Page 71 of Be Your Somebody
“Oh my gosh, I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” I ask him, looking frantically around for any signs that he’s in pain.
“Um, no, I’m fine. I, uh—" Cas clears his throat. “Um, that was not anI’m in paingrunt, Avery,” he says with a coy smile.
“Well, if you aren’t in pain, then wha—" I toss the blankets back and look down. I can't help the laugh that escapes my mouth. “Oh, oops.” I shrug.
“Yeah, had you not stopped that kiss, I’m sure the nurses would have yelled at me. I don’t think I’m allowed to do anything physical for a while. Plus, I don't want to lose special food privileges.” I playfully smack him and continue laughing because he’s right.
“Yeah, this is probably not the place to do that. Wait, how long isa while?” I frown at him. My attempt at getting him to smile fails as he stares back at me so intently, it wipes the smile off my face within a matter of seconds.
“At least six to eight weeks. I want to tell you what happened with my dad, but I want to make sure you’re okay before saying anything.” He looks at me with a serious expression that makes my anxiety skyrocket. I nod my head, not knowing what to say.
“I gave him the check he was demanding, but of course, he wanted more. As I turned around to leave, one of his buddies slammed me against the brick, choking me. I felt like my life was about to end. At that moment, all I saw was you. Every moment we created together flashed through my mind. Thankfully, he let me go but as I tried to escape, my dad had other plans. H-he pointed a gun at me and smiled before shooting me.”
“What? Your fucking fathershot you?” I screamed.
“Shhh. I don't want you to get kicked out. I just got to hold you again and don’t want you banned. But yes, my fucking father shot me right in the stomach. I vaguely remember someone telling me help was on the way but I don’t remember anything after that. I’m just glad they got me here in time. My dad…he thought he found a good hiding place, but he was too fucked up and hid outside of the crime scene. Cops found him within seconds, gun still in hand. Avery, they arrested my father.”
“That’s a lot to take in. You’ve had a rough couple of days. No one expects you to put on a brave face and keep going. You were betrayed and shot, for crying out loud. It’s okay to feel what you're feeling.”
“I honestly don't know what I did to deserve someone like you—my kind, smart, and sexy as hell, Avery. My Avery, who, for some reason, has chosen to love me back,” he says with such raw emotion.
I grab either side of his face so that he has no choice but to look at me. “Cas, you deserve me because you areyou. You are my best friend, my rock, a part of my soul. You’re loving, and kind, and you make me a better person every day. You accept me for me, and loving you is one of the best things I have done,” I say and stay in his arms, feeling safe and warm.
“I love you, Cas,” I say. Our conversation must have worn him out because he was sound asleep. I kiss him on his forehead before walking toward the pullout couch next to him. As I lie down, I stare at the beautiful man sleeping. The puzzle piece that's been missing from my heart slides effortlessly into place.
Chapter 45
Cassidy
I want to be your somebody
Early Winter (January), 2024
Afterbeinginthehospital for about a week, I’m finally getting released. I look over at the pullout couch and Avery who’s curled up in a ball. She hasn't left my side in the last four days. After everything that’s happened, she's still here and wants to be with me.
I can live a sober life and still feel fulfilled. I know that Avery chooses me because she wants to, not because she feels pity. I deserveto be loved. My feelings of not being good enough come up occasionally, but I’m getting better at managing it.
Avery, though, she's it for me. I see her begin to stir and my heart just melts. “Good morning, sleepyhead,” I say.
Her eyes rapidly blink, adjusting to the light before focusing on me. “Good morning,” she mumbles.
“Come here, baby,” I say. She makes her way over to me and curls herself into my embrace. She feels right here. I promise never to take her for granted again. I place a kiss atop her head and she nuzzles herself into the crook of my neck.
“You get to come home today,” she says, still groggy from sleep.
“I get to come home today,” I repeat, rubbing my hands up and down her arm. She lets out a sleepy hum while her hands lazily trace the outline of the tattoo on my hand. I wonder if she’ll notice.
“Cas…what is this?”
She noticed.
“It’s a date,” I casually say.
“Iknowit’s a date, but what date is it?”
At the time, I was confident she would love it, but now that she’s looking at it, I can’t help but overthink that it wasn’t a good idea.
“Cas?” she asks again.
