Page 136 of As the Rain Falls
“No.” I shake my head. Antony glares at me. “I’m beat. I need to drop Tony off and go home, man. Shower. See my dog.”
“Talk to a certain Cassandra Rivera,” Antony teases, waving Silvio off. “Keep it on his tab for next time.”
“Well, she’s the one looking after him, so yeah.” I roll my eyes, annoyed that I made the mistake of mentioning the last talk she and I shared.
Antony and I head for the truck, talking about Pepé still. I explain how long I plan to leave him at Cassandra’s, and Antony complains about me not standing up to my dad.
“It’syourhouse,” he reasserts. “Not his.”
“I mean, I’m the one paying my bills, but it’s still under his name.”
Antony frowns. “You… pay your bills?”
“Yeah, dude. Do you think I work at Well’s farm for free?” I chuckle. “I’m getting paid, Tony.”
“Are you?” His ears go red. “Oh, man. I didn’t know that. I’m sorry. I assumed it was just a hobby until you figured out which college you were going to.”
I brush him off, understanding his point. “I’m not going to college.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.”
He shifts in the passenger seat, making himself more comfortable. “Does it pay well? I mean, the farm and all?”
“Not exactly.” I check the rearview. “But I’m also hired as his apprentice.”
“Apprentice? And what the hell is heteachingyou?”
I stare at him, my mind going blank.I really don’t want to make a big deal out of this. I’m not even done learning everything I need to learn.
A motorcycle zips past us, blowing through a red light. Golden hair flies up in the wind. Antony almost jumps out of the passenger seat.
“Isn’t that Cassie?”
Cassie?
Since when is she just Cassie to him?
“That’s—” I blink, watching as the scooter bunny-hops, then swerves left. “Is it?”
“It is,” he sounds weirdly serious. “On Caleb’s back.”
I swallow hard, trying to stop this ugly feeling from rising in my chest. It feels a lot like…
Like jealousy?
But it can’t be. I don’t think I’m jealous of him. No, no. I’m justworriedabout her.
“Oh man!” Antony sighs, readjusting the seat belt around his torso. “Maria’s going to throw a fit once she finds out.”
“Yeah,” I mutter, throat tightening. “I’m guessing she will.”
I step on the gas, ignoring the knot in my stomach. It only gets worse the more silence stretches out.I don’t know why everything about Cassandra just makes me so goddamn nervous these days. We’re still talking, and as far as I know, things are fine. I still need to ask her about the commission, though.
“Are you okay, man?” Tony gives me a look filled with suspicion.
His tone makes me chuckle.
