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I know that I'm about to lose my best friend, and there isn't anything that I can do about it. Anything I say now will look like I'm trying to cover up the truth.
“Okay, so I decided that maybe it wouldn’t be so bad if we got a bit dirty, after all,” Cassidy says while making her way in from the hall toward the kitchen. “Let's shower together later after you get what you're really hungry for...”
Antonio and I lock eyes, the truth washing over us like a tidal wave. There is no way to deny what is happening. I close my eyes in defeat. Fuck me.
"Everything smells delicious. I can't wait…” Cassidy stops talking and freezes when she enters the kitchen.
Her hair falls in glossy waves around her shoulders, and her make-up is subtle but still enhances her natural beauty. She's wearing one of my shirts and nothing else.
The oven timer beeps, but no one moves. We stand there staring at each other in the kitchen.
Cassidy’s eyes widen, and her cheeks turn bright red. “Dad,” Cassidy greets him as she bites harshly into her bottom lip. “This isn’t what it looks like,” she tries to cover for me. He won't forgive me as easily as he will forgive her. I already know that. In his mind, it's all my fault, and he isn’t wrong.
I pursued her. Everything is my fault, and I'm willing to take responsibility.
“It is what it looks like,” I confess. “Cassidy and I slept together. But she means more to me than someone to share a bed with. Antonio, your daughter is special to me, and I think I’m falling in love-”
My words cut off as Antonio’s fist connects with my face, making me stagger back.
I shake my head, trying to clear it and prepare myself for what will happen next. I can feel the anger radiating off Antonio as he takes another step closer to me.
Soon after the first, the next punch lands square in my jaw and the force of it knocks me back into the counter. I stumble to keep my balance but manage to stay standing. My vision blurs from the impact, and Antonio is already coming at me with another one, but I'm ready for him.
I raise my arms to block it, and I can feel the power of his punches reverberating through my body. I pivot and block a few of his punches to my ribs.
“Dad!” Cassidy screams, but I put a hand up to get her to stay back.
I take a deep breath and focus on getting back in control. I know he's mad at me, and his punches are entirely warranted.
“Don’t you dare say you love her!” He barks. “This isn’t love. And you, of all people, don’t know the first fucking thing about love.”
His words sting, and I only want to prove him wrong.
“You have to believe me when I say that she’s different.I’mdifferent,” I plead with him.
“Well, I don’t! You.” His attention turns to his daughter. “I raised you to be a smart woman. You know his reputation, you know what he does to women, and you still jump into bed with him? Damian was perfect for you, but you traded safety and security forhim? And when he cheats on you, then what? You know what being with him means, yet you’re stupid enough to do it anyway.”
Cassidy’s eyes fill with tears. I want to step in and say something, but his words are true. And he isn't saying it to hurt her. He's saying it to protect her.
“And you,” Antonio glares back at me. “You were supposed to be my best friend. I trusted you to look after my daughter, and what do you do? You sleep with her! You had no right, and you’re lucky I didn't kill you. There’s a reason that you’re all alone. Because you don’t deserve to have a good woman, and you damn sure don't deserve my daughter.”
I step back, the weight of his words dragging me down like an anchor. I can feel Cassidy's eyes on me. Antonio’s face fills with disappointment and pain, and I understand why. Cassidy and I are the two people he trusts most, and he feels betrayed. I don’t know what else to say because nothing I say can undo what's been done. I need to give him time to calm down.
“Cassidy, you’re coming back home with me.”
“Dad!” She protests.
“Not another word!” He barks, glaring at her. He turns to look at me again. “And as far as I’m concerned, we’re finished. I never want to see you anywhere close to my daughter again. We’re through.”
13
Positive
Cassidy
Myheadispounding,but that doesn’t make me stop or turn down the music I’m listening to. Whenever I'm heartbroken about something, music helps. There is a song about everything, and I find one that matches how I feel.
This is one of the worst situations I've been in.
