“But you look fine to me.” Cassie’s eyes moved over Cody.
“I am now, but I wasn’t when they found me, and that part of my past isn’t a conversation to be having here. Come over to TJ’s sometime, but not tonight. I have plans for him.”
Cassie gasped. “You and TJ? You were so into him when you were at their house.”
“I was and still am. I came back for him, and I don’t care what anyone thinks about it.” Cody looked around the shop, noticing several heads lower.
“But he’s like ancient.”
“TJ is and always has been the one for me. I came back for him and if people have an issue, then they can get fucked.”
Cassie giggled, then grinned. “Yes, they can. We’re free to love whoever we want, and the world can kiss our asses.”
“You’re more like me than you are them.” Cass and Emily had done a great job raising their children. Neither of them liked their parents.
“I saw what they did to you. I might not have been able to say anything then, but I can now.”
“You’re still a minor.”
Cassie grinned. “So were you when you left.”
“And look where that got me.”
“Freedom!” she giggled and sipped her soda.
Cody leaned on the table and beckoned her closer. She moved closer, a smile on her face. “It got me dying in a field.”
Her eyes widened, and she shook her head. “But… look at you.”
“Now, Cassie. You see me now. You wouldn’t have recognized me back then. I barely recognize me from back then and I lived it. Don’t make the same mistakes I made. Do what you need to do to finish high school, then you can leave. I only graduated last year, but I did it. Don’t fuck it up because of them. You’ll regret it.”
“Cody…” Cassie shook her head, her long dark hair swinging around her shoulders. “What happened?”
“I’m not sure you’re old enough to know, but come to TJ’s and we can talk.” Cody fiddled with his cup, then asked, “Can you manage at their house?”
“As long as I play the part, then yeah, I can. I’m counting down the days until I can leave, because as soon as I can, I’m out of there. I’m sick and tired of their control. ‘Cassandra, do this. Cassandra, do that. You can’t be a Paarman and behave like that.’” She rolled her eyes and sighed heavily.
“The Paarman speech. Idon’tmiss that.”
“‘Remember who you are, Cassandra Paarman. Remember what we have given you.’”
“Oohh, they rolled that one out on you, too. I thought you were the one they preferred. I always thought I was the one they regretted.”
“I think they only had kids to carry on the name. They don’t care about us at all.”
“Do you still do the gymnastics and dancing?”
“Nope. Faked an injury.” Cassie grinned. “You have no idea what I had to do to get the doc to tell Emily that, but it was worth it.”
“What?” Cody could hear the growl in his voice.
“Nothing like that! I’m only fifteen… oops. Wasn’t that…yeah, er, this cheesecake is really nice.”
Cody snorted. “Yeah, I was fifteen when I snuck into the bar and left with some guy. I didn’t want to be gay, but I am, and look where that decision got me.”
“I didn’t know it was that bad,” Cassie murmured. “I thought you were playing it up because you hated them like I did.”
“I’ve come to accept I will always be a disappointment to Cass, and I don’t care. I like who I am and I’m proud of who I’ve become. I came back here for one person, but I’m glad we had the chance to talk.”
