Page 42 of Acid

I chew my bottom lip and admit, “No one.”

Her nostrils flare. “You didn’t tell Acid?” she demands, and I chuckle darkly.

“You mean the man who screwed my so-called friend and knocked her up? I tried to call him that night, but he never called back.” I can’t help the bitterness in my voice; it was then, that night, I realized I could only rely on myself.

I sigh at a shocked and angry Cass and admit, “I got my revenge.”

Taking a steady breath, she continues to wrap my ribs and asks, “And how exactly did you do that, huh?” She tightens her grip on the wrap, and I wince, but she ignores it and demands, “Let me guess, you beat them up, so they got away with it.”

Cassidy grabs the tape from beside me, taping up my side roughly, and I snap, “Be more careful, Cass…. I thought doctors were supposed to be gentler.”

She glares at me and sneers, “Not when my sister got raped and didn’t get the club to deal with it! They took your virginity, and don’t deny it. I know you were saving it!”

I sigh and admit, “I dealt with it myself, Cass; I stabbed them.”

She takes a step back, crosses her arm over her chest with a disbelieving look, and repeats, “You stabbed them?” as if it’s hard to believe.

I nod once and whisper, “I stabbed them where no man wants to be stabbed, and they had stayed clear from me until today. Normally, I don’t fight when I know they are there, but I needed to get out of my head before I-I….”

She finishes, “Before you cut.” I nod again, and she sighs before picking up the sterile solution and gauze. “I never should have made you think I left….”

I swallow hard. “No, you shouldn’t have,” I confirm, and she nods before gently cleaning up my lip.

I wince at the sting, but she ignores it and checks me over, ensuring I don’t have a concussion.

“I like what you’ve done with the gym,” she says half an hour later as she clears up the bloody gauze.

I look around and smile a little before replying, “Thanks. It’s still not completely finished, but baby steps.” I look at her. “I sold the house.” Her eyes shoot to mine in shock, and I shrug, admitting, “Mom was using me, Cass. I paid all the bills, and I couldn’t continue it when I wanted to do this place up. We both know Dad never wanted that house, and besides, I found papers in Dad’s safe; he hired a private investigator who got records showing Andrea’s dad was paying off Mom.”

Cass blinks, then blinks again before she laughs, and I grin.

“Glad to know you’re not hurt that I sold it,” I remark, needing a little reassurance.

She snorts. “Pez, I spent most of my time at Steal’s after we got together, before that, I barely came out of my room when mom forced me to stay there, or I’d stay here. I hated that house. None of the décor was Dad….”

Which is true. Mom wanted what she wanted, only to screw Dad over after he gave in.

I nod and sigh. “I know. I put all your stuff in storage, and I went through Dad’s things, kept all the stuff I thought you’d want to keep.” I walk over to the reception desk, the brand-new dark oak one that arrived this morning, and open the drawer, grabbing the watch before walking over to Cass. I hold my hand out, and she opens hers underneath mine. Her gasp echoes in the room as I drop the watch into her palm, and I whisper, “I managed to grab this before Mom could hide it. I also transferred $115,000 into your account this morning from the sale of the house, which I know will come in handy.”

Her tears fall before she takes me in her arms, and I squeeze her tight, ignoring the pain in my ribs. Her sighed words, “You need at least a month off from the ring and diner,” hit my ears, making me laugh.

She’s really back….

I squeeze my phone in my hand the next morning. I ache like mad, and I really cannot be bothered with this call, but doctor’s orders and all that.

Taking a deep breath, I press on the number, which rings four times beforehisvoice echoes in my ear, and my heart breaks.

I miss him, and I have for years, but I know even a friendship is out the window at this point.

“Perrie?” Acid answers, a little bit of hope in his voice, hope he has no right to feel.

I clear my throat and state as firmly as I can, without bursting into tears, “I won’t be at work today.”

He’s quiet for a moment before he murmurs, “I can understand; you probably want to spend a little bit of time with Cassidy….”

That and I need my ribs to flipping heal….

I wince, hoping he doesn’t see right through me as I lie, “Yep, but also I won’t be in for the next month.”

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