by Todd, E. L.
Tony still did work for my company but everything was relayed through Victoria. She comforted me about the breakup. I knew she wanted him but she seemed genuinely sympathetic. Perhaps it was because Tony had rejected her completely.
I took a cab by his building on the way to work and on the way home. I hoped I would get a glimpse of him on the sidewalk or getting into a cab. It was pathetic but I missed him so much. I would do anything just to hold him again.
That weekend, I stayed home and did nothing. I hadn’t been grocery shopping in a long time. I had lost so much weight that I really could be a model if I wanted to. My clothes didn’t fit anymore. They were baggy and unflattering. I felt weak all the time. The only comfort I had was knowing Tony had his family back. His sister was his closest friend. I knew he couldn’t live without her.
When there was a knock on the door, I didn’t know what to do. No one visited me. I didn’t have any friends at the moment. I had been shutting everyone out. I wondered if I ordered a pizza but just forgot about it.
When I reached the peephole, I saw Janet on the other side. I stilled when I recognized her. I had no idea what she wanted. I opened the door and stared at her.
“I broke up with him. I did as you asked,” I said. “So if you came here to harass me, go fuck yourself.”
She averted her gaze, seeming frightened and on the verge of tears. “Can I talk to you for a second?”
“No.”
“Please.”
“I’ve never been miserable in my entire life. And that’s all because of you. I don’t owe you anything. Get the fuck away from me.”
“It’s about Tony.”
“Is he okay?” I blurted. “What’s wrong?”
“Can I come in?”
“No. You aren’t welcome here. Now tell me about him.”
“He—he won’t talk to me,” she said. “He has a restraining order against me. He’s isolated himself from my sister and my parents. He wants nothing to do with us.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. I broke up with him so he’d have his family back. If he was ignoring them, why didn’t he just come back to me?”
“Layla told me you slept with him before you even knew he had money,” she said. “And I saw the check you wrote him on the kitchen table.”
“What’s your point?”
“I—I know you weren’t using him.”
“I’ve been saying that this entire time.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t believe you,” she whispered.
That didn’t mean anything to me. “If that’s why you came here, you can go.”
“I need your help,” she said with a trembling lip.
“I’m not going to do anything for you.”
“Please listen to me.” A tear fell down her cheek. “Tony said he wants nothing to do with me. He’ll only make an exception if you and I become friends again and I get you to take him back. If I don’t do that, I’ll never see him again.”
“He said that?”
She nodded.
I felt my heart start to beat again. He still wanted me. He still loved me.
“Please get back together with my brother. Please.”
“You don’t need to beg me,” I said. “I want him for the rest of my life.”
“Then please accept my apology and be my friend again.”
“That I can’t do…”
She wiped her tears away. “I’ll do anything, Cassie.”
“I can’t just forget what you did to me. Stuff like that doesn’t just happen overnight.”
“Cassie, I was a total and complete bitch. I know I was. I regret everything I said and everything I did. I was so convinced that you wanted to hurt my brother that I went overboard. I was out of my mind. When it comes to my family, I can’t see straight. You know that better than anyone.”
I crossed my arms over my chest.
“Cassie, please just consider it.”
“That’s all I can give you.”
She nodded. “Thank you.”
I walked inside and grabbed my purse.
“Where are you going?” she asked.
“To get my boyfriend back.”
“I’ll come with you.”
“We’ll probably be taking each other’s clothes off. You might not want to do that,” I said.
“I just want to talk to him.”
“I can’t guarantee that he will.”
“I have to try,” she said.
We left my apartment and walked to his, neither one of us speaking. When I got to his floor, I ran to his door then banged my fists, unable to wait until he answered it. When he did, his eyes looked dark and sad. He looked thin, like he hadn’t been eating. And his hair was messy. He took a deep breath when he saw me.
The tears fell before I could even stop them. I jumped into his arms and held him as tight as I could. His arms wrapped around me and he sniffed, letting the emotion overcome him.
“I’m so glad you’re back,” he whispered.
I pulled away and kissed him. “Why didn’t you come get me?”
“You said I had to get my family back first. So that’s what I did. I gave Janet the same ultimatum she gave me. I’m glad it worked.”
I kissed his tears away and pressed my face close to his. “I’m sorry about everything. I should have just listened to you.”
“We’re together now. It doesn’t matter anymore.”
I closed my eyes and held onto him.
“Tony?” Janet asked.
He pulled away and looked at her. “What?”
“I held my end of the deal.”
Tony turned to me. “Do you forgive her?”
Janet took a deep breath and stared at me, silently begging me with her eyes. I shouldn’t forgive Janet for what she did to me, even if she had good intentions, but I had to do what was best for Tony. “Yes.”
Janet released the air in her lungs.
“I want to see you apologize to her,” Tony said. “And our relationship will never be the same. You have to earn my trust and friendship before we can put ourselves back together.”
She nodded. “Cassie, I’m sorry I put you through this. It was wrong. I was totally wrong about you.”
“It’s okay,” I said.
Tony looked at his sister. “You’re lucky Cassie is such a compassionate person.”
“I know I am,” she said. “I hope I can get my best friend back one day.”
I didn’t respond.
Tony placed his arm around my waist then rubbed his nose against mine. “We’ll talk to you later, Janet.”
“Okay,” she said. “Can we get lunch tomorrow?”
Tony looked at her.
“All of us?’
“Cassie and I are going to be busy this week.”
“Oh…”
“But we’ll do something next week.”
She smiled. “Okay. I’ll see you later.” She left the apartment and closed the door behind her.
Tony turned back to me. “I’m sorry about everything.”
“I’m sorry too.”
“So, we’re both sorry?” he asked with a smile.
“I shouldn’t have given in to Janet.”
“No, you were right. Everything worked out in the end. Now I got my sister back, you got your friend back, and everything is okay.”
I sniffed and wiped my tears away. “It’s been hell without you.”
“Believe me. I know.”
I pressed my face against his chest and held it there.
“Move in with me.”
I felt my heart stop. “What?” I asked as I pulled away.
“Move in with me,” he repeated. “You’re the one. I know you are.”
“Are you sure?”
He smiled at me. “I can tell that your answer is yes just by looking into your eyes.”
I wiped my tears away. “I would love to live with you.”
He pulled me to his chest. “And I don’t care if my sister o
bjects.”
“I’ll slap her if she does.”
He chuckled. “I don’t think she will. She knows she was wrong. And I know she’ll regret it for the rest of her life. This doesn’t justify what she did, but she was trying to protect me.”
“I know…”
“I’m glad you’re willing to forgive her. That must be hard for you.”
“It was,” I said. “But I would do anything for you.”
He grabbed my hips and pressed his face close to mine. “Let’s go in the bedroom.”
“And not come out for a week.”
“Or ever.”
The story continues….
Viola
(Book Six in the Alpha Series)
Available Soon
About the Author
E. L. Todd was raised in California where she attended California State University, Stanislaus and received her bachelor’s degree in biological sciences, then continued onto her master’s degree in education. While she considers science to be interesting, her true passion is writing. She works as an assistant editor at Final-Edits.com.
By E. L. Todd
Soul Catcher
(Book One of the Soul Saga)
Soul Binder
(Book Two of the Soul Saga)
Soul Relenter
(Book Three of the Soul Saga)
Only For You
(Book One of the Forever and Always Series)
Forever and Always
(Book Two of the Forever and Always Series)
Edge of Love
(Book Three of the Forever and Always Series)
Force of Love
(Book Four in the Forever and Always Series)
Fight for Love
(Book Five in the Forever and Always Series)
Lover’s Roulette
(Book Six in the Forever and Always Series)
Happily Ever After
(Book Seven of the Forever and Always Series)
Sadie
(Book One of the Alpha Series
Elisa
(Book Two of the Alpha Series)
Connected by the Sea
(Book One of the Hawaiian Crush Series)
Breaking Through the Waves
(Book Two of the Hawaiian Crush Series)
Connected by the Tide
(Book Three of the Hawaiian Crush Series)
Taking the Plunge
(Book Four of the Hawaiian Crush Series)