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“She’s phenomenal. And she wants to help, so I think she’ll welcome any ideas you have. You might want to word it that you heard she wanted to run this story so she thinks the whole thing was her idea,” I suggested with a smirk.
“Couldn’t hurt. ”
“But what if Jack says no to the interview? I mean, what if he doesn’t forgive me?”
She slammed her palms against the tile floor. “If he doesn’t forgive you, I’ll fly out there and personally kick him in the nuts! After everything you’ve forgiven him for, he can absolutely get the fuck over this. ”
“What if he doesn’t?” Nervous butterflies flapped their wings in my stomach. I hated being on this side of things. It was so much easier being the one who was mad. It sucked being the one someone was mad at.
“He may be a stubborn asshole, Cass. But he loves you. He will forgive you and get past this. He might murder Matteo, but I think we all expect that. ”
“Even Matteo expects that. ” I laughed.
“So, when are you leaving?”
I stared straight ahead at the photographs covering the walls, wondering how the hell she knew me so well. “Tomorrow. ”
“Will Jack be there?”
“No. He’ll be on the road. ”
“Well, that gives you a little time to get yourself together and prove it. ” She nudged my shoulder with hers. “Although I do think taking back the little cheating liar proved plenty, but what the hell do I know?”
“You know a lot, and I love you. What would I do without you?”
She faced me, her bright blue eyes shining. “You’d be lost forever, searching for me. ” She laughed. “It’s been nice being here and not being online, right?”
I breathed deeply, not realizing the truth before she asked. “Between that and having my phone off, it’s been way less stressful. ” I cocked my head to the side. “I mean, it was before the whole Matteo kissing thing. ”
“Just remember when you get back, no gossip sites. We’re still not reading them. ”
“Not reading them, check,” I wholeheartedly agreed.
She held her pinky out in the space between us and I wrapped my pinky around it.
I stepped into the terminal at JFK and turned on my phone. I scrolled to Matteo’s number, and, since I could never use him for a ride again, especially now, I deleted it. Hopefully this would help prove to Jack that the dreaded kiss truly meant nothing to me. I wouldn’t talk to Matteo again for the rest of my life, and that was fine with me.
After getting my suitcase, I waited in line for a cab, and once inside, I started to feel sick. Being back in New York after spending time in LA was like being in a different universe. My life appeared so different depending on which state I was in. I couldn’t hide in New York. And even though there were a hundred times more photographers in Southern California, it seemed easier to get lost there. Or maybe I simply knew the hiding places better?
We pulled up to my apartment building where three paparazzi waited outside. They had to know Jack and I were both out of town, so why were they here? I tried to be nonchalant, but they recognized me right away as I pulled my suitcase from the trunk.
“Where’s your boyfriend, Cassie?”
“How long have you been cheating on Jack?”
“Why isn’t Matteo driving you?”
“Where have you been?”
“Did you really make Jack leave Chrystle?”
“Did you go away with Matteo?”
Back in the middle of hell, I lowered my head and walked through the revolving door, resisting the urge to scream in their faces. I kept my back to the cameras while I waited for the elevator doors to open and swallow me whole.
Walking through our front door, I noticed the mess Jack left. Dirty dishes sat in the sink. Maybe he didn’t think I’d come home so soon? Or did he think I wouldn’t come home at all? I cringed inwardly at my thoughts and cleaned up the mess. I wanted to text Jack that I mad
e it back, but remembered that he’d asked me to leave him alone. I hated being in our home without him.
