Текст книги "From Ashes"

Автор книги: Molly McAdams

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Текущая страница: 5 (всего у книги 23 страниц)

Chapter Five

G AGE

I WAS MISERABLE. It had been eight months since Cassidy had crushed my heart that morning before she went to work. Eight months of trying to ignore the pull I still felt, now more than ever. Eight months of being her friend and nothing more. The first six months of which I had to watch her run to Tyler every damn time something happened. Now for the last two months I’d barely had what you could even consider a conversation with her. Two months of no morning hugs and conversations, and one month until I moved back in with the happy couple.

It was the end of July and I’d moved back to the ranch like I do every summer. It had killed me to know I was going to be without Cassidy for three months, but not as bad as watching her go into his bed every night, and watching her walk out of their room every morning in his shirt. After that morning, it had taken almost a week for us to even say hello to each other. Apparently my wanting to be with her was so awful she couldn’t stand to look at me that entire time too. Tyler was kind enough to wait two weeks before talking about their relationship again. Asshole. I loved the guy, I’d do anything for him, but I knew he didn’t feel for her what I did. And if she would have chosen to be with me, I wouldn’t have rubbed it in his face every chance I got. Loving him like a brother and hating him for being with the girl who held my heart was a hell of an emotional trip.

“Are you hearing a damn word I’m saying, son?”

I stopped fixing the post and looked up at my dad. “Sorry—no, can you repeat that?”

He sighed heavily. “Take a break, Gage. Let’s talk.”

Dropping the post and tools, I followed him over to a tree and leaned up against the base.

“Your mother and I are worried about you.”

I looked at him, confused, but kept my mouth shut. You didn’t interrupt my parents.

“Over the winter break, we just figured you were sick or something, but these last two months have been beyond ridiculous. You don’t talk to us, you don’t talk to your sisters, you look like a damn zombie. All you do is work, eat, and sleep. Are you on drugs?”

“What?! Dad, are you being serious right now?”

“Well shit, Gage, what are we supposed to think? This isn’t who you are at all. If you aren’t on drugs, then tell me what’s goin’ on. That, or leave. You’re being completely disrespectful to your family; this isn’t how we raised you.”

I sank down to the ground and let my head fall into my hands. “Sorry. Honestly, I thought I was hiding this a lot better. Guess I was wrong.”

“Hiding what?”

“Dad?” I took a deep breath in and out. “When you met Mom, did you know right away you were going to marry her?”

That shocked him; he hadn’t been expecting that turn in the conversation. “Does this have to do with your attitude?”

I nodded.

“No, I reckon I didn’t. She was my best friend for a long time. We all viewed her like one of the guys. One night when we were seventeen, there was a dance at the Miller ranch, and I remember seeing her. Like I was actually seeing her for the first time. She’d done her hair and put on some makeup, and was wearing a dress. I didn’t realize it was your mama until I got the nerve to ask her to dance with me. But of course by then all the other guys had noticed her too. You shoulda seen us all fightin’ over her, trying our damnedest to get your grandpa to let us court her.”

I laughed. I could only imagine Dad being all awkward trying to get the courage to go up to Grandpa. That was one terrifying man.

“Took four months for her to finally agree to a date with me. I still didn’t know I was in love with her, not for a few more months after that. I just woke up one day and realized I couldn’t live without her. Gave her a promise ring that night, an engagement ring a year later, and we were married six months after that.” He looked at me for a minute. “I’d ask if you’re in love, Gage, but love makes you alive. You look dead.”

“Yeah, about that.” I huffed and ran a hand through my hair, grabbing a good chunk in my fist. “I was kinda hoping your answer would be different. I know what’s happening between us isn’t normal. Well, not between us, I guess . . . she doesn’t feel the same way for me.”

“Ah. I see. So why don’t you tell me what’s happening for you.”

I looked at my dad for a minute, and I suddenly couldn’t hold it back anymore. I’d told Tyler I loved her, but I hadn’t talked to anyone about the depth of my feelings. “It’s like I’m being pulled to her. Like something in her calls to me. I know that sounds dumb, but that’s the only way to describe it. The first night I met her, I felt her before I even saw her. It’s like I had to look up at her, and when I did . . . I swear to God the world stopped moving. When she shook my hand, it felt like—not a spark, but like a jolt of electricity went through me. All I can think about is her, and I could have sworn she felt it too. But when she found out my feelings, she got pissed. Wouldn’t talk to me for a week. I’ve tried, Dad, you have no idea how damn hard I’ve tried to get over her. But I know I’m supposed to be with her, I know I’m going to marry her. I knew it the moment she hopped out of Ty’s Jeep.”

“Ty Bradley? Your cousin Tyler?”

“Yep.”

“So you met her through him?”

I laughed hard. “You could say that.”

“You’re gonna have to help your old man out here, I don’t get what I’m missing. You having problems with him?”

“Do you remember me telling you Ty was bringing his friend Cassi from California to live with us?”

“Yeah . . .” He drew out the word.

“Well Tyler’s girlfriend, Cassi, my new roommate, is the same girl who consumes my every thought.”

“Shit.”

“Yep.” I let my head fall back against the tree and rubbed my chest where the ache that never went away intensified from just thinking about her. “God, Dad, am I crazy? This isn’t normal, right? This can’t be healthy. She doesn’t even want me.”

“And you’re sure about that?”

“Yeah. She made herself pretty clear. What makes it harder is that even though she’s his girlfriend, and she doesn’t want me, I can’t stop being near her. I hate just being her friend, but I would rather be her friend than not have her at all. I thought this summer would be good for me, to get her out of my head; instead I just feel like I’m dying the longer I’m away from her.”

Dad was quiet again for a moment. “Well, I haven’t ever experienced this, uh—pull you’re talking about. But I don’t think you’re crazy. The only advice I have for you is don’t give up. If you’re sure you want her, then you gotta fight for her.”

“But she’s with Tyler. If it was anyone else I wouldn’t have a problem with it. But Ty?”

“That does make your situation a little difficult. Have you talked to Tyler about her?”

“Oh yeah, at first he was pissed that I wouldn’t stop looking at her, then one night he finally said he’d step back and let us be together. That next morning was when she yelled at me, told me she didn’t want to see me. And it’s hard, because even though I’m positive she’s not in love with Tyler, and honestly I don’t think they’re even actually together, she can’t leave him. Same way he can’t leave her.”

“I’m just going to assume you’re about to explain that. ’Cause that little statement is confusing as hell.”

“Well, since you’ll probably never meet her, I guess it’s safe to tell you about her childhood. Her dad died when she was real young, on her birthday actually. It really screwed her mom up; she turned into an alcoholic and married some guy. From the day he died, Cassidy had to raise herself; her mom stopped feeding her, washing her clothes, even talking to her. And she was only six. Then after her stepdad moved in, they started beating her. Up until the day Tyler packed her shit up and moved her to Texas.”

“You got some beatings yourself, son.”

“No, Dad, not like getting spanked by Mom when I was little. They didn’t just take off their belts and hit her with that or a wooden spoon when she was in trouble. They could’ve killed her. Tyler told me about some of the times, and I saw pictures from after a few of the tamer times and it’s enough to make you sick. Uncle Jim would have to stitch her up sometimes, others she’d be so messed up she wouldn’t be able to walk. Her bruises when she moved in were like nothing I’ve ever seen. Her entire back and sides were black, blue, green, and yellow. They’re obviously all gone now though, but Ty said she’s really careful about what she wears around people because of the scars she has from some of the bad beatings.”

“How people can do that to their own kid is beyond me. People like that need to be arrested, or shot. I’m sure we can find some ditches.” He smiled under his massive mustache.

“I swear I wanted to drive there and have a conversation with them and my shotgun. It about killed me; she’s the sweetest person you’ve ever met. And she wouldn’t let Tyler turn them in. Her mom’s a heartless bitch, and yet Cassidy still would never do anything against her.”

Dad just shook his head and relaxed against the tree. “Don’t give up on her, Gage. You don’t feel this way for no reason. What do you say we finish this post and call it a day? You need to explain to your mama what’s been going on. She might have better advice than your old man. And you better apologize to her. She’s been making herself sick with worry.”

I nodded. “Sorry for putting y’all through this. I honestly didn’t realize I was letting it show so much.”

“You’re forgiven. Come on, I’m hungry and your mama and sisters are makin’ chili and corn bread.”

I missed Cassidy’s cooking. I missed trying to help her cook, even though I messed everything up more times than not. I missed her laugh and smile, and the way she felt in my arms every morning. I just missed her. God, I felt like such a fuckin’ girl.

We fixed the broken parts of the fence and were on our way back to the house within ten minutes. We rode slowly back, and I told Dad more about Cassidy and our lives together with Tyler. Not even halfway back to the house, my sister Amanda texted me to say Ty, his parents, and a girl were at the main house and for us to come back. I didn’t need to ask who the girl was; there wasn’t anyone else they’d bring.

“Gage, what’s wrong?”

I realized I’d stopped my horse Bear and was just staring in the direction of the house. Looking up at him, I could only say one word. “Cassidy.” If Bear sprinted, we’d be back in about fifteen minutes, and even that seemed too long. “Hya!”

“Gage!”

I couldn’t look back at my dad. I heard his horse in a dead sprint behind us, and I knew he’d be pissed at me for taking off like that, but she was here. When we reached the house, I saw Tyler’s Jeep out front and stood there for almost an entire minute trying to decide between taking care of Bear and going to her.

“She’ll still be in there in five minutes. After what you just put Bear through, you may want to attend to him first.”

I grunted in acknowledgment and jumped off my horse to walk him toward the stables. After he had everything off him, we sprayed him and my dad’s horse down with a hose and let them out into the field. Dad put his hand on my shoulder to stop me, and I tried not to let him see how frustrated I was that he was continuing to keep me from Cassidy.

“Now, I have no doubt there’s a reason she was put in your life, and I know I told you to fight for her. But fight smart, son. Tyler’s like a brother to you; you don’t want to ruin that because of her. And another thing: you running in there lookin’ like you do will probably scare her shitless.”

I looked down at my shirt. I’d been sweating all day from work and I’d thrown my shirt back on right before we started back here, but it wasn’t like I was covered in bits of cow pies.

“I wasn’t exaggerating when I said you looked like a zombie, Gage. With how dead you look, you may want to go easy on seeing her again. Take a deep breath, and walk in like a normal human being.”

That was damn hard. My hands were balled into fists so I wouldn’t reach out for her, and I couldn’t even see her yet. I opened the door and walked through the living room, toward the voices in the kitchen. Cassidy laughed and it speared me to the floor. I took what felt like my first breath in two months and actually smiled. I glanced over at Dad and he patted my shoulder.

“Well, let’s go meet my future daughter-in-law.”

I punched his arm and took the last few steps before rounding the corner into the kitchen. And there she was. As perfect and beautiful as ever. “Cassidy,” I breathed.

She launched herself at me and wrapped her arms around my neck, whispering into my ear. “I missed you so much, Gage.”

“I missed you too, darlin’.” God, she had no idea how much I’d missed her. I held her tight and memorized the feel of her. Trying not to be obvious, I breathed her in and relaxed even more. She was here. Really here. Squeezing her tighter, I was glad to feel even less of her ribs and shoulder blades. She’d been slowly putting on some more weight, and while she had at least another ten pounds to go, she was looking healthier and more beautiful all the time.

Tyler cleared his throat, and I reluctantly let her go. I tried not to let it show how much it hurt when she went right back to his side. Aunt Stephanie and Uncle Jim stepped up to give me hugs, and I caught Mom looking at me with wide, curious eyes. I cast a glance at Dad and saw him giving the same look at Cassidy. I knew exactly what he was thinking, because it was the same as me. How does she act like that toward me and not feel a damn thing for me?

“Gage?”

“Yeah, Mama?” I still couldn’t take my eyes off Cassidy.

“Why don’t you go get cleaned up, you’ve been working all day.”

“All right.”

After a minute of me not moving, she spoke up again. “That was code for ‘you smell and look all kinds of tore up,’ son. Go take a shower.”

Not that I take long showers anyway, but I don’t think I’ve ever taken a faster shower than I did just then. I wanted to get back to Cassidy, had to get back to her. I was stupid for thinking I could ever get over her; if anything, this time apart had shown me how impossible that would be. I ran into the bedroom and skidded to a stop, clutching the towel around my hips.

“Whoa, Ma, seriously?”

“Now, tell me why you thought you couldn’t tell me what was going on, Gage.”

I sighed and grabbed a shirt, focusing on buttoning all the buttons before speaking. “I’m real sorry, ma’am. Until Dad made me talk about it today, I hadn’t realized I was acting any different toward y’all.”

“We have been worried sick.”

“I know, Mama.”

“Now, your father already told me everything you told him, so I won’t keep you much longer. But you know you can always talk to us.” She stood up and walked toward my door, pausing just before she shut it. “She is dang cute, Gage.”

I smiled widely at her. “I know she is.”

With a quick wink, she shut the door behind her, and I went back to frantically trying to get ready. I tried not to charge down the stairs, but it didn’t matter. She wasn’t in the house. I heard Tyler say her name and walked out the front door and about choked on a laugh when I saw her. She was staring wide eyed at my dad, who was showing Uncle Jim and Tyler his new hunting rifle. She shot a quick glance in my direction, then went right back to the rifle.

“It won’t bite you, Cass.” I smirked as I reached her side.

“It might, you don’t know that.”

“We can go shooting right now and I’ll show you they’re fine.”

Her eyes got even wider and she slowly shook her head back and forth. She still couldn’t take her eyes off the rifle and I ground my teeth when she took an involuntary step toward Tyler.

“Let’s start with something a little easier then.” I lightly touched her arm and turned her the opposite way. “It’s been a while since I promised you . . .” I trailed off and smiled when I heard her intake of breath.

I led her into the stables and over to my mare Star. She was dark chestnut brown with a white lopsided star on her forehead, and she was extremely calm. She would be perfect for Cassidy. I opened up her door and walked in, bringing Cassidy with me. Tyler stayed up against the door and didn’t say much as I let the girls meet.

I rubbed Star’s long nose as she butted my chest. “Star, this is Cassidy; Cass, this is Star.” Grabbing Cassidy’s hand, I brought her closer to the horse and she slowly reached out a hand to Star’s neck.

“Hey, Star,” she said softly. “Is she yours?” she asked as she brought her other hand up to Star’s jaw.

I nodded. “I think she’d be best for you to ride. She’s a calm girl.”

“She’s beautiful,” she breathed.

“That she is. Would you like to ride her today?”

“Can I?” Her smile was so beautiful, I’d let her do whatever she wanted.

“Let me get her ready.” I looked back at Ty. “You wanna ride Beau?”

“Sure, I’ll get him out.” Tyler looked at Cassidy, gave me a warning glare, and went over to where Amanda’s horse was.

When he was gone I grabbed Cass and hugged her tight to my body. God, I missed this. “I’m glad you’re here.”

She sighed and pressed her head into my chest. “It’s been lonely without you, Gage. I’m ready for you to come home.”

If only home wasn’t where y’all share a bed, I wouldn’t have been able to leave. I sighed and squeezed her tight before putting the saddle on Star and helping Cassidy up.

“CASSIDY.” I WHISPERED so I wouldn’t wake up Amanda from where she was on the other side of the room.

Cassidy moaned lightly and rolled onto her side, facing me.

“Cass.” After nudging her shoulder with no results, I stretched out on the small sofa bed beside her and brushed her dark hair from her face. God, I loved watching her sleep. I memorized her relaxed expression before pressing my lips softly to her cheek.

She curled into a tighter ball and sighed my name.

My heart stopped when I realized she was still asleep. She was dreaming about me. I wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer. “Wake up, darlin’,” I said as I trailed her jaw with my fingertips.

Cassidy’s eyes slowly fluttered open and widened when she saw me right in front of her. “What are you doing?” I’d expected her to freak out, but her voice, still husky from sleep, sounded almost dreamlike.

“I have to start working, but I wanted my morning hug first.”

She smiled and wiggled her way deeper into my arms, wrapping one arm around my waist and placing the other on my chest, fingers splayed out. “Good morning, Gage.” She yawned and buried her face deeper into my shirt.

“Morning.” I held her to me and tried to savor every second of her warm body against mine, her long hair wild from her lying on it, her sweet scent engulfing me.

“What are you doing today?”

“Gotta feed everyone first, then we have to fix more of the fences. We stopped early yesterday and they need to be done before we can move the cattle into that area. Other than that, whatever pops up.”

She nodded against me. “Do you need me to do anything?”

I didn’t need a thing from her, but I wanted everything. I wanted her to leave Tyler, to love me, to want to live here with me for the rest of our lives. I wanted so damn much. “Just go back to sleep, then enjoy the rest of the day with the girls. I’ll be back tonight.”

“I’ll be here waiting for you.”

Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath in and held it. If only she knew what she did to me. I could see us, just like this. Whispering in the dark room before I started work each morning, her telling me she’d be waiting for me when I got back. God, I wanted to kiss her and stay in that bed all day, but just then I heard the front door open and shut and knew I had to get going. With one last squeeze, I reluctantly unwrapped us from each other and left the room.

C ASSIDY

“THOSE BOYS ARE treating you all right, aren’t they, Cassidy?” Stephanie asked as she pulled up a chair at the breakfast bar where Gage’s youngest sister, Emily, was coloring. “It was hard enough losing Tyler, and then you had to go with him. I feel like all my babies are gone and I just need to make sure you’re all taking care of each other.”

“They’re great. I work early in the mornings, and Gage takes me; when I get home they’re at school and by the time they’re back I have dinner made for them. Everything’s been great so far.”

“Good, sweetie,” she said, and I couldn’t believe how much she and Gage’s mom, Tessa, looked alike, and how Tessa looked nothing like her kids.

“You tell me if my boy’s actin’ up, all right, sweet girl? I don’t care if that boy is grown, I’ll still smack him upside the head.” Tessa gave me a look and I didn’t need to have seen Gage’s flinching to know she would.

I laughed. “You don’t have to worry about that, Gage is . . . Gage has been . . . he’s great.”

Tessa and Stephanie shared a look and Stephanie raised her eyebrows as she took a long drink of iced tea.

“All right, I’m sorry, but I have to ask. Are you dating Ty or not?” Amanda, Gage’s oldest sister, put the stack of plates away and leaned back against the counter so she was facing me.

I paused, opening up the package of yellow cake mix, and looked at her, confused. “Uh, definitely not. Why?”

“Well . . .” She looked at her mom and other sister, Nikki, before continuing. “We’ve all heard about you since as far back as I can remember . . . and it just kinda looks like y’all are together.”

Stephanie started laughing and I could only imagine the look of horror on my face. “No. Tyler’s my best friend—really he was my only friend until we moved to Texas. We’re just really close like that; he’s like my family.”

“So is there anyone you are dating?” Amanda asked, and I noticed even Tessa had stopped what she was doing and looked up at me.

“No.” I drew out the word, uncertain as to why they were all looking at me like that.

“Interested in?” Tessa asked, seeming a little too concerned in what my answer was going to be.

“Um, well . . .” My cheeks flared and I had to bite down on my lips to stop my ridiculous smile. “I—”

Just then the front door opened and shut, and Gage’s and Tyler’s voices drifted in toward us. My eyes went wide and I swear I somehow blushed harder. Tessa took one look at me and smiled to herself before turning back around to the food she was preparing. When I looked over at Amanda, she was studying me intently. She shot a quick look at her brother and cousin when they came in and the same smile I’d just seen on her mom spread across her cheeks.

“You girls wanna go to a bonfire?” Gage drawled, and winked at me; I swear I somehow blushed harder.

“I do!” Nikki yelled, and ran up to the guys. Gage and Tessa started disagreeing immediately.

“Absolutely not!”

“No way, Nik.”

“You said girls, Gage! I am a girl, you know!”

He kissed the top of her head and ruffled her hair. “When you’re older, kid. Amanda and Cassidy,” he clarified, and smirked when Nikki huffed, “do y’all wanna go?”

I stole a quick glance at Tyler and gave him a smile when I saw he was staring at me intently. “Sounds . . . fun?” When he nodded I looked back to Gage and nodded once. “Yeah, sure.”

Amanda agreed and Gage grabbed two bottles of water out of the fridge, tossing one at Tyler. “All right, we’ll leave after dinner.”

“Gage!” Amanda looked quickly at the clock, then back to him. “Dinner’s in like—three and a half hours!”

“And?”

“That gives us no time! We need to go into town!”

“Why?”

She just shook her head and grabbed my hand before towing me toward the front door. “We’ll be back before dinner!” she called as we went out the door. “Do you have boots?”

“Uh, what?”

“Boots, do you have any?”

“No . . .”

She hopped into her car and I followed. “Figured as much. You can’t go to a bonfire out in the country without ’em.”

“Oh, if that’s why we’re going into town, we don’t need to. I can just go in my flip-flops or Converse.”

“Yankee,” she mumbled, and I snorted.

“I FEEL LIKE I look like a cliché.”

Amanda laughed and checked herself out in the mirror. “And why is that?”

“You put me in a plaid button-up and cowboy boots.”

“Yeah? And you look hot! At least I didn’t give you a torn denim miniskirt to match it with, because I have one. I can even get you a cowboy hat!” I looked at her, mortified, and she laughed. “Exactly. Now, that would be cliché; what you are wearing is perfect.”

I fluffed my hair, which Amanda had curled before dinner; checked my makeup one last time; and stepped back to take in the entire thing. I did like my boots and shirt, which was an electric-blue, black, and gray combination and worked well with the dark skinny jeans I had on, but seriously. Walking cliché.

“All the guys there will love it, trust me.”

“I don’t exactly care about the guys we’ll meet there,” I mumbled, and followed her out of the room toward the stairs.

“Gage will love it.” She shrugged and feigned indifference before turning to wink at me.

“He doesn’t, I mean, I haven’t—”

“You haven’t told him? Yeah, I figured. You should change that.”

“Change what?” Tyler asked, and I jumped, causing me to miss the next step and start sliding down. Ty caught me around my waist and smirked. “Always wanted to sweep you off your feet.”

I laughed and pushed on his shoulder until he let go. “You’re so dumb, Ty.”

“You girls rea—” Gage cut himself off quickly; his green eyes widened and he just stared at me until Tyler cleared his throat. “Uh, y’all ready?”

We followed when Tyler started pushing him toward the door, and Amanda leaned in close. “Told ya, time to change that.”

If only she knew just how bad I wished I could.

“WE’RE GONNA GO get more beers, y’all want some?” Gage asked. Amanda and I both shook our heads and went back to talking about this guy she was seeing off and on at A & M.

Other than the fact that we were out in the country instead of on the beach, and all the girls were dressed scarily similar to me and Amanda, this felt like one of the many bonfires I’d gone to with Ty whenever he’d tried to get me more socialized during high school. And like then, this really wasn’t my scene. Even with moving to Austin, I still wasn’t a huge fan of new people. I couldn’t stand the looks some of the girls were giving Gage, and already we’d had an issue with one of the guys, Max.

We’d all been standing near the fire, and I must’ve gotten so caught up in thoughts of my dad and the phoenix while looking at it that I hadn’t noticed Max watching me, or when he came up to my side to push me toward the fire, only to quickly wrap his arms around me and slam my body back to his chest. He’d thought it was hilarious until Gage pulled me away from him and proceeded to give him a verbal ass-kicking with Ty.

He’d avoided me the rest of the night, as had the rest of the guys there since Gage and Tyler had already made it known that they shouldn’t mess with or come near me. But now that they had gone to get more drinks, Max was stumbling over toward me and Amanda, causing me to groan and Amanda to stop talking about her pseudo-boyfriend to glare at him.

“What do you say we head back to my truck? Have us a little alone time.” His breath reeked of beer and his eyes were completely glazed over.

“Um, no thank you. And you should really consider giving someone your keys.” I turned to look at Amanda when she snorted and I shook my head. Seriously? Who did this guy think he was? After the stunt he’d pulled earlier he really thought I’d go anywhere or do anything with him?

“I didn’t say we’d be driving.”

“Like I said, no—”

He grabbed my hips and turned me so I was facing him and pressed my body close to his. “I bet I have you screaming my name in no time.”

“Ew. Max, leave her alone!” Amanda hissed, and I pulled away from him.

“I said no, you need to back off.” I turned back to Amanda and grabbed for her hand, fully intending to go find Tyler and Gage, but Max gripped the top of my arm and roughly brought me back to him.

“And I said we’re going to my truck.” His hold on my left arm tightened and was past the point of being painful; that mixed with the alcohol on his breath had my body going rigid seconds before I started shaking uncontrollably.

“Max!” Amanda sounded appalled and began pulling me toward her. “What the hell is wrong with you?! Go sober up in your truck, alone!”

His hand had loosened slightly and I let Amanda pull me away; just before I slipped out of his grasp, it tightened as much as my arm would allow and he yanked me toward him again. Only this time Amanda had a hold on me as well and that split second I was being pulled by both sent a sharp pain through my left shoulder. Amanda let go and I stumbled over myself, landing hard on my butt, causing the pain in my shoulder to intensify as Max yanked on the arm he still kept hold of.

Amanda gasped loudly, and though I tried to keep it in, a short cry of pain escaped my lips. I couldn’t even try to get myself standing; my entire body was trembling too hard as I subconsciously waited for the blows to start. All I could seem to do was stare at my lap as flashes of different beatings quickly flipped through my mind. Suddenly, Max’s hand was gone and Tyler was directly in front of me, pushing my chin up so I would look at him. His eyes were wide and he was speaking, but I couldn’t hear him over the sounds of flesh hitting flesh, glass breaking, my screams, Jeff’s grunts, and my mom’s moans.

Tyler pulled me up and half carried, half walked me back to his Jeep. Sitting me on the passenger seat, he stood just inside the open door and between my legs, gently rubbing the throbbing ache on my arm, his other hand cupping the back of my neck and holding my forehead to his. Slowly, the nightmarish flashes disappeared and I could hear Tyler whispering softly.

“ . . . okay, I’ve got you. Never again, Cassi, they’re gone, they can’t touch you here. You’re okay, I’ve got you. I’ll always have you, Cass. They’re gone—”

“Is she okay?!” Gage’s voice broke through my immediate world of my rock, my Tyler, holding me.

“She’ll be fine,” Ty responded, and went back to whispering, “I’ve got you, you’re going to be okay, sweetheart.”

Next thing I knew, Gage was in the driver’s seat of the Jeep and talking directly behind me. “Darlin’, are you all right? Tell me what happened.”