Page 144 of Finding Us
“You still love me?” Cassie asks at the same time.
Still?
Connor looks over his shoulder at her, she’s now standing in the hallway with a sheet wrapped around her traitorous body. “Yes,” he answers.
“Since when?” I ask.
“Always,” Connor answers.
“You’ve always loved her? Right, you act like you can barely stand to be in the same room as her most of the time.”
“It’s true, I do.”
“So why now? Why are you suddenly acting on those feelings? Is this some kind of revenge because I’m with Mason?”
“No, that has nothing to do with it.”
“Then why?”
He blows out a long breath, bowing his head. “Because I want her back.”
“Back? This isn’t the first time you’ve been together?”
“No.”
My head spins as I try to make sense of it all. “When was the first time?”
“When we were younger.”
“How young?” I ask as I feel my temper rising again.
He lifts one shoulder. “I was seventeen when we started seeing each other.”
“Seventeen? So how old were you, Cassie? Fifteen?” She’s staring at the floor and can’t even make eye contact with me. “Was that before or after you said you weren’t like the other girls? That you were my friend first and foremost, and you’d never betray me like that.”
“After,” she whispers.
“You know what?” I say, storming towards my room. “Fuck you, Connor.” My shoulder bumps into Cassie’s as I pass her. “And fuck you too, Cassandra Lewis.”
I slam the door behind me and immediately burst into tears. I can’t believe two of the most important people in my life—two people I trusted implicitly—have been lying to me … for years. If they truly loved each other and wanted to be together, I would never stand in their way. This has more to do with their betrayal than anything else.
Heading straight for my wardrobe, I pull out my small suitcase, laying it on my bed. I open my drawers one at a time grabbing what I need. When I’m done, I zip it up and head back out the way I came. As I wheel it down the hallway, I pass Cassie sobbing in Connor’s arms. It hurts to see her like that, but I’m too angry in this moment to care.
“Where are you going, Jaz?” he asks.
“Anywhere but here.”
“Let’s talk about this,” he says, reaching for my arm.
“Don’t touch me,” I snarl.
I slam the front door on my way out and tears stream down my face as I power walk towards the lift. Only minutes ago, I felt like I was on top of the world, and now, I’m drowning in the depths of despair.
When Mason opens his door, I fall into his arms and sob. “Babe.” He cups my jaw in his hands, and I can see the confusion and concern on his face when he tilts my head back. “What’s going on?”
“Can I stay here for a while?”
“You can stay here forever if you want.”
