Page 42 of It Just Feels Right

He looks around the room. “What the—”

I grab his arm and start to tug him from the room. “Baker, I have a shelf in my room that I need help putting together. Can you help me?”

I don’t even look at the other three in the room. I just keep pulling until Baker follows me up the steps. As soon as we’re in my bedroom, I shut the door and lean my head against his chest.

His arms go around me instantly. “What the hell is going on, Cass? Why is your ex-boyfriend here?”

I’m quick to assure him, “I didn’t invite him. My mom did.”

“Fuck.” He grunts. “Fine. I’ll get rid of him.”

I shake my head. I’m so overwhelmed right now, and I just don’t get how a mom could do something like this to her daughter. “I tried. My mom did the wholemy house, my rules.”

He wraps his hands around my upper arm and leans back so he can look me in the face. “Fine. We’ll leave then.”

He’s about to walk out my door when I stop him. Geez, this is a mess. “Wait. Listen. Your dad has talked about how excited he was to have the three of us under one roof. He’s been looking forward to it all week.”

“My dad would not want you to sit there with a man that hurt you. He wouldn’t. Now this is crazy, Cassie. We’re leaving.”

I don’t budge, though. “I’m not leaving. I won’t hurt your dad. I won’t do it. Let’s just get through this… for your dad.”

He doesn’t want to. I can tell he’s pissed, and I can’t blame him. There’s no way I’d want to sit down at a dinner table with his ex, Gina. No, this is a mess, but Ryan doesn’t deserve for us all just to bail on him. If I leave, Baker leaves. If I leave, Brook will leave. Family dinner will be royally screwed.

Baker’s jaw is pulled so tight, I’m waiting for it to crack. “If he touches you—”

I shake my head. “He won’t.”

“If he disrespects you—”

I assure him. “He won’t.” Geez, I hope he doesn’t because I can see Ryan and Baker fighting with him today. “He won’t,” I say again because I’m trying to convince myself.

I’m about to walk out of the room when Baker stops me. “Why are you so calm about this?”

I don’t know what to tell him. He doesn’t have any clue the shit Brandi subjected Brook and me to growing up. There were parts of my childhood that were pure hell. And it sucks, but this little stunt my mom pulled today is nothing compared to some of her actions in the past.

I guess I’m quiet for too long because he asks me with concern on his face, “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Second thoughts?” I ask in confusion. “You think I’m having second thoughts about you?”

He shakes his head with a huff. “Well, I didn’t think that, but are you? I mean, I was asking if you’re having second thoughts about Dick.”

CHAPTER 20

BAKER

I wait nervouslyfor her to answer. I’m holding my breath wondering what the hell I’ll do if she says yes. I can’t walk away from her, and I won’t give her up. There’s no chance.

Her eyes get big, and she’s shaking her head. “Second thoughts about Dick? No, Baker. I’m not having second thoughts about him. I felt nothing when I saw him. Nothing.”

Her hands go up my chest, and she wraps her arms around my neck. “You said you haven't looked at another woman; well, the same goes for me. I haven’t looked at another man.”

She leans up on her tiptoes and kisses me lightly. “Come on. We better get down there.”

I hold on to her, not ready to let her go. “Hey, talk to me. Are you okay? This shit with your mom…”

I let my voice trail off because Brandi is still her mother. I shouldn’t talk shit about her, but at some point Cassie is going to have to stand up to her.

She blows out a breath. “Yeah, I’m okay. I don’t want to go down there, but I know I need to. I wish I could stay up here with you and have a repeat of the other night.” She peers over at her bed, and I know she’s remembering the same thing I am.

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