Page 56 of Freeing the Wild
I pull the barn door shut behind us and pick up a scoop of salt from the bucket near the door to finish my final task of the night.
“I wasn’t stalking, your honor, I swear,” I mutter in my best Cassie voice.
“That does not sound like me.”
I shrug.“I think I nailed it.”
She laughs softly.“Shut up.Youareclosed-off you know.Though I don’t remember you being like that when we first met.At first, I chalked it up to the whole ‘been here done that,’” she says, waving a hand over her body.“But now I realize it was because I hit a nerve with you.”
Cassie pauses and I watch her mull over her next words before she continues.
“I just thought that night, we did what we came to do is all.And I really do hate goodbyes.I have ever since my dad …” She trails off and I see grief in her eyes even though I know her dad died years ago.But I know enough to understand it never goes away.“Well … let’s just say I would rather say ‘see ya later’ than goodbye and hope we meet again.And if I’m being honest, you kind of freaked me out.”
We start walking toward her truck now everything’s closed up.
“I freaked you out so much you wrote a song about me?”I force a smile, trying to shake the heavy feel in the air.
“I was honestly shocked you even listened to my song.I didn’t mean to hurt you with it, Haden.It was a good storyline and this business is so … intense.”She stops walking.“I’m sorry for twisting it.And I’m sorry for leaving you there that night.”
I stop too and look down at her.
“Thank you,” I say simply.I don’t really think I wanted anything other than for her to apologize.I put my hands in my pockets and shrug as we continue on our way.“For the record,after I realized who you were, I listened to all your songs.”Then I offer her another truth.“And I waited for you that night.You never came back.Your song should really be about a cowboy who sat like a chump in the back corner of a bar as the woman he just had some pretty mindblowing sex with drove off into the sunset.”
She turns to face me, one eyebrow raised.
“Mindblowing?”She laughs, then her smile fades.“You’re right.I was an asshole.The song should’ve been about that.”
I chuckle lightly.“Sounds like a hit.”
Cassie places her hand on my arm briefly.
“Look, I’ve made mistakes.I mistook you for someone who had nights like that all the time.I might put on a strong front but sometimes I’m scattered, anxious, and I find it hard to be brave.I just couldn’t say goodbye.It was easier to run.It’s a shitty excuse, but it’s the truth.”
“I get it,” I tell her honestly.I’ve put on a strong front in the name of saving face more than once, and even if it is a shitty excuse, at least Cassie’s being open with me now.Which makes it easier to forgive her.
“And hey, about the song, there is a compliment there you know, Haden.I write what inspires me.And you inspired me.Not many people do,” she says before moving toward me and wagging a finger at me.“Just don’t let that go to your head.”
I nod in response.“Noted.”
“Don’t worry.”She pats my arm.“No one knows it’s about you.I never told a soul about us before the other night.”
I stop walking and take a breath for a second.“Since we’re clearing the air here,” I say, “I want to get this straight.I didn’t care if anyone else knew it was about me.Iknew, Cassie.That was the only reason I was angry about it.”
“Was?”Her face softens as she acknowledges what I’m saying.She looks so damn pretty and apologetic it makes me want to fuck with her just a little bit as payback.
“It’s true.You made me seem like the dick who left you high and dry,” I tell her in my best hurt voice, staring down at her from my full height.Tiny flakes of snow have started falling from the sky and everything is eerily quiet.The whole scene around us on Penny’s dark driveway is static.There isn’t a breath of wind.I put my hands on her shoulders and look deep into her eyes.
“The truth is Cassie …” I push her heavy locks off her shoulder, letting my hand slide down her arm.She shudders as I look deep into her eyes.“You were really the dick all along.Thebiggestdick of all.”
She blinks in shock before a wide smile breaks out on her pretty face.
“Screw you.I’m the dream.”She swats at my arm as she laughs.“I mean, c’mon.Don’t most guys want a woman who fucks and ducks?”
I almost choke on thin air.“What the hell is ‘fuck and duck’?”
“I don’t know … Ginger said it.”
“Christ.That makes total sense.”
