“I asked if she wanted to go grab lunch today, and she actually uttered the phrase shrimp on the barbie,” Julie said, standing and taking her wineglass to the kitchen. “She had to say it, like, eight times before I could understand her.”
“Hey,” Jake said, punching Cassidy’s arm as he put the cap back on the whiskey. “I know you’re not their boss anymore, but you are mine. Can I come in late tomorrow?”
Cassidy gave him a dark look, and Jake shot him a finger pistol. “Right on. See you at nine sharp.”
There was a flurry of collecting the last of the dishes, and Riley arguing with Sam that they did too want some of the leftovers. Emma retrieved the pile of winter coats from her bedroom since her coat closet was stacked with boxes she had yet to unpack. Then came hugs and cheek kisses, and a sleepy debate over whether the day before Thanksgiving was a real workday.
Cassidy made no move to leave with the rest of the group, and nobody questioned it.
Emma didn’t question it.
A wave of sleepiness was threatening to knock her over, and she couldn’t wait to crawl beneath the covers and snuggle up to Cassidy. Maybe open the window a crack so the bedroom would get nice and chilly while they stayed warm beneath the covers.
But one glance at his face told her that he had other ideas.
And not the sexy kind, either.
Cassidy was pissed.
Chapter 27
“Everything okay?” she asked nervously as she locked the door behind Sam and Riley.
He ran a hand over his face, looking tired. “Okay, full disclosure that I’m trying really hard not to get mad about this, but I am having a damn difficult time of it, so I need to just say this.”
“Okay…”
He dropped his hands and looked at her. “Did I hear you right? You’re going to North Carolina for Thanksgiving?”
“Yes,” she said slowly. “That’s right.”
“And you’ve known this since Saturday.”
She shrugged.
He let out a harsh laugh. “It’s Tuesday, Emma. I’ve been with you almost constantly since Saturday night. Did you forget to mention it?”
“That’s why you’re mad?” She went to the sink and mechanically began rinsing out wineglasses. “I didn’t think it mattered. You’re headed to Florida to see your parents. It’s not like my trip was going to interfere with your schedule.”
His hand found her elbow and he pulled her around. “So, what, you weren’t going to tell me at all?”
She turned off the water with more force than necessary and turned to face him fully, her sleepiness fading as her anger rose.
“I don’t have to report to you, Cassidy. You’re not my boss anymore, remember?”
“I’m not talking from a professional place here, Emma, I’m talking about us, as—”
“As what? Boyfriend and girlfriend? We’re not dating.”
His aqua eyes flickered in confusion. And something else that was gone before she could name it. “Then what are we doing here, Emma? Fucking?”
It was her turn to flinch, which put her on the defensive. “What’s this really about? Are you mad that I didn’t tell you I was leaving town for Thanksgiving? Or are you mad about the fact that I’m going to North Carolina to see my father?”
Cassidy swore softly. “You have to admit, the man hasn’t exactly done great things for our relationship.”
She rubbed her eyes tiredly.
“Are you going to tell him that we’re seeing each other?” he asked. She glanced at him, and he laughed at the answer he saw on her face. “Right. Of course not.”
“It’s just…it’s complicated, Cassidy. These past couple weeks have been great, but we’ve never dealt with what happened back then, not really.”
He spread his arms to his sides, his expression confrontational. “Okay then, Emma. Let’s deal with it. Where should we start?”
She licked her lips. “I don’t want to do this now.”