Cassidy

I practically jumped. It wasn't Zayne's voice that I heard so I figured it was just another random stranger about to see me naked. Thankfully, it was just my friend Cassidy. I was still embarrassed but at least it was someone I knew.

"Having a good time Jack?"

"I've had better days." I blushed still cupping my junk as best I could.

"You are in a...unique situation...but truth be told, in all the time I have known you I have come to recognize you as a cheerful person but not even I have never seen you smile this much. Despite the circumstances, you actually managed to radiate happiness."

"You can thank Zayne for that." I smiled and rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, then I shot my hand back down remembering I need all the cover I could get.

Cassidy giggled, "You really like him that much, huh?"

"I don't recall liking anyone this much before." I spoke honestly. I knew it would be pointless keeping anything from Cassidy. I was her neighbor long enough to know about that remarkable intuition of hers. Even my dad, who had so much pride, would sometimes try to trick some financial advise out of her despite choosing to live more humbly, but she would always catch on. I personally think that she's clairvoyant or a secret telepath, but of course, I'd never share that thought with anyone. I don't want anyone to think I'm crazy but I also enjoy the surprised reaction people get when she guesses something bizarrely accurate about them. Dad just suspected she might be a spy. He had a knack for thinking the worst of people. I never wanted to be like that, even during the days I thought he was perfect. I wonder what my father would think about my feelings for Zayne?

"I doubt your father would approve of you being in love with guy."

See?! It's like she can read my mind! Or maybe she foresaw the end of this whole conversation like that oracle lady in that one movie!

"I'm not reading your mind Jack nor can I see the future. I just want to know if your going to let your dad come between the two of you because I know exactly what's going to happen once he finds out." Seriously?! Like that was gonna convince me! But I couldn't ignore her point...

I shrugged, "Believe it or not, I've put in a lot of thought about this. Or at least, a situation similar to this. I spent my whole life just going along with whatever he said. I did it because I thought that he was right about everything. Then his whole company went to hell because of his bad decisions. After that, he got sued for firing a guy who tried to save him from that. I stuck by him through all his failures and out of nowhere he told me that 'I was and adult, I should be able to fend for myself' while he went off to try and make another fortune (and he is failing at that too). I agreed that I should be able to handle myself but I was never taught any important life skills, so I didn't know what to do. If it weren't for my friends, I would be dead on the streets."

"Do you resent him for leaving you high and dry?"

I shook my head, "I wish he let me do things on my own sooner. Once I got over all the denial of my father's perfection, I slowly realized what really mattered. All my prep friends ditched me when I couldn't pick up the bill with my trust fund. But ever since Rorke, Avery, and Santiago supported me even when I couldn't offer them anything in return, I was so moved I wanted to do the same for somebody else. So to answer your previous question: No. I'm not gonna let Dad come between us. I'm not entirely sure there is an 'us' to begin with. But if there were, there is no way in hell I'm going to ditch Zayne just because my dad is narrow-minded. I don't even know if I can. Zayne is the first guy I ever liked simply because I just can't resist him."

Cassidy smiled widely, "An excellent answer, I promise I will do everything to support you two." She slapped me on the butt reminding me once again that I was naked. "Just be prepared for some other hardships along the road to romance. But don't worry, at the very least you will bring a lot of smiles to a lot of faces even if it is at your expense." Damn it! What does she mean by that?

Cassidy just skipped away leaving me bare-assed in the wind. That's when someone else came along.