Page 26 of Better Than the Beach
“Don’t fucking care,” I grumble, barely restraining my irritation.
“Nolan,” Cassie whispers, “she’s coming over here.”
I sigh. “Colleen, get the fuck off this property before I call the cops.”
I open the passenger side door and gesture for Cassie to climb in.
“I need to talk to you,” Colleen insists, and I laugh, watching as Cassie buckles her seat belt. “Nolan, I need to talk to you,” she says again, louder this time, as I open the door to the back seat. Mallory cranks the engine, and just before I slide into the back, Colleen gets louder.
“Nolan, I need you,” she yells, gasps come from Cassie and Mallory as anger clouds my vision. “You promised. You promised you would be there if I needed you, and I do. I made a mistake, but you promised. I made a mistake and I know that now, but you promised.”
When I finally look back at Colleen, there are tears streaming down her face and her hands are wringing together in front of her chest. She’s a mess, and she’s not above making a scene. And though I don’t want to, though I want to keep my fury blazing so I can leave her here sobbing in the snow, I feel sympathy for her.
Colleen hasn’t cried once since our separation. Not once. And for the briefest of moments, the old instinct to protect her, to soothe away her pain, flares up in my chest. She sees it, sees my slight hesitation, and I watch hope flicker over her face. When I don’t move toward her, though, she clenches her teeth in frustration. When she flicks her eyes to Cassie, I know even before Colleen opens her mouth that she’s going to go for the throat. I watch in horror as she splays her hand over her abdomen—her implication loud and fucking clear—and she forces out another dramatic sob.
“I want us to be a family again,” she chokes through her tears. “I know you’ll be a great Daddy just like we always dreamed about.”
My eyes fall shut, and I take a calming breath through my nose before turning away from Collen and facing Cassie. I look her straight in the eyes, and the shock and concern I see there pains me ten times worse than Colleen’s theatrics.
“Uncle Nolan, she’s going to miss her flight,” Mallory says, and I nod in her direction before zeroing back in on Cassie.
“I’m sorry,” I say honestly, and Cassie’s brows furrow as her eyes dart between me and Colleen. Fucking Colleen.
“I need to talk to you,” Colleen screeches again, and my shoulders droop in defeat. “We’re supposed to be a family, Nolan! In sickness and health! We’re a family!”
She’s not going to leave this alone until I talk to her.
I can feel the eyes of the neighbors on me. In my peripheral I can see one of them step out onto their porch, watching this scene go down unashamedly with arms crossed. I tamp down my embarrassment and square my shoulders. I have to deal with this now. If I don’t, it will never go away.
I hold Cassie’s eyes and take her hands in mine. I squeeze them lightly.
“Ride to the airport with Mallory,” I say, hoping she sees what I’m not saying.I’m not done with you. We’re not over. I’ll explain everything later.“We’ll talk as soon as you land.”
I bring her hand to my lips and kiss her knuckles, and Colleen shrieks behind me. I clamp my eyes shut in fury. I’m going to fucking lose it if I’m not careful.
“Okay,” Cassie whispers. “Talk to you soon.”
I give her a small smile, then shut the door.
It’s not until they’ve driven off that I realize I never got her phone number. But that’s okay. I’ll get it from Mallory when she gets back. I turn back to the headache behind me.
“What the fuck do you want, Colleen?”
Her lip wobbles and she moves her hands to cradle her abdomen again. She sniffles and forces a smile.
“I need you, Nolan. I want us to be a family again.”
SEVEN
cassie
The moment my plane lands,I turn my phone back on and send a text to Mallory.
I let her know I landed safe, then ask if she could give me Nolan’s number. I use the “he wanted to tell me about master’s programs” excuse, because what else would I say? I’m really hoping I’ll be able to bang your hot uncle again someday, but I forgot to get his contact info?
No, thank you.
Even if it is the truth.
