Page 16 of Make Me Forget

“Somehow, Cassie’s fiancé knows about us. That was him.”

“Oh shit.”

I slid my hand over my face. While I wanted to text Cassie, I knew that would only make things worse. He had to have gotten ahold of her phone. I stood from my seat and paced as Karima asked, “What are you going to do?”

I stopped pacing and looked at her. “I don’t know, but I can’t give up. Karima, I love her. I can’t just let this be the end of it.”

I began pacing again until my phone chimed. Quickly going to it, I saw it was a message from Cassie. I’m sorry. I fucked up. I have to block you.

I only responded with the words, I know.

I dropped my phone to the floor as my sister stared on. We were supposed to be chilling out tonight, watching movies, eating Frito pies, and drinking. We always got fucked up before either of us competed, if we were in town at the same time. She was a hell of a barrel racer and would be going to Nationals next year if she continued fucking shit up at these rodeos.

Anger was consuming me, and I didn’t know how to stop it. I wanted to drive to Beaumont and go fuck him up. He had to have some kind of hold on her. That was her opportunity to just say fuck it and leave. Why was she staying after he knew the truth?

I turned to Karima and said, “I’m sorry, sis. I need time to myself.”

She stood from the couch and walked over to me, hugging me tightly. “Please don’t do anything crazy, Kendrall. Talk to Daddy if you need to. You look like he did that last time he came to San Antonio before he demanded Mama come back to Nome. I don’t like that look. It means you’re about to snap.”

I turned away from her because I knew she was right. I was just that angry. She grabbed my face and said, “Look at me. He’s not worth it. If you go fuck him up, he’s going to call the police. Then you still won’t have Cassie. Who all knows y’all were messing around besides me?”

“Dad and Christian. She said she hadn’t told anyone.”

“Okay. I’m gonna give you that time you need. Please, if you feel yourself slipping or wanting to do something crazy, call me. I’ll walk right back over here. Okay?”

I nodded and followed her to the door. When she got to it, she turned back to me and kissed my cheek. “You knew this was a possibility though, right?”

“Yeah. I just didn’t think it would happen this soon.”

She caressed my cheek with her hand, and I watched her walk to her house. When I went back inside, I turned the TV off and just sat on the couch, trying to figure out what to do. Just that quickly, my life was beginning to revolve around her. This was some fuck shit. Somehow, someway, I would have to get her out of this. She belonged with me, and I refused to take no for an answer.

“Kendrall, what are you doing here?”

“You thought I was just gonna accept that bullshit? You’re still sharing your location with me. As much as we talk while you’re here, I know when you have a break. What the fuck is going on? There’s no way you would lead me on like this. Tell me that ain’t what you did, Cassie.”

I sat in front of her desk while she tried to eat a sandwich. She was struggling. She wasn’t wearing makeup, and she had bags under her eyes. She looked as worn as I did. I barely got any sleep last night because she was all I could think about. When I saw a tear fall down her cheek, my heart softened. I hated that shit. If she was about to tell me some fuck shit about loving her fiancé, I’d probably choke her ass.

“I figured out that he’d mirrored my phone. He must have done it while I was in the bathroom. That was the only time I left my phone unattended. He left the house because he knew I would contact you. I suppose my attitude had changed, and it made him suspicious. I love you, Kendrall. I would never lead you on or lie to you.”

I swallowed hard as I watched her fidget. “So what’s going on? Why didn’t you just leave when he revealed to you that he knew?”

“He threatened to take me to court. It’s what has been keeping me there. I love him, and at first, I did want to try to make it work. After a month or so, I realized things just wouldn’t be the same. I couldn’t get over what I’d seen. Then, I had a feeling that he would do something like this if I tried to leave, but he had never come out and said it. He said it last night. If I leave him, he will press charges.”

“He can do that? It’s been seven months.”

“Yes. The statute of limitations is three years for felony assault.”

“How do you know it would be considered a felony and not a misdemeanor?”

“I used a weapon. That makes it a felony. I would lose my career… my future. I worked so hard. I can’t lose everything I worked for.”

I sat across from her, stunned. He was a punk ass bitch to threaten her with assault charges, knowing that he was fucking around on her. I stood from my seat and walked around her desk. Pulling her from her seat, I held her in my arms. When she broke, it nearly killed me inside. She was crying so hard.

Pulling away from her, I wiped her tears. “Baby, I’m going to do whatever I can to figure a way out of this. There is no way that nigga can hold you hostage in that fucking relationship for another two years. There has to be something that can be done… legally or illegally. Ain’t shit off limits.”

I’m Kenny Henderson’s son! That muthafucka fucked with the wrong one this time. Seeing Cassie like this had my temper boiling. I reached into my pocket and pulled out the phone I’d bought. Extending it to her, I said, “I bought this for you. I need to be able to talk to you until I can figure something out. Baby, I told you before that there is nothing I won’t do for you. You believe that?”

“Yeah, but I can’t have you fucking up your career for me. You have a lot going?—”

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