On The Rocks

“I don’t think Casey approves,” I say in a quiet voice. “And I won’t ruin my friendship with Casey over Hunter.”


Lillian sits back in her chair and makes a snorting sound. “First… if Casey would make you choose between her and Hunter, then Casey doesn’t deserve you as a friend. But I know my daughter, and I know deep down she would love the idea of you and Hunter together. She loves you like I do… more even. Trust me, Casey will approve of this.”

“Hunter said she’s just mad we kept it secret.”

“I suspect that’s the case.” Lillian stands and leans over to kiss me on top of my head. “Now head back to her room and make sure she’s up for work… but don’t leave out of here without resolving things.”

I stand up and give Lillian a smile before I head down the hall. “Lillian… you know this thing with me and Hunter? It may be nothing. It may amount to nothing in the long run.”

She gives me a wise look and an understanding smile. “But it may amount to everything. Just enjoy it, Gabby.”

I nod at her and murmur “thanks” before heading back to Casey’s room. Knocking softly on the door, I hear her call me in. She’s sitting in bed, her back resting up against her headboard. Even though she’s still in bed, wearing her pajamas, I can tell she’s been up for a while because her eyes are clear and not a hint of grogginess surrounds her.

“Hey,” I say softly as I close the door and take a seat on the edge of her bed near her feet.

“Hey,” she says, keeping her eyes averted and pinned to her hands, which are clasped in her lap.

“I am so sorry, Case,” I begin, laying my hand on her ankle, which rests under the covers by my hip. “I never meant to hurt you, and it was stupid for me to keep that secret from you. You’re my best friend. You should have been the first person I told.”

She lifts her face and stares at me, her lips drawn downward. “I can’t believe you’ve had feelings for my brother for a few weeks, and I never knew. I must be oblivious.”

Her voice isn’t bitter or angry, which immediately relieves me. She says it in wonder, questioning the very strength of our friendship that she didn’t see it. Which makes what I’m getting ready to tell her that much worse.

“Um… it’s actually been a bit longer than a few weeks. At least where I’m concerned.”

“What do you mean?”

I take a deep breath and let it out slowly. Pushing her legs aside to give me more room, I cross my legs, leaning my elbows on my knees as I face her. Then I tell her about what happened five years ago, and I catch her up on everything so she knows exactly how the concept of Hunter and I came to be.

When I finished, she just shakes her head at me. “I can’t believe you kissed him graduation night. How did I not know that?”

“Because I was mortified and so embarrassed, and I didn’t want to relive my humiliation. I only wanted to forget about it.”

“No wonder you were such a bitch to him all these years.”

“Yeah… I don’t have the best coping skills apparently.”

There’s a moment of awkward silence. Casey’s gaze drops back down to her hands while I continue to look at her, waiting to see what else she’ll want to know before I beg forgiveness again.

“I’m scared,” she finally says, and I jerk in surprise at the small sound of her voice.

“Of what?”

“I’m scared you’ll hurt him… or he’ll hurt you, and then I might lose one of you.”

Oh, my heart breaks and then fills with pain over these words. I don’t want my bestie to have these fears, even though I’ve had the same ones myself. It’s my burden to bear though, not hers, so I lean forward, crawl my way up the bed, and flop down beside her, grabbing her in a hug.