“You totally should,” she starts, then spends the next ten minutes telling me all about the exhibits there and how often her parents took her growing up.
Her memories sound so fond, and I can’t help but think of my childhood. My parents took us places. I remember loving the zoo. But based on Cassandra’s descriptions, I can imagine how much my sister would’ve loved trying to gross me out in a body parts exhibit.
My sister was always going back and forth between wanting to be a doctor or a veterinarian. She wasn’t squeamish about cuts and scrapes. Never shied away from potential gore. Blood and guts weren’t my thing.
Until they were.
“That’s probably why my parents chose to move near there.”
I missed the last part of what Cassandra said, but I make a noise of agreement anyway.
“How long have they lived there?” My voice sounds scratchy, but I’ll blame that on my recovering throat and not wistful memories.
The rest of the ride is filled with Cassandra explaining how her parents decided to move to a retirement community. How she went on tours with them, the mishaps of a moving truck with a flat tire, and how her parents’ ninety-year-old neighbor, Harold, hits on her every time she’s there.
Me and Harold are gonna have a problem.
Cassandra’s hands fly up. “Turn here!”
The panic in her actions is unwarranted since I was already lifting my hand to flip on my blinker, but, of course, she didn’t notice that. Which is good.
I follow her directions through the large complex of buildings, parking lots, and well-manicured lawns.
Having looked it up, I know this place has everything from regular apartments to full nursing care, so residents can just move buildings as they age.
It’s nice. If you’re into this sort of thing.
Even with this new talk of retirement, I don’t really see myself living to the age of ninety. Hell, at this rate, if I hit fifty, I’ll be fucking lucky.
Cassandra has me pull into a spot labeled for visitors next to her parents’ building.
“Seriously, thank you so much for the ride. I really—”
I turn off the engine.
Cassandra pauses unbuckling herself. “What are you doing?”
She really thought I was just going to drop her off and let her fend for herself to get back home.
She’s pretty. But she’s a fool.
“I’ll wait,” I tell her.
“You’ll… You’ll stay for dinner?” Her tone is a mixture of shock and hope.
“No, I’ll wait.” I settle back in my seat. “Go eat with your parents, Cassandra.”
I should’ve opened the window before I turned off the truck, but I’ll do that after she leaves.
A small choking sound leaves her throat. “You can’t just sit in your car.”
Heaving out a breath, I turn and face her. “You aren’t getting a ride home from some stranger, Butterfly. It’s dangerous. Now get out of the truck and go inside. I’ll be here.”
She mouths the word butterfly before shaking her head. “You’re coming with me.”
“No—”
She cuts me off. “I literally cannot go enjoy myself while you sit out here roasting like a potato in an oven.”
“Potato?” I look down at myself. I know my outfit isn’t the height of fashion, and I might not be as chiseled as I was in my twenties, but potato?
She shoves at my shoulder. “I didn’t mean you look like one. I just like food analogies.” She fans her face. “Seriously, I’m already baking in here. Let’s go.”
With that, she unclips her seat belt, opens the door, and slides out of my truck.
Yeah, sure, let’s go have dinner with my obsession’s fucking parents.
If Karmine could see me now.
I shouldn’t be seen with Cassandra in public.
I shift my eyes to the rearview mirror, looking for anyone suspicious.
But I also don’t believe anyone is following me. The men after me aren’t like that. They aren’t going to watch me to learn my patterns. When they find me, when they get eyes on me, they’ll come for me. Hard. And then it’ll be me or them. Nothing in between.
Cassandra stands on the sidewalk, waiting for me.
Yearning battles with reason as I remember the feeling of waking up with her in my arms.
I open my truck door.
CHAPTER 31
Cassie
I part my lips and try to pull in a silent gulp of air. I’m going to blame my thudding heart on the heat and the flight of stairs and not on Hans at my side.
Hans, my neighbor, who only started talking to me this weekend. Who pulled my hair and gripped me between my legs with his big hands. Who ate my soup. Who stole my birthday book. Who slept with his body pressed against mine.
His booted feet hardly make a sound on the hallway’s industrial carpet beneath us.
I try to sneak a look at him.
I’ve felt his body, clutched it, but still, seeing him like this is almost… jarring.
He looks so strong with his biceps filling out his short sleeves and his chest muscles stretching the fabric of his T-shirt.
I never really had an opinion on guys with long hair, but I’ve decided I like it. I like it a lot.
Thinking of his hair, I press my lips together and glance up at it.
He has it pulled back into a low, messy bun like he always does, and I want to pull it free. I want to tug on his hair the way he tugged on mine.
I move my eyes to his face and find him staring back at me.
Caught.
“You’re really handsome.” I admit the obvious.
His lips part. But he doesn’t reply. He just looks stunned. And that makes me feel a little less embarrassed about him catching me looking.
“Ready?” I ask, stopping in front of my parents’ unit.
He shakes his head. “Probably not.”
I grin at his answer and pull the key for their door out of my bag.
CHAPTER 32
Hans
When Cassandra lifts the key like she’s going to unlock her parents’ door, I make an executive decision and reach up, knocking on the door.
She pauses with the key in the air. “But I—”
“I doubt your parents are expecting you to have a guest. I don’t really want to surprise them by just walking in.” I’m aware of the irony of feeling this way, but I don’t care.
Cassandra rolls her pretty eyes at me. “Oh my god. It’ll be fine.”
Before I can think better of it, I dart my hand up and grip her ponytail.
Her mouth pops open.
“Watch the attitude, Girl.” I give the command quietly, but there’s no mistaking my tone.
“Or what?” she breathes. “I don’t think your punishment worked last time.”
“No?” My cock starts to thicken. “I’m sure we can find your limit.”
She leans toward me, increasing the pull I have on her hair.
She presses her hands against my chest. “Promise?”
A low growl rumbles behind my ribs. “Cassandra.”
She keeps her eyes wide as she looks up at me. “You want to count to three again?”
I lower my face toward hers, then I hear a lock click open.
Releasing her ponytail, I straighten and face the door.
Cassandra is still turned toward me when her mother pulls the door open.