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be proud of, and I’m going to do what I always promised him I would do someday, which is try to earn Cassie’s friendship back.
    This week is about family, and I know Carl would agree that there is no greater blessing. Just the fact that Cassie came here with the kids is huge. It says she’s still the woman she used to be. It says she cares. It makes a statement that we’re still a unit, and that is the best gift I can have at this terrible time. With Cassie here, making it through this ordeal might crush me, but it won’t break me.

CHAPTER FOUR
    October 1995
    Cassie
     
    Football season is my favorite time of year. To be honest, I don’t understand the game, but I don’t need to. Our marching band provides enough excitement in the stands. You’d think a bunch of geeky high school kids would be far less exciting than the football players and cheerleaders, but you’d be wrong. There’s so much drama going on in this group of 75 kids it’s not even funny.
    We’ve just finished playing our victory song when a bunch of my friends pop over to find me on the bleachers. It’s a fairly big crowd: my best friend Janie and her new boyfriend Dave, Janie’s cousin Steph, a couple girls I know from chemistry class, and some boy on crutches who won’t stop staring at me. He’s super tall and really hot and wearing a varsity jacket with a graduation date that means he’s a junior. He sees me looking and smiles even wider. Leave it to me to attract an underclassman. Though he is a really, really cute underclassman.
    I’m freezing, and the cold tends to make me whiny, so my boyfriend Steve was just on his way to buy me a hot chocolate. The moment he leaves, the kid on crutches plops down next to me - right in Steve’s spot - and scoots close. The first thing I notice are his eyes, which are a beautiful shade of blue and fringed with thick, dark lashes, the kind girls are always jealous of.
    “Torn ACL,” he explains cheerfully, motioning to his injured leg. “That means you’re going to have to drive.”
    “Excuse me?” I make sure my tone is a little bitchy, but I smile, so he knows I’m flirting. This kid is really cute - dark curly hair and a smile to die for. When he grins a certain way his dimples show, and he has the most perfect teeth I’ve ever seen.
    I’m liking this way more than a girl with a boyfriend should.
    “Our date. Can’t drive you anywhere right now. But I’m getting surgery in a few weeks, so don’t worry. I’ll be alright for prom.”
    I actually laugh out loud. “Oh, we’re going to prom together now? Did you miss the part where I have a boyfriend?”
    “Who, that guy?” He waves his hand dismissively. “You’re done with that guy.”
    I laugh again. “Oh, really? I am? And why is that?”
    He reaches out and gently tugs a lock of my hair. “Because you just met me.” Coming from anyone else’s mouth, it would sound cocky as hell, but his eyes tell me he’s not an asshole. He’s a terrible flirt, but he’s genuine.
    “That’s very fascinating, but I don’t even know your name.”
    He offers his hand. “Grady Mahoney.”
    “Cassie Daley.”
    “I know who you are, Cassie Daley.” He doesn’t let go of my hand. He kisses my knuckles and I laugh. His game is bold and ridiculous. That can’t ever actually work, right? But he’s still holding my hand and I’m still letting him.
    Our friends are watching us with amusement. Half the band is watching us, too, and I’m conscious of the fact that Steve will be back any minute with my hot chocolate. But I don’t make a real effort to tug my hand away.
    “So, next Friday? We’ll go see ‘Romeo + Juliet’. It’ll be out by then.”
    He lets go of my hand and I realize it’s because Steve has returned with the hot chocolates. He looks confused and slightly annoyed to see Grady sitting in his spot, but he hands me my drink.
    “Sorry, the line was long,” he apologizes, his eyes cutting back and forth between Grady and