I stopped talking, waiting for her to say something—anything. She was probably fucking terrified of me. Aftereverything she had dealt with growing up and with her mom’s addiction… here I was, admitting my deepest darkest secret to her about a world that she was painfully familiar with, even since she was a little girl.
“Cassie, if you don’t want to give me a second chance now, I get it. You’ve been through way more than I ever realized before that day I found you crying on your coffee shop floor. I never had any intention of backing you into a corner with someone who struggles with addiction like your mom. I’m sober, and I take my sobriety more serious than anything in this world. Colt, Ellie, June Bug, Molly, my parents—they all deserve the best version of me.Ideserve the best version of me. That’s why I’ll never risk going back to that dark place I was at before. But that doesn’t mean you have to walk that journey with me.
You asked me how far I was willing to go for a second chance with you and this is it. Now you know my deepest darkest secret. And in case I haven’t made it clear enough, I’m willing to put literally everything on the line for a second chance with you, Cass.”
Chapter 23 – Cassie
Why did my phone always have to buzz at the worst possible moment?
Jace had just put his heart on the line for me, and here I was, staring down at my screen to see Mom calling—for the third time in less than a minute. My two worlds were pulling me in opposite directions.
Jace needed me. I could see it in the way shame and relief warred across his face. But the longer my phone buzzed, the deeper the pit in my stomach grew. Something was wrong—I could feel it in my bones.
With one final glance at Jace, I made my choice. I answered the phone, praying he’d understand.
“Hello?” I said quickly.
No response—just screaming.
Jace’s eyes snapped to mine, his concern mirroring the panic rising in my chest.
“Mom? Hello? Are you there?” My voice shook, rising with every word.
More screaming. A man’s voice this time, rough and furious. Something crashed against a wall. “Where is it, you stupid bitch? I know you have it!”
Even without speakerphone, Jace could hear every word.
“I don’t have it! I told you that!” Mom’s voice cracked.
Three heavy footsteps. Another shout.
“Get off me! Cassie, help!”
A final thud. Then the line went dead.
“Mom? Mom!” I screamed into the phone.
Nothing.
“Jace, what do I do?” I cried, tears streaming down my face.
“Where do you think she is?” he asked frantically.
“Her apartment, maybe? I don’t know where else she’d go besides there or work. I’m not sure,” I said between sobs.
Jace’s truck roared to life as he swerved back onto the main road. We continued down the paved road, headed toward Great Falls, where my mom would be.Hopefully.
“Did you recognize the man’s voice?” he asked, sounding like a detective trying to find any clue possible.
“I don’t think I’ve ever heard him before. Maybe it’s the same guy from the night of the wedding—the one who kicked her out of the car? I haven’t really been keeping up with her lately. When she gets like this, I try to distance myself. Maybe if I’d checked on her more, this wouldn’t have happened,” I said, the regret hitting hard as fresh tears fell.
Jace reached over and took my hand in his firm, steady grip.
“Cassie, this isn’t your fault,” he said, his voice rough but gentle. “You can’t help an addict who doesn’t want to change. There’s nothing you could’ve done, I promise you.”
His words hit me like a punch to the gut, pulling me back to the moment we’d shared just before I answered my mom’s call. Jace was promising me that because it was something he could attest to firsthand.
I turned toward him, brushing my thumb across the back of his hand. It was all I could offer right now. He needed more from me, but I couldn’t give it—not at this moment. My body was in crisis mode.
