Page 5 of Finding Us
She tilts her head back and groans. “Working is for peasants.”
“Hey, I work.”
“I rest my case.”
“If my heart wasn’t hurting so much, I’d totally bitch-slap you.”
She laughs, bringing her face forward to rest her forehead against mine, cupping my face with her hands. “I love you, Jacinta Maloney, don’t ever forget that. Thank you for being the bestest friend a girl could ever ask for. You’ve made the last eight years of my life so much brighter.”
“Shit, Cass,” I whisper as a few tears leak from my eyes. “You are talking like this is the end.”
“It is, I just told you I’m slowly dying inside … weren’t you listening?”
“I always listen to you.”
She draws back and narrows her eyes. “That is the biggest lie you’ve ever told. For years I’ve been telling you that you need to let your poor dusty vagina see some action … do you listen? No! You are destined to become an old maid with a hundred cats.”
“My vagina isn’t dusty,” I say, playfully shoving her shoulder.
“Maybe not, I’ve seen you bathe, but I can guarantee there’s a cobweb or two lodged up inside your hoo-ha.”
We both burst out laughing, which then somehow transforms into more tears until we are openly crying. I’m going to miss her so much.
I eventually release my hold on her and take a step back. “I’m worried about leaving you.”
“Don’t be,” she says, flicking her hand. “I’ve been through worse and survived. Besides, I met this French hottie named Phillippe when I stopped to get coffee on my way over. I’m going to his place later to ride his gorgeous face until my brain is so fried, I’ll completely forget all about you.”
“You better not forget me!”
A smile tugs at her lips. “Never. You are my ride-or-die for life.”
“Always and forever.” I step forward and wrap her in my arms again, squeezing tight. “I love you, Cassie. Don’t ever forget that.”
“I love you too, Jazzie … so friggin’ much.”
With one heartbreaking goodbye out of the way, it’s time for another. As hard as this is, I’m confident I’m doing the right thingfor me, but leaving the people I love behind is tearing me up inside.
“I’m going to miss you, sweet girl,” my dad says, wrapping me in his arms and placing a soft kiss on the top of my head.
“I’m going to miss you too, Dad.”
“I know Connor will look after you.”
“He will,” I say.
By the time our parents made it official, Connor and I were already becoming close. Connor said that the day his father told him he was going to ask my mother to marry him, he was so happy. He was finally going to get what he always wanted—a sibling.
Growing up for him had been lonely. His mother had been in and out of hospital before she passed, so Connor spent the majority of his childhood at his grandmother’s house. His father worked long hours running Cavanagh and Associates in Melbourne. As a result of him losing his mum at such a young age, Connor bonded with mine instantly—she showered him with all the love and attention he was craving.
When Dad releases me from his hug, he slides his hand into his pocket and pulls out a credit card. “I got you this in case you need it.”
“I’m good, Dad,” I say, pushing his hand back. “I have some savings and hopefully it won’t take me long to find a new job.”
“Take it please. I’ll feel better knowing you have it.”
“What am I, chopped liver?” Connor questions.
Dad chuckles. “She may be your sister, son, but she’smydaughter … it’s my job as her father to look after her.” This is what I love about these two. From the very beginning we felt like a real family.
