Page 71 of Because of Her

And for falling for my best friend. The man who left me once but promises to never do it again. The man who I can’t escape because he lives across the hall. The man who has the most incredible daughter.

I hate myself for wanting to be a part of their lives when I’m so clearly not supposed to be.

My limbs vibrate as I collapse against my locked door, sobbing. Everything I’ve wanted feels miles away, trapped beyond an impenetrable wall.

I thought I might have been able to have it all with Callum, but now I’m not so sure.

I tricked myself into thinking I would be enough for him. And for Maisie. But my sister’s news is another blinding reminder of why I’m not. Why I’ll never be enough.

Sitting on the floor, tears stream down my face. I let them fall, waiting for the darkness in my heart to swallow me whole.

CALLUM

Itake the stairs two at a time, desperate to get home. My arms hang heavy by my side, the skin between my thumb and forefinger raw with forming blisters. I thought spending my Saturday afternoon playing golf with my brother-in-law would be a relaxing, calming experience. I was wrong. He plays, a lot. I … don’t. And I felt it. Every inch of my back aches.

Entering the third floor hallway, my eyes are closed in a yawn as I head to my apartment. My feet anchor to the ground when I look up and see her; sprawled on the floor in front of her apartment, sobbing.

Taking two long strides, I fall to my knees and pull her onto my lap. The sight of Cassidy crying is like a knife through my ribcage, piercing my lung. I can’t breathe, knowing that something, or someone, has upset her this much.

She stares blankly across the hall. One hand twists at the ring she always wears.

“Rogue, what hap—” I start, before changing my words. “Who did this?”

There’s an urge to go to war that conflicts with my desire to comfort her.

Finally, she looks up at me. Her gold-green eyes sparkle through the tears. She pulls her sleeves over her hands, bringing them up to wipe away some of the tears that pool on her cheeks. I pull back the hair that falls across her face, gathering the long strands into a low ponytail. I loop the hair tie Ialways have on my wrist for my daughter around Cassidy’s chocolate waves.

“My sister,” she chokes.

Her sister what? Her sister hurt her? How?

I keep quiet, willing her to continue when she is ready.

I check her over, from head to toe, searching for bruises despite the fact I wouldn’t see them under her long sleeves and pants. The contents of her bag lay scattered over the floor, amongst them her solitary door key, still separate from the keychain holding her car fob. With one arm still surrounding her, I reach around us to gather her belongings.

“She’s pregnant.”

She mumbles the words under her heavy sobs, but they hit me. My throat closes and I blink away the tears I feel forming. I can only imagine how this must feel for her.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper into her ear. Holding her close, I lean back against the wall, remembering the way she comforted me like this when I needed it.

My hands rub gentle circles on her back and along her arms. Neither of us try to talk, because we don’t need to. Just like she didn’t pressure me into talking when I wasn’t ready, I do the same for her. Cass will talk when she is ready. If she ever is.

Eventually, Mrs Kelly toddles down the hall, crochet bag swinging over her arm. Cassidy and I sit silently as the old lady steps over our legs. She makes it three steps away before turning back to us.

“This your fault?” She glares down at me.

I shake my head as Cassidy lifts her head.

“No,” she says.

Mrs Kelly’s face is still full of bitterness as she stares at me.

“Even so,” she croaks, “probably up to you to make it better.”

“I will,” I promise. Even though I have no idea how to do that.

Mrs Kelly walks down the hall to the stairwell, pausing before she opens the door. Seeing me looking up at her, she smiles with a gentle nod, clasping her hands together.

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