Say It

Chapter 11: Flashback

Lincolns POV:

It took longer than I'd like to admit to process everything that just escaped her mouth. I know it escaped because there is no way she would just have told me otherwise. Finally, Stacy gasps loudly, pulling my attention toward her. "Linc," was all she managed

"Yeah." was all I managed, we had just had a whole conversation using those two words. f**k, what was I doing standing in the elevator when I knew she needed me? I begin pressing the button, sure it would break and we would be locked in the damn thing indefinitely.

"Wow, hey. Linc," She grabs my arm but I block her out. "Lincoln, you're going to break the elevator if you don't quit." I quit and rest my forearms against the wall of the elevator as the doors close again and we begin to move down. I slam my fist into the wall.

"I'm such a f*****g idiot."

"Well, yeah," I look over to see her sad smile so I return it. "But you could never have known that she was going through something like that."

She rest her hand on my arm. "I have to go to her."

"I'm not saying I don't agree, but look, she is clearly very upset and believe me, you are the last person she is going to want to see. I'll go and check on her. Just go," she motions her hand around unsure of what I should do "Get some coffee. Get her one too, and me."

I nod, not totally agreeing with this plan, but I know she loves coffee. If it's from home, she likes black. If it's from somewhere, she likes two creams, hazelnut if they have it, and three sugars. I remember last week when she told me while we were talking. I watch Stacy exit the elevator to go check on the woman that I can't get out of my head, knowing she's the one and all I keep doing is hurting her. I guess it was inevitable.

Cassies POV:

After about 10 minutes, someone knocks softly on my door. I grip my head between my hands. Screw me and my big ass mouth. "Go away."

I can practically hear the hesitation behind the door. "It-it's me. Not Linc-um Lincoln." There's a pause because she doesn't want to speak and I don't want to answer. "Cas, please. I really think you need someone to talk to about this. I promise he isn't out here. I sent him for coffee." I can hear humor behind her voice at the irony in the boss running for coffee for the assistant; I don't really need anyone else to talk to. Ryder and Jameus already know way too much about my life. I really don't need to add anymore people, I think.

I sigh and stand from the desk, stalking over to the door and hesitating before unlocking it. I walk back to my desk as I tell her it was open. I fall back in my chair and she slowly walks in and over to a seat in front of my desk.

"We don't have to talk much or really about any of it, but I needed-he needed to know that you're okay." I just stare out the window at my low view of the other buildings directly around us. "He wanted to come, but I told him to back off."

"I don't need either of you thinking I'm a broken basket case. I have enough going on and I don't need my work environment affected by the past that has already messed up so much of my life." I say with a sigh and turn my attention to her perfectly sculpted face. She looks so much like Lincoln. Had I taken the time to study her face that day in the grocery store, I would have known they were related and maybe all of this would have played out differently. But now I'm.. I don't know. I want to say I am confused about the whole thing, but the truth is I'm falling for someone I barely know. My mind and heart have chosen him to stop, then start their world solely around him. How can one person accommodate so much of yourself?

I'm pulled from my trance by Stacy's hand waving in front of my face. "Cassie, have I lost you?" Her face is inviting but her eyes bleed pity.

"Huh?"

"I said, Neither of us think you are a basket case. I think," The sudden shift in her eyes from pity to pride is subtle. " You are the strongest person I know and I barely know you. Here you are opinionated, fierce, confident, coming in here like a boss showing everyone up. Our senior editors can't keep up with you even with your "bad" week." As if she thinks it will get her words to stick, her eyes never falter from mine and never change emotion. "My brother is an i***t for many things. One being not going after that first day, but I can tell you got into his mind." She pauses like a whole new idea enters her brain. "Maybe even his heart."

Her phone pings and she shifts in her chair to answer. She walks over to the door, opening it and thanks someone before closing it back and walking a fresh smelling coffee to my desk. She places it down, but doesn't take her seat back. "I believe that's why he acts like such a fool when it comes to you. He doesn't understand it yet, but soon you both will." And just like I was suppose to understand her weird cryptic message, she turns and walks out.

I grab the warm cup between my hands and feel my muscles relax. Something about a warm cup of jo that reigns in my emotions and nerves. My hands steady and my mind begins to clear. I take a couple of sips and grimace slightly. I have always hated Starbucks coffee. It's completely generic and everything taste the same, but I'm grateful nonetheless. I take a few deep breaths and get back to my work. I only have a few hours before my work week is over and I enjoy the weekend.

I walk to my car, still reading a manuscript that's entwined in my finger when someone touches my shoulder. I jump and drop everything in my hand on the ground and practically feel myself cower.

He backs off quick, then lunges to the ground to help me with my things. "s**t," It's Ethan. "I didn't mean to scare you. I didn't realize you were looking at something or I would have called out louder." I stop moving and look up at him.

"Called louder?" He meets my gaze and nods.

"Yeah, I seen you walking out and I called out to you to offer to walk to your car, but you didn't hear me so I jogged to catch up." He gathers some more papers that are scattered all around the us, but all I can do is stare.

"Why?" I hope he hadn't heard my argument with Lincoln.

He stops again, slightly puzzled at my question. "Oh, um, you looked like you had a bunch in your hands and maybe could use some help." He shrugs, stands, then holds his hand out for me to pull myself up. I'm not completely sure I believe his story, but I won't harp on it. I take his hand and stand, collecting my things from him and mutter out a thanks. I begin to walk back to my car. "You don't want a hand?" I turn and see his grinning face as if I've done something silly.

"I'm fine. I do walk myself out quite often." I say with a smile.

"Yeah, but you've just dropped everything." He says smuggly.

"Hmm, and I definitely wouldn't, had you not scared me and approached me like a creepier." I tilt my head to the side waiting his reaction.

He belly laughs and shakes his head. "I'm getting classified as a creepier now? What? Is my first name Jeeper?" And he laughs harder at his dad joke, no doubt thinking he should earn an award.

"Lame. Lame joke and lame character." I smile slightly and shrug. His mouth open as if I've offended his honor and grips his chest.

"It's all lies. He is a fantastic villian."

"Maybe in the first movie. MAYBE, but not likely. He has a bit of gruesome approach which brews the fear in people that's simply it. He is an imbacel. A simple play off IT."

"Oh total crap. Completely different characters."

"How? Pennywise emerges every 27 years and Jeepers every 23 years. They are both demonic creatures, practically damned to earth to reek havoc on peoples lives. The only real difference is Pennywise feeds on children. They are one in the same and Pennywise has seniority and is much better at his game." I shrug once again and continue straight to my car.

Ethan catches up with me quickly and soon my car comes into view. I stop and my heart begins to beat profusely in my chest as Lincoln is methodically leaned against my car. He has yet to see me, staring off into his own little world to care what is surrounding him. Ethan halts by my side and follows my gaze at our boss. I can see the smile forming on his face, not actually knowing anything. He slightly bumps my arm, drawing my attention. "Huh?"

"I said is someone in trouble with the boss?"I guess Ethan's question is loud enough to reach Lincoln's ear. His head snaps in our direction and he glares at Ethan, but the fool doesn't seem to notice. "Lincoln, you should real stop stalking girls, man." He says to him as if they've known each other for years. My eyes snap up and his down. "Oh, don't worry. He won't dare hurt his best friend." f**k! Will I never rid my life of people who know him?

"E, leave us. I just need to speak with her a moment." Without even hesitating, Ethan nods and grips my shoulder softly and leaves us.

I close my eyes, sucking in a deep breath before moving for my car to unlock it. Finally, he speaks, his hand landing to stop my door from opening. "Cassie, please. Just give me a moment." I glare at his hand as if it will cause it to disappear. "I'm sorry. Okay. I got jealous seeing you with Jameus and I couldn't understand why you would go on a date with him and not me." He says in one breath looking down at me with pleading eyes.

"I-I don't, I just can't deal with this right now. Jameus-" I stop and look at him, just realizing he said his name. "How do you know Jameus?"

His face contorts into something odd. Almost like he had been caught. "We, um, went to high school together. He's a jackass, Cas." He blurts out and I decide to be done with this conversation.

"You know, I thought we might one day have an adult conversation, but it seems you don't know understand the two words together." I roll my eyes and yank on my door until his hold slips and the door springs open. "Just leave our business to work business from now on."

"Cassie, I'm not lying to try and sway you to not see him. I know-"

"JUST STOP!" I groan as my tiny finger tussle in my hair out of aggravation. "Lincoln, all we've seem to dos bicker about stupid stuff and I don't need that in my life. Take the weekend and move on." I pause for a moment knowing I should leave it there, but I can be petty. "I know I will." I slam my door and start the car as the little engine comes to life. I watch as he steps to the side disheveled. I whip the car in drive and pull away staring at the man I've come to care for in such a short time as he shoulders begin to slump in a sense of heart ache. He posture withering along with my sanity.

I finish my touch of makeup, which is only mascara to elongate my already long lashes. My elbow rests lazily on my ottoman as my hand slowly moves to meet with my lash that is crashing down, allowing my mind to drift. In the mirror, my eyes peer back at me; pleading for to just call him or cancel with Jameus. When I first said yes to him, I was only going out as his new friend, but now? I'm allowing it to turn into something it isn't in spite of Lincoln. I would allow him to explore this connection between us to rid my mind of the one man who hadn't left once he had entered; stowing himself away in the fissure of my brain. I hadn't realized my hand was falling limp in front of my face as my eyes suffocate me in a trance until Claudias voice echoing in my ears captures my racing thoughts.

"Uh, Jameus is here."

Claudias POV:

Understanding why Cassie is choosing to neglect to truth of Trey and continue to go out is beyond me. I can sympathize that she doesn't want to end living out of fear, but it's like she is being completely wreckless. She gave me a heart attack yesterday not showing up for hours, then springs on me that she is going on some "Friend" date with a mystery guy. I haven't even met the guy and can feel the bad vibrations flowing off of him.

When Cassie came home, she told me about everything with Lincoln, and frankly, I'm glad she let it slip about Trey. Not because I want him to make her work from home, but at least if he knows, he can boost security around the building. I hope. But she told me Lincoln said something about Jameus being sketchy, so I decide to give Ryder a call. If Lincoln knows him, so would Ryder.

"Well, if it isn't the beautiful Claudia Jones." I suck my lip between my teeth as my face heats. I might as well stand near a furnace whenever I talk with Ryder because it give the same effect. Kind of. The only difference is the throbbing that festers amid my thighs.

I nervously chip at the broken paint on the wall to divert my dirty thoughts to the back of my mind for later. "Um." I clear my throat at his laughter.

"Asking me for a date?" he asks confidently/

"Actually it's about," I peek around the wall that forms the hall to make sure her door is still closed as she gets ready. "Cassie." I say in a whisper even though she can't hear me.

His tone acquires a sudden seriousness in regard to his new patient. "Is everything okay with Cassie?" he asks.

"Well, technically? Yes and no. She is trying to ignore the fact that Trey is out lurking in the world, but that isn't the issue at hand." I walk toward the door, stepping out to the small porch placed in front of our apartment and sit on the cold concrete. I wrap my sweater tightly around me, pressing the phone firmly to me ear. "She is going out with a guy she met yesterday and it has come to my attention that you might know him." I state rather than ask because I'm almost certain he knows. "His name is Jameus Grant, I think. He owns a vets office not far from your brother company."

He lets out a heavy huff and can practically hear him run his fingers through his perfectly combed thick brown hair. "Yeah, I know the jackass alright." I hear him begin to shuffle on the other end of the phone clearly in distress. "She shouldn't go out with him. I thought he was with someone?"

"What do you know about him?" I swallow hard and begin to fiddle with my hands, nervous for what he knows.

"He's Elise's dad." We both pause for a moment. I have no clue who-- "Yeah," and just like that every alarm bell in my head sets off. Elise is Ryder's older daughter who he adopted.

"Holy s**t. Are you serious?"

"Unfortunately. He knows about her and he knows I'm legally her father now, but the bastard doesn't care. When Julie became pregnant, they were very young. I didn't know her because she went to a different high school, but when he found out he dropped her so quick. Said she was a w***e and had been sleeping with some other guy from her school." I stand from my spot on the porch and begin to walk around, something I did when I was deep in a phone conversation. "So when Julie had her, only her parents knew the real father and she didn't put his name on the birth certificate. He never tried to see her so it wasn't an issue anyway."

I'm so puzzled I barely know what to say. And my Cassie is about to go on a date with this guy. "What about the girl he was just with?"

"Sweet girl from what I heard, but they have had many problems. She is friends with a nurse in my office and shes been helping me keep tabs on him." How do I tell Cassie this? I'm not even sure she would believe me if I did.

Before I can respond, I hear a car door slam and turn to see a car slowly pulling away from my apartment. I sprint inside and yell for Cassie and don't get an answer. Her room is also empty. She just got in the car with a stranger and left without saying bye. I know I'm not her mother but I just don't understand where this behavior is stemming from. "Claudia?" Ryders voice calls to me and snap my attention.

"Cassie just left with him. Shit."

"Well, she is a smart girl. I doubt she would do anything with him even if he asks nicely." I nod as if he can see me. I put him on speaker and shoot Cassie a quick text and hope she repiles. "My mom has the girls tonight, I could come over and wait with you. I'll bring food?" I smile as the butterflies in my stomach begin to flutter around. He make some giddy.

"That would be lovely, actually. I'll send you my address."

"Wait," he says before I can hang up.

"Thai" I say with a smirk. I hear him chuckle before he says ofay and hangs up. It's going to be a fantastic night.