“You look . . .” he began, running a hand through his messy hair. “More like yourself. More like the Cass I know.” Of course Brett knew her, had an inner sense that it was really her again. Things had gone bad between them recently—but he had still been her first love, and an important part of her life.
“Brett, can I come in? There are some things you need to know.”
When she got inside, she explained that she and Charlie had switched places, that it had been her sister, not Cass, who had shouted at him the other day. “But it doesn’t change anything. We aren’t right for each other. We’ve outgrown each other, we have different values. It’s time to stop holding on to the past like this, and move on.”
Brett was silent at first. “I get it,” he said, surprising her. “Look, maybe it wasn’t you giving me a talking to the other day, but I needed it. It was a wake-up call. Walking away from the bakery that day, finally letting myself picture a life without you? It was what I needed. I realized something in that moment: I was clinging to the past. And I was ignoring what you wanted. I was trying to keep you because I was doing what I always do in my life: trying to keep up appearances. When I realized it was really over— Well, the thing is . . . Cass, I felt relieved, not sad.”
“Oh, Brett.”
He stepped closer to her but for once didn’t try to kiss her or touch her, or call her a pet name. “But you know what else I’m relieved about?” he continued. “That it wasn’t really you the other day. Because what would break my heart would be to not have you in my life at all, Cassandra Goodwin. You don’t spend more than a decade with someone and then forget them, just like that.”
“No,” Cass said, her eyes shining with tears now. “You certainly don’t.”
“So . . .” He stepped back again and held out his hand. “Friends? Shake on it?”
Cass laughed. “This is not a real estate deal!”
She closed the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him for a hug. He did the same. It wasn’t like it was with Miguel; no sparks flew, and she felt no urge to stay there forever. But it felt good, it felt right. And it felt final.
Eventually, she pulled away. “Speaking of real estate, we need to talk . . .”
* * *
? ? ?
By the time Cass left Brett, the sun was high in the sky and struggling to shine through the thick blanket of snow clouds gathering over the town. They looked swollen, ready to unload. But Cass had seen enough of these mountain snowstorms to know she still had a bit of time. She headed along Main, then turned onto Cornelia Street, which was where Sharon lived. Cass rang Sharon’s doorbell.
“Cass, what are you doing here?” Sharon said, her tone icy. Cass wondered how many bridges Charlie had burned while she was away.
“Do you mind if I come in for a minute?” she asked.
It didn’t take long to tell the tale of the swap, but Sharon didn’t appear moved.
“I can’t believe you two are still doing stuff like this,” Sharon said. “I wish our high school friends were here to witness this. Some things never change, I guess.”
Cass was sure they never had any friends in common but pushed along to more important things. “We’ve learned our lesson this time. And I’m sorry if there were any misunderstandings while I was gone. But please know, Charlie and I have had a lot going on this past little while. I hear you have, too. That’s kind of why I’m here. Apparently, you’re starting a dog biscuit business? And you’ve got a plan to bake dog biscuits using sourdough? I was over at Brett’s just now, and he told me word on the street is you’ve even got your own starter.”
Sharon’s expression changed from guarded to proud. She jumped up from the table and opened her fridge, revealing trays and trays of dog biscuits. “I am. The company is called Top Dog, and now that I’ve got my own starter going, let me tell you, the biscuits are going to get even better than they already are. I’m sure Jake told you his Bonnie already loves my Turmeric Treats.”
Cass grimaced. “Turmeric treats?”
“Oh right. Jake wouldn’t have told you, he would have told Charlie. You know he and Charlie are a thing, right?” Sharon dropped the tray on the counter and gasped. “Oh my God, does he know that you’re Cass, and Charlie is Charlie, and . . . oh my God.”
Cass was momentarily speechless. Well, that explained the bizarre interaction she’d had with Jake outside the bakery. But now wasn’t the time to unpack any of this, so she refocused on Sharon. “Sharon, you know how you said earlier that some things never change? How you suggested it was a touch immature of my sister and me to still be swapping places when we’re twenty-eight years old. Well . . . perhaps the same goes for you.” Uttering difficult truths like this had not been her style—until recently. It felt good. “We’re not in high school anymore, Sharon. Spreading rumors around town might not be the best use of your time—especially if you’re trying to start a business.”