Until We Meet Again(68)
His eyes are red and glassy with pain. The sight fills me with
the desire to hold him and kiss his tears away. But I don’t. The
tension of our argument crackles between us.
“I care about you, Lawrence.”
He scoffs. “Well, I happen to care about my uncle.”
“I’m not saying—”
“I know exactly what you’re suggesting—”
“I can’t lose you. I’d never forgive myself. I’d never get
over it.”
“Cassandra—”
“No! I won’t calm down.” It feels like someone is sitting on
my chest. I can’t breathe. “I’m trying to save your life, Lawrence.
Promise me you won’t go to the party.”
He sighs heavily and then pulls me against him. Feeling
his arms around me is like oxygen. I press my face to his
neck. I hate that we’re spending our last day arguing. It’s
all wrong.
“I can promise you that I’ll be careful,” Lawrence says. “This
is my life and my uncle’s life on the line here.”
He touches my chin and lifts my face so I’ll meet his eyes.
The sound of a sharp exhale makes us both look to the bushes
with a start.
Brandon stands on the beach, staring at us with a look of
utter betrayal.
Chapter 27
Cassandra
randon looks like he’s been slapped. For a moment we’re
B
all frozen in place. Then I step away from Lawrence.
randon—”
He holds up a hand to silence me. “Don’t.”
“Let me explain.”
“No need,” Brandon snaps. Then he says bitterly, “So this is
why you’ve been blowing me off. You know, your mom told
me you’d been spending a lot of time at the beach, but she
thinks you’ve taken a sudden interest in swimming. I guess
we’ve both been played.”
Lawrence and I exchange a swift, tense glance. He senses as well
as I the potential seriousness of this turn of events. I have to diffuse
the situation quickly. Too bad my words have abandoned me.
“This isn’t what you think,” is all I can manage.
Brandon sputters. “Spare me, Cass. It’s kind of obvious what’s
going on. You know, you could have told me you were dating
someone. It’s not like I can’t handle it.”
“I know that.”
“So why didn’t you say something?”
“Look, I don’t owe you every detail of my life, okay?”
“Whatever,” he snorts. “You know, in some ways, I’m glad I
saw you with Suspenders here. Now I know everything I need
to about you.”
The impulse to tell him off again burns in my throat, but I
swallow it. I guess I deserve it. And besides, I need him on my
side. He can’t tell anyone about Lawrence. It’s bad enough that
he’s been seen. I don’t even want to think about the rippleeffect this all might bring about.
“Brandon, I’m sorry, okay? I never wanted to hurt you. I
actually tried to tell you, but…”
“But what?”
When I don’t immediately answer, he holds up a hand. “You
know what? Never mind. I know why you didn’t tell me. It’s
because you’re a drama queen. You love having secret boyfriends and leading guys on.”
“That’s
not—”
“Don’t lie to me, Drama Queen.”
Lawrence takes a tense step forward. His fist is tight at his
side. “I’ll ask you only once to speak to Cassandra with more
respect.”
Brandon turns to Lawrence, his eyes suddenly bright with
rage. “Is that right? And who exactly do you think you are?”
Lawrence’s fierce glare stays locked with Brandon’s.
“Both of you chill out,” I say. I have to get Brandon away.
Every second he spends here is dangerous. Every word complicates our situation.
“No, really,” Brandon says. “Who is this guy? I don’t recognize him.”
My stomach tenses, but I force a laugh. “So you know every
person in town?”
“Pretty much.” Brandon gives Lawrence a scrutinizing look.
“Trust me,” Lawrence says with irritation. “We don’t know
each other.”
“My point exactly. Anyone worth knowing is on my radar.”
“Or perhaps you’re not as popular as you presumed,”
Lawrence says.
I shoot him a warning look, but he’s still staring down
Brandon.
Brandon’s jaw sets. “You want to come a little closer and say
that to my face?”
“Gladly.”
Brandon and Lawrence both step toward each other, and I
run in between them.