Page 78 of Since Always

"Not normally, no. He, uh…Fuck...I'm so sorry, Cass. I don't want to do this, and I especially don't want to do it on your birthday."

I tell her the gist of the whole phone call. She covers her mouth with her hand, at a loss for words.

"Oh, my God. Oh, I'm so sorry, Owen," she says. "This is all my fault."

"It is absolutely not all your fault. This is a mess we made together, gorgeous. Clearly, you and I are very, very bad at clandestine relationships."

"Fuck," she yells louder, sloshing coffee onto my robe and then setting it down on the nightstand so she can gesture wildly. "I can't believe him! Why would he do this?"

"Well, I told you why last night."

"That's absurd. And vindictive and childish. This mother fucker... What are you smiling at?"

"Nothing. You're...Cute when you're mad."

She cocks an eyebrow. "I will physically hurt you, Senator," she says. "What are we going to do?"

"I'm not sure yet. I sent the picture to Lisa, so I will call her, and we will make a plan."

"Well, you'll just say it was a drunken thing. A mistake. Everyone makes them. It will pass eventually, right?"

"And then every fear I had for you has come true because of one kiss. Everyone knowing, the scrutiny, all of it. I have to find a way to fix this. I know it exists, I just have to think."

"Well, should I prepare for the worst just in case?" She asks, and I want to hug her at how strong she sounds saying it. As though she is ready for the fight.

"Maybe. You should probably tell your mom. I mean, I know she knows, but just that it might come out. And then, I don't know, maybe we should be ready just in case we have to tell your brother."

"Oh, God, Chris." She drops her head into her hands. "I already needed to tell him about me not working for him. I guess I get to do both at once, now."

"Maybe we hold off on the other thing for now?"

"Yeah, probably not a bad idea."

"If I can't find a way out of it and we have to tell him, I think I should be the one to do it. I've truly never wanted to do anything less in my life, but it's going to be me he is pissed at and I need to explain..." And then I remember.

"What? What did you think of?"

"Your brother. He knows something. He has something on Mark. Well, Stephanie does."

"What?"

"I don't know. They never told me what it was. But he and Steph said..." I jump up, grabbing a pair of jeans out of the drawer. "Maybe we can get ahold of her and not have to tell him any..." but I let the thought trail off before finishing it, realizing what I'm saying.

"Wait. No, I can't, Cass. We can't ask Steph and then ask her to keep it from Chris. She kept our secret, and I could tell it hurt her to do that. I think, if we don't want it going public..."

"We have to tell Chris," she finishes for me, and nods. "I agree. Its okay. I'm ready. But I'm going with you. Like or not, Owen Blaze, we are in this together."

CHAPTER 25

Cassidy

We use the code at Chris's gate. His front door is unlocked, and we let ourselves inside. Neither of us has ever knocked at this house.

We find Stephanie curled up on the couch, work strewn all around her.

"Owen, Cass. Hi. What a nice surprise. Are you guys okay?"

Before we can answer, though, my brother comes strolling into the room.

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