Chapter 5
1164 Words
Earlier that the day…
-Ava-
“Cassy, have you seen my heels?” I yelled as I rummaged through my closet, unable to find the only pair I owned.
“Cassy!”
But she didn’t seem to hear me. I almost gave up.
“Oh, there!” I exclaimed when I spotted them at the bottom of my closet. I slipped them on and headed downstairs.
Cassy lived in a nice three-bedroom apartment in Brooklyn. Despite having lived in such a large house with Zachery and his pack, this place felt much more like home.
Walking into the living room, I found Cassy and quickly placed myself in front of her.
“Okay, so what do you think?” I asked.
Cassy looked me up and down. Then again. My nerves started to tighten.
“Well?”
“Is that really what you want to wear to a job interview?” she asked.
“Why?”
“Well, the dress looks more like something you’d wear to go out,” she said, gesturing to the sleeveless dress I had on.
“It’s the only one I have,” I murmured, looking down.
I heard Cassy move. She disappeared into her room, then returned holding a blazer.
“Put this on,” she instructed with a smile.
I smiled back and quickly slipped it on. Cassy stepped back, studying me, then nodded in approval.
“That’s better,” she said.
“I’m ready?”
“Well… are you?” she countered.
“What?”
“Do you really think you should do this?”
“What do you mean?” I inquired.
“Ava, I’m happy to have you here. You don’t need to work. I’ll take care of you,” she promised.
I sighed, looking down for a moment. “And I appreciate it, but I can’t just be lying around. That’s not me.”
“You only came here a month and a half ago.”
“I know,” I replied, meeting her eyes again.
Cassy still didn’t seem to approve, resting her hands on her hips. “Have you even told your possible future employer that you’re pregnant?”
“I was hoping to… um… wait before telling them,” I admitted.
“So you’ll work there for a few months and then just go on maternity leave?”
“Well, I wasn’t really planning on going on maternity leave,” I said quietly.
Cassy shook her head. “You’re going to work yourself to death.”
“I will be fine.”
“Ava,” she began, “you have a second person to look after.” She gestured to my still-flat stomach.
I instinctively placed a hand there, then pulled it away just as quickly, not wanting to think about it. Cassy must have seen the expression on my face, because she gave me that look Rina had always sent my way.
“You know I’ll go with you if you decide you don’t want to go through with it,” she said gently.
I understood what she meant, but I shook my head. “I haven’t decided…”
“I know it’s a big decision,” she said. “But if you don’t want this child, you shouldn’t have it.”
“Zachary will just force me to have another,” I whispered.
“Well, Zachary isn’t here, is he?” she retorted.
“Yet…”
“No, never.”
“Well, I can’t stop thinking about it!” I shouted, seeing the surprise on Cassy’s face. It instantly made me feel guilty. “I need… I need something to do.”
Cassy nodded.
“Heck, I might even need money if I suddenly have to leave.”
“That’s why I have a bag prepared for you.”
“And what if I can’t get to that bag?”
Cassy seemed to understand, something softening in her gaze. “I can’t say I agree, but I’ll support you no matter what.”
“Thank you.”
We stood in front of each other for a moment, a silence spreading until I remembered something.
“How is Rina?” I inquired.
“You ask that every day.”
“So?”
Cassy let out a long exhale. “Still at her mate’s former pack. They are staying with John’s uncle, protected by the barrier of their territory.”
“Keep track of her. I need to know if Zachery comes for her.”
“They will be fine.”
“You don’t know Zachery,” I said, a grim tone in my voice.
Cassy seemed worried for a moment, only to shake her head and plaster on a smile. I wasn’t sure who she did it for: me or her?
“Hey, just worry about yourself, okay? I’ll keep track of my sister. You don’t need to worry,” she reassured me, placing her hands on my shoulders.
“But I do.”
She shook me gently. “No, you don’t. Just focus on sweet-talking that future boss of yours, okay?”
I didn’t reply.
“Okay?” she shook me again, making me smile a little. “That’s better.
Cassy stepped back before scanning me again. “You look good,” she said, but I could tell she wasn’t entirely convinced.
“Really? I’m not used to wearing something like this.”
“Don’t let it show,” she instructed, fixing my posture, getting my back straighter. She grasped some of my hair, pulling it over my shoulder. But as she stood there fixing me, I began feeling sick.
“Excuse me!” I ran toward the bathroom, puking what little I had left in my stomach. Luckily, it was over fast, just leaving me a bit weakened.
“Morning sickness?” Cassy carefully asked. Then I noticed her holding a glass in front of me. I took it, sipping it slowly.
“More like afternoon sickness,” I whispered.
“Well, maybe it’s good I got you something then.”
“What do you mean?” I turned only to see Cassy holding two books in her other hand.
“What’s that?”
“Books about pregnancy, becoming a mother, and taking care of a baby,” she explained. “There’s so much to learn and buy. We need a crib, clothes, and… oh! When’s your first scan?”
“In two weeks,” I answered.
“Do you want me to come with you?” she offered.
“I guess it couldn’t hurt.”
“Then I’ll be there. Do you need a ride today?”
“No, I’ll take a cab. I need to be able to find my way around on my own.”
“That’s really brave of you,” she said, obviously trying to keep my mood up, but her words just reminded me of the conversation I had with Rina.
I began shaking my head. “I’m not brave.”
- Writer
