Page 4 of Love Wasted

Putting a smile on my face, I tell her, “I just wanted to wish my little sister’s best friend a happy birthday.”

“Let me go,” she says, calmly but sternly.

“Why don’t you like me, Cassandra?” I ask her, but I continue before she can answer. “Better yet, when did you stop liking me?” I let go of her arms and take a small step back.

She reaches up, tosses her long blonde hair over her shoulder, and takes a step forward. She leans in and a tiny smile stretches across her face as she whispers, “It’s not that I don’t like you or that I stopped, it’s just that I’m completely indifferent to you.” I’m stunned by her words as she straightens, pats me on the shoulder, and walks away, leaving me staring at her, speechless.

I’m never speechless.

“Thanks again for the birthday wishes,” she yells over her shoulder after a moment. A tinkling of laughter follows after her words.

Suddenly, Delaney is standing next to me. “What was that all about?”

Looking down at her, I shake my head. “I’m not positive, but I think Cassandra hates me.”

I watch her the rest of the night, flitting around the room, smiling, laughing, and talking with every person in the room but me. In fact, I’m fairly sure she never even looks my direction again. Why? And why do I care so much?

Why am I even still here?

Searching the room, I finally spot Delaney in a corner with a guy I can only presume is her latest conquest. I’m certain she texted me three weeks ago about some guy name Leo, but she sent me a picture of her and Leo, and that isn’t him. Taking one last swig from my beer bottle, I make my way across the room to my sister.

“Sorry to interrupt,” I say as I step up behind her. “But I’m out. It’s going to be a long drive to Mom and Dad’s.”

She swivels around with a grin on her face.

“Awe, Pax,” she coos, reaching out awkwardly and patting the side of my face. “Why are you leaving so soooooonnn?” She drags out the last word drunkenly.

“It’s a long drive to Mom and Dad’s,” I restate, pulling her into a hug. “Slow down, Laney,” I whisper in her ear. She giggles. Pushing away from her, I look into her eyes and smile. “I’ll call you tomorrow.” I place a light kiss to her forward and turn to leave, glaring at the guy behind her, who is obviously sober enough to put some distance between himself and my sister.

My eyes immediately land on Cassandra, and to my surprise, for the first time since she walked away, she’s looking back at me. My lips tip up in the corner and I raise my hand in a small wave goodbye. Her expression doesn’t change. She doesn’t wave back, only stares. Just as I decide I’ll go up to her and find out what her deal is once and for all, a tall, blond-haired guy walks up behind her, slips his arm around her waist, and places his lips along the column of her slender neck. Rather than step away in shock, Cassandra tilts her head to allow him more access. Her eyes remain locked with mine until the guy kisses his way up her skin and whispers something in her ear, causing her to smile and turn around in his embrace.

What in the hell is she doing? I think about going up to her, just as I did to Delaney, to suggest she call it quits on the alcohol for the night, but then I remember she isn’t my sister. She isn’t even my friend.

She’s my no one.

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