Finding Cassidy Read Online Free PDF

however, it appeared quiet was doing me.
    I was not, in more ways than one, the easiest girl Jason had ever dated. Aside from the fact that I was a year younger, I was blunt and opinionated. I wasn’tbig on his party scene, and he wasn’t big on the fact that I hoarded my virginity like a prize.
    Now I had to tell him I was a walking time bomb on two legs.
    “You need to wait for that last test, Cass.” He stuffed the wrappers back in the bag. “There’s always a chance the other two were wrong.”
    I didn’t respond.
    “Doctors make mistakes.”
    I was still quiet.
    “It’s true,” he insisted. “They get lots of false positives. Mom told me once.”
    How would his mother know? She cut hair for a living.
    “Your dad’s healthy. I’d bet money on it.”
    I turned to face him. Our knees touched. It was such a normal, comforting thing, touch. “It’s genetic,” I managed to whisper. “If Dad has it, there’s a 50–50 chance I have it too.”
    He whistled. “Holy shit.” He set my coffee aside and pulled me close. I inhaled the clean, citrus scent of him and fought back tears.
    “There’s a blood test I can take.” My words were muffled by the folds of his coat. “I read about it online last night.”
    “When will you know about the third test?”
    “Tonight.” I pulled away and retrieved my coffee. “Can we get together later, after your shift at Finnelli’s?”
    “Max is having a party. I was hoping you’d come.”
    Great. “I’m not exactly in a party mood.” Parties were loud and smoky, and I always ended up with a headache the next day, whether I drank or not.
    “You need the distraction,” Jason said. “Some good music, some positive energy.”
    A new life. “We could go somewhere and talk,” I suggested tentatively. “Just the two of us.” I sounded like a whiny, pathetic baby, but I couldn’t help it. I needed to make sense of things.
    “We can talk at the party. Cass, look, it’s just—” Jason flicked his hair off his face. “You don’t know anything for sure yet. And even if your dad has it, you probably don’t. Sitting at home worrying is useless.”
    He was right about that.
    “Meet me in the parking lot at Finnelli’s about 9:15? Please?”
    It wouldn’t kill me to go to Max’s. And Jason was right—it would be a distraction. “Okay.” I squeezed his arm. “Thanks for ditching Mike and having lunch with me.”
    He kissed my forehead. “I care about you, Cass. I’m here for you.”
    I studied his face over the rim of my coffee cup. What if I had Huntington’s? I wondered. Would Jason be there for me then?
    It was after three by the time Jason dropped me at my car and I headed home. Rain splattered the windshield as I pulled in beside Mom’s Lexus. Dashing inside, I caught sight of Dad through the study window. He was on the phone, and laughing. That was a good sign.
    When I headed into the kitchen, the smell of garlic and spices hit my nose. Spaghetti sauce. My favourite. There was something on top of the microwave, too. I dropped my knapsack, tossed my coat down and went to check. Warm butter tart squares. Another good sign. Mom baked only when there was something to celebrate.
    “Damned contact lenses,” Mom said, walking into the kitchen. “I swear I’m allergic to them.” She rubbed her eyes, hurried to the fridge, bent down to remove lettuce and radishes. “How was your afternoon, baby?”
    Mom couldn’t fool me. She’d been crying. And that was a rare thing. Mom was tough. We sometimes joked that she should have gone into politics, not Dad.
    “I…” My saliva had dried up, it took forever to form words. “I saw Dad laughing as I came in the door. I figured it was good news.”
    She unfolded herself from the floor, shut the fridge and turned. My heart practically stopped at the look of grief on her face.
    “The test came back positive, didn’t it?”
    Her eyes brimmed with tears. She nodded.
    “How bad?”
    She flapped her hand in