One of Them Girls by Cala Riley (the gingerbread man read aloud txt) 📕

Then he turns, smiling at me. “She’s not who she was three months ago. She smiles now. She doesn’t seem so lost.”

I let out the breath I was holding. “I didn’t do that. That’s all your daughter. She’s a strong woman.”

“Agreed, but she didn’t seem to know that strength until she met you. We haven’t talked to her much, but Jared and Rebecca still talk to us.”

I attempt to hide my distaste when he says Jared’s name.

“Ah, I see you’ve met Jared.” Jerry chuckles. “He’s mostly harmless though. He was Ryan’s best friend.”

The sadness in his tone stops me from snorting at him, calling Jared harmless.

If only you knew. I think to myself.

“He hasn’t bothered us in a while.”

“That’s probably because he can see what I see.”

“What’s that?”

He smiles. “My daughter is infatuated with you. His complaints would fall on deaf ears.”

“I see. Do you have any complaints, sir?” I’m nervous for his answer, but I need to know.

He thinks about it a moment. “I don’t think I’ll like any guy my daughter brings home, but you aren’t so bad.”

“Thank you for that. I think.”

Then he yells at the TV, ending our conversation, but I didn’t care.

I had her father’s blessing and while I didn’t need it, it sure made everything that much sweeter.

14

Cassi

“Hey, Cass.”

Walking out of class, the last person I thought I would see waiting for me is Jared. After the last time I went into the frat house and caught him fucking Mara, he’s left me alone. I figured that was the end of it, but seeing him now, I know it’s not.

“Get away from me, Jared.”

I turn walking away, but he catches up to me.

“Wait. Please, Cass. Hear me out.”

I shake my head. “I don’t need to hear your excuses. I don’t care that you slept with Mara, but I do care that it was apparently a setup.”

“Please.” He grabs my arm, pulling me to a stop.

Sighing, I gesture toward a bench, taking a seat next to him.

“I was going to come over on Thanksgiving, but I saw Xavier’s car there and figured I wouldn’t have been welcome.”

I roll my eyes. “If you were going to cause drama, then you’re right. If you were going to come say hi, then you would have been fine.”

He shrugs. “I think your boyfriend would have felt differently.”

“Is that what you wanted to talk about? My boyfriend? If so, this conversation is over.”

“No. No. Fuck.” He rubs his hand down his face. “I need to apologize for so much. I don’t even know where to start.”

“How about at the beginning?” I suggest.

He nods, reaching out to grab my hand. “I am truly and honestly sorry for everything I have ever done to you. You have to believe me. I didn’t plan that shit, but I can’t say I didn’t feel vindicated when I saw the horror on your face. I was high out of my mind. I wasn’t thinking clearly, which isn’t an excuse, but it’s true. I didn’t know you were coming.”

“Seriously? You texted me.”

He shakes his head. “Mara texted you. I didn’t know until after you left. She admitted that while I was getting high, she had taken my phone and texted you. Then she seduced me. I knew she always had a crush, but I had always said no out of respect for you. You were my friend. My best friend’s little sister. I didn’t want to hurt you. Seems I did anyway.”

“So Mara set it up?”

He nods. “Not that it matters. I remember smiling at you. I remember you being hurt. I did that, not her. I also made the first mistake.”

When I give him a look of confusion, he continues, “The night in the car after the funeral. You were crying so hard. I could feel your heart breaking right along with mine. I didn’t know what to do. When I hugged you to me and you clung to me, I liked how it felt. You made me feel something. So then I took your lips, and you didn’t stop me. We know how that turned out, but had I kept my distance from the start, we wouldn’t have done it.”

“You can’t blame yourself, Jared. It takes two. It’s as much my fault as it’s yours.”

“Yeah, but Ryan would still kill me if he were here. He would beat the fuck out of me for even considering it.”

I chuckle. “He wouldn’t be too happy with me either. He’d tell daddy and get me grounded for life.”

He laughs along with me before sobering.

“I really am sorry, Cass. I wish I could take back all the pain I’ve caused you. Know that I mean that from my heart.”

“What changed?”

“I think it was seeing your face that last day that did it for me. It knocked some sense into me. After I kicked Mara to the curb, I ran into your friend Jack. He looked ready to kick my ass, but then I kind of just broke down. It wasn’t my proudest moment, but he sat with me. After a while, he told me I needed to get my shit together and that if I hurt you again, he would kick my ass into next year. He reminded me so much of Ryan. So the next day, I went home for a couple days and talked to my parents. Now I’m in therapy twice a week, working through some shit.”

“That’s great, Jared. I’m proud of you.”

“Thanks. Anyway, I wanted to make amends. Please say you’ll consider forgiving me.”

I pull him in for a hug. “You’re already forgiven, silly. Your family.”

He grips me tight, both of us soaking up that familiar comfort.

“What the fuck?”

The voice causes my heart to stop.

Xavier.

I pull back quickly.

“Avi,” I breathe out.

His nose is flaring while his fists clench and unclench.

“I’m going to go. Thanks for hearing me out,” Jared whispers, slipping from the bench.

Xavier’s eyes never leave him as he strides away.

“It’s not what it looks like.”

He shakes his head,