Where have you been?

Chapter Thirteen

I walked downstairs and saw Ronnie sitting at the kitchen table. I was hoping I would be up before him and out of the house, but that didn't happen. He looked up at me as I made my way closer, grabbing my bag off the counter.

"Where are you going?" He looked at me through tired eyes and I frowned.

"To work. You don't need me here or want me here even so I'm going back." He looked away and shook his head.

"I'm assuming you got time off to be on that tour with me." I nodded. "We need to have a conversation. Work can wait. Come sit down." I hesitated but did what he asked. Once I was settled, he started. "First things first. I'm sorry about last night. I shouldn't have had her here, I didn't think you were telling me the truth about how you felt. I thought you might have been just trying to-"

"Weasel my way back. Yeah, so you said."

"I'm trying to apologize. I was an ass and you didn't deserve that at all. She's gone, for good if you wanted to know." I nodded and looked away. Why was he telling me this? "Look, I don't know what happened between you and I, but I look around at the pictures and I see all your things here so I guess you're not lying about it."

"No, I'm not. Look, I'll give you what you want. I'll go and we'll get a divorce and you can move on. I'm not going to try and force myself into your life when it's very obvious, especially after last night, that I'm not wanted here. You don't have to worry, I'll be out soon."

"If what you say is true and your father lied to me about everything, what happened to our baby?" I closed my eyes and then looked at him, shaking my head.

"The thing is, I've already done this with you. I know you don't remember and probably won't ever. I don't know that I can do this again. Listen, my father and Justin are the reason for what happened to you. Maybe it's for the best that I walk away while you don't remember. That way he can't hurt you again." I watched as he got up and knelt in front of me, his thumb wiping a tear from my cheek.

"I need you to tell me again. It's obvious that you want to be here or you would have been gone already. So, tell me. Maybe you'll get the same result."

I got up and walked to couch, him following behind me, sitting next to me. I told him everything, for the second time. He sat and listened, didn't interrupt at all. I could see his face flush with anger, much like the first time I told him the truth.

"You never wanted to go?" I shook my head and he nodded as he stood up. "It's a good story, but it I don't know if I believe it."

"That's fine. You don't have too." I got up and grabbed my bag again, this time he gripped me arm to stop me from leaving. "What? I told you what you wanted to know."

"Cassie. I just.... I don't know if I can give you what you want."

"And that's why I have to go. I can't stay here and not want to be with you. I saw what our life was like and we were so happy. I would give anything to feel that again." I tried to move away from him but he wouldn't let me.

"I just need one thing." Before I knew what was happening, he had me against the wall and his lips were moving against mine. His arms wrapped around my waist and he pulled me flush against his body. I had been waiting for this since he woke up and I let myself get lost in it. My hands worked their way up his chest and into his hair, as I pulled and tugged on it, trying to get closer to him.

Then I remembered, this wasn't real. This Ronnie doesn't love me, doesn't want me to be his wife. I ripped my mouth away from his and pushed him away. "Don't do that again."

He smirked and moved closer. "What? You know you enjoyed it just as much as I did."

"Of course I did, because I love you. It's not the same for you. You don't even want me here."