“Please take me with you. Don’t leave me behind again.” Cody looked over at Cass and narrowed his eyes. What the hell had happened while he’d been gone?
“Cassandra. Go with your mother while I speak with him.”
Cassie stared up at Cody and shook her head. “I’m not leaving again.” Cody told her. “I came back for a reason. Go with Emily. I’ll make sure we meet again.” Had he hated everything andeveryone so much when he lived here that he failed to see how much Cassie cared for him? He wouldn’t make that mistake again. Now that he was back, he would make sure to keep in contact with his sister.
Cassie slowly let go, her blue eyes wide as her bottom lip wobbled, and let Emily lead her out of the kitchen. It didn’t escape his notice that Emily, his mother, hadn’t spoken a single word to him. Cass stood and came around the table, looking Cody up and down. Walking past Cody, Cass went to a decanter and poured himself a drink. Whiskey, no doubt. It was one he preferred when Cody lived there.
Watching him now, Cody tried to visualize Carter and Cass together. They couldn’t have been more different. Worlds apart in their mannerisms and the way they treated their families. Cody waited, intentionally remaining silent, a trick he’d picked up from the man standing in front of him.
Eventually, Cass muttered, “You’re back.”
“I am.”
“What do you want?”
“Nothing. I wanted you to know I’m alive and well and living in Robinson again. I’m sure we’ll meet at some point, and I didn’t want it to be a surprise.”
“Hmm.” Cass sipped his drink, then looked at Cody over the rim. “I thought you’d be dead by now.”
“Would have made your life easier if I was. I’m still gay, by the way, and in a relationship.”
“You moved here with another man?” Cass finished his drink and placed the tumbler on the side. “Do you know how that will look?”
“Carter is married to a woman whose ex is gay. They have a great relationship.”
“TJ doesn’t look gay. No one would know unless he informed them.”
“No one would know about me either. I’m not that scrawny, pathetic boy anymore. In case you haven’t noticed, I’ve grown since then.”
Cass sneered. “Only on the outside. You’ll always be that boy on your hands and knees, begging for attention.”
“Quite the imagination you have, Cass. I never had to beg. Not once, but that doesn’t matter now. I’m not that child anymore. Once I left here, I found a purpose in life, and I found a family who are more than happy to call me their son. Something you were always ashamed to do.”
“You talked someone into taking you? What did you offer them?” Cass looked him up and down and tilted his nose in the air. “Can’t have been much, looking at you now.”
“I didn’t have to give them anything. That’s the difference between them and you. They love me for me. To gain your attention, I had to perform as you wanted. Do exactly as I was told. All the little put-downs when I messed up, the sneering looks, the utter disdain you treated me with. I can only imagine how badly it damaged the brand when I came out as gay. Unless you said nothing and carried on as normal. You can be gay and do well in life. Have a home, a family, friends. I have them all, no thanks to you.” Cody walked over to the door and stopped when he heard Cass’ voice behind him.
“How much?”
Turning slowly, Cody tilted his head and stared at Cass. “What for?”
“You can’t be that stupid. You look like you don’t have much money. How much for you to leave and never come back?”
“I’m not leaving, and no amount of money will change that. I’ve come back. I’m here to stay.”
“Fifty thousand dollars.”
Cody laughed even though there was no humor in the situation. “That’s pathetic, Cass. Offering me money to leave. My answer is no.”
“Seventy-five thousand and you leave today.”
Cody looked at the floor, then back at Cass. “Is your deal with Angelo worth that much?”
“Take it and go.”
“I don’t think so. I’m here to stay. Get used to it.”
“Cass? What the fuck is going on here?”
