Page 101 of The Pact

I rush to say, “No, no. It’s fine, you really don’t have to. I don’t want to create any problems.”

Cassie’s face softens. I feel horrible not telling her about the note and Gavin’s psychotic behavior. However, too many people know already.

“You’ll stay with me until we can find you another apartment. We can get your stuff on Monday. I think my schedule’s clear, and Anthony can probably take the day off.” She rubs my arm. It’s an uncharacteristic show of affection from Cassie.

“About that…I don’t want to intrude on your space again. I’m going to stay with the guys for the time being.” Her brows pop up. She doesn’t like the idea, yet I can’t tell her the reason I’ve decided to do this. So I take the disapproving look with grace.

Cass shifts in her seat like she has a million things she wants to say, but is sorting through them to pick the most important ones. “Thea, you aren’t a burden. I am happy to have you stay with me. I…I just don’t want you to become too dependent on these guys. It feels like this is moving very fast.”

I can’t muster up any defensiveness because I know she’s right. This is moving fast and as much as I’ve tried to slow it down, I can’t—I don’t want to. I want to drown in these men. It might scare me, but I’m seeing this through, even if they drag me under.

“I know. It does feel fast, but I promise you this is real. The way they care for me…” I say as my eyes slide to the bag Wesley left. “They protect and support me. It’s more than I could have ever asked for. This is what I’ve been searching for. It just came in a way I never would’ve expected.”

She shakes her head, her long hair moving with her. “Protect you from what, Thea? I don’t understand.”

Shit. I’ve said too much. I need to blur the truth. “Anything. They’re careful with my heart—keeping it safe. You should’ve seen them jump into action when my apartment flooded. They never want to see anything bad happen to me.”

Cass lets out a breath. I know she’s still wary, that’s what best friends are for. She doesn’t want to see me get hurt. “I don’t like it. However, dragging you home with me probably won’t end well. So, promise me that if anything happens, if it goes wrong, you’ll call me.”

The words are barely out of her mouth when we get a simultaneous notification on our phones. An email from the lending company. We look at each other, excitement thrumming through us.

It’s then I know it’s for the best that I didn’t tell her what happened while she was gone. How would she have reacted knowing I was about to give up everything and go back to Atlanta? And while I’m not out of the woods with Gavin lurking in the shadows, this little light is what I need in the darkness.

We open the email at the same time.

After careful consideration, Sovereign Alliance Bank was unable to take favorable action on your application for assistance. The specific reason(s) for the decision are as follows:

?There is not a reasonable assurance of repayment ability (cash flow) documented.

?There is insufficient equity.

?The proposal does not meet the eligibility requirements of Sovereign Alliance Bank’s program.

?Other

I can’t look Cass in the eyes. The reason listed clearly points to me and the guilt weighs heavily. She’s bringing in most of the money. Her books are almost always full. I’m the one struggling to find clients. If I were doing as well as her, we probably would’ve gotten the approval.

“It’s fine. We’ll try again soon, when things pick up,” she offers, trying for optimism. But when I glance at her, I can see the disappointment pulling at the edges of her weak smile and tight eyes. There’s something else there, too. A touch of panic.

“I’m sorry.” It’s all I can say. No amount of excuses or promises will make this better. That property was a beacon of hope for both of us. Now, we’re both in the dark as far as what this means for our plans.

All I can do is try harder. And that means putting my boudoir work to the side, at least temporarily.

I click through the gallery of photos, all from yesterday. It wasn’t hard to find a couple of families to pose for pictures. They would get the photoshoot for free and I’d have images to market my summer mini session.

Staring at the smiling faces on my computer screen, I feel no joy. The two cute kids in the back of a vintage red truck eating watermelon slices with dozens of whole melons piled behind them are a reminder that I’m putting my true passion on the back burner. I push the depressing thought from my mind and focus.

The truck hadn’t been hard to get. I saw it parked near the bakery two days ago and the idea came to me. The owner agreed to let me use it, as long as I took the photos on her property. She’s renting it out to me for a hundred dollars a day.

Yesterday, I photographed families so that I could start running local ads online for a summer mini shoot.

I read through the wording on the ad, check all the details, and hit publish.

It’ll take some time to hit the audience I’ve honed in on. Until then, I wait. Although, it’s difficult to sit still these days when I feel desperate to prove to the bank, Cassie, and myself that we can afford the property.

Closing my laptop, I watch the rain splatter against the wall of windows in the living room. Without my work to distract me, the thoughts pour back in. I want to forget every bad thing that’s happened this summer, however, with no end in sight, it’s hard.

Yesterday, I got another text from Gavin. His contact was unblocked again. The words are burned into my memory, despite deleting the message and blocking him once more.

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