Page 79 of One of Them Girls

I saw the sadness in her eyes.

So when she asked if I wanted a tour of the farm, I said yes.

I let her lead me around, telling me all kinds of stories of her childhood. Then, when she finally let the tears come, I pulled her into me, holding her until the sun went down.

Dinner was awkward as hell, but mostly because I could see how each of them were caught in their own heads.

If I had to guess, Cassi hasn’t been home much lately.

The silence didn’t bother me though. I was more worried about Cassi. I could tell she was uncomfortable. That’s why I pulled her into her room after dinner.

“Xavier, my daddy will kill you if he catches you in here.”

I frown. “I don’t think he’d notice, Cass.”

She sighs. “I’m sorry. I haven’t seen them in a while. I was hoping they were better like me.”

“It’s okay. No need to apologize. Are you okay?”

She smiles up at me. “I am. Having you here helps.”

“Good. I’ll always be here then.”

“Thank you.” She hugs my middle.

I debate my next words, but eventually decide she needs to hear them.

“Have you ever thought about what they are going through? I mean, not meaning you don’t know, but you said you were hoping they would get better, but did you consider why you got better?”

She pulls back, looking up at me. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, what changed that made you deal with your grief better?”

She smiles. “I met you.”

I shake my head. “I don’t think meeting me is going to help your parents, but a change would. I feel like you’re tiptoeing around their feelings, scared to make it worse.”

She bites her bottom lip. “I feel guilty. I feel like I caused all of this.”

“I know you do, which is another topic for another day, but maybe they need some kind of change to help them move through their own grief. Have you considered that they may be careful around you as well?”

I can see her considering my words. “No. I didn’t. I’ve been so caught up in my life, I haven’t considered them at all. I’ve been selfish.”

I pull her head to my chest. “Maybe a little selfish, but you were working on you. Remember what I told you before? You can’t help someone else if you aren’t in the right place to help yourself.”

“You’re so smart.”

“I know.”

She pulls back, slapping my chest.

“Do you take your own advice with your parents?”

I avert my eyes, taking in her rooms instead. I smile at the photos on the mirror of her and Ryan. I see a couple with Jared, but I decide not to dwell on them. I’m here with her, not him.

“It’s different with them.”

“You don’t talk about them much.”

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