Page 49 of Cass

“Dad, I’m sorry I yelled at you this morning. I’m not sorry for what I said, but I’m sorry I raised my voice. I should have remained calm. We should have sat down and had an adult conversation about it. Please understand you were disrespecting my woman.”

He closes his eyes at me calling her that. “You would have reacted the same way if anyone said anything remotely like that to Darian. You wouldneverstand for someone speaking to her that way.”

He slowly nods. “You’re absolutely right. I’m truly sorry for how I spoke to her, and the tone I took. I will personally apologize to Cassandra when I see her.”

“Thank you. I would appreciate that.”

I clasp my hands together. “I’m here for two reasons today. First, I want to talk to you guys about my relationship with Cassandra. I know you’re both just learning about us, and it’s a bit shocking, but it’s been a long time coming, and I want you to see things from our perspective. Second, I want to talk to you about her as a person. She has some issues I want to help her overcome.”

Darian looks on the verge of tears. “Is she okay? She hasn’t answered my calls.”

“She went for a run this morning. I honestly don’t know if she’s okay. Dad’s words cut her pretty deep. I think they opened up some old wounds. Wounds I’m not even sure you know about, Darian. That’s part of what I want to discuss. But first, let’s discuss my relationship with her.”

I take a deep breath. “I have no doubt you all have noticed that we’ve always been flirtatious. We’re always partners in crime in making everyone laugh.” They both nod.

“You both know I have always been attracted to older women. Maybe not as old as Cassandra, but I have never had interest in women my own age.” They both nod in agreement again.

“We did start a casual physical relationship right after we met. I believe it was your first Thanksgiving together. Neither of us started it intending on it being anything more than a fling. Without either of us planning on it, our casual relationship morphed into something more. Despite the age difference, we’re remarkably similar. We talk, we laugh, we smile. We make each other happy.” Darian smiles at that.

“Over time, and without any discussion, both of us simply lost interest in seeing other people. We slowly developed feelings for one another. Frankly, I think I realized it way before she did.”

I pause for a moment. “Let me ask you something. Is your reluctance the age gap or Cassandra herself?”

Dad looks at me. “I don’t know, Trevor. Cassandra is... eccentric, but I suppose you are too. Age aside, I can’t say she’s exactly what I imagined for you, but I understand the compatibility and the attraction. She’s obviously a beautiful woman. I can’t argue with that. I suppose I now see the personality match too. I hadn’t considered it. Darian pointed that all out to me.”

He takes a breath. “I guess it’s the age difference, Trevor. She’s lived so much life. You’re just starting yours. You’re still a child. She can’t give you everything you want. Everything you deserve. It feels like she’s robbing you of things you deserve. Things I want you to have in life.”

“I hear you. In the months she tried to push me away, she said all those same things to me. She’s not the maneater you think she is, Dad. She’s the most thoughtful, considerate person I know. She cares about me and has tried many times to push me away for my own good. She faked a relationship with that Neanderthal Dennis just to get me to move to New York City because she knew it was my dream.” Darian has tears rolling down her cheeks.

“You know I’m persistent. She pushed and pushed, but I wouldn’t take no for an answer. I knew she felt the same way about me that I felt about her and was just trying to keep me away for my own good. I went to New York. You know what? I was miserable. Seeing other people and being away from her is not what I want. It didn’t make me happy. I want her. She makes me happy.”

I take another breath. “My question for you is quite simple. Do you want me to be happy?”

He looks at me. “Of course, Trevor.”

“She makes me happy. Shouldn’t that really be it?”

“In theory, but Trevor, don’t you want children one day? I think you do. I know I want that for you?”

“Cassandra froze her eggs when she was in her thirties. That option exists. As does adoption or other avenues. We haven’t had any deep conversations about it because she’s never let it go there, but we have options.” They say nothing.

“Isn’t that really all this is about for you? Why else would it matter?” He doesn’t answer.

“You told her she seduced me.” Darian looks at Dad. “That’s not at all how it was. Like I said, she did everything she could to push me away. I pursued her. I wouldn’t let it be. I wouldn’t stop. I seduced her.”

Dad shakes his head. Darian grabs his hand. “Jackson, listen to him.”

“I know I can be silly at times, but Iama man. I’m not a child anymore. I know what I’m doing. I know what I want. I want Cassandra. Dad, I fell in love with her. I couldn’t help it any more than you could help falling in love with Darian. It’s not like it was that long ago. I know you remember.” He slowly nods.

“Good. We’ve settled that issue. Let’s move onto the next. This one involves you too, Darian.”

She looks surprised. “Me?”

“Yes, you. I imagine you know that Cassandra is severely damaged when it comes to her relationships with men.”

“Of course, I know.”

“Almost every man in her life has disappointed her and hurt her. It started when her father abandoned her as a child. Do you know what he called her in the last conversation he ever had with her?” Darian shakes her head. “He told her she was selfish.”

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