With a sigh, I put on a pair of leggings, a soft t-shirt, and pair it with comfy socks. When I make my way downstairs in search of food, I find Royce and Cassy sitting at the breakfast table in the kitchen, a spread of brunch food in front of them.
“You sure do know how to cheer a girl up,” I say, sliding into the seat and scooping up a piece of bacon.
“You’re welcome, but I can’t take the credit. Cassy cooked,” Royce says, kissing her hand.
“Why would you cook when we have a cook? He gets paid very well.” I can’t imagine wanting to do mundane tasks, but that’s the difference between my family and the rest of the world. I was born thinking these things.
“It’s more about the love than the action. We’re family now. I wanted to show you how much I love you through the bacon.” She smiles at her own joke, but I can’t help the tears that fall down my face. It’s been ages since anyone has done something like this for me. This small gesture makes me feel.
Well, there was that one time with tacos and a blowjob.
Shaking my head, I pick up a pancake. “Thank you, Cassy. I really . . . it means a lot.”
She folds the napkin across her lap and gives me a bright smile. “What do you want to do today? We’re leaving for our honeymoon tomorrow, but we have the day.”
“I’m not really up for leaving the house. I’ve been thinking, and I’d like to know more about your town, Cassy. I’d like to get an apartment or house near you guys. I don’t want stay with Mom and Dad anymore.”
I hold my breath, hoping they won’t be upset that I want to tag along. There’s nothing left for me in L.A.
“That would be fantastic! You’d have built-in friends—Emerson, Grant, Desi. Then there is the rest of my family and theirs. It will be awesome. You’re going to love it,” Cassy says.
Relief washes through me. I have a plan. Maybe when I’ve put all the pain behind me, I can make a better life for myself.
“It’ll be good for you, sis. The people there aren’t who we’d expect. It’s sort of like a TV show.”
“Stop it, Royce. It’s not perfect, but it’s loving. That’s all that counts.” She shrugs.
I wish it was that simple.
“I’ll start looking for something this afternoon, then. Do you have a real estate agent I can use?”
“Yes, a friend of mine is one. I’ll leave you her number.”
The rest of brunch carries the lightheartedness I’ve come to associate with Cassy. She brings the sunshine Royce and I needed in our life. I wonder if all people from Sunnyville are this way. Maybe I can find my own Cassy.
“I’ll wash the dishes. You guys get going. And thanks again for cooking, Cassy. It meant a lot.”
They each kiss me goodbye and leave me to it. I’ve never washed a dish in my life, but I guess now is as good a time as any.
I grab the plates and stack them next to the sink. Opening up the dishwasher, I find two racks, one shorter than the other. I guess I just throw them in?
As I’m about to put the first plate in, there’s a shout behind me.
“Bliss! What are you doing?” Sydney says. She’s like the real mother we never had.
“I was going to do the dishes.” I try to keep an innocent look on my face, but she’s having none of it.
“You’ll make double the work for me. I don’t want to have to rewash them.”
I know Sydney loves us in her own way, but I can’t help think about what Cassy said. It’s not about the action, it’s about the love you’re trying to show the person.
“I want to do this for you. I haven’t been the best lately, and I want to show you I can change.”
You’d think I had a giant spider on my face. I don’t know what’s more embarrassing, the fact that I’m offering, or the fact that she finds this shocking.
“If that’s what you want. But, honey, you do know I get paid six figures to do this job, right? I’m not a poor housekeeper. I like my work.”
“It’s not about the act itself, it’s about the love you put into it. Let me do this for you.”
She gives me a kiss and a hug and returns through the kitchen doorway, leaving me alone with the mess. Rolling up my metaphorical sleeves, I get to work. Here’s hoping I don’t break anything, even if I am just putting dishes in the dishwasher.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CARSON
My palms are sweating, my stomach firmly lodged in my throat. I shouldn’t have had that coffee. There is no other way to do this. I have to go on bended knee and beg her to forgive me.
“Hello?” the intercom spit outs.
“This is Carson Stagg for Bliss Meyer.”
There’s a pause, then the gate buzzes. Wasting no time, I drive up to the front door. No one waits for me outside, and I can’t stop the ominous feeling that comes over me.
Straightening my jacket, I walk up the steps and ring the bell. The bell echoes through the house, and I shift uncomfortably.
A small woman opens the door. She’s dressed in a uniform, her dark hair up in a bun at the nape of her neck. Cool eyes scrutinize me. I feel like she’s the gatekeeper I’m going to have to get through, but then I see Royce standing behind her.
“You have a lot of fucking nerve coming here,” he growls.
“I need to see her, please. I want a chance to explain.”
“I’m not sure it’s a good idea. It’s been two days. What the fuck have you been doing that you couldn’t come over sooner?”
“I had to take care of something. I’d prefer to talk about this in private.” My eyes
