“He’s here,” Brody said, jaw clenching.
Adam’s easy grin vanished.“Do you want me to have them leave?”
I stared at him.“You know, too?”
“Chase told me,” Adam admitted with a it's not a big deal shrug.“Said he’s worried about you.Said the guy’s got something… off about him.Looking at him now, I think he’s right.”
The shame burned instantly.“Great.One more person who knows what I’ve become.Did anyone think about the fact that I might not want half the county talking about this?”
Adam’s hand closed over mine, firm.“Cass, look at me.I know we haven’t been close, given the age gap, but I’ve always cared about you.You’re like a little sister to me… which is confusing now, because you grew up."Then he winked before continuing, "But you’ve turned into an incredible woman.Mom and Dad brag about you every time I see them.Like, probably more than they have ever talked about me or Brody.They love how you worked through school instead of taking money from your parents like Chase and Clara, how you earned your double major.You’ve got more in savings than most people twice your age, and no one would ever know because that is not who you are.You are humble, kind, funny, and fucking smart.Beautiful in and out.That’syou, Cassidy.Not him.Not what he did to you.”
Someone shouted for Adam from the other end of the bar, pulling him away.
“I’ll walk you to our table,” Brody said, positioning himself between me and the booth.
We’d barely moved when Dean and Judy intercepted us, wrapping me in a hug.
“What’s wrong?This is a happy day,” Judy said, her brow creased.
“Andrew’s here,” Brody told them.
Dean’s expression went dark.“I’ll throw him out right now.”
“No.”I shook my head quickly.“I don’t want to make a scene.This is Adam’s night.Maybe I should just leave.”
“Fuck that,” Judy said sharply, so sharply it startled me.I’d never heard her swear.“You’re family.He leaves if there’s trouble.You stay.”
We made it to the table, but I couldn’t focus.Andrew’s gaze never left me, and every time I shifted, I caught another member of my family looking toward him, waiting for a reason to intervene.
It was like the night was passing in a blur, like I was underwater and only catching the odd question, not tasting the food or the wine that Clara kept refilling, but I barely touched.
Finally, I excused myself to use the washroom, hoping to catch a breath.
I didn’t make it far.
Andrew was waiting in the narrow hallway.
“You whoring yourself out to the farmer boys now?”His voice was low, poisonous.“Is that why you've been hiding from me?Which one are you fucking.Or is it both?”
I tried to pass him, but his hand shot out, clamping around my arm.He shoved me back against the wall, his grip hard enough to bruise.His palm closed over my breast, fingers digging in.
“You’re mine,” he growled, before dragging his tongue up my cheek.My stomach flipped in revulsion.His hand moved from my breast down to the hem of my dress, dragging it up.
“Stop,” I gasped, tears springing hot and fast.“Andrew, please...stop...”
And then he was gone, yanked back by Chase, who looked ready to kill him.He lunged, arm cocked back.
“Chase, no!”I grabbed at his arm.“He’s not worth it.Please.Not here.”
But then I saw movement out of the corner of my eye.
Victoria was standing now, her hand slowly stroking over a small but unmistakable baby bump.My chest caved in.I couldn't breathe.The tears were coming faster, blurring my vision.
A memory flashed through my mind, Andrew with his head on my stomach, playing with the mess we had made, pushing it back in."Baby, you make me feel primal, possessive.I want to fill you with my babies.I want to see barefoot and pregnant in my kitchen.I want you to stop taking your birth control."
I laughed, but he looked at me seriously."I can't get you out of my head.I need you to be mine.I need to know you won't leave me.I want you pregnant all the time."
I tried to bring levity to the moment by joking about him having a breeding kink.
