“You want to put down roots. You want to have a home. You bought a house. Here. In Chicago. You could live anywhere in the world and you chose to build your home, your life, here in Chicago. Is that right?”
“Ah, yeah.”
“And can I ask why?”
“Why what?”
“Why, when you could live anywhere, did you choose Chicago?”
“Hayden…” My voice was pleading. We both knew the answer to his question, at least I hoped we did but he was going to make me say it.
“I need to know, Cassidy. Why here? Why now?”
“You’re going to make me say it, aren’t you?”
“Say what?” He smirked at me.
“You know, I could still change my mind?” I taunted, avoiding the question.
“Well, I’ll make it easy for you. You can tell me or you can just say yes.”
“Yes?”
“What am I saying yes to exactly?”
Without missing a beat, Hayden opened up his palm to reveal the most beautiful diamond ring I’d ever seen. “Forever.”
7
HAYDEN
When I imaginedher coming down the aisle, I didn’t imagine her in a casket.
I stood there lifeless. Still in shock. It’d been a week and I still couldn’t wrap my head around it. Cassidy was gone. This wasn’t supposed to happen. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. We were supposed to be getting married. Our wedding was next week.
Beside me, Hannah squeezed my hand, and I watched as Cassidy’s casket was carried down the aisle and set on the platform.
On top of her coffin was a photo of her beautiful, smiling face. One some professional photographer had taken. She was stunning. Vibrant. Alive. But it wasn’t the Cassidy I’d come to know. The one I’d fallen in love with. The one I’d planned on spending my life with. The photo showed stage Cassidy. She was hidden behind more makeup than necessary. The Cassidy I knew and loved, the one who’d changed my world, she preferred to walk around the house, our house, the one she’d bought, the one we’d moved into and created a home, in one of my old department t-shirts and her socks.
“Please be seated,” the priest asked.
The funeral went by in a blur and before I knew it, I was shuffling towards her casket and taking my position ready to carry her down the aisle.
Looking up, I met her mother’s eye before she bowed her head and sobbed into her hands. I hadn’t shed a tear. I hadn’t cried since the officers had knocked on the front door and given me the news. I don't know if there was something wrong with me but I just couldn’t cry. I had no tears. My heart was shattered and most of the time I felt like I could barely breathe, but my eyes remained dry.
After sliding the coffin into the back of the hearse, I stepped back, keeping my distance from everyone. I felt like an outsider. Like an intruder. I was surrounded by celebrities and people from the music business. Gorgeous people and I was just a normal guy who fell in love with the girl who was taken too soon.
I didn’t go to the wake. I couldn’t. The last thing I felt like doing was standing around, eating tiny portions of food and accepting everyone’s condolences. I didn’t want them. I didn’t want their pity. I didn’t want their platitudes. I wanted Cassidy back. I wanted her back in my life and back in my arms, but that couldn’t happen. Instead I went back to the house, yanked the tie off from around my neck, the one that’d felt like a noose all afternoon, and poured myself a whisky.
8
SKYE
This was bullshit.I was beyond tired. I didn’t want to deal with anyone, yet I was stuck here. Plastering on a smile and making sure everyone’s glasses were filled and they didn’t need anything. On top of that, I was probably out of a job. Cassidy didn’t need an assistant anymore.
I still can’t believe it.
I thought she was sleeping.
