Sophie has a laptop for school, but it’s getting older and slower. She squeals when she pulls a new one out of the box.
“Patrick.” Cassie playfully slaps my arm.
“Let me spoil her.”
She nods and looks away.
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Sophie stands and rushes over, kissing me on the cheek again. “I’m going to go and get it set up.”
“Happy birthday,” I call out as she races up the hallway.
Cassie sighs. “I don’t know what to do about you.”
“Anything you want.” I’ve given up holding back. I wantCassie. Whatever happened in the past is behind us, and we’ve been rebuilding a new foundation—whether she realises it or not.
She ignores me. “What happened with Ian? Did he give you a hard time?”
I shrug. “Did Mark put up with his bullshit?”
She laughs. “I guess the answer to my question is yes.”
I fist my hands and then relax them. “He told me to back off, but I’m not doing that—I can’t.”
Her expression softens. “Patrick.”
“I know you might not be ready, but I am.”
Cassie’s brow furrows. “Ready?”
“For this. For us.”
She blinks rapidly. “I?—”
“I love you. I’m not sure I ever stopped. Having you back in my life has been the best thing to happen to me in years. I hate that you had to lose Mark, but I’m right here.”
Cassie raises her palm to my chest. Her eyes search mine. “I … I …”
“It’s okay to feel again. You know that, right?”
She nods. “It’s so hard.”
“I know, sweetheart, and I’d give anything to be able to take that pain away. But I want you to know that when you are ready, I’m in it for the long haul.”
Tears well in her eyes. “I want to. But I’m so scared. I remember what it was like last time you broke my heart.”
“I brokeyourheart? You shut me out.”
“You cheated on me.” She sniffed.
“No, I didn’t.”
“I saw you in bed with Vicki.”
“When?”
“The night of the party.”
I search her eyes for some sign that she’s making this up. All I see is hurt—hurt that she’s lived with for years.
