Page 137 of Debts and Desires
“He’s asleep right now, so, yeah, you’ll meet him.”
“I can’t wait.” I smiled. “I’m sure he’s as wonderful as you are.” That earned me a wide grin from Cass.
“Thanks.”
“Of course.”
I didn’t ask more or mention anything else, figuring the subject of her son’s father was a sore one. I tried once more to offer my help, but Cassie insisted she was fine.
We made our way back to the living room where both Carter and Tyler were waiting, watching the football game. I tucked myself beside Carter on the couch. He leaned over to me as Ty and Cass whispered to each other. Ty said something else, handing Cass the ice. She turned beet red, took the bag, and hurried back to the kitchen.
“So you two are civil now?” Ty asked me.
“Yeah,” I said with a nod of my head. “Since she helped me at the pharmacy.” I looked at my boyfriend, his face turning red. Carter didn’t respond, didn’t have to. I recalled the rest of mine and Cassie’s conversation, ignoring the warning she had given since I understood nowwhyCarter hadn’t told me about Mac eating my pills. I found it honorable that she had opened up to me the way she had. She was misunderstood and I doubted anyone knew what she had gone through. Despite our rocky start, it felt like she and I would be good friends.
Cassie came in not long after and took a chair, away from Tyler, I noticed. I could sense a tension between the two of them,much like the one at the bar, and I wondered if they ever got along.
At dinner, I learned the answer.
They did like each other at some point. Very,verywell.
And Elijah was the proof of that.
The moment Eli had come downstairs from his nap, Carter went silent and slack-jawed. We were staring at an unmistakable mini-Tyler in Cassie’s arms. Her face was red, answering the unspoken question that filled the room. She introduced Elijah and Tyler chimed in with, “Our son.”
It was explained over dinner that Cass and Tyler had been on again, off again, for a while since high school. Then Cassie had gotten into a bad crowd following her stepmom’s traumatic death. Her stepmom, Tyler’s mom, had accidentally drowned. Then Cassie’s dad died a month later. The doctors told her it was a heart attack, but Cassie—and even Ty—knew it was from a broken heart. Cassie’s drug and alcohol problems spiraled, and she left for two years to go to rehab. Before she left, however, she and Tyler hooked up again. While at rehab, she learned she was pregnant, and it gave her the push to want to get her life back together. And she did.
Eventually, she came back. She’d kept Eli a secret for a while, but Tyler inevitably found out. Ironically, it was the night she had messed with my tips. He went to confront her and saw Eli and, just like us, knew without a doubt that Elijah was his.
“Ty’s been helping me with my drinkin’, too,” Cass admitted. She looked at Carter. “I’ve been… tryin’ to make Tyler jealous for a while and I’m sorry I dragged you into it. Now we’re tryin’ to make things work,” Cass said, pointing between her and Ty.
“Which is gonna be hell in this gossip-hungry town,” Tyler added with a sigh. Cass nodded.
“Fuck ‘em,” Carter said.
“Exactly.” I nodded. “It’s nobody’s business but yours. And if they have a problem with it, they can fuck right off.”
“Miss Etta’s gonna eat that shit right up though,” Carter laughed.
“Actually,” Cassie began with a soft chuckle. “She watches Eli while I’m workin’.” Carter reared back.
“Well, shit.”
“Surprisin’, right?” Tyler laughed.
Eventually, we drifted out to the backyard for a bonfire. And for the rest of the night, Carter never left my side. His touch was always somewhere on my body. And when no one else was looking, he’d lean over and pepper kisses along my jaw and neck, whispering promises of things to come the moment we got back in the truck.
54. OLD NOTEBOOKS AND OLD WOUNDS
November 28
Day Ninety-Three
Iwas still reeling from learning about Cassie and Tyler being with one another, let alone having a kid together. It was hard to wrap my head around it, considering how secrets didn’t stay secret for long in Hudsonville. Especially when Miss Etta was involved. I guess even the little old bitty understood when some things needed to be kept away. The news would undoubtedly send shockwaves through the community, especially given Ty’s reputation as one of the town’s golden boys and Cassie’s history as a troubled teen. Not to mention them being step-siblings. It was only a matter of time before the news got out.
Despite my lingering resentment towards Cassie, Emmy had raised some valid points about giving her another chance. According to Emmy—who was now talking to Cassie often—Cassie had orchestrated the whole thing with me to make Ty jealous, although I only half believed it. There was something else she wasn’t telling me.
Today seemed to drag on, probably because Em didn’t come into work with me. She claimed she needed to rest, but I knew better. The woman was incapable of sitting still for more thanfive minutes at a time. I let her have her moment, despite my growing apprehension that she might figure out my secret.
