Page 30 of Curses and Cornstalks
“I'm very sorry,” I say, shifting my arm to brush my fingers over the back of her hand. “What happened to your father?”
She laughs suddenly, making me jump. “I went no contact a few years ago when his girlfriend threatened to get me expelled from my school. He took her side saying I probably deserved it.”
“He sounds like an asshole,” I say, anger bubbling inside me. How anyone could treat a woman that way—much less their daughter—is beyond me.
Some people are just worthless.
“He is.”
“Do you have any siblings?” I ask, brushing my fingers over her hand again. My nerves have risen up, and I’m too anxious to take her hand again. But the minimal contact is enough.
“No, it’s just me,” she says. “That's how I ended up in Cold Springs. I have my aunt, uncle, and cousin. They're all I've got.”
The next words fly out of my mouth before I can stop them. “That's not true.”
Next to me, Cassie shifts, and when I loll my head to the side to see her, I find her staring back at me. My throat tightens at her nearness, and I’m immediately lost in the blueness of her eyes. In the darkness of night, they nearly glow.
“What do you mean?” A furrow forms between her brows, and I fight the urge to reach out and rub my fingers over it to smooth the crease.
I could lie.
There’s no need for her to know what train of thought led me to those words.
But I also know there’s no point in lying to her.
What’s more… Iwanther to know the truth.
“You have your aunt, uncle, cousin, and now you have… me.”
Silence fills the space between us, and I lose myself in her eyes. One minute passes, possibly an hour, before she speaks again.
“Atticus?” My name sounds heavenly when she says it.
I hum my response, not wanting to ruin the moment by saying anything else.
“I have something crazy to ask you.” She chews her bottom lip nervously, like she’s working up her courage. “But you can say no, okay?”
I smile, a gesture she still can’t see. I can’t think of anything I would deny her at this moment. She’s given me more than I’ve had in a century—freedom and company—so I’m inclined to agree to whatever she wants.
If she’s giving me an option, it’s probably within my control.
“If it’s within my power, it’s yours,” I say, keeping my voice low.
She hesitates, still working her lip between her teeth, then takes a deep breath.
“Can I… see your face?”
Chapter Thirteen
Cassie
“M-my face?”
He's clearly surprised and, quite frankly, so am I. Mainly by the fact that I even asked such a thing. If he hasn’t taken the burlap sack covering his head off by now, there’s probably a reason.
But I can’t squash my want—desire—to see him.
His eyes are so intense and swimming with secrets I’m eager to explore. The way the burlap conforms to his jawline, with the rope wrapped around his neck, makes me think his features will resemble the way he looked before the curse.
