This woman might be a hard ass, but she helped me, she’s the only one here who knows my truth, and she never looked down on me for it. She saw past my walls and showed me there are people I can let in.
My eyes close and I let out a breath it feels like I’ve been holding for sixteen years.
Maybe this isn’t going to be as hard as I thought.
Chapter Nineteen
Cassie
Eli made sure I was invited to the trailer and not left outside with the crowd that gathered. It was like the prodigal son returned. There were people who looked happy to see him, and some not so much.
Particularly the woman, Teresa. She’s been glaring daggers at me since she joined the group and folded her arms, pushing out her hip. No need to guess why. Who can blame her? Eli is an amazing person who any woman would be glad to have, and sad to lose.
So why do I keep pushing him away?
The trailer is not what I expected when we walk to the seating area. They travel the country in these things, it’s their home. It’s comfortable and has everything a small apartment might have.
Liz and Victor are the only ones in here with us. I’m glad Teresa was shut out. Eli is tall, with long legs so he ushers me into the seating area before him, so he can stretch out his legs.
“Time’s been kind to you,” Liz says, eyeballing him. “Though you always were a heartbreaker.”
The side-eye I give him doesn’t go unnoticed.
“This is Cassie,” he skips over the compliment. He’s never liked it when people talk about his looks.
“And who is Cassie to you?” Liz asks, she’s not looking at me.
I’m not sure what to say, or even whether to speak.
“Rode in with her at his back,” Victor grunts out. “That says something, doesn’t it?”
Eli moves his thigh, so it presses to mine, his meaning clear. Don’t dispute their assumption even if it is instinct to deny it.
The comment shows Victor was aware of our arrival before we even got off his bike.
“Left Teresa high and dry,” Liz says with an edge to her voice.
“It was time, Liz and it’s been sixteen years.” Eli doesn’t defend himself in any meaningful way.
“Well,” she sniffs. “She went and married the first asshole who came along, got herself a couple of kids. Told her not to, but when did she ever listen to me.”
“What can we do for you Elias?” Victor asks, clearly sick of hearing about his niece’s life choices. “This isn’t a social call.”
He leans forward, putting both elbows on the table and clasping his hands. “I need your help.”
“We might not be inclined to give it.”
I’m getting pissed off with their attitude, but he warned me they wouldn’t be trusting.
“Do you still have contact with Curtis?”
Liz sucks in a small breath and turns to me. Her expression is stony.
“Elias Adelman. You know better than to bring that up with a stranger here.”
“She’s not a stranger,” he replies, his voice even, trying to keep everyone calm.
“She is to us, and to what you’re asking me about.”
