Chapter 4
TIM
Life is funny sometimes. For years, I’ve been dying to get up the courage to talk to Cassie.
Now, after the most unlikely of situations, we talk every day.
She’s become a best friend and I think she views me the same.
I’ve gotten exactly what I hoped for. Well, sort of.
If I had my way, Cassie would be my girlfriend.
Which is absurd.
Though, by the amount of time we’ve spent together in the last month, folks are gonna think Cassie and I are dating anyway. Hell, when she starts to show, they’re going to assume I’m the father.
I have no problem with that.
Cassie being pregnant doesn’t change how I feel about her.
Actually, that’s not true. It changes everything.
My admiration for her before this summer was purely surface level.
In high school, I observed her from a distance and longed for her to notice me back.
This summer exchanging letters, I learned she was every bit as kind, thoughtful, and smart as I expected.
Now, my priorities are different. I will do anything to protect her. And if I knew who put her in this situation, I’d hunt him down so I could give him a piece of my mind.
I’m so angry. Not at her, but on her behalf.
I hate that she trusted so much of herself with a man who didn’t deserve her love.
Someone who had no fucking clue what they had.
I hope he trips and falls down a cliff. Or in a well.
Or off a building. I don’t know what that says about me.
Most of the time, I don’t let my emotions get the better of me, but if I had ten minutes with that fucker, I’d make him hurt for what he’s done to her.
I shake off the negative thoughts. I can’t let that dude ruin my mood, especially when I’m on my way to pick up Cassie for her next doctor’s appointment.
My dad and my brother gave me crap about cutting out early to chase a girl around.
I lied and said she wanted to go shopping down in the Valley.
Maybe I should feel guilty lying to my family, but I don’t.
It’s nothing compared to the secret she’s keeping from the entire town.
That’s right. Cassie hasn’t told anyone she’s pregnant. I don’t know how much longer she’ll be able to hide it. At some point her belly will swell from the growing babe inside.
I’m just glad she has someone she can trust and lean on.
I’m honored to be that person for her. Even if her feelings for me are never more than friendly, I cherish that she feels safe enough to trust me with her biggest fears .
. . especially after having that trust freshly destroyed by someone else.
Cassie waves from her parents’ porch as I pull into the drive.
Her blue patterned sundress clutches her curves in a way that should be illegal.
There’s a glow about her that’s undeniable.
“Fuck,” I swear under my breath. She’s so goddamn gorgeous, and the smile that brightens her face as she walks toward my truck causes my pulse to race.
I move the gearshift to park and hop out, walking around the still-running vehicle to open her door. “Hey, sunshine, you’re looking beautiful today.” I flash her a smile. I can’t help myself. Being in her presence makes me happy.
She takes my offered hand and climbs into the truck. She meets my gaze as she sits back and reaches for the seat belt. “Thanks for driving me.”
“My pleasure.” I shoot her a wink, then shut the door and walk away before I embarrass myself. This girl turns me into a lovesick fool—and if she knew my true feelings, she might not want me around.
She’s already messing with the radio dial when I get back inside the truck, and it sends another wave of joy through my veins. I love that she feels comfortable enough to take over the music. To take what she needs.
When she finds her desired station, she sits back in her seat and turns to face me. “So, I’ve been thinking.”
“That’s not good,” I deadpan.
“Hey!” She shoves my shoulder playfully.
“What’ve you been thinking about?” I keep my gaze on the road, sneaking glances her way whenever it’s safe.
“I need to start making a plan.” She worries her bottom lip between her teeth. “Soon. I don’t know how much longer I can get away with hiding my belly. And fall’s around the corner. I can’t wear sundresses every day.”
That’s a damn shame.
“When do you want to tell your parents?”
“Never.” She laughs, but it lacks humor. “I mean, I know I have to, and part of me thinks I’m building this all up in my head. But the other part . . .”
“What’s the worst that could happen?”
“They’d send me away.”
A chill runs down my spine. “You really think they’d do that?”
“My parents are good people. They love me, I know they do. But Daddy is a leader at the church. He can’t have an unwed pregnant daughter. Not in a town as small as ours.”
“So, marry me.” The offer flies past my lips with the utmost sincerity. “Marry me.”
“What?” Cassie laughs. “I wish.” She rolls her eyes, not taking my offer seriously. Why would she? I’ve given her no inclination of my feelings. Fear of losing our friendship has been holding me back, along with my concern for what’s best for her.
But if her parents send her away and I did nothing to stop it? I couldn’t live with myself. “I’m not joking, Cass. Marry me. It’s the perfect solution. There’s plenty of room on the ranch. We can move into one of the small cabins and raise this child in the town we both love.”
“You would do that?” The shock is clear in her tone.
“Of course I would.” I’d do anything for her.
Her jaw drops and she sputters as she finds her next words. “Everyone will assume this baby is yours.”
“Yeah.” I shrug.
“And that doesn’t bother you?”
“Not in the slightest.” I don’t give a flying fuck what anyone thinks. Especially if this keeps Cassie in my life.
“That’s crazy, Tim!” Her eyes are wide and I feel her gaze studying my face when I look back to the road. “It’s a bad idea.”
“Why?”
“For one, you deserve better. You deserve a chance to find love, and how are you going to do that if you’re legally wed to me, raising another man’s child?”
This is it. The opportunity to confess my feelings and tell her how she’s got it all wrong. But I’m not brave enough and the words get caught in my throat. “That all?”
“I mean, that’s a pretty big one. Tim, even if this could work, I can’t let you ruin your life for my mistakes. I care about you too much to put that fate on you.”
“But that’s my choice to make, not yours.
” I glance to the right and meet her gaze for a second, conveying as much of the truth as I can.
“How about this? Give yourself some time to think on it. To think about what you want. We could create a life together. One that would bring us both a lot of joy and peace.” I reach my arm across the back of the bench seat and squeeze her shoulder gently before forcing my hand back to the wheel.
“You won’t start showing tomorrow. We have time.
For now you focus on taking care of yourself, and the little one growing inside of you.
And in the meantime, let me take care of you, and drive you wherever you need to be. ”
“You’re too good to me.”
“And I’m not going to stop.”
“Why are you being so nice to me?” I hear her unspoken question. She wants to know my motive. She wants to know why I’d do anything for her. And maybe I can’t bring myself to confess my feelings in words, but I can show her.
“I like spending time with you, Cassie.” I grip the wheel so I’m not tempted to reach for her hand.
“I like spending time with you, too.” Her words are a balm to my aching heart. She doesn’t know how much I need to hear that. She owes me nothing, but the fact I offer her a fraction of the solace she gives me is all the assurance I need.