The Forgotten Night by Becky Andrews Read Free Book Online Page B

himself to. He had to know. Was this man her boyfriend? Did she love him?
    Andrew stalked over to her. “Cassie,” he said, interrupting their conversation.
    “Hello, Andrew. Andrew this is my boyfriend Robert. Robert this is my best friend’s brother,” Cassidy said coldly, making the introductions.
    Best friend’s brother? Was that all he was to her now? He looked into her eyes. “Your boyfriend?”
    “Yes, Robert and I met this summer. Every day, I would walk into the local coffee shop and order something before classes, and Robert would always be there too. So one day he asked to join me and well, here we are today,” she said, averting her gaze from his.
    “I have a phone call, I'll be back soon,” Robert said, glancing between them before turning and walking away.
    As Andrew’s mind raced, he looked down and noticed she wasn’t wearing the necklace he’d given her all those years ago. She always wore it around the holidays. “Cassie, your necklace? The one I gave you, where is it?”
    “I—I—” Cassidy couldn’t think. She had promised never to take the necklace off, but Robert had surprised her tonight with his Christmas gift for her. It was a simple diamond necklace. He had insisted she wear it to the party and how was she supposed to refuse?
    “Robert, I can’t wear your necklace because I promised my best friend’s brother—my friend—who I happen to be madly in love with—that I would never take it off.” No, that wouldn’t have worked, so Cassidy was forced to take off the necklace. Her neck felt bare, like a part of her was missing. She had worn it for so long, it had become a part of her, a reminder of Andrew.
    “I thought you said you’d never take it off?” Andrew asked, looking visibly hurt.
    Cassidy felt the lump rise in her throat and struggled to keep the tears from building up in her eyes. The last thing she needed was to cry in front of Andrew Winbright.
    “Robert gave me this as a gift tonight,” she said, fingering the new necklace. “He wanted me to wear it.”
    “Whatever, Cassie, you don’t have to wear the other necklace anymore, it was just some stupid promise we made when we were younger, it didn’t mean anything,” he said.
    At his words, her heart felt like he had ripped it out for the second time.
    Andrew looked down at Cassidy and saw tears rise to the brim of her eyes and knew immediately he had made a mistake. Why didn’t he think before he spoke? “I mean—it meant something to me, but obviously it wasn’t that important to you, so you don’t have to wear it anymore,” he added.
    “It meant something to me,” she choked out. “I have to go to the bathroom,” she said and walked out of the room without looking back.
    Andrew walked off toward the bar and got a beer, feeling like the biggest idiot who’d ever lived. He’d had such hopes for tonight, had been so sure he could get her to forgive him. If anything, he’d only made matters worse.
    “What’s wrong? You see her yet?”
    Andrew whirled around and faced his sister. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    “What?” Rachel asked, looking confused.
    “Why didn’t you tell me Cassidy had a boyfriend? You didn’t think it would be a smart idea to tell me?”
    “Calm down, Drew. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t think it was serious. I didn’t think she would actually invite him here, for winter break, I mean. She didn’t seem that happy, even after she started dating him. I know she doesn’t love him. I don’t even think she really even likes the guy. There's something about him that makes me feel very uncomfortable too. If you ask me, he’s just another way to get her mind off you,” Rachel said.
    “You think so?”
    “Yes, now don’t drink anything else. I need you fully sober tonight. We have to figure out what happened last year and for that you must play the fool—well okay, I just need you to pretend to be drunk. I’ll tell you when to start laying it on thick,”