Page 200 of As the Rain Falls
She wouldn’t be coming to the party if that wasn’t the case.
The minute stretches out uncomfortably, his question going unanswered. My mind is so far gone, downright spiraling.
He loves her. Deep down, I know he does. God, I couldn’t even keep his attention for more than a month. So, isn’t it weird that he just spent so much time getting himself off on top of me? Or is it just gross that I allowed him to do it?
Maybe both things are true.
Leave it alone, Cassie.
Leave it alone, leave it alone, leave it alone—
“I think that we should stop seeing each other,” I blurt out, frowning at the way people are now screaming downstairs.
Caleb bites my right earlobe, forcing me to lay back down. “You don’t mean that.”
I push him off me. “Yes, I do.”
He sighs, gaze darkening, “Cassandra, tell me why you’re acting like such a bitch again.”
“I’m not acting like a bitch.” I shake my head, pulling my hair back. He seems unconvinced. “I’m not.”
Caleb pulls away from me, shaking his head like he can’t believe that I’m pullingthismove on him.
“Is this really about Maria or do you just not want to see me again?” he asks, not beating around the bush.
It’s both.
“I don’t know, Caleb. Don’t you think it might be about her just a little?” I cross my arms over my chest, hating how my dress sticks to my sweaty body now. “You’re telling me to leave because she’s coming to your cousin’s party. How am I not supposed to feel like your side piece?”
“That’s not what you are!” Caleb tries to convince me. “I just told you I love you!”
“You love me?” I scoff, finding his words somewhat funny.
What I truly need is not Caleb. He might want this to be real, but it isn’t.
I need something else.Someoneelse. Someone to speak words to me, healing words to soothe the hollow feeling in my chest. I don’t know why, but I’m crumbling tonight, and I miss…
I really miss Beckett.
I need to see him.
I need to talk to him.
Can I text him again?
No.
He can’t see me like that.
“You’re getting too ahead of yourself.”
“You don’t want me anymore?” Caleb stares at me, and I sense some surprise and vulnerability in his tone.
“No,” I whisper.
“No?”
I don’t miss a beat. “No.”
