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Chapter 8
Cassidy
Thomas looked like a younger version of Eric, except where he might’ve once been a redhead, he’d bleached his hair blonde. And where Eric had a persistent frown marring his face, Thomas had a goofy demeanor about him and was probably around my age. I wondered if the twins they’d mentioned had red hair like Lori or black like Eric.
I’d left them taunting Eric in the café; he looked like he was about to explode. I now stood outside, holding myself tightly in the frigid air. It hadn’t stopped sprinkling with snow since I’d arrived in town but it had definitely picked up. I’d entered Alice’s number in Eric’s cell hoping she’d answer.
Surprisingly, she did. “Hello?” She yawned audibly. “Who is this?”
“Oh, thank goodness. Alice it’s me Cassidy!”
There was a shuffle, as if she was doing a double take on her cell.
“Something weird happened with my cell,” I assured her. “But I’m still on my way. I’ve just been delayed by a few days.”
“Oh, was that this month?” she chimed on the other end. “I thought that was next month?” A jab spiked my stomach. I’d been texting her and we’d spoke about it twice already. Granted both times she was at a party and perhaps she couldn’t hear me properly when I’d called. “Okay cool. Whatever, I’m having some awesome parties lately and there’s some smoking backpackers here. While my parents are away, I’ve been having a delicious time. You know the whole boy from the wrong side of the tracks thing, it’s got me hot and heavy,” she laughed.
“Oh, that’s cool,” I said, not entirely finding the appeal. Usually, that would’ve had me excited but now I felt… indifferent? “Well, you’ll never guess it but I’ve sworn to celibacy so that won’t be a thing for me but I can’t wait to party,” I laughed.
“What? Ew gross? Who are you? Don’t give me that celibacy bullshit too. Monica tried to pull the same stunt last year and she lasted four months until everyone stopped inviting her to parties and stuff because she went all weird about guys trying on her. It was a total bore.”
My heart sank. Shit, would they kick me out too? I hadn’t spoken to any of my friends in Canada for a while, but had we always been this guy centric?
“Oh by the way,” she continued. “Fredrick was calling around for you this past month too.” A cold sweat poured over me and I felt the lump in my throat thicken. “But no one knew where you were besides Manhattan. Should I call him and let him know you’ll be here?”
“No,” I blurted out. At her silence, I continued. “No, not yet. I just want it to be us girls for a while, you know?”
She seemed to mull over that. “Okay well sounds kind of boring, I mean you have to give him some kind of attention now and then, Cassidy. I don’t know much about lasting relationships and what not, but that sounds like a good start.”
“We’re not in a relationship,” I quickly blurted. Why was Fredrick asking for my whereabouts? Shit, was he in on this with my parents?
“Whatever you say,” she said through a yawn, disinterested. “By the way, where are you calling from? The reception sounds really bad, like somethings blowing in the cell?”
I looked around at the small-town square and the main street blanketed in snow. Someone casually walked their dog on a lead, waving at me when I looked up. Awkwardly, I reciprocated the action. Did strangers always greet one another like this outside of Manhattan? Was this that small town feel I’d heard people describe?
“Just a small stop in,” I gushed. “Okay I’ll see you later. Big kisses!” And I hung up.
My heart churned and a heavy dread washed over me. Frederick. Fuck. Why was he trying to find me? Hadn’t I made it blatantly clear I wasn’t interested those many years ago? Wasn’t me running away enough of an answer for him?
“Hey,” Eric growled from behind. I jumped, almost dropping the cell. In the movement, my leg gave way and I slipped on the icy surface. I screamed and closed my eyes, clutching at my chest and waiting for the fall. He caught me, peeling one eye at a time open. His eyebrows were knitted together as he held me up, suspended in the air like I weighed nothing.
“You shouldn’t sneak up on people,” I breathed, a cool air escaping me. The legs he propped me back on were shaky and that jumbled feeling of emotion left me vulnerable, tears threatening to escape. Or maybe that had been the result of my call with Alice. I couldn’t cry in front of this brute of a man. He’d just think I was some city girl that couldn’t fend for herself. But wasn’t I? I had no cash. No cell. And was running away from a past I was suddenly realizing I had no control over. Because my parents and Frederick still felt like they owned me.
And with a difficult swallow, I realized after my brief call with Alice that I really had outgrown that world I’d left behind. I might’ve still gone to parties and been a wild child in Manhattan but at least I’d made genuine friends like Clover and Issobelle. Hadn’t I? They didn’t care about boys and parties like I did. And they reprimanded me when I was in the wrong. I clutched at the thought of what they might say to me now.
“Cassidy, is everything alright?” Eric asked. My name on his lips was like a calming balm. Because wasn’t it? Right now, I was okay. I was safe. And every self-help and new age book I’d read over the past two years as I tried to reinvent myself taught me to focus on the now and remind myself that right now, I was okay.
I clutched at my crystal necklace with a little feather attached to it, absorbing the strengths the market lady claimed it harbored. Self-love and protection. Well at least that’s what I vaguely remember she said it possessed. Or maybe that’s what I’d decided it to be.
“Mhmm,” I said, realizing I hadn’t spoken for a while and if this man had his way, we’d freeze out in the cold in absolute silence. I handed him his cell. “Thank you. All sorted.”
He didn’t seem very convinced going by his expression and with a brief glance through the window he grunted in irritation. I followed his gaze where his brother now gave a thumbs-up and then as if busted waved my way cheekily.
“Did you still want to look around town?” Eric asked, ignoring Thomas. I tried to hide the sly smile. His brother seemed to keep him youthful at least. And as an only child, I had to confess I kind of enjoyed watching the dynamics between the three siblings. And to think that there were another two, I wondered what that might’ve been like.
“I’d really like that,” I said, despite the growing need to go back into the warmth.
“You might want these. They’re Lori’s,” he said, offering me a beanie and mittens. “It’s colder today than usual. And we won’t stay out for long. I don’t want you getting sick.”
