“I know so. Just get out there and spend as much time as you can with him—as friends, of course, in the beginning, and soon enough that flame will come right back.” I snap my fingers, loud and crisp, just as the professor walks in. I lean into her and whisper, “When you find a good man, you and I both know, you dig your pretty little claws in and do not let go.”
“I’m going to do it,” she whispers with a smile playing on her lips for the first time this morning—most likely for the first time all weekend. Poor thing. I can’t imagine having that crap-fest to deal with on Valentine’s weekend no less. Just what kind of monster is this guy? “In fact, if we get back together in a big way, I’m making you a bridesmaid one day.”
We share a quiet cackle.
“I look great in both lace and pastels,” I whisper. “Let the seduction begin!”
“Oh, it will.” She gives a side-eye to the door as if she’s ready and willing to dash on out and start right now. “I’m so glad to have you as a friend, Cassidy. You really did just change everything.”
And on that note, we struggle to stay awake while listening to a dull roar of a lecture that drones on for an hour straight.
Once that nap-fest is over, I head up to my Basic Principles of Marketing class to find Cade with that wicked smile spreading a mile wide once he sees me. That naughty grin says I know your secrets, all naughty sixty-nine of them.
I take my seat to the left of him just as the professor starts in on the lecture.
Cade taps his hand over my knee as if offering up a private hello, so I reach under and do the same. His fingers interlace with mine, and he offers a heartfelt squeeze that pulsates its erotic waves all the way down to my over-sexed soul.
Dear God, this man makes me melt like candy on a hot summer sidewalk.
I glance over to him and take in his godlike features. He looks my way and offers the slightest wink, the hint of the sweetest smile before facing the front again.
Holy heck, I think I’ve just found me a good one, and I don’t know how I’ll ever let go.
My fingers grip over his warm, strong hand.
Nope. Letting go of Cade is not something I ever want to do.
Cade
There is nothing as pure, as sacred as filling your lungs with fresh spring air in the middle of the afternoon. I thought I’d take Buddy and head up past the switchbacks for a quick run now that the stars have aligned, and I don’t have a single thing on my plate—well, not the stars, more like the sun has melted all the snow off the main inroads just enough to make this pursuit possible. Now that winter is about to take a hike, I’m hoping this is the first of many sprints through the switchbacks. A few months ago, Cole told me about the Witch’s Cauldron, a natural hot spring just above Hollow Brook, and I’ve been gravitating to the area ever since. I watch as the snow melts off the side of the mountains, creating a glacial runoff so pure and blue I want nothing more than to share this with Cassidy. For a second, I think of taking a picture and sharing it with her, but that’s not what my gut says. I want to bring her here. I want to enjoy the real-time beauty and wonder right alongside her. Instead, I take Buddy and head on home.
It’s Friday so already my dick is hopeful. Cassidy said it was her “lady time,” so she hasn’t made an appearance since last Sunday. Thursday after class, I told her to come by anyway, that we could just hang out, watch TV, study if she wanted to, but she said her body needed to get to bed early. I get it. I have a sister. Not that Piper has ever shared her menstruation schedule with me. She didn’t need to. She turned into a rager once a month, and I figured it was hormones rearing their ugly head, and then sure enough, she was miserable and in bed for a couple of days, scarfing down chocolate while watching reruns of Gilmore Girls.
I would have loved scarfing chocolate with Cassidy and watching reruns of just about anything. So far, she seems pretty content with our setup the way it is. I’m assuming she’s still on the hunt for her perfect unicorn, and, selfishly, I hope she never finds him. Then it hits me as the light turns green and Buddy spins in a circle in the backseat. The car behind me lets out a few bleating honks, and I’m shaken out of my momentary stupor.
“Holy shit.”
The car behind me lays on his horn this time, and I give a quick, apologetic wave as I pull over to the shoulder. “Oh God.” I close my eyes a moment. It’s happened. I’m falling for Cassidy. I knew I liked her. Hell, I loved her in bed, and now I love her out of bed, too. How the hell did this happen? A quiet laugh sputters from me as I take in the scenery outside my window—the trees look greener, the sky a crisper shade of blue.