And she was handling it. Dinner last night had been fine. Erin was so easy to be around; even when Cassie was having a minor panic attack about being into her friend’s mom, Erin had made her feel comfortable. They shared orange chicken and chow fun and crab Rangoons. Cassie had said you’re perfect instead of thank you, and Erin gave an adorable little smile in response.
Now she’d given Cassie an orgasm without making her even a minute late for work. It was totally reasonable that Cassie was into her, and it wasn’t a big deal.
Over breakfast, Cassie asked, “Did you have a patient yesterday or something? Why’d you come down?”
“No patient,” Erin said. “You said you were having a long day, and I thought I’d surprise you.”
Cassie flushed. She wondered if it was right before her period or something—she swore she wasn’t usually this stupid about having feelings for someone.
“And maybe I’ve been thinking of surprising you ever since you gave us your spare key.” Erin shrugged, then lost the battle to a grin.
“You wait two months and then picked this week to surprise me? Did you forget I’m coming up for a long weekend?”
“Speaking of, what if you came up Friday night instead of Saturday?” Erin asked. “That way you can meet Acacia at the airport, too.”
“I would, but Parker’s at Adam’s isn’t she?”
“Why do you think I’m asking you to come up early?” Erin smirked and waggled her eyebrows. “I’ll even make you dinner first.”
Cassie ignored the way her stomach churned. Erin obviously wasn’t using her for sex—she’d come down to the city just because Cassie had had a bad day. Even if she were using Cassie for sex, who cared? Getting used for sex by a MILF was basically a porno fantasy. Cassie should be honored, not upset.
Last night was their first night alone since spring break. Sure, Cassie snuck down the hallway most Saturday nights—and one particularly memorable one, Erin had done the sneaking—but Parker was always there. They had to be careful, and quiet, and quick. An entire night just the two of them, no worries about Parker or work in the morning?
“I’ll head up after work.”
When they said goodbye, Erin kissed her on the street by her bike, dirty and long, tugging a bit at the collar of her riding jacket.
“See you Friday.” She made it sound like a promise.
Yeah, there was absolutely no way Cassie was doing anything to fuck this up. Feelings or not, she did not want this to stop.
Midmorning, Acacia texted.
Acacia [9:50 AM]
Did you survive the night?
Cassie updated her on the situation, how being into Erin wasn’t a big deal and she was going to keep it up for the rest of the summer.
Acacia [9:53 AM]
Yeah since being in love (maybe?) with someone who doesn’t love you the same way is always so nice
Cassie [9:54 AM]
She can’t hurt me like Seth did, Kaysh. We’ve never been any sort of exclusive—she wouldn’t be breaking my heart sleeping with someone else or anything
Cassie hated the thought, but it wouldn’t be a big deal. She deflected.
Cassie [9:54 AM]
Just like I wouldn’t break her heart if I banged your brother
Acacia [9:54 AM]
Ew
Acacia [9:55 AM]
Also you’re not getting out of this conversation by talking about my brother
Cassie [9:55 AM]
Kaysh, I’m fine, seriously. If you want to bother me about it, do it in person when you come up THIS WEEK
Acacia [9:56 AM]
All right I’ll let you off the hook but only bc OMG I’M SO EXCITED TO SEE YOU AHHHH
Twenty-Four
ERIN
Erin hadn’t planned to invite Cassie up for Friday. But Monday night with her was so goddamn nice. The sex was some of the best yet—Erin had almost passed out at the sight of Cassie with the strap-on jutting out between her legs. So amid the post-coital hangover of the next morning, Erin had simply asked for what she wanted.
Now that Cassie had agreed to it, Erin didn’t know why she hadn’t been coming up on Friday nights the whole summer. They needed to take advantage of any time they could.
Erin danced around the kitchen as she gathered the ingredients for dinner. It’d been too hot all week, the kind of weather she tried to remember in the middle of winter but that also meant she wasn’t willing to turn on her oven. So she was making cold noodle salad with a spicy peanut sauce. There were butterflies in her stomach at the thought of making Cassie dinner. It was ridiculous—she’d made Cassie dinner more than a dozen times by now. It felt different tonight. She’d never cooked just for Cassie. Like a date.
She allowed herself to think about it. Just this once. Everything she’d said to Rachel still applied, but there was no harm in admitting— if only inwardly—that Rachel had been right, too: Erin and Cassie were basically dating. Before spring break, their relationship probably landed more in the friends with benefits category. The benefits weren’t even that frequent—they’d flirted, but never sexted after Valentine’s Day. After their night in Boston—which had definitely been a date—they’d started making dinner together over FaceTime. Since summer break started, they’d had plenty of benefits, Cassie coming up before Parker came back from Adam’s or sneaking down the hallway after she’d gone to sleep, but they’d had dates, too. The times Erin was in Boston for work and they’d go out to dinner before going back to Cassie’s apartment. The times Erin pretended she was in Boston for work then drove down, just to meet Cassie. Once they’d gotten lunch and hadn’t even had time for more than a kiss goodbye.
And now Cassie was on her way over for dinner, just the two of them. Tonight, Erin let it feel real.
Cassie arrived while Erin was cutting cucumbers. She didn’t wait for her to finish before kissing her.
“How was your ride?”
“Good,” Cassie said, running a hand up Erin’s arm. “This is better, though.”
Goose bumps followed Cassie’s touch, but Erin shook her head. “Patience is a virtue.”
“I’ve never been particularly virtuous.” Cassie kissed her again. “Can I help with anything?”
“Nah,” Erin said. “There’s not much to do.”
Cassie let out an exaggerated sigh and took one of the stools at the kitchen island. They chatted about their weeks while Erin sliced radishes. Whenever Erin glanced over her shoulder, Cassie’s eyes were on her, interested, intent. Erin forced herself to focus. It was that or slice open a finger.
She hadn’t realized Cassie had moved closer until she set down the knife and was suddenly pulled back, Cassie’s hips pressing flush against Erin’s ass.
“Maybe dinner could wait?” Cassie murmured.
Erin fought not to melt in Cassie’s grip. “Once the water boils, I’ll take a break while the noodles cook.”
“I don’t want to kiss you while the noodles cook,” Cassie said, nuzzling her nose just below Erin’s ear. It was embarrassing how little pressure it took on Erin’s waist to turn her around. “I want to kiss you now.”
She did just that.