Piper grunts, “But it still sucks what you did to my brother.”
“It still sucks,” Sammy agrees with the undertone of great sadness. “But if it’s not me who’s with him, I’m glad it’s her.” She pulls Cassidy into a quick embrace before taking off with a wave. And there she goes.
For the first time in a long while, I feel like it’s finally over.
“Sammy is right. This definitely worked out the way it was supposed to.” I dot Cassidy’s cheek with a kiss.
Piper hoists her gym bag up over her shoulder, sheltering her forehead from the sun with her hand. “In a morbid way, I’m glad she cheated on you now. I guess you had to walk through a fire to get to paradise.”
“That may be so, but I was never in love with Sammy to begin with. I didn’t know what true love felt like until I met you.” I lean in and touch my lips to Cassidy’s as we seal our affection right here in Founder’s Square for all to see. Cassidy and I are official. There’s not a thing or person who can beg to differ.
“Get a room!” Piper calls as she takes off.
Funny, I was thinking the very same thing.
Snow Globes and Unicorns
Cassidy
Saturday afternoon, Scarlett calls an emergency meeting at Hallowed Grounds. The coffee is on her, so Daisy, Piper, and I came thirsty for lattes and the knowledge of what prompted this spontaneous powwow. Lord knows I need all the caffeine I can get my hands on with the way Cade has been keeping me up until all hours. Come to think of it, the only sleep we’ve managed is short little catnaps between our cheesecake love-fest. That’s what I’ve dubbed our lovemaking sessions. They’re so lip-smacking good, it sort of fits the occasion.
“What’s got you shaking?” I ask as the four of us take over a table out front, each of us armed with a latte in hand. Mine happens to be a mocha over ice. The weather is set to hit the upper seventies today, and I can feel both finals and summer breathing down my neck—the latter of which I appreciate.
Daisy clears her throat. “It’s actually me that has her shaking. Scarlett is running scared because I’ve committed to a part-time job down at Stilettos.”
“What?” Piper squawks so loud half of the geese flying overhead honk back. “You did not.”
“I did to.” Her delicate features turn icy sharp. Daisy has always been on the quieter end of the spectrum but strong on the inside. A lot like Caila, in fact. “Look, I don’t have anyone offering to put me through school. I don’t have wealthy parents.” She eyes both Scarlett and Piper. She’s totally got them there. “And I don’t have a very kind sister offering to help out in a pinch.” She directs that last jab at me, and she’s totally on point there as well. Caila’s specific goal in moving out here was so that she could nudge me a dollar or two when I needed it, and I’ve been needing it a whole lot lately. But Caila danced back home, too. It’s sort of been her calling ever since those middle school jumping-on-the-coffee-table days. Dancing is her passion. Who am I to judge what little she wears when she does it? But something about Daisy following in my sister’s footsteps turns my tummy.
“But I’ve got myself a summer job,” I’m quick to inform her. “Baya’s letting me wait tables come June, and, if I’m lucky, she says she might keep me on. I’ve seen the tips those girls get. I can survive off those alone. Plus, I don’t want to spend the next four years mooching off Caila. It wouldn’t be right. But I support you if you want to dance.” With your top on, I want to add but refrain in the event she’s part exhibitionist like my sister.
“That’s what I’m getting at.” Daisy pulls apart her bagel, her little fingers knitting together at such lightning speed I can tell she’s nervous, afraid of our judgment no doubt. “I need to have something that pays a decent wage. My parents both work factory jobs. My brothers are married and barely able to care for their own wives and kids. It’s just me in this world as far as finances go. My own mother said that nobody forced me to go to college. I’ve brought this all on myself.”
“Geez. That’s tough.” Piper sinks in her seat. “The bottom line is, do you want to do this? Do you want to take off your clothes?”
“Yes and no.” Daisy stretches her spine straight as a broomstick. “Honestly, I was born to dance.” As quick as that confidence came, it deflates. “Unless, of course, I hate it. And, if that’s the case, I made Caila promise I can get out of my contract at any time. She said it was fine. She’d work an extra shift if I got cold feet.” She looks to me. “Caila’s sort of been my mentor.”
I knock my drink to hers. “She’s always been mine.”
“Okay, so I support you.” Piper shrugs. “Do you mind if we come watch the show?”