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“If that’s what you want to call it,” she teased, raising her brows and giving me a skeptical look.
“Whatever, Cass.”
She blew out her breath. “Fine…What about Rocco?”
“What about him?” I asked facetiously.
She smirked. “Come on, Lina. You know what I’m asking. How does he feel about you?”
“I don’t know.” I lowered my eyelids. “He’s always kind and caring.Passionate. But he… he didn’t want to get married. He was making the best of his situation because he can’t easily getout of it.”At least I hope that’s still true.Just as the thought entered, my conscience came with guilt. If I really care about him, I want him to be happy. Free.
Cass rolled her eyes. “Do you really want him to or are you looking for ways to make your feelings less because you’re afraid of opening your heart and giving yourself to your fiancé?”
She had a point. Rocco would be my husband.Or Percy Sterling.
“What’s wrong?” she asked, frowning.
I plastered on a smile. “Nothing.”
“Come on, Lina, I know something else is bothering you. I’m here for you. Tell me.”
I peered at her through my lashes. “How do you know there’s something bothering me?”
Her expression turned serious. “I know you better than anyone else. I also love you and would never hurt you. So tell me. Maybe I can help.”
I hunched my shoulders. My past wasn’t hidden anymore, and I didn’t want Cassidy to hear about it from a stranger. “You met me when I was fourteen, but a lot happened before that. Mama, Jacob, and I went through hell with my father. He made a lot of promises he never kept, but Mama believed his lies, and it cost us a lot…I don’t want to be like her, and blindly trust a man just because we’re together. Rocco’s a great guy, but it would be stupid of me to trust him about everything.”
I still wasn’t ready to tell her all that my father had done to me. She was one of the sweetest people I knew, and I didn’t want her to see me differently.
“It’s hard to trust, but you learned to. Heck, it took a long time for us to become friends, and everything worked out wonderfully…Rocco hasn’t done anything to hurt you, right?”
I shook my head no.
“Then you don’t have any reason not to trust him.”
I hunched my shoulders. “But…but we may not marry, Cass.”
“What do you mean?” Her eyes narrowed.
I told her about Percy Sterling, and my grandparents’ plan.
She shook her head rapidly. “There’s no way Rocco will let that happen. I think they’re just trying to pressure him.”
I looked away and leaned my folded arms against the bridge’s railing. “But things might have changed since his grandfather’s passing. He might feel differently about marrying me if he doesn’t have to.”
She placed her arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “Give him time. If he breaks up with you, you can come and stay with my family. You’re not marrying that prick Percy Sterling. Darn his own damn socks.”
“You always have a way with words,” I chuckled. “But come on, it’s not all about me. What’s going on with you? You mentioned taking a break to discover yourself?”
Cassidy drew in a breath and exhaled long. “Yeah, I’m going back to college, but I’m burned out. I want to take a year out and travel. But I’m afraid I won’t want to return if I don’t do it now. I have a business to take over and on-the-job training with my parents.”
“What about acting?” I asked her, gentling my tone.
“I won’t have the time,” she said dismissively, her tone light, but I knew her better. She dreamed of becoming an actress.
“Please don’t let go of your dreams. You’re amazing at it.” We hugged, and even though Cass was the most independent person I knew, I could hear her parents saying just finish law school. They also hated most of their acting clients.
We let go, and she peered at me, determined. “I’ll only not give up on acting if you do the same with illustration and painting, Lina.”