Page 82 of Forbid It

I snort. “You spoken to either of them yet?”

She sighs. “I think I might just change my name and open a surf shop on the coast. What do you think? Might call it ‘Sandra and Bert’s Surf Shop’.”

“I’ll run the till for you.”

“I appreciate it.” For a few minutes all I can hear is a faint guitar, almost as if she’s mindlessly plucking the strings. “Maybe I’ll email them. To start.”

“That’s a good idea, trouble. Soft launch the business plan.”

She laughs across the line. “Did he say anything to you?”

“No, but I’ve learned I’m not the best at secrets. I was sweating buckets the whole time.”

“That’s good to know. When’s your next game?”

I run through my schedule for the next month. We’re hitting the ground running for sure, with barely a few days free. Before I got on Cassie’s jet, I didn’t want to be away from the game for more than half a day, but now I’m counting down the minutes until I have nothing but uninterrupted time with her.

“I think I’ll be back in a couple of weeks,” Cassie muses.

“Oh yeah?”

“Mhmm, maybe I can make a home game.”

“I’m sure your dad will love it.”

“Might go incognito actually. Hide in the away stands. I’ll wear an opposition shirt to really blend in.”

The thought of Cassie in a shirt that’s not Rebel blue and without my name on the back, causes jealousy to stab my chest.

“Cassie,” I tell her seriously. “If you come to one of my games in anything other than my name, you’ll regret it.”

She chuckles, her sultry voice purring down the line. “Is that a threat or a promise?”

“Both.”

36

CASSIE

From: [email protected]

To: [email protected]; [email protected]

Subject: Life Update :)

Dear Mom and Dad,

Thank you both for giving me some space. I think we all needed it, and I’ve spent a really solid few weeks working on my next album. I think you’ll both really like it, so I’ll sort out a mini listening party when I’m back home - maybe we could all get dinner together? Anyway, I’d appreciate it if we can move on from this. I’d like to gently remind you both that I’m an adult with my own life, and I can do whatever I like with it, but I am sorry if I made you worry.

Love, Cassie

Predictably, my carefully crafted email went down like a lead balloon. I sent it just before I boarded my flight and opted not to pay for on board WiFi so I wouldn’t have to see the reply until I landed in LAX. Unfortunately, that did mean that the emails, notifications and missed calls all buzzed through at the same time and nearly exploded my phone before I even made it through security.

By the time my driver has pulled up outside my house to a Bentley and a Audi parked in the circular drive, I already know what I’ll find when I get inside. I let my head bang against the window, loud enough that my driver glances at me through the rear view mirror.

“Shall I keep driving?” he asks politely.

I sigh. “Thank you but no, I can handle it.”