The thought made her body seize—which Erin read wrong, ran her fingers faster, and even though it hadn’t been a precursor to an orgasm, Cassie got there anyway.
“What were you saying?” Erin teased while Cassie got her breath back.
Cassie could tell her face heated from more than just the orgasm, but maybe Erin didn’t notice.
“I’m glad I gave you a key,” she said. It wasn’t a lie, even if it wasn’t what she had been going to say. Erin beamed and Cassie’s chest clenched and, oh, she was in trouble.
“I am, too,” Erin said. “And I’m all yours tonight.”
“What?”
“I don’t have to be back in Nashua until tomorrow.” She grinned.
Of course the first time Erin could spend the night was when Cassie realized she had feelings for her. Cassie closed her eyes and tried to remember how to breathe.
“You stay here,” Erin said, getting up. Cassie looked at her. She had a smirk on as though she thought the orgasm was what had Cassie like this. Cassie was not planning to dispel her of that notion. “Do you wanna order food?”
“Chinese.” Cassie said. “Orange chicken and I don’t care what else. There’s a menu from my favorite place on the fridge.”
“Okay,” Erin said. She leaned down for a kiss. “You recover, and I’ll handle dinner.”
She sounded annoyingly smug. But thinking she made Cassie come so hard she needed to rest was better than realizing Cassie had feelings for her, so Cassie let her tease.
As soon as she was out of the room, Cassie grabbed her phone.
Cassie [Today 8:42 PM]
Kaysh what the fuck am I supposed to do
Cassie [8:42 PM]
I’m into Parker’s mom
Acacia must’ve been in a fight with Donovan, because she had her read receipts on—she turned them on whenever they fought because she was petty, and Cassie normally loved it, but she hated it right now. Hated seeing Read 8:42 P.M. and no sign of Acacia responding.
Cassie [8:44 PM]
Kaysh? I am into Parker’s mom
Acacia [8:44 PM]
Yes and?
Cassie [8:44 PM]
No like. I am into her
Acacia [8:45 PM]
What about this is new, Klein?
Cassie was freaking out because Acacia needed to understand.
Cassie [8:45 PM]
I ALMOST TOLD HER I LOVE HER
Read 8:45 P.M. sat there for more than a minute before Acacia started typing back.
Acacia [8:47 PM]
So you figured out you’ve been dating for the past six months?
Cassie [8:47 PM]
Acacia this is not funny. She is in my apartment ordering dinner and I almost told her I love her???
Acacia [8:48 PM]
1.) It’s a little funny 2.) I’m not joking.
Cassie [8:48 PM]
Wtf am I supposed to do
Acacia [8:48 PM]
The same stuff you’ve been doing bc you’ve been dating for half a year? Except like, tell Parker
Cassie [8:49 PM]
Jesus Christ I am into PARKER’S MOM
“Hey,” Erin said from the doorway, and Cassie almost dropped her phone. Erin grinned. “Didn’t mean to scare you.”
Erin was in just a T-shirt and underwear, leaning against the doorframe, and Cassie was absolutely, 100 percent into her.
“I’m gonna take a shower while we wait for the food,” Erin said. “Wanna join me?”
Cassie swallowed. She wanted to, yes, but she wanted to get her shit together more.
“Nah,” she said. Erin’s face fell a little, and Cassie rushed to recover. “If I join you we’re gonna be a lot longer than it takes the food to get here.”
Erin laughed. “Touché. See you in a bit.”
She stripped the T-shirt off right there and tossed it at Cassie. Cassie caught it before it hit her in the face. Erin threw a smile over her shoulder when she headed down the hallway.
Cassie [8:51 PM]
Shit Acacia it’s bad
Cassie [8:51 PM]
Why didn’t you tell me it was this bad
Acacia [8:52 PM]
I’VE BEEN TELLING YOU FOR MONTHS
Cassie knew that, of course, but seriously, couldn’t Acacia have tried a little harder? She might very well be in love with Parker’s mom. She needed like a full sit-down intervention.
Cassie [8:53 PM]
I know, I know. Just like … wtf man wtf am I doing
Cassie thought about it. Thought about all the time she’d spent with Erin, all the time she’d spent telling Acacia they weren’t dating. She thought about how Erin made her feel—warm, and happy—and knew that was the case long before now. She thought about what she’d heard Erin say to Rachel, and she made a decision.
Cassie [8:55 PM]
It doesn’t have to change anything tho
Acacia [8:56 PM]
???
Cassie [8:56 PM]
You’ve said I was into her all along, right? So just because I know now doesn’t mean anything has to change
Acacia [8:57 PM]
This sounds like a bad idea
Cassie [8:57 PM]
Why? We do what we’ve been doing for the rest of the summer, and when I head to Caltech, I find someone else to fuck and get over it
She felt fake even writing that, but she could do it. She was Cassie Klein; she could do anything.
Acacia [8:58 PM]
Just get over it, that sounds easy
Cassie [8:58 PM]
Well what do you think I should do, Kaysh?
Acacia [8:58 PM]
Talk to her. It’s not like this whole thing has been one-sided. She’s probably into you, too
Cassie [8:59 PM]
No, she’s not.
Acacia [8:59 PM]
Cassie just give it a chance
Cassie [8:59 PM]
I’m telling you she’s not. I heard her talking to her friend about it
Acacia [9:00 PM]
What?
Cassie [9:00 PM]
She said we weren’t dating just because I was good in bed
Cassie added a smirking emoji, tried her usual bravado. It didn’t work. She thought about that day, wondered if the way her stomach dropped was less about Erin’s tone and more about Erin’s words. Wondered how many things she’d lied to herself about when it came to Erin.
Cassie [9:01 PM]
It doesn’t matter. I gotta go. She’s in my shower and food’s gonna arrive soon. I’ll talk to you later
Acacia [9:01 PM]
Cassie. Are you okay at least?
Cassie [9:02 PM]
I’m fine, babe. Just had great sex and about to eat delicious Chinese food
Acacia [9:02 PM]
Remember how you’re not supposed to tell me about your sex life?
Cassie [9:02 PM]
You asked
Cassie heard the shower turn off as she got dressed. She was fine, really. Being into Erin was not a big deal. She deleted her recent messages and went to get cash for the delivery guy.
* * *
Erin woke Cassie up with her mouth.
Cassie came two minutes before she needed to be awake for work.
“Good timing,” she said when she realized it.
“I checked when your alarm was,” Erin explained. “And acted accordingly.”
Okay, who wouldn’t be into this woman?
Cassie had convinced herself the whole I love you almost-slip was only because of a couple orgasms. She didn’t love Erin; she was just into her. Which was still scary as fuck, but she could handle it.