Page 29 of Pretend for Me

Cassie stood at the front door and eyed the couple with Mrs. Baker. She began fidgeting with the skin on her fingers.

Mrs. Baker looked at her, warning Cassie with her eyes not to start any of her normal shenanigans. Cassie held her breath, opened the door farther, and stepped away to let the company inside.

The couple watched Matthew and the little girl with curious eyes. He was crouched down next to Charlie, trying to smooth her hair into the perfect ponytail.

He had no clue that the couple was observing him. He was just being himself.

Cassie took in the entire exchange and then glanced at the man and woman looking at her boyfriend. Her eyes widened as she realized what they were seeing and how adorable the scene was. She bit the inside of her cheek to keep from crying as she heard the couple whispering to Mrs. Baker, asking questions about Matthew and his status.

After Charlie’s hair was suitable, Matthew looked up, standing as he realized they weren’t alone. His hair was in its normal disarray, and he wore the same old jeans he always did and a white holey long-sleeve shirt.

Mrs. Baker was the first to speak. “Children, this is Mr. and Mrs. Adams.”

Matthew went over and shook Mr. and Mrs. Adams’s hands, giving them his crooked smile, although a bit shily.

Charlie said, “Hello people!” She waved dramatically and gave them hugs.

Cassie just stood there, glaring. Her heart was in her stomach and she fought the urge to throw up.

Mrs. Baker glanced at Cassie, making sure she wasn’t going to cause problems. Cassie could read her mind. Nobody needed her fake accents or other nonsense at a pivotal time.

The pair looked at Matthew and wanted to know more about the wild-haired boy.

“Matthew was it?” Mrs. Adams asked, waving him to come closer.

“Yes, ma’am.” Matthew nodded. This was the first time in years parents wanted to get to know him better. He couldn’t wipe the smile off his face. He typically wasn’t noticed by prospective parents, so this was a rarity. Matthew didn’t even look at Cassie, and she tried not to hyperventilate.

“You can call me Liz, dear. And that’s my husband, Wyatt. How old are you?” Liz gently smiled.

“I’m fourteen. My birthday was in July,” Matthew answered evenly.

Wyatt nodded, asking the next set of questions, as the three of them moved to sit on the sectional sofa.

The conversation continued for a little over thirty minutes. All the while, Cassie huddled in the corner, watching the exchange, trying to think of a way to sabotage this nightmare she was witnessing.

Mrs. Baker went to take Charlotte upstairs since she was getting bored. Now was Cassie’s chance to strike.

She walked over to the couch, waiting for a lull in the questions.

“We’d need to do something about this hair, dear.” Liz ruffled Matthew’s wild hair.

Cassie looked puzzled. She loved Matthew’s crazy electrocuted style of hair. It made him Matthew. This couldn’t continue. She had to do something … anything.

Worried about losing the only person she’d ever loved, Cassie crouched down next to him and grabbed Matthew’s arms, rolling up his sleeves.

“Look.” Cassie insisted the couple see Matthew’s scars. “Look.”

She didn’t want to do it. She knew how those scars weighed on Matthew. Cassie had spent hours convincing him they weren’t visible. But she was desperate. Cassie knew those scars were one of the only hindrances in him being adopted before this.

Matthew grabbed his arms from her grasp and glared at Cassie. If looks could kill, she would have been dead.

“What. The. Fuck?” Matthew whispered through gritted teeth. He couldn’t believe what Cassie had done. She was really trying to mess up his only chance at a family.

Cassie saw the way Matthew was staring at her. She was wrong, so wrong, but so was this whole scene. Cassie couldn’t lose him. She just couldn’t.

Mr. and Mrs. Adams stared at her, questioningly.

They ignored her little performance, but Matthew continued shooting daggers in Cassie’s direction.

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