Lasting Attraction (Cassie Series) by Ashley Beale Read Free Book Online Page A

sitting back up and pulling me to sit with him, wrapping his arms around me.
                  I rest my head against his shoulder and close my eyes, pretending like this is okay. Like we belong like this. Like I didn't ever betray him, or he never hurt me. Like we're meant to be together, forever. Something that will never happen, all because I've been so reckless. "Yeah. For being so careless about so much. For ruining not just my life, but the lives of the two men I love."
                  His swallow is audible but nothing else is said. He just holds me as I keep my eyes closed, focusing intently on his embrace. My phone vibrating several minutes later starts me from me the moment and I'm forced to face reality once again, especially when I see Pierce's name show up on the screen.
                  "Shit," I say out loud before answering the call. I give Avery a very stern look, daring him to open his mouth right now. "Hello."
                  "Hey baby girl, I was wondering if you wanted to do dinner tonight. I had some news I wanted to share with you."
                  Yeah, I need to share news with you, too , I think but don't say out loud. "Sure," is my response instead. "Where do you want to meet?"
                  "How about right at your place."
                  I bite down on my lip and stare at Avery sitting next to me, keeping quiet. Guilt burns deep inside of me, and I know I need to just be honest with everyone, myself included. It's time to tell the truth about my situation, my feelings, everything. "What time will you be here?"
                  Avery looks away from me and starts to climb off the bed, while Pierce answers me over the phone. "In about an hour."
                  "I'll see you then."
                  I hang up the phone and walk out of Avery's room, after him. "Can we talk a second?" I ask him as he starts to slide sneakers onto his feet.
                  With a pause from what he is doing, he looks up to me. "Sure, but I got places to be, so you need to hurry."
                  "Avery, stop this, right now! Let me explain. Tonight I need to tell Pierce. I need to get this shit figured out, and now. I don't regret what just happened between you and I, and I'm glad you're home. I can't wait to spend more time with you while you're back. And while you're back, I want you and me to have a long conversation about everything. About you and Katie, about you and I, about Pierce and I, the pregnancy, everything. We need to. If you walk away from me one more time and there are any secrets between us, I'm pretty sure it'll ruin us for good. I can't handle that."
                  Surprisingly my emotions stay intact the whole time I say what needs to be said, but Avery stands up and grabs his wallet off the table, sliding it into his pocket. "Cool." Yeah, that is all I get out of all that. So when the door closes behind him, tears fall down my face, and I'm left feeling lonely all over again.

                  The day after Avery arrives back in town, she suddenly has to fucking speak to me. I shouldn't automatically assume the worse, but honestly, how can I not? It isn't so much that she has to talk with me either, its the tone of voice she used. Her fake happy tone. I've known her too long and know her too well.
                  His motorcycle isn't in the parking lot when I arrive, but it was when I went by on my lunch break. Yeah, I'm that guy. I almost pulled into the parking lot and surprised Cassie for lunch, but when I realized I've never done that before and I didn't even have food with me, I knew it was a dumb idea. I need to trust her. I have to.
                  The door opens before I even knock and Cassie throws herself at me. I can already tell that prick did something to piss her off. Even though she has a smile on her