You're Mine

Chaoter Twenty-Eight

A/N at the end !

Ashley

My entire chest just...froze.

Cassian didn't seem angry or frustrated just.. contemplative as he took the two of us in, our hands and bodies untangling as we both tried to straighten up.

I could feel my cheeks burn with shame. He had never been a bad boyfriend- had never done anything wrong and I knew the way I had ended things wasn't fair. But I was sick and we hadn't dated for that long.

"How did you know I was here?"

"Well, the press broke the story. I pieced it together with the letter you sent me.." He trailed off, eyes lingering on my hand as the diamond winked at us.

That was Ryan's last request.

That we get married, as we were always supposed to- spend whatever time we had left together. I certainly had no objections for more reasons than one. I was keeping those other reasons to myself for now however.

Ryan stood and walked over to Cassian- I braced myself. But he just stuck his hand out, a sympathetic look in his eyes.

"Ryan."

"I figured." Cassian sniffed but grabbed his hand anyway and shook it gently. "Cassian."

"I'm going to get some coffee- give you two some time alone." Ryan nodded politely and cast an eye over to her- I just nodded.

It hadn't really ever occurred to me how different the two men were until they stood side by side- Cassian was a little taller but where he was slender, athletic, Ryan was wide and powerful. His golden skin a contrast against the paleness of the other boy.

Cassian strode awkwardly for the sofa in the corner of the room and perched on the armchair.

"I won't stay long- you have another visitor." He didn't mention who, just glanced behind him as he spoke. "I guess I wanted to check on you."

I shook my head. "I'm so sorry."

"I should be saying that." His eyes were sad- it was something I had always appreciated about him. Cassian just..knew I was really sick. There was no need for explanation. "I'm not angry. I just wish you would've told me."

"So you could've been here?" I snorted. "No. You had a job and a life- if I'd made it look like anything other than a midlife crisis.."

"I would've followed you." He finished and my chest tightened at the clip in his voice. "But it seems it's for the best I didn't."

A nod to the ring. I couldn't help the small smile on my face as she surveyed it again- Ryan's mother's ring. He had asked for it three weeks ago but I'd been too sick for any kind of proposal up until now- this was the first reprive I'd had in weeks.

"How bad is it?"

I swallowed. "I think you can tell- it's okay to say I look like shit."

Almost a laugh out of him there, as I offered my usual smile. His eyes lit up but he couldn't quite manage it.

"Your friends miss you." But even as he said it, Cassian cringed as if he didn't believe it himself.

I just laughed. "No they don't- I saw all of them a few days ago. My friends are here Cassian- none of them were ever my friends. What is it you used to say? Dog eats dog world, right?"

"That it is.." His hands rubbed nervously over his legs. "Ally misses you. I know that for sure."

"I bet she does- her little money making machine." But there was no bitterness in my voice- just light teasing, anything to get that empty look out of his eyes. Anything to ease the guilt in my own. "I'm sure she'll have her hands full with her other clients."