Free All of Me (All of Me #1) by Tamsyn Bester, Bailey Townsley Page B

You were a mess when we met, and I watched it get so bad that it took me almost three weeks to get you out of bed. I wiped your tears when they became too much, I listened when you needed to talk, and helped you put yourself back together enough to survive until you were ready to move on. Do you think I would allow you to willingly put yourself through that again so that Jason can get back into your panties?”
    I sigh, throwing my hands up in exasperation, and sheer exhaustion. “I still love him, Cass! And obviously he still loves me too. Shouldn’t that mean something?”
    I sound ridiculous, but I’m having trouble making sense of my conflicting emotions.
    “Not after what he did to you. Love isn’t enough anymore, Lace. You need to trust him again, he needs to prove that he’s in this for long haul, and not just for a quick fuck.”
    I huff. “What do you know about love? You’ve been leading Kyle around in circles while you sample whatever else is on offer.”
    Cassandra’s face falls, and then I realize what I just said. I’ve taken it too far.
    “You’re right,” she says, her voice shaky. Her eyes glisten, and then the tears start rolling down her cheeks. “I was scared, Lace. I’ve never felt the way I feel about Kyle before, and it terrifies me. But you know what the difference is between you and me? I would never let Kyle treat me the way you allowed Jason to treat you. I have too much self-respect.”
    I flinch. Her words are like a knife to the heart. Not because she’s the one saying them, but because she’s right. The truth hurts.
    “Are you saying I have no self-respect?”
    Cassandra walks closer to me, and then rests her hands on my shoulders. “I’m saying you deserve better. You deserve a man who will give you everything you’ve ever dreamed of, including his heart. It hurts me to see you do this to yourself, but I can’t stand by anymore and watch this train wreck in slow motion.”
    “What are you saying?” I ask, wiping at my own tears. “Our friendship is over if I take Jason back?”
    Cassandra dropped her hands, and brushed my hair out of my face. “I’m always going to be here, Lace, no matter what, but you need some time to decide what you want. You’re worth so much more than you think, you just need some time to see it.”
    I drop my head, and struggle under the weight of this mess.
    “I’ll be at my hotel if you need me,” Cassandra whispers. She presses a kiss to my head, and walks out. When the door shuts, separating me from the rest of the world, I fall onto the sofa and let it all go.
     

CHAPTER 12
    J ASON
    I stand in front of Lacy’s apartment door, my hands braced on either side of the doorframe. I can hear her crying and it kills me inside to know that it’s more than likely my fault.
    I left the party not long after she did, and after driving around aimlessly for over thirty minutes, I ended up here. I could have easily gone up to the top floor where my penthouse is situated, but this is where I need to be, despite the fact that I’m stalling.
    I pretend to be contemplating whether or not to knock and go in, or just walk away. But I’ve walked away from her once, and it sucked. I don’t think I want to take that chance again.
    I straighten, and twist the doorknob. I find myself both relieved and annoyed that the door is open. Relieved because if I just walk in Lacy won’t be able to turn me away, and annoyed because, well, anyone could have come in.
    I push the door open, and walk in. The room is dark, with a single lamp lit in the corner of the living room. Lacy is crumpled on the sofa, crying, and I want nothing more than to wrap her up in my arms and make her hurt go away. Instead, I shut the door gently, and take tentative steps towards her. The floorboards creak, giving away my presence, and Lacy’s head whips up. She stumbles to her feet, and wipes furiously at her wet cheeks. Her eyes are swollen and puffy, and she looks so much younger,