Page 87 of One of Them Girls

A moment later another text comes through.

Hurt my girl again and you won’t be procreating buddy.

I smile.

Won’t be an issue.

I reply, adding a thanks at the last minute.

I know where she is, now I’m going to go get my girl.

Ten at night. Not late by college standards, but by proper standards to show up to the girl you love parents’ house.

I pull into the driveway, taking a minute to collect my thoughts before I get out. Before I get to the door it swings open, a furious Jerry standing in the door with a shotgun.

“What are you doing here, son?” he demands.

“I was hoping to talk to Cassi.” I met his eyes, not flinching as he moves the barrel a little lower, almost as if he’s considering pointing it at me.

“I don’t know what you did to her, but I have no problem making your death look like an accident.” His voice is eerily calm.

“Daddy, put the gun down.” I let out a breath as I see her.

Cassi. My Cassi.

She’s gorgeous as ever in a pair of pajama pants and a tank top. Her eyes look red from crying, if I had to guess. My heart aches at the thought of her crying, but even more so at the thought of me causing those tears.

“Cassi, honey. This is not the time for a young man to show up at your door.”

“Daddy, I turned off my phone. He was probably worried about me and wants to make sure I’m okay. You’re getting all bent out of shape for nothing.”

Jerry relaxes at that, looking back to me. “The threat still stands.”

“Heard loud and clear, sir.”

Cassi grabs a jacket, before slipping by her dad, closing the door behind her. She doesn’t speak right away, stepping off the porch, walking toward my car.

I follow her, almost running into her when she abruptly turns to face me. My hands reach up to grab her arms, steadying her, but she immediately pulls back.

I frown. “Cass, I…” I start, but she interrupts me.

“No. You don’t get to do this. You don’t get to come here and act all concerned now, when hours ago you were willing to walk away from this. It’s obvious to me you don’t feel the way I do. If you did, you could’ve never said what you said.”

“Cassi, please,” I try again, but stop when she holds up her hand.

“I don’t want to hear it.” She stops, her voice cracking. “Please, Xavier. Save it. We aren’t in a good place. Either of us. I fell for you hard and I’m kicking myself for it. Not because the way I feel for you is wrong, but because I wasn’t ready for it. You’re not ready for me either. I think we each need to take a breather. Work on ourselves and see where we are after that.”

I step forward, cupping her cheek to catch her falling tears. “Babe, please. I don’t want that.”

She hiccups through a sob. “I don’t either, but what we want and what we need aren’t always the same thing. I care about you deeply, but we have shit we need to sort, otherwise we are going to keep reliving this cycle or not being able to trust each other’s feelings for one another.”

I press my forehead to hers as I feel moisture building behind my own eyes. “We can work through this.”

“If you ever cared about me at all, Avi, I need you to do this for me. Take time and figure out what you want and what you need. Work through your issues with Tinsley that caused these insecurities. Let me work through my leftover issues from Ryan and Jared. Do this for me.”

I whisper, “I know what I need. It’s you.”

Her tears fall harder. “Please.”

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