Last Goodbye Read online

  Last

  Goodbye

  By

  Holly C. Webb

  Dedicated to the Memory of my amazing uncle Tony.

  I miss you more than you could ever imagine.

  Cancer is such a sucky disease and it always takes the best xx

  I would like to begin as always by thanking my husband. Thank you for your continued unconditional love. You are my best friend and the love of my life. Thank you for all your help, patience, and supporting me while I continued to chase my dream. You are my happy place… I love you xx

  To my two boys, love you both and am so very proud of you everyday x

  Special thanks once again to my bff and partner in crime Gem Evans. Gem, you are one of life’s true angels. You have no idea how much your friendship means to me. Thank you for all your help. I am honoured to consider you my bestie xx.

  Thank you to Sally Orchard and Denise Carmichael for helping me my book shine, but more importantly for your amazing friendship. I am so lucky to have you both in my life xx

  Big thank you to all the wonderful ladies in Holly’s Luscious Readers. Thank you all so much for your support and for brightening every single day.

  Finally, a big thank you, to you the readers, for taking a chance on me. I hope you love reading this book as much as I loved writing it. This journey would mean nothing without you all…..

  Love Holly x

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Epilogue

  Last Goodbye ©

  Holly C. Webb has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

  Cover design by Holly C. Webb

  Book design by Holly C. Webb

  No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means including information storage and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher.

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

  For further information, contact the author at [email protected]

  Chapter 1

  Cassie

  2013

  I fell in love with Evan Miller the summer of my fifteenth birthday. Though that’s not where our story started. I met Evan on the first day we moved into our new house. I was five and he was six. I was sitting on the front porch of the house when he came up to me and said he liked my bright purple sneakers, and that was it. We were best friends from that day on.

  He took care of me in a big brother kind of way, and as an only child, this meant more to me than he ever truly understood. He quickly became the centre of my world, and the one thing that got me through the rollercoaster that my life would turn out to be.

  Evan had three older brothers. Mike Miller was the eldest. He was five years older than Evan and the one he loved the most. He was always one of the cool kids at school. The star quarterback on the high school football team, and the one who dated all the prettiest girls. But there was also a kind, sweet side to him. He looked out for Evan, and also for me.

  Then there was Riley and Travis. They were twins and two years older than Evan. Sometimes they made fun of Evan, and he hated it, but he always knew they had their little brother’s back. They were the perfect family; one I wished was my family too.

  Still, they all looked out for me and thought of me more as their little sister. I knew deep down that they all loved me as much as I loved them.

  At home, there was just Dad and me. Mom walked out when I was six. I didn’t hear from her again until the day of my twelfth birthday. She turned up at the house with a brand-new bike and thought somehow this would make up for the fact she’d walked out on me six years before. She was so wrong. I just ran to my room and refused to even talk to her.

  Evan came looking for me. He sat beside me on the bed and just hugged me while I cried. It was the first time I saw Evan cry too. When I asked him why he cried, he said because he knew my heart was broken.

  That night, when Dad was tucking me in, I asked him why Evan cried.

  “Princess,” he said as he sat down on the edge of my bed. “When you love someone the way Evan loves you, your heart feels their pain too. You’re lucky to have a friend like him.”

  I lay in bed that night and thought about what my dad said. He was a man of few words, but when he did talk, he always made complete sense.

  William James North, or Will as most people called him, was a quiet man. A carpenter by trade, Dad ran his own repair store, where he fixed broken furniture and in his spare time, he created the most beautiful furniture you have ever seen.

  Dad and I were really close. I looked after him as much as he looked after me. After Mom left, Dad tried to be both a mom and a dad to me. He always tried to make life as happy and fun as he could. But I knew from a very young age that my dad was very sad deep down inside. He smiled all the time, but he couldn’t hide the sadness in his eyes.

  Despite everything, my life was good. Dad and I got on just fine, and of course, I had Evan.

  Evan and I worked in dad’s shop every Saturday, since I was twelve and Evan was thirteen and it soon became my favourite day of the week. After work, Dad always took us for pizza. Then home for a movie.

  More often than not, Evan and I would fall asleep while watching the movie. Dad would just come in and switch off the TV and leave us sleeping.

  It was one Saturday, about two weeks before my fifteenth birthday that my world began to come undone. Dad had taken us, as always, to Gino’s for pizza and a milkshake.

  “So, what do you want to do for your birthday?” Dad asked as we sat and waited for the pizza to be served.

  “I don’t know,” I shrugged before taking a sip from my milkshake. “What do you think, Evan?”

  He didn’t reply.

  “EVAN!” I shouted, bringing him back to the conversation.

  “I…I don’t mind. What movie do you want to watch?” He said, and I was surprised that he seemed to be blushing.

  “I was talking about my birthday, silly,” I laughed, confused by his reaction.

  “Oh,” he said glancing over his shoulder once again. “How about a party?”

  “I don’t know,” I sighed as I followed his gaze to see what he was watching. That’s when I saw her.

  Charlotte Palmer. She was in the same year as Evan in school. They would both be sophomores when we went back to school in September. I would be a freshman.

  I was so excited to start high school. Mostly because it would mean Evan and I could have lunch together again. The last year in school without him had pretty much sucked.

  “I don’t know if I want a party,” I said trying to bring Evan back into the conversation, ignoring the stab of jealousy I felt seeing Evan watch Charlotte. “I don’t really have anyone I can ask.”

  “You know loads of people, Cassie,” Evan laughed, as he turned back to me. “And I could ask some people.”

  “I’m not sure I'm th
at into it,” I shrugged, sighing as once again I lost Evan’s attention. I looked at my dad and he gave me a smile. I knew he could see what I was seeing, and I felt a little embarrassed.

  The waitress arrived with our pizza and I was glad for the distraction. I selected a slice and set it on the plate in front of me, but my appetite was suddenly gone. I picked at the pizza as I sat and listened to my dad and Evan chatting happily, but I didn’t join in.

  “You’re very quiet tonight,” Evan said as we rode home in the car together. I was sitting in the back of my dad’s truck and lost in thought.

  “I am not feeling so good,” I lied. The truth was, I was confused. Why was I so bothered that Evan clearly like Charlotte Palmer? He liked plenty of girls before. Why did what happen tonight bother me so much?

  “Earth calling Cassidy,” Evan said, and I realised he had been talking to me, but I hadn’t heard a single word.

  “Sorry,” I said and forced a smile.

  “Are you okay?” He asked and gave me a strange look. “You seem, I don’t know…distracted.”

  “I’m just not feeling well,” I replied, feeling a little irritated. “Actually, would you mind if we skipped the movie tonight. I think I’ll just go to bed early.”

  “If you’re sure,” Evan said looking at me closely. I thought he was going to say something else, but he didn’t. He stared at me for a moment before he turned back around in the car.

  My dad caught my eye in the rear-view mirror and gave me another smile. I smiled back before I turned my attention back to the window and to the outside world.

  Two weeks later, my birthday finally arrived. As much as I wasn’t that keen on the idea of a party, I had agreed to have one, and now I was even a tiny bit excited.

  Dad had agreed that he would stay in his room that evening but made us promise there would be no alcohol and of course we agreed.

  Since the night in the pizza parlour, I had done a lot of thinking. At first, I rationalized my feelings, saying I was simply concerned about our friendship, but the more I thought about it, the more I realised it was more than that. I loved Evan, and not just in the, ‘I love you like my brother’ way.

  I tried to tell myself I was just being silly. He was Evan, my best friend, but I knew in my heart, something had changed.

  I decided that tonight was going to be the night I told him how I felt. I knew I would be taking a huge risk, but it was something I needed to do.

  Evan’s mom, Clare had taken me shopping for the perfect dress and I was so happy when Dad said I was allowed to wear a little make-up. Clare helped me pick that out too.

  I spent all afternoon locked away in my room getting ready. Evan and Dad said they would get everything ready for the party and that I was to stay out of the way.

  It was a little after seven when there was a soft tap on the door.

  “Come in,” I said and took a deep breath. I thought it would be Evan, but it was just my dad. I smiled at him, trying to hide the disappointment I felt.

  “Oh, Cassidy!” Dad exclaimed as he stepped into my room. He quickly blinked back the tears and gave me a broad, proud smile. “You look beautiful, Sweetheart.”

  “You really think so?” I asked hoping I had managed to get everything just right.

  “I know so,” he replied. “Wait till Evan sees you.”

  “Is he here yet?” I asked trying but failing miserably to hide how excited I was.

  “Not yet,” Dad replied, but then, as if on cue, the doorbell sounded. “I bet that’s him. I will go let him in, then you can make your grand entrance.”

  I waited all of two minutes before I slowly followed Dad downstairs. I walked down the stairs expecting to see Evan standing there, but instead it was three girls from my class in school.

  It was almost eight thirty, and several guests later before Evan finally arrived.

  I was in the kitchen when I heard his voice and instantly, I felt happier. I turned as he walked into the kitchen and smiled, but my smile faded a little when I realised, he wasn’t alone. Next to him stood Charlotte Palmer.

  “Hey, Cassie,” he said as he came towards me and hugged me. “You look amazing.”

  “Thanks,” I said forcing a smile, trying my hardest to pretend my heart wasn’t completely crushed.

  “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said as he released me from his embrace. “I had to collect Charlotte and her mom was running late. She had to stay with her little sister until she got back.”

  “It’s fine,” I replied, swallowing the massive lump that was in my throat.

  “Here,” he said, as he pulled a small box from his jacket pocket. “Happy Birthday.”

  “Thanks,” was all I could manage to get out. I tried to focus on the box and not the fact that I just wanted to cry. I opened the box and found the most beautiful pair of earrings.

  “They are the ones we saw that day,” he said looking at me with the biggest smile on his face. “Remember, the day you came home and talked your dad into letting you have your ears pierced.”

  “I remember,” I nodded as my eyes glassed over with unshed tears. I stepped forward and kissed him on the cheek. “I love them.”

  “Hey, are you okay?” Evan said, holding me at arm’s length.

  “Yeah,” I nodded but to my horror a tear broke free and trickled down my face.

  “Cass,” he asked, his face was filled with concern. “What is it?”

  “Nothing,” I insisted. “I am gonna go show my dad these. I’ll be right back.”

  Before he could say another word, I hurried out of the kitchen and headed toward the stairs. I reached my dad’s room in record time. I burst in the door without even knocking.

  “Cassidy, sweetheart!” he exclaimed the moment he saw me. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  I couldn’t talk. I was completely heart broken.

  Dad sat me down and waited until I calmed down before he spoke again.

  “It’s Evan, isn’t it?” He asked and I just nodded my reply. “You like him, more than just a friend like him?”

  Again, I just nodded.

  “What’s happened?” He asked.

  “He brought a girl,” I whispered. “He was late for my party and he brought a girl.”

  “Oh,” was all dad said. “I’m sorry, Cass.”

  “I don’t really want to go back downstairs,” I sniffed.

  “I know you don’t,” he sighed and hugged me tightly. “But all your friends are down there, you can’t hide up here.”

  “But…” I began to argue.

  “Cassidy,” he said, using the tone of voice he used when he was telling me to do something under the heading ‘for my own good’. “You go wash your face, redo your makeup and go down there and show him just what he is missing. This is your party. Go have some fun.”

  As much as I didn’t want to, I couldn’t help but smile at what he said. I nodded before I kissed his cheek and headed for my room.

  Fifteen minutes later, with my make-up freshened and a smile on my face. I returned to my party. I had decided to put on the earrings that Evan had bought me, so when I got back downstairs, I went to look for him to show him.

  At first, I couldn’t see him anywhere and I was starting to think he had left, but then one of the girls from his class said she saw him heading out to the back yard.

  I thanked her and hurried for the back garden. It was dark and I couldn’t see him at first, but as I made my way down the pathway. I could hear voices.

  “I don’t think your friend likes me too much,” I heard Charlotte say.

  “Cassie is okay,” Evan replied. “She just gets a little clingy sometimes. I think it’s because her mom left her, she thinks everyone else will leave her too. Her mom leaving messed her up. But I know Cass, she’ll get over it. Besides, it’s not like I need her permission anyways.”

  “What if she doesn’t?” Charlotte asked and I held my breath. I didn’t even wait to hear his reply. I turned and hurried up the pa
thway back into the house.

  I was so hurt that he would talk about my personal life like that.

  “Hey, Cassidy, isn’t it?” A guy I thought was from Evans class stopped me as I rushed into the kitchen. “Are you okay?”

  “Yes,” I nodded and forced a smile.

  “Good,” he said giving me his most charming smile and holding out his hand. “I’m Matt, by the way. Happy Birthday.”

  “Nice to meet you,” I said taking his hand. I was surprised when he didn’t let my hand go. “And thank you.”

  “Has anyone ever told you how pretty you are?” Matt asked, moving closer to me. I was stunned, no one had ever talked to me like this before. “I bet you have all the boys chasing you.”

  He was now so close to me, his breath washed over my face. I could smell the mint and the faintest smell of alcohol. Before I could even reply, he kissed me.

  I was so stunned, for a moment I didn’t react, but soon I was kissing him too. Suddenly he began to move us and before I realised what was happening, he was leading us into the laundry room.

  Instantly I felt scared but was unsure what to do.

  He continued to kiss me until he had me pinned against the washing machine. I was about to make my excuses to leave, when he grabbed my breast in his hand tightly.

  “Matt,” I said against his mouth. “You’re hurting me.”

  “It’s okay, Cassie,” he said still kissing my mouth.

  “I want you to stop,” I replied.

  “But we are having fun,” he said as he suddenly dropped his hand and started to raise my skirt.

  “STOP!” I demanded as I tried to push him off, but he was too strong.

  Before I could even scream for help, the laundry room door flew open, and Evan came storming in. He pulled Matt off me and punched him in the face.

  “WHAT THE HELL IS YOUR PROBLEM, DUDE?” Matt shouted at Evan, holding his nose as blood poured from it.

  “SHE IS FIFTEEN, ASSHOLE,” he shouted back. “SHE’S A KID.”