Lasting Attraction (Cassie Series) (4 page)

             
I notice that I'm biting down on my lip so hard I end up drawing blood. I can taste the bitter liquid in my mouth and it brings me back to reality. My eyes meet his again just as he raises an eyebrow. What do I say? What do I do? Should I act pissed? Excited? Happy? Sad? Nonchalant? I don't freaking know! How aggravating!

             
"Hey."

             
Yup, that is what I say.
Pathetic, Cassie, just pathetic.

             
"Can I get some?" Well, at least I said hey. He doesn't even greet me.

             
I smile softly and move out of the way so he can get his own damn coffee. He can't expect me to get him some after the shit he pulled.

             
I sit on a bar stool, taking a few more small sips while he pours his coffee. I watch his muscles pull and twist as he reaches for a cup and stirs his sugar in the coffee. When he turns back towards me, I hurry my eyes to look at his face but its too late, he caught me. He smirks ever so much before taking a sip of his damn drink. This is bullshit.

             
"How are you?" I finally dare myself to ask.

             
"Fucking fantastic."

             
Wow, what an ass. Shouldn't I be the pissed one here?

             
He looks at my cup when I place it down and he gives me a bitter smile. "How's Pierce?"

             
Oh, so it makes sense. Right. Of course he'd be pissed, too. I still have more of the right, but whatever. Its not a competition. Although, sometimes with Avery it certainly feels that way.

             
"Great. How's Katie?"
Oops
.

             
His lips lift into that boyish grin that I usually love but right now, not so much. In fact, its straight pissing me off, because he is doing it on purpose. He has that look that says he is about to really piss me off! "She’s great. We had a blast last night."

             
I think I'm going to be...

             
I get up and run to the bathroom. Yup. He literally just made me sick.

             
I brush my teeth, again, and take a long look in the mirror. I hear as he passes the door and makes his way into his current bedroom. I startle a bit when he slams the door. I thought I was confused before, I thought I was hurt before, now, I just don't know what I am! Damn, this really sucks!

             
Returning to the kitchen, I dump my drink down the drain and I place the mug in the sink. He didn't even finish half his drink either. I think on it for a minute before I turn around and grab the salt from the back of the stove. I walk over and pour some in his coffee before I stir it up and walk back into my bedroom, slamming the door as well.

             
Its less than twenty minutes before I hear cussing and grumbling and spitting coming from the kitchen. Good, that'll teach him. All of a sudden I'm super nervous as I hear him slam the mug down and his feet walking heavily in my direction. Oh no, I hadn't thought that far in advance. The same time my door swings open I start apologizing immensely.

             
"Avery, I'm sorry, seriously. I just..."

             
"You just what?" He cocks his head at me.

             
"I wasn't thinking."

             
"You never think Cassie! That is your damn problem." His fist hits my door and I hear the wood splinter. Wonderful.

             
He shakes his head before running both his hands down the front of his face. I sit down on my bed and scoot back until I'm in the corner near the headboard. When he looks in my direction again, it nearly breaks my heart. He looks like a lost, lonely puppy dog. Thankfully a fully dressed one now.

             
He takes a step forward, almost asking permission to enter. I silently nod my head, allowing him in here without saying as much. I'm too scared to speak. Like he said, I don't ever think. "Sorry about the door,” he says, pointing his thumb. "I'll fix it."

             
"Yeah," I say. That is it. That is all I can say.

             
"And I'm sorry for scaring you."

             
I just smile softly and look down at my sweats, wrapping my arms around myself as I feel chills invade my skin. It’s over a hundred degrees outside but I feel ice cold right now. He steps closer until he is at the bed, then he kneels on it, grabbing at me. Reluctantly I allow him to pull me towards him until we're hugging one another. I immediately start sobbing on his shoulder and he holds me a little tighter.

             
"I wasn't with her last night," he whispers.

             
An awkward half sob, half laugh escapes me, which in returns causes him to chuckle. I miss that sound. I've ignored all his phone calls and attempts in Skype since I found out about the tape. I even started erasing his texts before reading them, and haven't opened a damn letter he has sent. Everything stopped about eight weeks ago, the same day I got a letter in the mail addressed to
Cassie Danielson
instead of Cassie McKnight. I got the hint.

             
He pulls back and puts his hands on my cheeks, wiping my tears away with the pads of his thumbs. "We should have that talk, huh?"

             
I nod my head and start to smile but it won't form on my lips. I can't, not yet.

             
We adjust ourselves so I'm leaning against the headboard and he is sitting against my wall. We're only a few inches from one another but we may as well still be states apart. Again with the awkwardness while we stare at one another. Its just one of many hurdles between us. You can't jump a hurdle without prepping yourself. I've been doing that for weeks. Hell, for months. When you start running towards a hurdle, you can't start too slow or you won't make good time and may not jump over it right. So I'm not going to start slow. I'm just going for it.

             
"How could you record a sex tape with Katie?"

             
He flinches as if I just psychically slapped him. "I didn't record a sex tape," he says in a weak voice.

             
"Um, that’s funny because people have seen it." I hope I don't throw up again. I have a few times since hearing about it.

             
His eyes look away from me and stares off somewhere in the distance. Mine, however, cannot leave his face. He swallows hard and looks to be thinking about what to say. I'm in such a daze I'm a little startled when he actually starts to speak. "I was fucking pissed at you Cassie. Pissed!" His voice is rough, like he is both angry and saddened. "I'm not going to lie, she isn't the only bitch I've slept with. You cheated on me and I tried to look past it, I tried to work shit out with you, I tried to be your friend. You fucking hurt me though... a lot. And I know damn well I haven't been good to you. We're perfect together, but then again, we're not."

             
He finally looks at me and I can see his jaw tightening as his teeth work their way back and forth. "I didn't know she had a damn video recorder on. I'm sorry that you found out, and I'm pissed that shit is all over the internet now, but I'm not sorry I fucked her."

             
My tears thicken in my eyes but I remain silent. I deserve that.

             
He continues after a few moments of silence. "You can hate me forever if you want to, and I'll understand, but I'll always love you and only you. I came back here to fight for you Cassie. To be yours. For you to be mine. I came back to make things right. I just don't know if I can anymore." His voice loses its power at the end of the sentence and my heart shatters just a little more.

             
"Is it because of Pierce?" I whisper. I shouldn't even ask. I shouldn't even care. Knowing I shouldn't isn't stopping me though, because I do. I want to know why he won't fight for me anymore.

             
He slides off the bed and turns to look at me, his eyes sad and his lips quivering just slightly. My heart rate accelerates once more as confusion invades me. He looks defeated, like he is completely giving up. I should be happy, right? I'm not though. Not at all.

             
As he takes a few steps backwards, making his way towards the door entrance, he looks me directly in the eyes. "You don't do a good job of hiding things." He turns and leaves as I sit here and wonder just what he is talking about. I don't do a good job of hiding things? Hiding what?

             
I slide out of bed and start to walk after him as it hits me hard. He found it. No!

             
I don't care what Evan says, Kal is an idiot. Marie has emailed and called me a dozen times to tell me how frustrated she is and how he is just not getting the simple concept of answering the phone. Finally I make my way down to the main floor to see first-hand what the hell he is messing up this time. If not for my brother, I'd fire this guy right here, right now, but I owe my brother and he owes this guy, so I'll give him until the end of the week.

             
I could always have Cassie or someone fill in for him if I end up firing him after Marie leaves. She needs to go, and she has been nothing but perfect as secretaries go, she deserves to start her new career soon.

             
When I walk up to the desk, Kal is too busy paying attention to the broad in front of him instead of the blinking red lights on the phone. I point to the phone and use my stern voice. "You going to answer the phones or flirt all day?" I stand tall, allowing myself to intimidate him. His eyes widen before grabbing the phone and pressing on the first red button.

             
The female with short dark hair, light eyes, and a flirty smile looks over at me and widens her lips. With a few steps in my direction and the click of her heals, she puts out a hand for me to shake. Being a business man, I shake the lady's hand, especially since she is wearing a tailored dress suit. I can assume she works for a well-paid facility. "Mr. Danielson, I presume?"

             
"That would be correct, Ms.?"

             
"Braxton." Her eyes flicker over to Kal. Ah, right, my brother did say Kal was gay, so I guess it makes sense he wasn't flirting. Its most likely a sister, possibly a cousin, but now that I look at her, they're most certainly related.

             
"Nice to meet you Ms. Braxton, I'm Pierce, Kal's new boss. I don't mind a quick conversation, but he is new today and has a lot to learn through the week. I'd really appreciate it if you could leave him to his work."

             
"It's no problem at all. I'm actually here to see you, but I was talking to him for a quick moment before I made my way up."

             
"May I ask why you're here to see me?"

             
She loves back over to Kal before glancing at me again. "Business, Mr. Danielson. If you don't mind, could I please steal a few moments?"

             
I wave my hand in the direction of the elevator. "I'll be right there." She walks in the direction as I make my way towards Marie and Kal. When he places the phone down and scribbles a few things on a notepad, he looks up to me, fear in his eyes. "Don't pull my strings." I give him a stern look before turning around and walking towards the elevator as well. If he thinks his sister or cousin can get in here to meet with me because of him, I'll be damned. I'm letting her up because I happen to have a free spot in my schedule, but I hate when people use connections to meet with me. I'm too busy for that shit. You call, schedule an appointment, and I'll meet with you when available. No way do I ever let people into my office for the sake of knowing someone at the front desk. Family and Cassie, are my two exceptions.

             
Well, until now that is, I guess.

             
"Ms. Braxton, please have a seat," I tell her, pointing to the available chair across from my desk, as I take my own seat. "Why do I have the pleasure of meeting you today?"