She throws me another ugly glower before reaching for Georgie again, giving her an earnest look. She brushes away the tears rolling down Georgie’s cheeks.
“Get away from her,” I snarl, ready to physically remove Georgie and talk to her alone. Ready to love her with my body, just to let her know how much I care.
“She’s her daughter, Sloane,” Jaeger says in warning. “Her sixteen-year-old daughter.”
Meaning, I can’t fucking interfere, so I stand there and watch this sad little show and reach new levels of detestation for Cassandra.
“Georgie, love, Mom bought you a pretty necklace,” she says, referring to herself as if she’s discussing someone else entirely. “It’s diamonds with a big pretty amethyst in the center. The moment I saw it, I knew you’d love it. It’s a wonderful cheer-up gift, given from my heart.”
“You didn’t sleep with him, did you, Mom?” she whispers, slapping her own tears away with the back of her hand.
“You’re questioning me? Your mother? Didn’t you hear about my gift? Are you that ungrateful that you can’t even thank me?” She narrows her eyes. “Are you hiding your guilt by questioning my integrity? Did you sleep with this person?”
Fuck.
Here it is, but, true to her word, Georgie shakes her head. Her expression doesn’t change. “No, ma’am.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
“Does it matter if I’m lying or not?” she snaps. “Since when do you give a fuck if I fuck an entire football team of men?” Angrily, she swipes at more tears. She’s flushed and overwrought. “I haven’t had sex with Sloane, Mom,” she sniffles.
“I could take you for an exam.”
“Jesus. All that would prove is…nothing. Not all hymens survive childhood. You do know that, right?”
Cassandra curls her lip. “Another useless fact that serves what purpose?” she says haughtily. “None. Zero. Zilch.”
“Take me to the doctor,” Georgie says quietly. “Like now. Today. His DNA isn’t inside of me.”
I’m a goddamn pervert. Her words make me want to put my dick inside of her. My tongue. My fingers. My spit. My cum. I want to eat her up and fuck her brains out.
“I don’t have time to bring you anywhere,” Cassandra announces in a hard voice.
Georgie swallows and drops her head. “I…can we do something. Me and you? I love you. I miss you.”
“Sorry, no. Your father and I have plans.”
“It doesn’t have to be a long day,” Georgie presses. “We can have a burger, fries, and a milkshake…”
Her voice trails off at Cassandra’s gasp and look of outrage. “Do you know the only other demographic more invisible than women over thirty-five, Georgie? Fat, out-of-shape people of any age.”
While Georgie searches for a response, we all exchange incredulous glances amongst ourselves, commiserating over a crazy bitch.
“It’s just one burger,” Georgie says in bewilderment. “You’re gorgeous. One burger won’t change that.”
“My answer is no, Georgiana. I’m the adult here, your mother, and you’re following my order!”
“It’s about time you remembered,” Georgie shot back.
The deserved jab pisses Cassandra off enough that she delivers a slap across Georgie’s face. “I refuse to have you turn into a fat, little slut. If you’re lucky, you’ll die before you’re thirty-five. But what you won’t do is open your legs to Sloane Mason, who takes a new woman to his bed every night. You won’t make a mockery of the kindness your father and I offered by talking this singer into making you feel more special than you are. He says that isn’t the case, but look at you. What man has time to raise you? He has to have stunted growth in his brain and a jail wish to spend time with you otherwise.”
Color drops from Georgie’s face, except for Cassandra’s handprint, and she wilts, shutting down all emotion. Even towards me. I open my mouth to speak, to bring her back. A tantrum. A demand. A smart ass comment. I don’t care. Anything is better than the way she’s turning into herself and pushing everyone else out.
Instead of allowing me to speak, to offer to bring her for a burger and fries, she runs from the studio.
Cassandra smiles. “This wouldn’t have happened if you would’ve answered your phone.”
My fingers clench and I step toward her, but Kiln holds me back. The others suddenly surround me. Not to protect Cassandra. To protect me from myself.
“Get out.” I consider strangling her. She doesn’t deserve to live after the scene I’ve just witnessed. “Don’t come near me again or I’ll not be responsible for my actions.”
My words aren’t a deterrent. “I’m not sharing you with her. She needs to leave something for me. If I can’t have you, neither can she.”
I jerk away from Kiln and rush Cassandra, satisfied when she stumbles back, fear flashing in her eyes. “Are you going to fucking kill me to keep me from her?”