Chapter 5

[Cassidy’s POV

I stare in disbelief. Utterly and completely confused and angry about what I’m hearing.

“You…” I hiss, trying to find the words to speak. “You want me to… with you… and you?”

I look from Isaac to Tina as if they were people that I’ve never seen, because there’s no fucking way they are the people that I knew and trusted with everything.

“Come on, Cass,” Isaac murmurs while Tina rubs his chest. “You know you want…”

“I don’t fucking want anything,” I growl, moving away from the hand reaching for me. “All I want is for the two of you to get out of my fucking house!”

As I speak, I grab a framed photo from the dresser behind me, and I throw it, nearly hitting the two in my bed.

“GET THE FUCK OUT!” I scream as they scramble out of bed.

“Fuck, Cassidy!” Tina snaps. “Have you gone crazy?”

Had I gone crazy?

HAD I GONE FUCKING CRAZY?

Were these two bastards really asking me such a thing?

“Get out,” I repeat, looking around for something else to grab. “GET THE FUCK OUT OF MY ROOM AND OUT OF MY LIFE!”

I suck in a few breaths trying to calm the torrent of emotions that are rushing through me, but it does no good.

I’m spiraling.

I’m spiraling, and if I didn’t get the hell out of here, I was certainly going to hit rock bottom, and if that happened…

I couldn’t let these two see me crack.

The only version they knew of me was the Cassidy that was always put together and thriving.

They didn’t know the version of me that spiraled out of control.

Who felt like she was going crazy because she was certain that everyone was talking about her and actually only liked her for what she looked like.

That version was the version I was ashamed of, the one that I never wanted anyone to see.

“I need to leave,” I whisper, suddenly feeling like I couldn’t breathe. “I need to go, I can’t…”

I turn and begin to move, my vision blurring, my ears ringing.

I’m losing it.

I can feel the mania sneaking up on me, and when I’m certain that it is about to take me, I stumble out of my penthouse suite and into the hall where two of my neighbors are.

“Cassidy!” One calls, lifting a hand and waving. “Hey! Happy birthday.”

“Thanks,” I manage, my lips twitching into the fake smile that I was so used to giving. “I appreciate it.”

“Any big plans?” Travis, Lacy’s boyfriend, asks. “Hot date, maybe?”

“Something like that.”

I keep my voice light, my expression normal, and my lips in a smile, and it is only when I reach the elevator and stumble inside that I feel my facade cracking again.

I collapse against the elevator wall as a sob bubbles up in my throat, and then I’m losing it like some weak, pathetic woman who can’t stand tall without a man.

“No,” I hiss, swiping at the tears that are forming in my eyes. “You will not break down because of that ass hole.”

I wasn’t my mother, but it still hurt.

It hurt my pride that Isaac and even Tina would do such a thing to me.

It hurt that the people I trusted the most were sneaking around my back.

And it hurt to know that I was actually this affected by it when I knew that I needed to guard my heart to some extent.

“What an idiot,” I mutter as the elevator doors in front of me open and I let my perfect mask fall into place. “You’re better than this.”

As I speak the words, I begin to move, heading through the busy lobby of the building and then outside, and when I reach the street, I lift a hand and wave for a taxi.

It doesn’t take long for one to appear, and when it does, I don’t waste any time climbing inside.

“Where to?” The cabbie asks me, his voice polite.

“The Red Club,” I smile.

Nodding, he begins to move, merging onto the street, and as he does, I turn my gaze to the building that I just stepped out of.

I keep my gaze locked on it, watching as it grows smaller and smaller, and only when it is finally out of sight do I tear my gaze away and let out a long breath.

Fuck them.

Fuck those two betrayers who were sneaking around behind me.

If they wanted each other, then they could have each other, and while they lived in their traitorous happiness, I would continue to live my life, growing and shining. And until I reached my goal of being loved and adored by all, I would have my fun as well.

At least, that was the plan, but the minute I step into my destination and see everyone living it up around me, I suddenly feel empty.

Was this really the thing to do when I just had my heart broken and lost those closest to me?

Was getting drunk and possibly chatting up a new man really the cure to this pain that I was feeling?

I wasn’t sure, and honestly, I was considering turning and leaving until I spot a handsome man sitting alone at the bar with a beer dangling from his large fingers.

“Hhhhmmm,” I murmur, taking him in.

He was definitely my type with his sandy blonde hair, sun-kissed skin, and large build, and when he turns and I get a good look at his chiseled face and sparkling blue eyes, I think maybe using him to erase my pain wouldn’t be the worst of things.

Smiling, I fluff up my hair and straighten out my dress, and once I’m certain that I look perfect, I saunter across the bar and take a seat beside Mr. Handsome.

“Hey,” I say when his blue gaze comes to rest on me. “Mind a bit of company?”

For a moment, the man doesn’t speak as his gaze slowly travels down to my chest, my torso, and finally my thighs that are very exposed due to my dress's length.

“Mmmmm,” he murmurs, his blue orbs coming back up to meet my own golden ones. “That depends. Are you here alone?”

“Obviously,” I smile, enjoying the way he takes me in. “How could I possibly have anyone else joining me when I have you here to keep me company?”

As I speak, I turn my gaze to the bartender who approaches, and I order an apple martini, and only when he begins making it do I focus on the man beside me.

“Anyway, my name is Cassidy,” I say, politely. “What’s yours?”

“Chandler,” the man responds. “But you can call me your destiny if you’d prefer.”

“My destiny,” I repeat, both appreciating and cringing from his attempt at flirting. “Well, maybe I will consider calling you that after a few drinks.”