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She rolled her eyes before grabbing the key out of my opened hand and turning it over. “Read it. ”
I inspected the tiny letters stamped onto the top, holding it close to my eyes. It read, STRENGTH. I smiled, pulling my head through the open space of the necklace without unlatching it. I watched the key fall between my breasts and loved that I would be able to hide it under my clothing if I wanted to. “This is really awesome. Thank you. ”
“There’s a story that goes along with it,” she started and I turned my attention toward her. “So I bought you this particular word because I think with everything going on in your life right now, you could use the extra STRENGTH. But there will come a day when you’ll see someone who will need your key and your word more than you do. And when that day comes, you have to pay it forward and give your necklace to them. ”
My breath hitched. “So I have to give it away?” I asked, rubbing my thumb along the gift I wasn’t ready to part with just yet.
“Yep. That’s the whole concept behind these necklaces. That we give them away at some point. When someone needs your word more than you,” she reached for the key, touching it briefly before letting it go. “But not right now. You need it right now. ”
I inhaled sharply before exhaling. “This is really cool. I mean, all of it. The necklace. The word. Giving it away. The whole concept and idea. I love it. Thank you so much. ” I leaned into her and squeezed as much as I could without getting up.
“I knew you would. And you’re welcome. So, are you going to tell me what’s going on? You didn’t fly out here at the last minute for no reason. ”
My smile dropped as my bottom lip jutted out in a pout. “Stop trying to psychoanalyze me. ”
“No way!” She shook her head. “That’s what I’m good at. Plus, I like pointing out all your broken parts,” she added with a smile.
“So you can be thankful it’s not you?”
“Bitch! No. So I can help fix you. ” She nudged against me. “What did Jack say about the article?”
“Not much, really. I think he’s just worried. ”
“We’re all worried. ” She placed her head on my shoulder, and I leaned against it.
There were two quick knocks on the door before it opened and Dean burst through. “You told him I was here?” I whispered to Melissa.
“No,” she whispered in response.
“Sis. What’s going on?” Dean practically sprinted to me. I loved it when he called me that, even though it wasn’t official.
“How’d you know I was here,” I asked, before he snatched me up from the couch into a bear hug. I missed Dean and seeing him forced me to realize just how much.
“Jack called me, out of his mind. Told me to go check on you and make sure you were OK. He said he thinks you broke up with him. Is that true?” Dean’s voice was filled with disbelief.
“What? You did what?” Melissa asked through her surprise.
“I don’t know what I did. I just left and told him I didn’t know if I could do this anymore. ”
“Jesus, Cassie! Are you trying to fucking kill the guy?” Melissa shook her head. “After everything the two of you have been through?”
“Why is it always about Jack and how my decisions affect him? Why isn’t it ever about me and what all of this bullshit does to me?” I broke down, the tears spilling out as I leaned back onto the couch.
Dean dropped onto the other side of me, wrapping his arms around me, “I don’t want you guys to break up. ”
“I’m a fucking wreck on the inside. Can’t you see that?” I looked at him before looking away. I hated disappointing Dean. “Chrystle’s stupid article pushed me over the edge. I can’t take another picture of me with ‘home wrecker’ or ‘man-stealing slut’ written across it. ” I buried my head in my hands, pressing my palms against my eyes.
“What does any of that have to do with Jack, though? I mean, really?” Melissa’s forehead creased.
“It has everything to do with Jack!” I shouted, throwing my hands up in the air. “I’m only dealing with all of this because I’m dating him. This keeps happening to me because I’m his girlfriend. ”
“So if you two weren’t together, then no one would post stuff about you?” she asked.
I breathed out a loud, annoyed breath. “Obviously! They wouldn’t care about me if I wasn’t with him. ”
Melissa’s hand rested on my thigh. “Well, then. You should definitely let these strangers dictate your love life. ”
“Don’t be a jerk. ” I narrowed my eyes.
