Free The Forgotten Night by Becky Andrews

not like I don’t want to…”
    “It’s fine, Cass. I understand, so will Drew,” Rachel said.
    Cassidy wanted to hit herself when her heart leapt at the mention of his name.
     
    * * *
     
    Cassidy spent the next few days telling the staff what to do and where to put the incoming party supplies. They had everything set up just in time for the arrival of the first few guests. Cassidy greeted them and extended her apologies for the absence of her parents. As more people showed up, she didn’t worry too much about keeping the party going. The DJ was doing a pretty good job with the music and the bartender was supplying the guests with a supply of drinks.
    “Hey, Cassidy,” Robert said from behind her.
    She tried not to cringe at his voice and instead plastered a fake smile on her face. “Robert, you made it,” she said sweetly.
    “Of course I did. I’ve been looking for you for a while.”
    “Sorry, I’ve been busy looking around, checking on things,” she said absentmindedly as she continued to look around at the food platters, making sure they didn’t need to be refilled.
    “It’s almost midnight, stop working so hard and come with me. I have to ask you something.”
    Cassidy sighed softly and decided not to argue. He’d come all this way to be with her, and she’d only spent a couple of hours with him all week. “Fine, all the guests are gathering in the living room.”
    Cassidy held Robert’s hand and when they reached the living room, he whispered in her ear. She couldn’t quite make it out, but nodded in agreement anyway. Seconds later, he dropped her hand and walked in front of the crowd and cleared his throat loudly.
    Cassidy wasn’t sure what was going on, but she knew when someone addressed a large crowd it was never a good thing. From all the movies she watched, she had a bad feeling something she didn’t want to happen was about happen anyway. She cringed and waited for the crowd to quiet down.
    “Hello, everyone,” Robert said to the crowd. “Sorry to interrupt. I know some of you don’t know me, but most of you should know Cassidy Ames.”
    Cassidy cringed at what he was about to say. Her mind began carrying on a frantic monologue. Why does he always call me Cassidy anyway?
    “I know we’ve only been dating five months—”
    Five long months.
    “But I feel like we’ve known each other forever.”
    Really? How sweet…not.
    “I love you, Cassidy, with all my heart, and I know you feel the same.”
    How can he say that? How does he not see that I don’t love him? I have to break up with him.
    “So I’m asking you, in front of all your family and friends—”
    I don’t even know half these people. And please, I know what you’re going to ask, but please don’t. Please. Please. Please.
    He got down on one knee. “Will you marry me?”
    Oh. My. God. Everyone’s staring, what do I do? I can’t leave him hanging out to dry. I can’t embarrass him.
    “Cassidy?” he asked as he pulled out a ring from his pocket.
    “Uh….um….” Cassidy looked around at the crowd and saw their smiling faces and couldn’t disappoint them. “Yes,” she said simply, no tears, no smile just a simple ‘yes’.
    Robert forced the ring on her finger and kissed her just as the clock struck midnight. Cheers rang out from all around the room, party poppers were popped and confetti was thrown about as couples and friends wished each other a ‘Happy New Year’ with kisses.
    Andrew stood in the corner and watched the whole thing unravel. His stomach was twisted in knots and it didn’t even register that it was midnight. He stood watching Cassidy, watching her face. There was no happiness, no joy, nothing in her eyes to say she was in love, but she had said yes. She had told the bastard she would marry him. He watched her pull away from him and drag him behind her into her father’s study, the only place off limits to guests and parties.
    “Drew, I know what you’re thinking, but don’t. Did