The quicker I leave, the better.
"Cass." His voice stops me in my tracks, just five steps away from my car.
Five.
Tiny.
Steps.
"Cass, would you wait a minute? Let me explain," he pleads.
"Explain what, Austin?" I step closer to him. "That you’ve had a whole fucking girlfriend for the lastthree years?A girlfriend who is fucking pregnant with your child? You proposed to me with that stupid ring, while fucking someone else?" His face burns with guilt and embarrassment.
"God, I’m so fucking stupid." I take a deep breath. "I don’t need an explanation or your bullshit excuses, Austin. I just need you to be gone from my life."
Frantically, I search my purse for my keys and open my car door, but he holds it firm before I can slam it shut.
"I didn’t mean for this to happen, Cassandra. Please, you have to believe me." His voice cracks as he speaks.
"Fuck you, Austin."
How could I not see it?
He knew I would see her tonight at his sister’s wedding, so why would he even consider bringing her? Megan wouldn’t allow him to bring a stranger to her wedding, unless...
"Your family. How long have they known?" His expression blank, before dipping his head between his shoulders, releasing my car door from his grip.
No wonder Megan tried to push for me to let Janelle take over.
They fuckingknowher.
I feel sick.
I saw the Anderson family as my own for the last fourteen years, and now, they’re all nothing to me.
"Goodbye, Austin. I hope she makes you happy," I say as Alison walks out, wearing the same jacket I just disposed of my engagement ring in.
"Alison, check the pocket on the inside. I think there might be a gift for you. Sorry to ruin your surprise, Austin." I give the best fake smile I can, feeling extra petty as I cackle to myself. Hopping in my car, leaving Austin Anderson and his elated new fiancé in my rear-view mirror.
I pull out my phone out as I open my front door to send Jenna an S.O.S., and within thirty minutes, she’s beating the door down.
Her signature move.
five
Cassandra Age 21
"What’s this?" I askAustin when he slides a blue box across the table. We’ve just finished eating lunch at Frenchies diner to kill time before our afternoon classes start.
Graduation is coming up, and we’ve been with each other every step of the way. Knowing that it’s all ending feels so surreal.
"Open it," he insists, nudging it across the table. His blue eyes are gleaming with mischief, his smile like an excited kid on Christmas morning.
Hands shaking, I slowly reach for the box in front of me, hoping that it’s not what I think it is. Butterflies swarm my stomach, and not the good kind.
The box is small. Small enough to house an engagement ring. After all, it is Tiffany blue, so it’s not as though I have no reason to assume the box’s contents.
I want to marry this man someday. It’s the one thing I’m sure of. But the thought of there being an engagement ring insidethis box makes me want to fake an emergency and run out the door.
