That bad?
It wasn’t. And it was only two weeks. Dinner had been fine, not counting that one conversation. But Cassie couldn’t tense up every time Erin smiled at her. Erin wasn’t flirting. She wasn’t interested. She’d made that clear. Which wouldn’t be a big deal if Cassie could just get over herself.
Acacia [9:47 PM]
Get some sleep. It’ll be better in the morning. No jet lag and stuff.
Acacia [9:48 PM]
Also wtf just control yourself?
Cassie pretty much agreed with all of that.
The next day, Cassie woke up before she wanted to. During finals, she’d lived off coffee and any energy drink she could get her hands on. She needed caffeine.
She mostly stumbled down the stairs, eyes not fully open yet. The door to Parker’s bedroom was still closed. Erin was sitting on a stool at the kitchen island when Cassie walked in. She gave her a smile.
“Good morning.”
“Morning.” Cassie tried not to sound too grouchy. She stifled a yawn. “Coffee?”
Erin gestured to the pot. “Cups are in the cupboard above it.”
Cassie grabbed the first mug she could reach and didn’t realize until she was pouring her cup that it said WORLD’S BEST MOM on it. She didn’t care. It was everything she could do not to gulp it down steaming and black. She didn’t even like black coffee, but it smelled so good, and her head pounded. Erin pushed a carton of cream toward her on the counter; the sugar was next to it. A splash and a spoonful and as Cassie lifted the cup to her lips, Erin interrupted her.
“I hope you don’t mind that it’s decaf.”
Cassie sputtered. “It’s what?”
Erin’s eyes crinkled when she laughed. It’d be pretty if she weren’t literally laughing in Cassie’s face.
“Teasing,” she said.
“That’s rude,” Cassie said, and drank half her cup in one go.
Erin was still chuckling when Cassie plopped onto the stool next to her. Their elbows bumped together and Cassie immediately pulled hers away.
“Did you sleep well?” Erin asked, getting up to put the cream in the fridge.
Cassie nodded. “Not long enough, though. Parker better have a nap planned into our day.”
Erin turned back to Cassie and leaned against the counter toward her, stretching her shoulders. Cassie was now awake enough to remember Erin was really freakin’ attractive. The way Erin smiled at her made her wonder if her thoughts were written all over her face. She looked at the coffee left in her cup.
“Don’t worry,” Erin said. “Knowing Parker, she’ll see every single person she wants to see over the course of two days, and then be exceptionally lazy for the rest of break.”
“That’s what I like to hear,” Cassie said. She glanced at Erin, who was still smiling at her. Cassie told herself the warmth in her chest was from the coffee.
“Would you like me to make you something for breakfast?” Erin offered.
Cassie didn’t want to sound rude, but: “I’m an adult. I can make my own breakfast.”
“You’re a guest, Cassie,” Erin said. “And I’m a good hostess. And you probably eat horribly at college.”
Cassie smirked and responded without thinking. “I’ve been told I’m very good at eating, actually.”
Jesus, why was she so bad at this? She got up to put her mug in the sink so she didn’t have to look at Erin.
“I’ll believe it when I see it.”
Cassie pressed her lips together. Erin must’ve missed her double entendre, probably because she wasn’t expecting a cunnilingus joke before 9 a.m. But when Cassie looked at Erin again, she swore her eyes were sparkling.
If Erin hadn’t made it really clear how not into Cassie she was, Cassie would’ve thought she was flirting. She needed to text Acacia—surely she’d say exactly what Cassie needed to hear to make this stop.
“Anyway,” she said, and it felt like the most awkward transition ever, but she had to do something. “I’m gonna shower. Get the airplane feel off of me.”
“You saw the towels in your room? And Parker showed you where the shower is?”
“Yeah,” Cassie said. “I’m good, thanks.”
She texted Acacia before she was all the way up the stairs.
Cassie [Today 8:09 AM]
Please tell me not to do anything stupid.
Acacia [8:12 AM]
Dude 1) it is too early and 2) you owe me so much for being this good of a friend to you because I really feel like I’m being a shit friend to Parker.
Acacia [8:12 AM]
But yeah no, don’t do anything stupid
Cassie [8:13 AM]
Even if it seems like she was flirting with me?
Acacia [8:13 AM]
Especially then
The problem was it did feel like Erin was flirting. Maybe Erin was just that nice, but no one smiled that much in the morning, did they? Even if they did, it was a specific sort of smile; the kind Cassie had first seen across a crowded bar when she got caught staring. Maybe it was just Erin being an adult. Being mature. Maybe she smiled like that at all of Parker’s friends. Maybe Cassie just looked at Erin through heart eyeglasses like the ones Acacia loved to take selfies in. It was probably nothing, but it felt like something. It felt like Erin wanted her.
They didn’t have pancakes for breakfast in the end, because Parker didn’t get up until eleven, and they were meeting Parker’s friend Lila for lunch at noon. Cassie had spent the morning cooped up in the guest room on her laptop. She didn’t shake off her anxiety until they were out of the house.
After lunch with Lila, an Indian girl who was so pretty it wasn’t fair, Parker’s friend Caleb, who Cassie had already heard plenty of stories about, joined them for coffee. Lila and Caleb were both easy to get along with, mostly because they liked embarrassing Parker as much as Cassie did. Cassie retold the story of Sam and Parker at the party, adding in some parts about groping she hadn’t actually seen, but from the way Parker’s cheeks went red, apparently happened.
They were out for hours, and it was so fun that Cassie forgot to be anxious when they came home to Erin in a tight V-neck sweater. She looked really fucking good, and Cassie enjoyed it instead of worrying. They watched TV and during commercials, Parker updated Erin on her friends. Erin grinned as Parker talked about Lila’s plans to study abroad next year. Cassie couldn’t help but watch her, only a little embarrassed by how blown away she was by Erin’s gorgeousness. Erin caught her staring, and her grin went bigger. It was exactly like the night they met, and maybe it was just her good mood, but Cassie was completely unconvinced that Erin wasn’t interested in her.
“You look happy,” Erin commented when Parker was in the bathroom.
“Yeah,” Cassie said. “It was a good day. I’m glad I came.”
Erin smiled. “I am, too.”