he doing here?" she asks, this time with less anger in her voice, but definitely full of concern. There is my best friend.

             
"We're going to talk," I tell her, "so I was going to ask if you could allow us to have the living room, just the two of us?" I don't dare to go into my bedroom alone, I know exactly what will happen.

             
Aubrey gives me a hug as she passes by me, and Mason gives me a pat on the shoulder. He says hey to Avery, then they walk down the hallway to Aubrey's room, leaving Avery and I alone. I tell him I'll be right back as I change into sweats, then come back out and join him on the couch. I make sure there is plenty of space between us, because the second he touches me again, I don't think I can resist. It was hard enough in the car with his hand on my knee.

             
"What do you want to talk about Avery?" I ask, knowing damn well what he wants to talk about.

             
"You know damn well," he says, repeating my thoughts. And I do. But I don't know where to start.

             
"We wouldn't work. It was too hard to end things in person. I'm sorry it was through text, but you know why I had to leave you, you know why we would never work out, and you know it was way too hard to leave you in person. Had I not left you, you would've left me. And if we hadn't broken up, we would have been pulled apart."

             
"You don't know that," he states with way too much confidence.

             
"I do," I tell him, being just as confident. "You know it Avery, don't you dare say different."

             
He grunts in frustration and runs his hands through his hair. He has let it grow out some and it looks delicious on him. But I can't think that, I shouldn't think that, because I left him, and we can't be together, and I can't find him attractive. Dammit!

             
"Cassie," he sighs, "we were doing perfect. You were the reason I pulled through so fast, you've been my life saver. You've been my blessing. You're my angel. I woke from the coma and I saw your shining face, and I knew right then that my world was perfect. I knew everything was going to be alright. I would do anything to be with you. If moving across the country will make us work, then I'll do it. I'll do whatever it takes."

             
And the sad thing is, I know he would. But that doesn't matter, it isn't up to him. It's up to fate. And fate doesn't want us together, or they would have never let things go the way they did. This wouldn't be happening. Because I'd do anything in the world to spend forever with Avery, but it isn't going to happen, I couldn't hurt my mom like that.

             
"I know Avery," I admit. I look down at my fingers, folding them with one another. Tears fall onto them and it's then I realize I'm crying. Avery reaches over and holds onto my hands, giving me the comfort I've needed from him the past month. I look up into his moist green eyes. He is going to cry, dammit, I can't see him cry. I'll cave, and I can't. It won't work.

             
"Angel," he starts to say but I cut him off.

             
"No more calling me that. My name is Cassie."

             
He looks hurt, but I can't hear him say
Angel
anymore, it hurts more than I think he realizes. He swallows and nods before he speaks again. "Cassie, I love you so much."

             
"I love you too, Avery."

             
He cuts me off this time by putting his hand up in front of my face. I allow him to continue, knowing this must be as hard for him as it is for me.
See, this is exactly why I didn't want you here! It's hurting us both!

             
"I understand why you left me, hell, I even understand the way you did it. But it doesn't change how I feel about you, and I know damn well you feel the same way. We are meant to be. Everything that has torn us apart, moving to Washington, my fighting, Pierce," he says his name with disgust, "we've made it through it all. This, we can make it through, I know we can."

             
I stand up and walk towards the door, not giving him another second. Not that I don't want to, I do, but it's too hard. He needs to stop believing we can work, I can't do it. I want to, God as my witness, I want this more than anything, but it can't happen, it won't happen, and I need to be strong. "Please leave," I tell Avery.

             
He stands and nods his head, not looking at me. He walks towards the door and his hand brushes mine before he walks out. I close the door behind him, lock it, then fall to the ground. I start sobbing uncontrollably. This is horrifying. I can't do this. I was doing so well, I finally got out of the house, and this is what happens. My heart is being crushed all over again.

             
Aubrey's arms are around me in minutes, and she helps me to my bed without a word besides
shh
. I'm so thankful to have her in my life. She has been my rock through everything. After I'm tucked under the covers, Aubrey turns off the light then climbs into bed with me. She plays with my hair until my eye lids get heavy. I mumble out a thanks to her, but she doesn't reply, or at least I don't hear her, and sleep finally takes over.

Chapter Two

             
"This is exactly what I needed mom, thank you." The two of us are sitting out back of her new house, a fire going in her pit, both of us have margaritas in our hands.

             
Her new house is directly on the beach, and although it's half the size of the home I grew up in, it's still large. Her entire back yard is sand and ocean, and I've never seen such a beautiful view. The fire pit is a giant hole in the sand, made from cement and bricks, and she has brown and beige patio furniture surrounding it.