Chapter thirteen

The sound of silence

Mickey rolled over on the bed, he could see Cassandra lying on her back staring at the ceiling. "Are you okay?" he asked trying to wrap his head around everything that happened after Chloe walked out of the party.

She inhaled slowly holding it before letting go, "I," She touched her hands to her face, "I've never been more embarrassed in my life." Cassandra didn't move, she kept going over the events. "This is horrible, we are terrible people."

"Are we?" Mickey took hold of her hand moving it from her face, "I know what we've been doing was wrong…"

"We were wrong," Cassandra sighed, "we should have been smarter."

Mickey sat up lightly, "We both could have done it differently," He ran a hand into his hair trying to not think too much. "I," He stopped talking see her sitting up.

"We could have been better at handling this," Her head rested on his shoulder feeling his arm wrapping around her waist pulling her closer. "Mickey, if you could rewind, would you change anything?"

"I wouldn't change anything," He caught her eye, "I just wish I could have found a way to end things with Chloe better." He exhaled a long breath, "I was so scared to lose Hector."

"Lose Hector?" Cassandra focused on Mickey.

He brushed a hand into her hair, "Aspa," He started, "Hector's mom made a condition that I can have joint custody of Hector as long as I am with Chloe." He let out a dry laugh, "So, that is why I didn't know how to end it with her, without losing him."

She did a double take, "Mickey…" adjusting herself to straddle his lap, her fingers brushing against his face. "Why didn't you tell me about this?" Her eyes searching his.

"I was scared," He felt a pull from her eyes, "I never really think much through." He reached for her face, "But after getting arrested, after my case being dismissed and hers not." He exhaled, "I think I wished for that love to come back, but it didn't."

She caressed his cheeks leaning in kissing him softly, his hands running into her hair kissing her deeper, they stop hearing the sound of a ringing phone.

Cassandra could see her phone lighting up on the nightstand, she reached for it slowly to see the name flashing up on the screen, "It's Demitri…"

"Do you think he's got more things to yell at us?" he asked feeling nervous.

Cassandra shrugged, "Should I answer?"

"Answer it," Mickey felt nervous.

She pressed the button, placing the phone to her ear she could feel her pulse racing, "Demitri," She spoke carefully.

"Cassie," He said blankly, "I must apologize for my actions last night," He started quickly, "I think I might have overreacted."

"Over…" Cassandra stopped herself, "I thought you was going to kill us!"

Demitri was silent for a while, "I want to say I should have handled it better…" He exhaled, "I am sorry, but I am standing by firing Mickey."

"I understand," Cassandra sighed, "what about me?"

Again, with the pause, "I'm sorry, but after last night, I don't feel safe with you running the club, you understand?" His voice sounded cold, but then Cassandra knew he was still mad about it all.

"I understand," She looked to Mickey, "It was nice working with you." Hanging up the phone she placed it back on the nightstand. "Well, he is sorry, but we're both still very fired."

"Yea," He watched as she got off him picking up a dressing gown, "So I need to go back to my apartment." He got off the bed also.

Cassandra nodded, "I have some errands to run," She closed her eyes covering her face. "I'm so happy I have savings." She uncovered her eyes to look at Mickey.

Getting dressed quickly Mickey couldn't shake his guilt, "I'll find something," He exhaled, "I'll give you a call once I get back to mine."

"Yea," Cassandra tried to smile, but felt she couldn't quite make it work. "I'm so happy that Keli is with Helena." She closed her eyes as Mickey quickly kissed her. "Then we can have a serious talk."

"Serious talk," Mickey nodded, "I got to…" He pointed to the door.

Cassandra could only watch as he left her in the bedroom, she sat back down looking into her mirror. Everything was out in the open, but it wasn't how she wanted it to get out.

Hearing the front door close, getting to her feet she headed into the shower. This wasn't going to be easy, but at the same time it was now out. Everyone knew what Cassandra did, but she wasn't going to let Chloe's actions ruin her.

Drying herself and finding something to wear, she glanced over a text on her phone, she gave a small smile as she quickly put her shoes on heading out the door to pick up Keli.

Not knowing what to expect when he returned to the apartment, Mickey hesitated at the front door as he opened it. He glimpsed into the hall, he stepped in closing the door slowly hoping for the best. The lounge looked the same, but as he took in the smaller details, the things that were Chloe's were gone. He walked into the kitchen, heading into the hallway he knew she wasn't here, and that he was alone.

Getting to the bedroom, all her clothes were gone, she didn't even bother closing the draws and closet. Mickey didn't know why he was feeling heartbroken, how was he feeling upset, when he was the one that did her wrong. He sat down on the bed, he opened a draw to see the things that Chloe had in there were also gone, but then photo of them on her side of the bed was still in the frame.

This wasn't a good ending, but it was the end of his relationship with her. Mickey closed his eyes falling back onto the bed, he needed to move forward. The memories started to come to him, seeing her at the party, the first time he brought her here.

Feeling his phone vibrate, he quickly see the caller ID, "Argyris, now isn't a good time."

"Mickey!" His voice was loud, "I heard what happened, and I am so sorry, but I've got good news." He sounded way too cheerful.

He sat up, "What is it?" He tried to push himself up, but he couldn't bring himself to move.

"I've found a few gigs for you, and also I'm sure that you're going to love them." He seemed to not know that Mickey wasn't happy. "I'm telling you, you're in demand."

"Yea," He finally stood up, "I," He stopped talking seeing the letter on the empty vanity table, "I've got to call you back." He hung up the phone unfolding the letter.

He read it over in a rush, but he had to slow and read it a second time to get an idea what Chloe had written to him. Mickey felt his mouth go dry, his eyes trying to will the paper to have something else written on it, but it was blunt, Chloe knew about his affair with Cassandra, she'd known for a few weeks, she wrote how she witness them at a café.

Mickey sat back down placing his hand to his forehead taking in each paragraph of her plan, he then clenched his jaw seeing the moment she lost her feelings for him, and as he got to the end it hit him. Chloe had written a letter to Aspa explaining how she thinks Mickey shouldn't be allowed to have Hector again.

"Fucking bitch!" He shouted to someone who was long gone, he felt sick ripping the letter up. "Fuck!" He got to his feet, he knew this letter had been posted a while ago, and now he was rushing out of the apartment. Mickey just hoped for anything that Chloe hadn't ruined everything in her attempt of revenge for his cheating on her.

He didn't think much of what he was going to say, this was the first time he'd been here since they broke up. He knew that he couldn't be with her, but then she ended things with him. Mickey didn't want to travel down that memory lane as he stopped in his tracks looking into the front yard of Aspa's house, he saw Hector running, but it was Kali running after him that caught him off guard.

"What brings you here?" Aspa's said as she stepped out into the yard looking to Mickey in surprise.

He felt frozen at the gate, "I," He tried to catch his breath from running, "Chloe, did she send you a letter?" He asked trying to remain calm, well as calm as he could be in this moment.

Aspa kept still closer to the fence, "She might have posted something through my door," Her tone dry, "But then I knew you two wasn't going to work out."

"Look," He inhaled, "I can't lose Hector, I'm begging…" He stopped talking seeing Cassandra exiting the house, "Cassie!" He felt confused.

Aspa smiled, "Did you not think our children being friends, that I wouldn't have gotten to know Cassandra?" She opened the gate. "Also, I am not going to stop you seeing Hector."

"Thanks," Mickey stepped into the yard feeling his son running into his arms, "Can I ask what is happening?" He lifted Hector up hugging him, but more focused on the two woman.

Cassandra shrugged, "I guess," She started, "A few weeks ago me and Aspa met up, and we hit it off, but I guess I didn't want to say anything to you and make things awkward."

"Awkward," Mickey tried to not laugh, "And the letter?"

Aspa rolled her eyes, "I read her letter a few weeks ago, she wrote about your affair, and that is when I spoke to Cassandra." She smiled to the other woman, "I got to know her, and finally told her about the letter." Her smile was soft. "She told me it was true, also that you are an amazing father to our son." She brushed a hand into Hector's hair, she was being nice for once. "Mickey, you are still immature, and impulsive, but with our son, you are not as bad as I thought."

Mickey placed Hector down, "Wait, weeks!" He laughed, "you've known for weeks…"

"Yes," Aspa nodded, "I originally lied to Cassandra, but today I told her the truth when she confessed to me." Her finger pointed at him lightly. "You should have told me sooner."

Mickey nodded, "I know," He glanced to Cassandra now, "How did you keep this from me?" He then thought about it, "She told you about the arrangement."

"Yes," Cassandra waved a hand, "I didn't want to say anything, well not until you ended it." She stepped closer to him, "I'm sorry."

Mickey felt lost, "So wait, you're telling me, that…"

"It's okay," Cassandra touched his arm, "You're not going to lose your son, and we can be together." Her hand brushed his face softly. "Unless you're mad at me…"

He felt her hand on his face, his attention to Aspa, back to Cassandra. "I couldn't be mad at you."

Smiling Cassandra lightly kissed his cheek, "I love you Mickey." She watched his eyes on her.

"I love you Cassie," He pulled her into his arms.

Epilogue
Love me like you do

Mickey walked down the street, he squeezed onto Cassandra's hand as she kept beside him. It had been a good few weeks, as he was grateful to the gigs he got, but at the same time he did miss the club. Even if most of them kept in touch, but it wasn't the same.

On the other hand, he could see Hector and Keli walking a head of them, both of them seemed to be loving the sleep overs and getting better at sharing.

He knew Chloe was long gone now, what he'd gathered was that she'd moved back to the States, and she was happier back home. Mickey knew he was the bad guy, but he wasn't going to dwell on the bad, he was happier too.

Cassandra glanced to her list, "You know, I've been thinking…" She slowed down, "I need to ask you something."

"What?" Mickey slowed his pace to match hers.

Stopping she faced him, "I've been thinking of an investment, and I want your opinion on it."

He brushed a hand into her hair, "What kind of investment?"

"It's here," She pointed to a building behind him.

Mickey slowly turned to look at the building, it was in a popular spot, and it had a for sale sign on it, "A bar?" He looked to it again trying to remember why this place felt familiar.

Cassandra could see his gears working, "This is the bar where we kissed."

"Oh shit!" Mickey now clicked, "And you want to buy it."

Cassandra nodded, "I am thinking it'll make a good place, it's in a popular spot, and will have the best DJ…" Her hand pulling him closer to her. "If he's interested."

"He's very interested," Mickey smiled pulling her into a kiss, "Have you thought of my question?"

Cassandra laughed, "I'm thinking of selling my place, and I guess we'd need a bigger place." She felt good about this.

"A big place for the kids," He pulled her into another kiss, "You're amazing." He kissed her again.

Music was blasting, the sign saying grand reopening hung outside the building. Cassandra kept behind the bar watching her new team serving an alarming amount of customers, and it was only nine. It was buzzing, and she was enjoying every moment of running up and down the bar helping.

Mickey loved his deck, he watched the people dancing and having a good time, but as he glanced up seeing Cassandra behind the bar, he couldn't help but smile bigger. This was perfect as he watched as more people were coming into the bar.

"Hey," Cassandra caught him off guard.

Mickey pulled her into a quick kiss, "This is a good opening night."

"Yea," She placed the glass down on the deck, "I'm so thankful to you." She couldn't believe it, "I mean you got Bastian to play here tomorrow!" She held her hand up.

Mickey nodded, "She's excited to meet you." He knew he was nervous for them to meet. "How's everything at the bar?" He asked.

"Great!" She gave his ass a squeeze before walking away from him.

He couldn't help but watch her walking away, he knew this was how love was meant to feel, and even though he felt bad for how this happened, he wouldn't regret it for a second.