Chapter 2

Silas raised his voice. "Fine, I'll pay you back tomorrow, alright?"

Cassidy had the kind of eyes that made people protective of her, and at present, they had a twinkle in them. She stepped over and took my hand, lowering her voice. "Whitney, it's just a couple thousand dollars. What's there to be mad about? Just apologize to Silas, and let's put this behind us."

I looked at her and suddenly felt like I didn't know her anymore. In the past, whenever Silas and I argued, she'd always have my back and chew out Silas for me.

In our four years of college, Silas was the one person Cassidy hated the most. She thought he wasn't good enough for me. Every time they met, it felt like a war was going on, and neither of them would back down.

They'd argue over everything under the sun, from what meals we should have and what movies we should watch to where we should go shopping. It used to give me a headache, and I'd just zone out on my phone to escape.

Until one time, I saw them suddenly burst out laughing together mid-argument. There was no hostility in their eyes, only affection.

I had thought I was imagining things. But now, I realized I'd been the fool all along. They'd been crossing lines right under my nose, hiding behind the cover of bickering.

I shook Cassidy off and said coldly, "I did nothing wrong. Why should I apologize?"

I hadn't used much force, but Cassidy staggered and fell to the floor.

Silas immediately shoved me aside and rushed to help her up. "Cady's injured her leg, and yet you shoved her that hard?" he shouted at me. "You're too much, Whitney!"

The back of my head slammed hard against the wall behind me, and I let out a groan from the pain.

Silas gently lifted Cassidy's skirt, revealing her swollen, red ankle. It looked like she'd twisted it.

Cassidy pulled her leg back, her face scrunched up in pain. "I'm fine," she said gingerly. "Whitney didn't mean to. Don't be mad at her."

But her eyes were red-rimmed, and she looked utterly pitiful.

Silas looked up at me. "Whitney, go and buy some ointment. I'll help Cady rub it in, or she won't be able to walk tomorrow."

I rubbed the back of my head and didn't respond.

Then, Silas grew impatient and barked, "Hurry, Whitney!"

I turned and went into our room, took out the half-empty tube of ointment, and handed it to him.

Silas' expression stiffened. He clearly hadn't expected me to have any at home. But Cassidy suddenly let out a pained whimper, snapping him back to attention.

He helped her onto the couch, opened the tube, and gently rubbed the ointment onto her swollen ankle with tender care.

I stood off to the side, watching them coldly.

Two weeks ago, I had also twisted my ankle. Back then, Silas had been in a rush to get in line to get Cassidy a pair of newly released designer sneakers. He hadn't even looked back at me, and I had to limp all the way back home myself.

When I called him to ask if he could pick up some ointment for me on his way back, he responded in an annoyed tone, "Just go to any pharmacy and have the pharmacist help you. I'm almost at the front of the line. Gotta go!"

Worried I wouldn't be able to make it to work the next day, I'd hobbled out to find a pharmacy despite the pain. That was how I ended up with the half-used tube of ointment.

"Ouch! It hurts, Silas! Can't you be a bit gentler?"

"Just sit still and bear with it."

Cassidy turned to me with a complaint. "Whitney, won't you do something about Silas? He's being so rough!"

Silas shot back immediately, "You should count yourself lucky! I've never rubbed any other woman's feet before!"

Cassidy pouted. "Who cares."

But she was clearly smiling.

Swallowing the bitterness in me, I turned and walked back into the room.

I opened my laptop, pulled up the job offer email from a company in Briarwood that had arrived at noon, and hit reply. I accepted the position and agreed to start in three days.