BooksBarbecue
Back When We Were Bright and Beautiful Save as PDF
Chapters (72)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. Part One
  5. 1
  6. 2
  7. 3
  8. 4
  9. 5
  10. 6
  11. 7
  12. 8
  13. 9
  14. 10
  15. 11
  16. 12
  17. 13
  18. 14
  19. 15
  20. 16
  21. 17
  22. 18
  23. 19
  24. Part Two
  25. 20
  26. 21
  27. 22
  28. 23
  29. 24
  30. 25
  31. 26
  32. 27
  33. 28
  34. 29
  35. 30
  36. 31
  37. 32
  38. 33
  39. 34
  40. 35
  41. 36
  42. Part Three
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. Epilogue
  68. Author’s Note
  69. Acknowledgments
  70. About the Author
  71. Also by Jillian Medoff
  72. About the Publisher

“You know, Cassie. Don’t pretend you don’t. Diana and Billy broke up because of you. You’re the reason for this whole mess. It’s your fault. So don’t you dare suggest that he plead guilty just to save yourself.” Nate stands up. “I love you, Cassie. You’re my sister and a sour pickle, but you are also one dangerous cunt. Right now, I wish we never let you into our family. Actually, I wish we never met you.” He staggers out.

“Nate, wait.” My eyes fill. “Nate, don’t leave me.” Nate, I have no idea what you’re talking about. But I do know, of course I know.

34

ALONE, I TRAVEL UPTOWN. WHEN I FINALLY GET HOME, IT’S two-thirty. I stop by the celebration room and find Lawrence in his recliner, flipping through channels. The TV casts off murky shadows that move across his face, making him look like he’s underwater. Though he’s still wearing the button-down shirt and khakis he had on earlier today, he took off his shoes. On the floor, near the coffee table, his loafers are neatly aligned. They’re expertly polished, but both backs are broken where he slides into them.

“You came home.” When he glances up, Lawrence’s glasses go dark. For a second, he appears to have no eyes. “I wasn’t sure you would.”

“Stop saying that.” I’m very twitchy, too twitchy to sit with him. My brothers hate me. I don’t blame them. “You’re my family. Where else would I go?”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“So what?” I’m not as drunk as I was earlier. Between the mean things Nate said and the cab ride from Tribeca, I sobered up fast.

“Cassie, I’m just trying to connect.” Lawrence sounds hurt. “I’ve missed you.”

You’re repulsive.

He pats the couch. “Come, Forever Girl, have a seat. Tell me what’s what.” There are no whiskey or wineglasses around, but I can smell the booze. “Where’s Nate?”

“At his place. We went to a bar in SoHo.” I yawn. “I’m exhausted, Lawrence.”

“Just two minutes. Please?” His voice, deep and gravelly, pulls me toward him. “It’s lonely without you.” I do as he asks. Together, we stare at the soundless TV.

“I’m happy you’re home,” Lawrence says softly. When he talks, I see two heads, his own and his shadow, on the wall. “Everything is better when you’re here.” He reaches for my hand, which he cradles, gently, in his own.