“I’ve still got it,” he said, causing me to burst into laughter.
“You certainly do.” It felt like that first night I’d seen him. The promises dancing inside those azure irises caused me to lose my grip on the glass again, but this time I caught it before it made another embarrassing decent to the ground.
“Yep. Still got it.” He grinned while he slid back onto his stool.
“Is this going to be a problem? I can’t have you throwing Cassie off her game the rest of the summer,” Jo teased.
“I’ll be sad if she stops dropping glasses when I come in. I intend to have you dropping glasses for many years to come.”
The look that passed between us was a silent exchange that meant he felt what I was feeling. It meant we were more than a summer fling. It meant I wasn’t just a lay to him. The look broadcasted that we shared something, and we were both in this together. For the long haul.
“Bachelorette party incoming,” Jo said while she glanced out the window.
“What?” I asked, still unable to climb out of Jake’s intense gaze.
“We got a limo and a couple of glitzy hos. I’m guessing bachelorette party.”
Groaning, she moved away from the window.
“Better cover your groin, Jake. We all know bachelorettes love you.”
Rolling his eyes, he curled back up into that same hunched ball he’d been in when I first saw him. I was happy to know he had no intentions of flirting with the women who would be filling the bar with their Beyoncé, off-key singing, and copious number of RumChata shots I’d learned accompanied every bachelorette party.
The door opened, and I saw the eyes of every person widen when the newcomers drifted to the door. Curious what these girls were wearing to cause such a reaction, I finally pulled myself away from Jake. When I saw what they were looking at, my heart plummeted to my feet. Two women in scandalous dresses stood preening in the doorway. Two women I knew well. Liza in her skin-tight glittering gold mini-dress and Jessica in a Versace gown with a plunging neckline were causing all the fuss.
“It must be wrong. This can’t be the place.” Liza said to Jessica while she stared at her phone, then scoffed at her surroundings. “No way Cassandra is here.”
Before I could dive under the bar to avoid their searching eyes, Liza’s locked with mine.
“No way! It worked! Hey biyatch! We found you!” Liza shouted and hoisted her bottle of champagne triumphantly in the air.
Fumbling for words, or the ability to disappear, I froze behind the bar.
“Cassandra! She’s here, guys! It worked!” Jessica called out the door.
My eyes slowly moved to the door, and I saw James and Richie step inside. Dripping in designer clothes with their perfectly styled hair, they smiled when they saw me. And right behind them was Donovan. When he appeared, the song Jake had played for me came to an end, and now I worried we would too.
This can’t be happening.
“Baby! We found you!” Donovan shouted, waving at me where I stood glued to the floor. My eyes moved to Jake’s and after he took them all in, his brow furrowed while he looked back to me.
“You know them?” he asked.
My mouth wouldn’t respond. I stared at him, struggling to find the words, any words, to say.
They moved through the bar, each staring in shock at their new surroundings. “What is this place?” Richie said while he touched Captain Bailey as he passed by. Donovan took no time examining his surroundings. He and Liza came around to the entrance of the bar, and he stepped behind it like he owned the place.
“Are you bartending?” Liza asked when she realized I was actually behind the bar. “Like working? No way! We need a selfie! A Cassandra’s working selfie!”
She launched to my side and leaned in with Donovan, snapping a shot while they smiled, smooshing my face between theirs as I tried to push the phone away.
“Insta!” she said while she clicked away at her phone.
“Don’t. Please don’t post it.” My eyes darted between them and Jake.
“We’ve been looking for you everywhere!” Donovan said while he stepped up and slipped an arm around my waist. I was too shocked to fight him. “Your old gramps wouldn’t say a thing, and you wouldn’t respond to us, so we thought you were in rehab. But then James was telling the story about that time in Ibiza when you got so hammered we couldn’t find you, so you had us put that tracking app on your phone so the next time you blacked out and woke up somewhere weird we could find you. Sure as shit, we opened it up and there you were! In Wisconsin! We thought it was a glitch, but we took the jet anyway, because well, why the fuck not? So here we are and sure enough, you’re right where it said you’d be! What are you doing here, baby? You’re not really working, are you?”
All I could do was stare at Jake. There were no words to explain away the lies I knew he would put together in seconds. The lies I had hoped to clear up tomorrow, so he didn’t find out this way. The lies I knew would rip him away from me.
“Holy shit!” Jo breathed. “You guys are ‘The Six-Pack’. That’s where I know you all from. I’ve seen you on the internet before and you...” Her eyes widened when she looked at me. “That’s where I know you from. I knew you looked familiar. You’re Cassandra Davenport.”
It felt like the world Jake had turned right side up flipped upside down again. Everything spun around me while my eyes moved from Jo, to Donovan, then Liza, and finally back to Jake.
“What?” he asked, confusion furrowing his brow. “What’s going on?”
“Jake,” I whispered. “I can explain.”
“She’s not Cassie Sinclair, Jake.” Jo growled. “She’s Cassandra Davenport. A fucking billionaire socialite playgirl.” Her penetrating gaze moved through me while her eyes narrowed. “What is this? Is this some reality show and you’ve got cameras in here? Some rich chick hacking it in the real world and making fun of us local-yocals?” Jo looked around for cameras, but then her eyes locked back on with mine. “What the fuck is Cassandra Davenport doing here? And why the fuck did you lie to us?”
“Jo, I can explain.”
“Wait. Your name isn’t Cassie Sinclair?” Jake asked, shaking his head.
“Cassie Sinclair?” Donovan chimed in, laughing. “Who the fuck is Cassie Sinclair, and who the fuck is this guy, Cassandra?”
“I’m Jake Alton. Who the fuck are you?” He growled, rising from his stool.
“I’m her boyfriend. Donovan.” His arm slid around my waist and I finally convinced my feet to move. Pulling from his grip, I shook my head.
“No. Jake. This isn’t what it looks like.”
As I stared at the agony in the depths of his eyes, it felt like his hand wrapped around my heart and crushed it into dust. “It looks like you lied to me about who you are and that you have a fucking boyfriend!”
“Who is this guy, baby?” Donovan asked. When he said the word baby, Jake’s eyes narrowed.
“Don’t call me baby.” I spat, then turned my attention back to Jake. “Jake. I swear I was going to tell you. I just couldn’t yet. But I was going to.”
His head was shaking while he backed away from the bar. “No. I can’t. I can’t believe you lied to me, Cassie... or Cassandra. Or whoever the hell you are. How could you do that after... everything you know about me?”
He turned and pushed through the gathering crowd.
“Jake!” I called, rushing after him. When I made it to the door, I saw him jump in his truck. I raced after him, but all I caught was the smoke from the burning tires while he peeled out. It felt like the smoke surrounding me was from the life I’d planned now engulfed in flames.
After standing in the road watching until his taillights disappeared, I stumbled back into the Ox in a daze. An eerie silence had settled over the customers, and every set of eyes stared at me while I moved between them back to the bar.
“Seriously, Cassandra. What’s going on?” James asked while I brushed by him.
�
�Are you seriously like, working here or something? We thought you were in rehab and we were coming to bust you out,” Richie said, but I ignored him and kept moving.
“Cassandra?” Jessica asked as I stepped back behind the bar.
“You guys need to go,” I whispered, barely able to form the words.
“Baby, what’s up?” Donovan reached for me, but I stepped out of his grip.
“Go.”
“Cassandra? What the hell is wrong with you?” Liza stepped to his side.
They all stared at me. Seeing them again... their over-done makeup, expensive clothes, glittering jewelry, and the vacant look in their eyes reminded me of the life I’d left behind. The life I’d never wanted. Because of my extreme grief, I’d fallen into it and I’d let them keep me there even when I’d wanted out. It had been too hard to say no. Too easy to let the drugs and the parties cloud my mind and my heart, protecting me from the pain I didn’t want to accept. But now, seeing them with clear eyes, I knew I could never go back to that life again. This was the life I wanted. A life here. With Jake.
And now, because of them, I saw the life I truly wanted slipping out of my fingers.
“Cassandra?” Donovan said while I stared at them, blinking.
“Get out!” I screamed, startling even myself with the force of my words. “All of you! Go! I don’t want any of you in my life anymore! Please. Go. Leave me alone. Just leave me alone!” Tears broke through and burned a trail down my cheeks.
“Cassandra,” Donovan said, reaching for me one last time.
“Go. You’re all bad for me. This,” I waved a hand over them, “isn’t what I want. It’s not who I am. Just, please go. Go. Go!” I screamed, hurt and rage rising inside me. Anger at the death of my parents. Anger at the way I’d thrown away my life. Anger at these people who fueled my grief with drugs and alcohol. And the anger that I’d lied to Jake and he would never forgive me.
But mostly, anger at myself. I’d lacked accountability in my life for far too long. That ended right now.
“Okay, okay, we’re going. Whatever, bitch,” Liza snapped, then pulled Donovan by the hand. I caught the glares of all my old friends while they walked out the door, and I hoped, out of my life. When the door closed behind them, I let out a deep breath. I’d finally been strong enough to tell them no. This time I chose myself, and the life I knew I could have without the temptations of a quick escape.
Standing at the entrance to the bar with tears streaming down my face, I turned to Jo. “Please. You have to let me explain.”
“The only thing I have to do is not kick your ass because I don’t feel like going to jail tonight, and I have a feeling you and your money come with a lot of lawyers. But if you don’t get the hell out of here in the next thirty seconds, I’ll take that jail stay. I told you if you hurt Jake, I’d kill you. So, consider this your head start, Cassandra.”
“Jo, please.”
“Go get on your jet and go back to your shitty little world.”
“That’s not what I want anymore, Jo. This is the life I want.”
“Then don’t. I don’t care what you do. All I know is you’d better get the fuck out of here. And stay the hell away from Jake. He didn’t deserve this, and you don’t deserve him. Now go.”
A sob wracked my shoulders as I nodded. I stumbled out the door and jumped when it slammed behind me. It sounded like the door to the new life I’d imagined slamming as well.
I looked down to the street to see my old friends climbing into their limo, and five sets of eyes glared at me while they pulled away. Liza rolled down the window and screamed bitch for good measure, and it only solidified my desire to never see them again. How I’d spent so much time blinded by my grief that I’d ever considered them friends was something I didn’t know if I’d ever understand.
I didn’t want to be like them. I wasn’t like them. And now that I’d tasted how wonderful real life could be, I knew I’d never follow them down that road again. Their limo wound around the corner and I stood staring at it, watching the last of my old life disappear.
And just like my grief and guilt, I hoped they would stay gone for good.
Desperate to talk to Jake and explain myself, I climbed into my car and drove to the docks looking for his truck. When I didn’t see it, I texted him while I sat on the side of the road, but it went undelivered. He’d shut his phone off. On my way home, I drove to his house, but he wasn’t there either. Knowing I’d blown it, and knowing Jake wasn’t the forgiving type, I let the tears stream free while I drove back to my cabin. When I got inside, I collapsed on the bed and curled up with Poppy in my arms. She was all I had left.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Cassie
Poppy’s soft snores vibrated against my ear. Opening my eyes, I saw her smooshed face pressed against me. The damp spot from my tears lingered on my pillow, and before I had a moment to breathe, the tears came again.
I’d ruined everything.
Letting my grief settle over me, I held Poppy tight while I cried into her soft fur like I had until I fell asleep last night. I’d tried Jake’s phone dozens of times, but it went straight to voicemail each time. Jo returned my apology text with a simple and concise “fuck you” and I knew she hated me as well.
Why wouldn’t they? I’d lied. I’d barged into their world and lied about everything. But what they didn’t know was why. They didn’t know my family’s legacy was on the line. That the stipulation of my redemption was that I do it without the benefit of my name or money. I know my grandfather hadn’t considered the ramifications of living a lie, and neither had I until my feelings for Jake grew into something deeper than I’d ever felt before.
Wiping my tears, I rolled over and picked up my phone to try Jake again. I’d called him a dozen times last night, desperate to explain myself, but each call went straight to voicemail. Hoping maybe there was a text or a voicemail from him, I held my breath while I clicked it on. Instead of a missed call from Jake, I saw a missed call from Grandpa. Clicking the buttons, I tapped on my voicemail and listened to the stern voice on the other side.
“Call me. Now.”
Groaning, I dialed him up. Now what.
“Hello?” he answered.
“Hey, Grandpa. It’s me.”
“Well, if it isn’t Cassandra.”
I furrowed my brow at the unchecked aggression in his voice. “What’s wrong, Grandpa?”
“What’s wrong? What’s wrong is you’ve been lying to me. And I believed you.”
“What are you talking about?” I sat up.
“You didn’t think just because I don’t know anything about all that social media crap that I wouldn’t have someone watching it?”
“What?”
“Your friends are up there. There was a photo on that Instachat or whatever it’s called. You promised you wouldn’t get tangled up with them again.”
“No, Grandpa,” I argued. “I’m not. They just—”
“I don’t want to hear it!” he shouted. “You led me to believe you were up there making money, learning about life and real work. That you broke ties with those treacherous, spoiled misfits. But it seems you lied. Again! I told you that cutting ties with them was part of the deal. A deal you have now broken. You couldn’t even make it a month without calling them back to your side. Them and their drugs and their scandalous ways!”
“Grandpa! That’s not true! They just showed up!”
“Lies! I’m done with your lies, Cassandra!”
“But I’m not lying,” I whispered with a trembling lip.
“Well, it’s too late. You can’t be trusted. I failed you. But I won’t fail my company. I’m selling it to Edward Garvey because I can trust him to care for my employees and my legacy.”
“No, Grandpa. Please. Just let me explain.”
“I’ve had two years of your explanations. Your commitment is free. You’re welcome to leave Door County now. It doesn’t matter anymore. It’s over, Cassandra.”
&nb
sp; I was still recovering from the blow last night and his callous words felt like a slap on the other cheek. Before I could argue back, he hung up. Tears continued streaming while I stared at my phone. Yesterday I’d never been happier, my life finally headed in the right direction. Toward a certain and worthwhile future. Today I had nothing left. Just when I started putting myself back together, the cruel hand of fate yanked the rug right out from underneath me and now I didn’t think I’d ever be whole again. Everyone I cared about was wreckage in my wake and I didn’t know who to turn to. I had no one left and the emptiness inside me threatened to swallow me whole.
After an hour of sobbing into my blankets, I heard the memories of my father’s voice in my mind. He used to comfort me when I cried, but every time I did, he would say the same thing.
“Cry your tears, but then remember, tears solve nothing. Instead of crying over your situation, give me three ways you can fix it.”
Instead of allowing me to wallow in self-pity, he’d force me to problem solve my way out of the grief. And sure enough, every time he presented me with the challenge, I found a solution. My tears would dry up and I would march off to solve the cause of them. That wasn’t how I’d been living my life since their death. All I did was run farther and farther from my problems and pain. Even though all I wanted to do was cry, it wouldn’t repair the rifts I’d torn between myself and the people I cared about. Imagining my father holding my hand and pulling me up, I rose from the bed and took a deep breath.
My grandfather couldn’t sell Davenport Industries to that shady bastard, Edward Garvey. It was my birthright, and I could run it better. I knew I could and now I just needed to prove it. And tears weren’t the solution. After wiping them away, I tossed some clothes in a suitcase, fed Poppy breakfast, then carried her and my suitcase to the car. Pulling out my phone, I dialed the one person I hoped would still help me.
“Cassandra?” Eleanor asked when she answered the phone.
“Yes. It’s me. Eleanor, I need a plane ticket home,” I said into the phone while I started up the engine.
The Other Half (Door Peninsula Passions Book 1) Page 19