“I’ll be fine.”
His eyes narrowed slightly.“Are you safe?”
The question landed heavier than I wanted it to.“He won’t hurt me,” I said automatically.Then softer, almost to myself, “Not physically.”
Chase didn’t look reassured, and that left an uneasy feeling in my gut.Because Andrew had never hurt me before, but something in him had shifted, and there was a dark edge of desperation in his eyes when he came to my parents' house.
The drive back to Willowbend was uneventful, but I could feel my chest getting tighter the entire way.The bookstore was already buzzing when I arrived, the little bell chiming as customers drifted in and out.I threw myself into shelving new arrivals, ringing up sales, and recommending books.
In the early afternoon, I caught part of a conversation from a woman at the counter.
“Oh, this one’s incredible,” she told her friend, holding up a paperback with someone else’s name on the cover.“The author’s so talented, it feels like they lived the story.”
My heart squeezed.Ihadlived the story.I’d written every word.Cried every tear with the characters.And sold someone else the credit.
Maybe it was time to write something that actually had my name on it.
My phone buzzed again, this time with an email from one of the publishing houses I did freelance work for.They wanted to discuss an offer.
I knew I couldn't focus on it now, so I put it aside for later and finished up my shift.
I had made it home as the sky faded to black.Our days were growing shorter, and soon October would give way to November and the cold and snow.
Walking towards my apartment, I let muscle memory guide me as I opened the brief, scrolling through the details so intently that I didn’t notice the shadow that was waiting for me just beyond my doorway.
When I looked up, Andrew was there.
My stomach dropped.
I tried to turn away, but in two long strides, he was beside me, his fingers clamping around my arm.
“Cassidy,” he said, voice low, frayed around the edges.His eyes darted over my face like he was trying to memorize it.Like he was frantically cataloguing my features.“You’ve been ignoring me.”
“You know why Andrew and you know where I was,” I said, jerking my arm, but his grip didn’t loosen.I scanned the space around us, looking for a neighbour or a visitor, a way out of this conversation.
Andrew pulled me closer, rasping, “I can explain everything.I’ll get you a copy of the divorce petition from my lawyer...”
“It won’t matter.”My voice was steady, even though my pulse was hammering.“You’ve lied too much.I can’t trust you.”
His eyes flashed with anger.“You can trust me.”He stepped closer, the smell of his cologne wrapping around me like a vice.“I love you, Cassidy.I’ve always loved you.”
He pushed me back against the exterior wall, leaning in, trying to turn the moment physical, trying to rewrite the fight into something intimate.Something I was learning he had done far too often.
“You’re hurting me,” I said sharply, shoving at his chest.
His expression flickered, but only for a moment."I am trying to show you my love, Cassidy."
He was holding onto my arm tighter now, and I knew it would bruise.Chase's voice echoed in my head.Was I safe with Andrew?I wasn't sure anymore.This didn't feel safe; he didn't feel safe anymore.
"If this is how you love me, Andrew, I don't want it.You are hurting me."
One of my neighbours' doors opened, and Mr Everette poked his head out."Are you ok, Cassidy?"
Andrew looked from my neighbour to me, “I’ll leave.But I’m getting the proof from my lawyer.You will see.And when I do, we’ll be together.Forever.”
I slid along the way and finally wrenched free, moved towards my door, looking at my neighbour with a nod and a mouthed'thank you'and stepped inside, slamming the door and bolting it from the inside before my knees gave out.
The tears came fast, hot and choking.For a long time, I just stood there, my forehead against the cool wood, listening for his footsteps leaving.
