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“What, Dash?” I yelled. His features slipped, his jaw ticking. “Shit, I’m sorry.” I wasn’t angry at him. He did nothing wrong.
Dash took my chin in his fingers and moved me so I focused on Casper. Oh fuck.
I immediately pulled free from Dash to rush over to Casper. He still sat on the same stool as he was before, but he had tears pooling in his eyes. His hands shook so badly his guitar trembled too.
“Cas, let me have this.” I tried to pry the guitar from him, but he held it so tight his knuckles were white. “Casper, let go.”
Tortured eyes met mine. “He’s right,” he whispered. “Everything he said. I did that to you. I hurt you so much. How can you even look at me, Reed?”
“No,” I said firmly. “We’re not doing this. Slater was a prick for what he said. He was upset and lashed out.”
“He was telling the truth. You shouldn’t be with me. You or Elic.”
Finally, I got the guitar from him. I quickly put it down so I could take Casper’s cheeks in my hands and keep him focused on me. My body easily wedged between his parted thighs. I had to get closer to him. “You seeing me, Cas? Really looking at me?”
He nodded.
“What he said, his perception of our lives, that’s all it was. You and me, what happened between us, that’s ours, not his. He only saw what we let him. He wasn’t with us when we were together. Slater never looked into your eyes and saw what I did. The love you tried to hide and couldn’t. You do love me, right?”
“So much.”
“I love you too, Cas. Nothing has changed between us. His words don’t matter.”
Casper went to stand, but I refused to move. He let out a breath and dropped his head to my shoulder as his arms came around my waist. “Did I abuse you?”
“No. You’re not a bad person. You’ve just spent so long thinking you couldn’t love me like you should or treat me the way you thought I deserved.The past has you sucked into when your mom was hurt, and your world was only the two of you. When your father was a selfish prick, who didn’t care enough to be there for his son. Those are your reference points.”
“But Dad…” He wasn’t talking about the father who helped give him life, but the man who helped raise him and care for him when Casper came into our lives.
“Yes, Dad is amazing. He wasn’t the only man in your life though. You’ve seen more than most. It left an impression on you. I’m here to do the same but in a very different way.” I turned my head, so my lips were against his throat. “I’m going to show you just how special you are, Cas. How much you deserve to be loved. I won’t stop. I’ll fight every day until you get it in your head how amazing and worthy you are. Elic too. You both are more than how you see yourselves.” Leaning back, I peered into the depths of his eyes, as if I could see into his soul. “Slay’s opinion doesn’t matter. Only ours and Elic’s. No one else gets a say in our relationship, got it?”
He nodded, but I doubted what I said truly sank in. Casper would take what he’d heard today and let it simmer in his mind, let it try to grow roots. Elic and I would have to prove to Casper he was more than what others saw. So much more.
17
ELIC
I was on my way back to Reed’s house, deciding to walk and enjoy the warm weather, when I saw Slater storm from the house and get into his truck. I waved to him, but either he didn’t see me or didn’t want to wave back. He tore out of there, sending worry instantly rushing through me.
Something must have happened. He was usually pretty laid-back when I saw him. I picked up my pace to get to the house faster. As I stepped onto the patio to go upstairs, the downstairs door opened, and Dash exited.
“I’ll let them tell you, but let’s just say that was a fucking mess.” He clapped me on the shoulder and headed toward his motorcycle. “Take care of them, El. They’re going to need you.” I didn’t have time to ask what he meant. He started his bike, the exhaust loud as hell, and went toward the road, no doubt after his brother.
The downstairs door was unlocked from Dash leaving, so I went inside that way instead of upstairs. Lights still illuminated the studio. The sight of Casper and Reed hugging made me pause for a few seconds. I turned to leave, not wanting to interrupt their moment. Starry realized I was there and gave a quick bark of happiness. With the door to the studio open, Casper and Reed had to have heard her.
“El?” Reed asked.
Looking over my shoulder, I noted the torment on his face. Like Dash said, whatever happened must have been a mess. “Yeah?”
“I’m glad you’re home.”
I turned to give him my full attention. “Is everything okay? I saw Slater leave then Dash. I figured you’d be in here all day.”
“Slay and I had a fight. It wasn’t good. Cas is upset. Can you take him upstairs while I clean up down here?”
“Yeah, sure.” I doubted I could take Casper anywhere, but it was worth a shot. If he didn’t want to go, he wouldn’t.
The studio lights were bright when I entered, focused on the instruments and other items within where the band would stand or sit by them. They weren’t what held my attention though. I only had eyes for Casper. His shoulders were slumped and his mouth was drawn down, eyes on the floor.
