Page 38 of Mixed Connection
I felt like a stranger coming back to Cypress Lake after being gone, basically, since graduation. Once I went to college my parents wanted to travel, they were still pretty young then and wanted to see the world once they were empty nesters. When they decided they wanted to travel the world, they gifted me the house.
Which is exactly why I have short-term tenants in it now. It helps with keeping up on the costs that come with homeownership. Having people live in the house, who truly care, helps me out too. I don’t have to worry about looking after it as much because someone already is. It was my first official flip, and the first one I couldn’t sell. I don’t think I ever will, I want the option to pass on my parents’ house to their grandchildren one day.
But being back here now, with Cassidy—what I’m starting to hopefully build with her—makes this whole placet feel like home.
“I know man. You know I get attached easy.” His head drops back as he wraps his arm around his stomach, laughing at the truth in my statement. His hand waves frantically, silently begging me to stop. Anders knows me well enough to anticipate I’ll crack a joke, and where it’s going. Before I can get another word in, my phone chimes and “Babygirl” flashes on the screen.
“Hey babe, what’s—” Cass’ panicked whispers stop me from finishing my greeting.
“No, no, no this isn’t happening!” Her voice is filled with fear and silent sobs come through the line. “Jameson, please, please, please.”
“Baby, talk to me. What’s going on?” I force my chair back and stand up, moving towards the exit. I can’t sit still waiting for her to tell me what’s wrong. I can hear panic in her voice and I need to get to her now. “Cassidy.”
“Someone is in my apartment, th-they kicked the door in. Please. Oh my God. Please, before he finds me.”
I don’t bother explaining anything to Anders but I know he’s right behind me, without question following me out of the bar. I jump into the driver’s seat, the phone automatically connects to bluetooth and we peel out of the parking lot the moment Anders shuts his door.
“Baby?!” The phone is quiet, I can hear her heavy breaths and muffled sobs. “I’m on the way. Fuck!”
I can get to Cassidy’s house with my eyes closed and we arrive in less than five minutes. Throwing my door open, I look back at my best friend, nodding my head before I rush to the stairs. I take two steps at a time to get to her apartment when I notice the door is slightly open, and I quiet my steps. The pounding in my chest is unrelenting, it’s beating so loudly I can hear it muffled within my ears. Easing the door open, I take my first step inside.
Anders is only a few paces behind me, pulling his phone out to make sure the police have been called the moment we see the vase from the counter, now shattered on the floor. My call with Cassidy is still connected, which gives me the faintest amount of hope that she’s still here and safe, somehow. I make my way deeper into her space.
A heavythunkfrom the back of her home urges me into a sprint as I make my way to her bedroom and see the bathroomdoor wide open. Broad shoulders that aren’t my Babygirl’s hover in the door frame. The person must hear me behind them as they turn, quickly barreling towards me. I have about a second to think, but I’m not concerned, I have at least sixty pounds of muscle on this guy. Nothing is going to keep me from getting to her.
My fist connects with his face and I hear the crunch of his nose breaking beneath my fingers. I lean into my next swing, connecting with his jaw, knocking him off his feet before my best friend is behind me, his hand gripping my shoulder. “I got him, J. Go find your girl.”
I nod at him, not looking back before picking the phone up and putting it to my ear. “Cass, Baby, can you hear me? Are you still there?” I say, loud enough for her to hopefully hear me on the phone as well as in the house. She must have put the phone down because she’s not responding, a faint sob catches my attention from down the hall towards the spare bedroom. I force myself to slow my steps, not wanting to scare her, but also wanting to get to her as quickly as possible.
Pulling the door open, I see her curled into a tight ball, her knees pressed into her chest in the corner of the room. It’s dark in here but I can’t take my eyes off her.
“Jameson. Y-you came!” Her voice trembles with adrenaline that I’m certain is leaving her body as she reaches for me.
“Of course I came, Babygirl.” I wrap her in my arms, pulling her onto my lap as I sit on the edge of the bed. “I will always come for you.”
16
J-babe
Is Jameson taking good care of you?
Always.
I’m faintly aware of Jameson and Anders talking with officers who arrived moments after they found me in my guest room. Their eyes linger on me a bit longer as they answer questions from tonight. I’ve already given the officers my statement and watched them arrest the guy that broke into my home. Any energy I had is long gone as I sit here on my couch, staring at the very uninteresting wall behind my television.
I’m too deep in the recesses of my mind to notice the officer making his way to me. His worn leather boots step in my line of sight, close enough for me to know he is here to talk to me but far enough away to give me the space I need after the events of tonight.
“Ma’am, we are getting ready to get out of your hair.” I peer up at him, noting that Jameson is standing nearby. “We don’t think he initially planned to break into your home. Not that it gives you much more relief. We believe he was attempting to get into your bar downstairs but wasn’t quite smart enough to realize someone lived up here. It doesn’t appear he was looking for anything once he made it inside.”
I nod my head, frustrated that my privacy and home have been violated by some idiot who couldn’t tell I live here. There is an entire porch decorated with a welcome mat, plants, and other frills I have out on my landing.
Pulling in a deep breath, I thank the officer for his work, not bothering to get up. I simply don’t have it in me to move from the spot on the couch I’m currently marinating in.
“Since the suspect was caught and apprehended by your—uh...” He pauses to look at me, maybe looking to find an answer to his question floating in the air, but I don’t have the energy to speak. He nods and continues, “...by your boyfriend, on your property, along with your statement, we have enough to press charges—whether you choose to or not. He meets the description of multiple break-ins that have been happening to businesses lately. There were notices left on all the doors of businesses on this street almost a month ago. It could have been missed.” He gives me a gruff head nod and makes his way to the front door before he takes a quick step back so he isn’t pummeled by whomever is running up the stairs.
“Where is she?” I hear Paloma’s voice before I see her. Her face is frantic, her eyes meet my red-rimmed ones the moment she makes it to the doorway. The officer juts his arm out in a feeble attempt to stop her but thinks better of it when she gives him her full attention. Daring him to stop her as she continues her hurried steps before wrapping me in her arms. “Cass.”
Hearing my name from my best friend gives way to the emotion that has been climbing up my throat all night, and I finally let go. My shoulders slump and I fall into her embrace, allowing the sobs to wrack through my body and I cry into my Lo’s shoulder.
