Page 90 of A Little Twist

“I want you to have it.”

It was meant for her.

“Thank you.” Her voice is quiet. “You were wonderful to me. I’ll tell them the truth. I told a lie, and you tried to help me.”

I’m not sure that’s the truth—at least it’s not the whole story. The whole story is much deeper and longer than that.

Standing in the garage, I watch her drive out of our lives too soon after she drove into it, and an emptiness I can’t describe expands in my chest. I’ve never felt this way in my life, not even when Pop died. The color faded out our lives, and now we’re in cold sepia.

“She left?” Jessica’s voice interrupts my thoughts.

Turning, I see her standing in the doorway in leggings and a long-sleeved shirt. Her curly red hair is tied at her neck, and I have zero interest in speaking to her.

“She said it was the best thing to help you to get to know P.”

“She was wearing the ring.” Jessica’s voice is quiet, and I look up at her. “The one you bought in Hawaii… that you never gave to me.”

“It was for her.”

“Then why did you let her go?” Her brow furrows as if she’s confused.

Pop once told me it’s sometimes best not to say what you’re thinking if it might cause more harm than good. I’m not pleased with my unexpected visitor, but standing here right now, I’m not ready to burn any bridges.

I’m also not ready to concede defeat when it comes to Cass.

So I walk past her into the house with a simple, “Good night, Jessica.”

CHAPTER26

CASS

My phone buzzes on the nightstand, but I stay hidden under the covers.

I’ve been here since I left Alex standing in the garage.

Since he held my hand and told me not to give his ring back.

Since I took out my heart and tore it in two.

I had to go. It was the right thing to do.

I’m helping Pinky know her mom, and I’m taking responsibility for my own mess.

If only I could get this piano off my chest.

My lips press together, and I hug my knees tighter. Pretending was so easy, and he wanted to pretend with me.

But when Jessica came back and he didn’t talk to me, I was reminded so vividly of my place. I wasn’t his fiancée. I was only the nanny. Or worse, I was the nanny with benefits.

Squeezing my eyes shut, I don’t want to believe that. I don’t want to spoil my memories of him that way. So I stay under the covers, taking a time out until I can get back out there.

The noise of the door opening and closing stops my breath, and for a half-second I imagine Alex coming here to find me, to tell me it wasn’t a game, and he can’t live without me. Then he’ll lift me in his arms and carry me back to his place.

Instead, I hear my best friend’s voice.

“Mail delivery!” The door closes, and she crosses the space, crawling onto the bed and sitting on the covers. “Aunt Carol has been calling for you to stop by the house. Piper has been texting you for two days. Adam was organizing a rescue party, but I said I’d get you.”

I don’t move, and I don’t answer.