Page 70 of The Other Half

A sob wracked my shoulders as I nodded. I stumbled out the door and jumped when it slammed behind me. It sounded like the door to the new life I’d imagined slamming as well.

I looked down to the street to see my old friends climbing into their limo, and five sets of eyes glared at me while they pulled away. Liza rolled down the window and screamed bitch for good measure, and it only solidified my desire to never see them again. How I’d spent so much time blinded by my grief that I’d ever considered them friends was something I didn’t know if I’d ever understand.

I didn’t want to be like them. I wasn’t like them. And now that I’d tasted how wonderful real life could be, I knew I’d never follow them down that road again. Their limo wound around the corner and I stood staring at it, watching the last of my old life disappear.

And just like my grief and guilt, I hoped they would stay gone for good.

Desperate to talk to Jake and explain myself, I climbed into my car and drove to the docks looking for his truck. When I didn’t see it, I texted him while I sat on the side of the road, but it went undelivered. He’d shut his phone off. On my way home, I drove to his house, but he wasn’t there either. Knowing I’d blown it, and knowing Jake wasn’t the forgiving type, I let the tears stream free while I drove back to my cabin. When I got inside, I collapsed on the bed and curled up with Poppy in my arms. She was all I had left.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Cassie

Poppy’s soft snores vibrated against my ear. Opening my eyes, I saw her smooshed face pressed against me. The damp spot from my tears lingered on my pillow, and before I had a moment to breathe, the tears came again.

I’d ruined everything.

Letting my grief settle over me, I held Poppy tight while I cried into her soft fur like I had until I fell asleep last night. I’d tried Jake’s phone dozens of times, but it went straight to voicemail each time. Jo returned my apology text with a simple and concise “fuck you” and I knew she hated me as well.

Why wouldn’t they? I’d lied. I’d barged into their world and lied about everything. But what they didn’t know was why. They didn’t know my family’s legacy was on the line. That the stipulation of my redemption was that I do it without the benefit of my name or money. I know my grandfather hadn’t considered the ramifications of living a lie, and neither had I until my feelings for Jake grew into something deeper than I’d ever felt before.

Wiping my tears, I rolled over and picked up my phone to try Jake again. I’d called him a dozen times last night, desperate to explain myself, but each call went straight to voicemail. Hoping maybe there was a text or a voicemail from him, I held my breath while I clicked it on. Instead of a missed call from Jake, I saw a missed call from Grandpa. Clicking the buttons, I tapped on my voicemail and listened to the stern voice on the other side.

“Call me. Now.”

Groaning, I dialed him up. Now what.

“Hello?” he answered.

“Hey, Grandpa. It’s me.”

“Well, if it isn’t Cassandra.”

I furrowed my brow at the unchecked aggression in his voice. “What’s wrong, Grandpa?”

“What’s wrong? What’s wrong is you’ve been lying to me. And I believed you.”

“What are you talking about?” I sat up.

“You didn’t think just because I don’t know anything about all that social media crap that I wouldn’t have someone watching it?”

“What?”

“Your friends are up there. There was a photo on that Instachat or whatever it’s called. You promised you wouldn’t get tangled up with them again.”

“No, Grandpa,” I argued. “I’m not. They just—”

“I don’t want to hear it!” he shouted. “You led me to believe you were up there making money, learning about life and real work. That you broke ties with those treacherous, spoiled misfits. But it seems you lied. Again! I told you that cutting ties with them was part of the deal. A deal you have now broken. You couldn’t even make it a month without calling them back to your side. Them and their drugs and their scandalous ways!”

“Grandpa! That’s not true! They just showed up!”

“Lies! I’m done with your lies, Cassandra!”

“But I’m not lying,” I whispered with a trembling lip.

“Well, it’s too late. You can’t be trusted. I failed you. But I won’t fail my company. I’m selling it to Edward Garvey because I can trust him to care for my employees and my legacy.”

“No, Grandpa. Please. Just let me explain.”