Page 48 of Cass

He shakes his head. “Don’t say that. It’s not true.”

“Trevor, do you know how many of the men in my life have called me selfish?Allof them. It’s the goddamn theme of my fucking life. They can’t all be wrong.”

“I’ve never called you selfish. I think you’re just the opposite. You’re too giving. Too caring. I’m confident that Scott never called you selfish. I know he loved the way you cared for his wife and children. I’m pretty sure we’re the two men who know you the best.”

I’m staring at this beautiful man before me. No one has ever been so good to me in my entire life. I wish I was his age, or he was mine. I wish we could have our happy ending, but I know we can’t.

He’s so wonderful though. “Why are you so good to me?”

He smiles and runs his fingers through my hair. “Because I love you.”

I rub his face. I’m overwhelmed. I haven’t said those words to a man in eighteen years. I take a breath. I want to let them out of my mouth, but something is holding me back. “You know I can’t lose Darian and the girls.”

“You won’t. I’m going to fix this. I’m going to fix everything.”

“How?”

“I’m not just a pretty face, Sexy. I have good ideas sometimes.”

CHAPTERTEN

TREVOR

Cassandra eventually gets dressed and leaves. I offered to take her home, but she declined. She said she needs to go for a run and clear her head. I know that Dad’s words cut her deep and opened old wounds. I hate that he did that to her. I hate that she’s hurting.

When she leaves, I fall onto the couch. I do love her, and I’m glad I stood up for her, but I’m struggling with the way I yelled at my dad. We’ve never had a heated conversation like that in my entire life. I don’t think I’ve ever raised my voice to him.

Hayden walks out of his room in boxer shorts and sits next to me. He blows out a breath. “That did not go well.”

I laugh. “That’s the understatement of the year. Could you hear us?”

He rolls his eyes. “Of course, we could hear you. We’re not in a soundproof studio. Though it wasn’t nearly as loud as you and Cassandra last night. All. Night. Long. Did I hear a bed break?”

I smile and nod. He shakes his head. “You two are animals. How long has this been going on?”

I put my head back on the sofa. “A long time. We were hoping to go public today, but obviously I wish it went down differently.”

Jess walks out of Hayden’s room in his oversized T-shirt. Hayden is even more broad than I am, and I’m pretty broad. You could fit ten of her in his T-shirt.

She curls up on Hayden’s lap. He wraps his arms around her and they briefly kiss. They get to be so normal. Why can’t I have that?

I look at her. “Sorry, Jess. I know this morning was a bit of a shit show. I’m really sorry you had to hear it.”

She gives me a sympathetic smile. “Don’t worry about it. Are you okay, Trevor? I know how close you are with your father. That conversation must have been really difficult for you.”

I shrug. “I will be. I need to fix this. I know he loves me and wants me to be happy. Cassandra makes me happy. It’s as simple as that.” They both smile at me.

* * *

A few hours later,I knock on Darian and Dad’s door. In light of this morning, I don’t want to just walk in like I normally do. Darian answers, red-eyed. “Thank God you’re here.” She looks around me. “Is she with you?”

I shake my head. “No, I want to talk to you guys without her here. I want to fix this.”

She reaches out and hugs me hard. “Please fix this, Trevor. He’s a complete mess. I think he’s equally upset about the words you all had this morning as he is about the relationship.”

I nod. “I understand. I’m upset about our argument too.”

We walk into their house. I see my father sitting at the kitchen table. He looks terrible. I think he’s aged ten years since this morning. I nod at him. He nods back. Darian and I join him and sit down.

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