Page 67 of Pretend for Me

Do you remember the promise you made to me where you vowed to always sit beside me when I was afraid, how you’d be there until the fears slipped away?

Well, the truth is, I am afraid, but I don’t think we can face what I’m afraid of together, Matty. Not when the very thing I’m afraid of is you, or rather who you’re becoming.

I have to face this alone. One day soon, I hope we can face things together again.

I’ll always love you. Even if I don’t like you right now.

Love,

Cassie

While our timeapart killed us both, I realized after reading Cassie’s letter, the separation might have done us both some good. We needed the distance to grow into the people we were today. Cassie had now built a life outside of me, and I couldn’t be prouder. It hadn’t always been that way.

Cassie was right in the fact that she never thought about herself. Her entire life had been about caring for others and their needs. She focused her whole life around me, to the point of sabotaging her chances at a family.

I winced at the thought. Getting past all that we had gone through wasn’t going to be as easy as passionate rain shower reunions or endless hours curled up under the covers together. We both knew that we had hard work to do and a lot of things to discuss. Once everything blew over with the investigation, we wanted to start therapy, both separately and as a couple. I figured all it could do was strengthen us.

I turned to face away from Cassie once more and longed for sleep to take me. I had just shut my eyes when next thing I knew, I was being woken by a ringing phone.

Cassie shuffled in her blanket cocoon, as she tried to release her arms.

I opened one eye to watch the show, biting back a laugh. I glanced over at the clock—eight in the morning. Three hours of sleep wasn’t too bad.

“It isn’t funny!” she scolded as I smirked at her.

“Hello,” she muttered as she blindly answered the phone.

The person on the other line said something I couldn’t quite make out and Cassie replied quickly. “Fine, I’ll be there in twenty minutes.” Cassie sat and pulled the blanket across her chest. “Now you’re getting greedy. Twenty-five minutes, Charlotte.”

A week had gone by since we texted a selfie to Charlie, who was our biggest advocate, with the caption, “yourParent Trapworked.” She never responded, and I had wondered if she would ever come around and call us again.

I looked at Cassie questioningly as she grumbled goodbye to our foster sister.

“She’s in the city and wants to meet me. We’re going to get bagels and head back here to ‘irritate’ you the rest of the day. Herwords not mine,” Cassie explained, stretching as she stood up from the bed. “And I was told to hurry since she just got off the train and was going to start walking.” Cassie laughed. “So you better get out of bed and take a shower, mister.”

Her bare back exposed, I leaned over and ran a hand down her spine. “She hasn't called or text for weeks and now she expects breakfast and to test my patience?” I rolled my eyes, as I tried to grab Cassie to pull her back in bed.

“Does it surprise you? Charlie is Charlie. I can’t wait to hear her excuses.” Cassie laughed, pulling on one of my hoodies.

I ogled her as she adjusted the sweater.

“What?” she whispered, looking down as she pulled on her jeans.

“Nothing. You just look good in my clothes.” I smirked, folding my hands behind my head, leaning back to enjoy the view. “Are you sure you don’t have an extra ten minutes?” I teased, waggling my eyebrows.

Cassie gave me the side eye. “Thank you, but you must be joking. If I’m not on the move in five minutes, that girl will burst in here and no doubt will be traumatized with the sounds that come out of this room.”

“True. You are pretty loud,” I agreed, bashfully nodding.

Cassie threw a pillow at my head just as my phone rang.

When I leaned over to check the display, I recognized the number as Wyatt and Liz’s house number.

Took him long enough. This should be interesting.

“Hello,” I treaded lightly, waiting for the yelling to begin.

Cassie leaned against the dresser, curiosity written all over her face.

---