It killed me to leave Cassie standing alone in that empty parking lot. I watched her as I drove away, tears streaming down her beautiful face. It took every ounce of my self-control to keep my foot on the gas pedal, when all I wanted to do was turn around and be with her.
Seeing her tonight almost broke me. I’d do anything for her, be anything she wants me to be. Because she deserves nothing less than everything.
But I always find a way to fuck things up. And Cassie Andrews was no exception. I had the best damn girl in the world, and I threw it all away. Just like that jerk Jared said I would, the night of my first date with Cassie.
I pulled my car into the garage next to Chrystle’s and hopped out to look for Dean. “Hey, little brother! Where are you?” I shouted from the entryway.
“What’s up?” Dean yawned as he walked out of the guest bedroom, his dark hair sticking up in every direction.
“Can I talk to you out back?” I glanced at Chrystle, who pretended to yawn.
“You won’t be long, will you, Jack?” she asked, her voice nauseatingly light and airy.
“Go to bed without me, Chrystle. I’ll be there soon.” I forced a smile, dreading each moment I had to spend with her.
Dean and I walked out into the warm Alabama air and sat in two lawn chairs side by side.
“You nervous for tomorrow?” Dean asked with a slight grin.
I turned to look at him. “A little.” Then I cut to the chase. “Did you know Cassie’s here?”
I watched Dean’s eyes widen. “Excuse me? What do you mean, she’s here?”
“She was waiting for me in the parking lot after my game tonight.”
“Shit.” Dean looked at me with worry.
“You didn’t know? I was certain you knew.”
“I had no idea, Jack. I swear. I would have given you a heads-up or something if I knew.” His eyes widened. “Which is why, of course, they didn’t tell me.”
“They who?”
“Melissa and Cassie. They were acting weird all week, but they didn’t say why.”
“Does she ever talk about me,” I asked, putting my brother on the spot.
“Not when I’m around,” he answered and I nodded with understanding. “So what did she say?”
I shrugged my shoulders and leaned toward him. “She asked me not to get married tomorrow.”
“She flew all the way out here to ask you that? She could’ve just called.” I watched as Dean eyed the second-story window where my bedroom was. His eyes searched for something before landing back on mine.
I laughed. “I told her the same thing.”
“That sucks.” Dean shook his head. “I know this is killing her.”
I felt my face tighten with his words. “I’m pretty sure it’s killing both of us.”
“Then why are you doing it? I mean, don’t do it. Don’t marry Chrystle.” I knew it was hard for Dean to be supportive of my marriage to Chrystle, but sometimes his irritation with me bubbled over, like now.
“It’s a little late for that, don’t you think?”
“Look, I get why you’re doing it. I just wish you wouldn’t. I know you still love Cassie.”
My eyes narrowed and I clenched my jaw. “Of course I fucking love Cassie. But I cheated on her and got someone else pregnant. I’ll spend the rest of my life loving the one person I can’t have. That’s my punishment for hurting her.”
Dean squinted as he shook his head. “What kind of fucked-up logic is that?”
“The only kind of logic I can live with. My pain is my punishment. I brought it on myself. I deserve to hurt since I hurt her. And I don’t deserve to have her after what I did.”
“You’re seriously whacked. You know that, right? You could be with Cassie right now if you wanted to!” Dean whisper-shouted to me harshly.
I breathed in and out through my nose, refocusing my thoughts. “I can’t.”
Dean stood up, shoving the chair out from under him before leaning close to my face. “You’re still hurting her. Every day you aren’t with her, you’re hurting her. And following through with this stupid wedding is probably going to fucking ruin her!”
He went back into the house and slammed the sliding glass door shut with a thwack. I replayed the conversation in my mind, convincing myself that he was wrong about one thing. Eventually Cassie would heal and get over me. She’d find someone new to love…someone who deserved her.
But me? I’d never find another girl like her. And I’d never love anyone the way I love her. My pain would last a lifetime and hers would one day become a distant memory.
*****
The church was a combination of newly updated renovations mixed with the original structure built in the early eighteen hundreds. I had no idea that the tall building I drove past on the way to the ball field was an actual church until Chrystle forced me inside one day.
It honestly looked like an oversized mausoleum from the outside. But once you walked through those massive doors, it was a different story. Maybe it was the impressive stained glass windows that guided you down the aisle. Or the white and black swirled marble staircase. Whatever it was, I found myself understanding why people found comfort here.
The pews filled up quickly with my teammates and Chrystle’s family and friends. I stood at one side of the altar with Dean next to me, and Chrystle’s best friend, Vanessa, waited at the other. The large white doors opened as organ music filtered from the enormous pipes.
Chrystle appeared in a skintight white dress, the fabric hugging every inch of her body as her smiling father walked her down the aisle. What a fucking sham. He had to know this wasn’t real. If I had a daughter, I’d never let her marry some schmuck who didn’t even love her.
I wanted to throw up. Beads of sweat began to accumulate behind my neck as my heart started pounding. Dean leaned over and whispered, “We can still leave,” and I actually considered it. My stomach flipped as I struggled to hold back the sickness that threatened.
What was I doing? This should be Cassie walking down the aisle toward me. I shouldn’t be marrying this girl. I don’t love her. Hell, I can barely stand her. The mere idea of spending every day with her made me want to vanish into thin air.
I imagined having the power of invisibility and how freaked out everyone would be if I suddenly disappeared. Poof, gone. The crying and screaming that would overwhelm the church. Some would insist that demons took me. Or that maybe I was the demon. I forced back a laugh as I glanced toward Vanessa who eyed me, her expression wicked.
I glimpsed back at Chrystle just as she placed her free hand on her stomach and rubbed it with a smile, as if reading my mind. I swallowed my broken laugh and remembered why I was standing there in the first place. I had an obligation to my unborn child. A duty as a father.
I couldn’t wouldn’t leave my baby. I would follow through with this because it was the right thing to do. My kid deserved a family that was whole, not broken, not incomplete, not separated. He deserved to grow up in a house with a mom and a dad who loved him. I refused to be the reason why he switched houses depending on the day of the week and I was unwilling to only see him on those days. Kids should grow up with their family and I wouldn’t abandon mine.
I forced a smile as she neared, a part of me suffocating with each step. She looked pretty, but all I saw when I looked at her was the reason I’d lost the one thing I ever loved. I glanced at Dean, his face pained behind the happiness he faked, as Chrystle sidled up next to me. The preacher read vows and we repeated them to each other, my heart slowing with each word until I was certain it would stop beating altogether and I’d drop dead.
Couldn’t everyone in the room tell I wasn’t in love with the girl standing next to me?
I felt hollow. Empty. Devoid of all emotion as I said, “I do,” when I really wanted to shout, “Hell no, I don’t!”
The words, “You may now kiss your bride,” echoed in my mind as Chrystle’s grin widened. I leaned in to give her a peck, refusing to close my eyes, but she grabbed the back of my neck with both hands and refused to let me go. I pulled against her tight grip as my temper flared.
“That’s enough,” I whispered through a tight smile.
“Ladies and gentlemen, may I present Mr. and Mrs. Jack Carter,” the preacher shouted with enthusiasm, and I pulled at my tie, willing its chokehold to loosen.
“You okay?” Dean leaned in with a whisper.
“I gave up being okay the day I lost Cassie,” I admitted, Chrystle’s hand gripping mine as she pulled me from the altar.
