Page 25 of The Midnight Confessions: Part Four

I thought things were going well. I thought… It doesn’t matter now. Cassie made her choice and, though it hurt us both, I really can’t claim that I’m surprised.

“Party tonight, are we all ready?” Alex asks me as I walk into the kitchen. Lyra is still asleep in my bed, so I wanted to grab us some coffee and a bagel. Shuffling over to the cupboard, I grunt.

“Kegs and liquor is settled, and the pizzas will be here at ten. Sororities have been invited and I even ordered all you hornbags a Costco-sized pack of condoms. You should be all set.”

Alex laughs and holds out his half/filled mug of coffee for me to refill. “Awesome. Tonight should be fun. I saw your girl was here. Are you ever going to introduce her?” He asks, pointing to the stairs and I shrug.

“Yeah, tonight,” I mumble and pop some bagels in the toaster, then move over to the fridge for the cream cheese. A few of my other brothers come in and start bullshitting with Alex, giving me the reprieve I need to leave.

I don’t see Soren and for that I’m fucking grateful.

When I get back to my room, the door is cracked open. I glance around, but no one is there. I must not have shut it all the way when I left. Lyra is still asleep, her blonde hair spread on my pillow, and her naked back barely covered by the sheet.

We didn’t do anything but cuddle last night and that’s okay. Lyra means more to me than just a roll in the proverbial hay.

I set the plate down on my nightstand and the mug of coffee, then climb back into the bed and kiss her shoulder. She sighs and rolls until her head is on my chest. “Morning,” I whisper and she groans.

“Tell me it was just a nasty dream,” she mumbles and I grunt. Yeah, if only.

“Sorry, baby. I can’t do that,” I mutter and she grumbles, then sits up.

“Yeah, I know.”

I hand her the coffee and she gives me a sad smile. “I don’t want you to think that you’re not enough, Trent. You are. It’s just…” she trails off and I don’t need her to continue.

“I get it, Lyra. Let’s make a pact. We’re not giving up, but for today we are going to just have fun and not dwell on what happened with Cassie. She needs more time. We will give it to her,” I suggest and she nods, then wipes under her eye quickly before taking a deep breath.

“Okay, but after the party, Trent, we really need to have a long talk with her. I just love her so much and I can’t keep having her push me away.”

I pull her tight into my arms and hold her until she stops crying. She laughs and shakes her head then drinks the coffee, which is now probably cold. I grab the food and take a bite, chewing as I think for a few minutes.

“Maybe instead of talking to Cassie, we need to figure out who the stalker is,” I mumble with my mouth full and Lyra scrunches her nose. “No, think about it. If we can figure out who is spying on and harassing Cassie, then we can alert the authorities.”

“How would we even begin? Cassie hasn’t told me nearly enough about what they have sent or done to her…”

“Cassie pushed you away to keep you safe… Maybe all we need to do is spend more time with Cassie. Really anger her stalker and get them to come after or threaten us directly,” I muse and Lyra looks at me like I’m crazy.

“So, you think the way to solve this mysterious case is to put ourselves in danger? They killed Dena, Trent. I don’t know about you, but I’d like to stay alive,” she whisper-shouts and I groan.

“Okay, then we hire a private detective. Have them follow Cassie and watch for anything out of the ordinary?” Lyra thinks for a few minutes, then nods.

“I’m going to have to tell Mark and my mom, aren’t I?” She looks up at me with her glassy blue eyes and I lean down to press a soft kiss onto her lips. She tries to deepen it, but I’m really not in the mood and I don’t want to hurt her feelings.

Pulling away, I slide off the edge of the bed and stretch with a groan. “I think you should call them. Give them a heads up. They are in Germany and safe from whatever is going on here at the school.”

Lyra nods and follows me off the bed, shuffling over to the bathroom door. She stops and digs into her bag she had packed for the hotel and grabs some clothes. “Yeah, I know you’re right, but first I need a shower. Join me?” She looks so sad and all I want to do is hold her.

I nod and step closer to her, pulling her into a tight hug. “We will get her back, baby. Don’t give up. Cassie is meant to be ours.”

CASSIE

“Are you sure you want our first date to be at this party?” I ask Marsha for the fourth time. I think I’m starting to piss her off, but I’m regretting my choice to ask her out and I really don’t want to parade her in front of Lyra and Trent.

I am not a malicious person. I know this is what I need to do to get them to move on, but I didn’t think the party would be where they saw us.

Maybe on the quad or at the cafeteria.

“Yes, Cassie, all everyone has been talking about this week is the party. Plus, don’t you want to see your sister? I know she will be there,” Marsha says with a smile and I shake my head and mumble “step-sister,” under my breath.

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