AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Even Emmett acknowledges it. “It’s beautiful,” he says with a smile. “I’m glad that you were able to get it done. And I was able to get some perfect blackmail photos, too.”
Sori snorts. “I’m not mad about those. I’m actually sure that you and Tom are both going to love sharing them around too. But I was tired, and Diana’s better at cuddling than you are.”
“That’s not nice.” Emmett slaps her thigh playfully. “You know I don’t like you cuddling anyone but me.”
Sori pats Emmett’s hand where it sits on her thigh. “I know, but you took blackmail photos. All gloves are off until you delete them.”
Emmett mutters under his breath, but Laurence pops back into the room without warning.
“Done.” He claps his hands together. “Time to go, Momma.”
I watch as Laurence practically drags Sori out of the room toward the front door again.
“I see I’m chopped liver. Like always.” Emmett stands up and wipes his hands clean of imaginary dust. “Thank you for your hospitality, Casper.” There is a look in his eyes, like he is waiting for me to fall apart. For a second I think that Cole must have said something to him about what happened the night before.
“I’m sure we’ll see you soon,” Sori says from the doorway, where she is standing with a smiling Laurence in her arms. “It’s nice to know someone caught Cole’s eye and made him want to be a better person.”
Her words sting, right at the very center of my chest. But I am not going to be the one to tell them what happened. That isn’t my place.
“I’m actually leaving to go back to Maine today,” I tell them and try to ignore the shocked expressions on their faces.
“But why?” Sori shifts, switching the hip that she is holding Laurence on. “You just got here.”
“I have a life in Birch Harbor. One that isn’t going to wait for me to have fun. It’s time to get home and get ready for the upcoming school year.” The half-truth burns as I force a smile to my face.
Emmett watches me with calculating eyes, and he nods to Sori in silent communication. She sniffs and walks away without saying anything, at least until she gets to the bottom of the steps. Then she turns around and gives me a watery smile.
“You’re one of us now. That means that no matter where you go, you’re still part of our family. Remember that, Casper.”
Emmett, however, waits until Sori is out of earshot before he says anything.
“Does Cole know you’re going back to Maine right as he’s being recalled to go overseas? I don’t want him to be worrying about anything but his mission while he’s over there.”
I push aside the shock at hearing that Cole is being recalled. It isn’t any of my business. Especially not after everything that happened. And definitely not when that was supposed to be the plan all along.
“Look,” I manage to say without snapping at him, which I feel seriously earns me a cookie. “I honestly don’t think it’s any of Cole’s business what I do. And I also don’t think you know your cousin as well as you think you do.”
Just like that, I close the door on Emmett and Sori… and on the last thing I have holding me back in New York.
When I turn around and see Cassie’s picture staring back at me, I break down. I don’t know if it is from lack of sleep, anger, or everything I’ve learned in the last twelve hours. But tears start streaming down my cheeks, followed by loud and uncontrollable sobs.
With one hand clutching my chest, I gently put my other hand on the frame.
“Tell me what to do, Cassie.” I sob. “I can’t do this anymore… not without you.”
I swear the smile on her face gets even wider, and the air next to me shifts. All of a sudden, I am not alone anymore.
Tear down the world around you, Casper. You’re the calm in the eye of the storm. It’s time to let go.
I pull her picture from the wall, lift it up in the air, and smash it against the floor. Chaos and destruction, that’s all I see left. I can feel Cassie’s warmth, her smile as she watches me. Then, still crying and completely shattered, I kneel in the broken glass and pick up the photo itself.
The last bit of Cassie is gone.
I amfinallyready to go home, back to my real life.
To let go.
16
