“So, you want change, you want me, and you also want everything you have here in Adenbrooke?”
I shrug. “Maybe?”
Cass chuckles and sits up straighter, which brings us close again. “How about I stay here with you for a few more weeks until you figure and sort everything out? I mean, I’m not exactly in a rush. It’smydocumentary, and I can take however fucking long I want to finalize it. I know what you’re about to do is huge, and I’m here for you, Nia, every step of the way. You and I, we’ll figure everything out together, tie things up here in Adenbrooke, and then head to New York. Does that sound good to you?”
I blink when my eyes sting, but don’t stop my tears from falling down my face. “You’d really do that?”
He flashes a beautiful smile at me. “Why wouldn’t I?”
“Your whole life is in New York, Cass. I can’t ask you to stay away from it for any longer than you have to.”
“Correction: a huge part of my life is here, right in front of me, sitting on my lap. And, because I can’t live with only the other half of it, I have to make sure I have itallso that I can function properly,” he says. When more of my tears fall, he wipes them away and kisses me.
“Why do you have to be so goddamn perfect?” I question. “Why do you have to be so…willing?”
“Because I love you,” he answers easily, and my heart all but stops for a moment.
“Wh…what?” It’s not like he hasn’t said those words to me before, but the last time he had, we’d been 16, and so stupidly infatuated with each other that it was borderline crazy.
“I love you, Nia,” Cass says. “And I want to stay in Adenbrooke with you for as long as you need me to. Because I want you to let the unturned rubbles of our past rest, leave them undisturbed, and come with me to New York so that we can build a new empire for ourselves. Because I want you to let me show you why I asked you for a second chance; because I want you to let me prove to you that I’m worthy of you and your trust in me.”
“Cass…” My throat is tight with emotions so deep, that it’s hard for me to say anything. And I’m afraid that if I do speak, I’ll miss something, or that my words won’t be enough for what he just said to me.
“What’re you thinking?” he asks.
I sniff. “About how well you understand me, and understand my need for time to figure everything out before I go to New York with you.”
“Of course. I’d be stupid if I didn’t give that to you. It’s the least I can do for the sacrifice you’re making.”
I wrap my arms around his neck. “But is it really a sacrifice if I get to have you all to myself?”
He acts contemplative. “Come to think of it, you’re right; Iampretty tempting, aren’t I?”
I playfully pull at his hair. “No wonder you have such a big head. You need someplace to store all that ego of yours, don’t you?”
He snorts. “I’ll have you know that I’m a pretty nice guy.”
“You’re a sunny side up gone rogue, is what you are,” I say.
“I don’t even know what that means, but I’ll take it. Two of ‘em, if you will. I’m starving.”
I laugh. “Only if you tell me that my idea of wanting to open an outlet forCaféConnellin NYC isn’t a crazy one.”
He looks surprised. “You think Noah would want to expand?”
“I’d like to hope so,” I state. “I knowIreally want to.”
Cass quirks up. “Well, I’m onboard if he is.”
I shake my head. “Cass, no–”
“I’ve already made up my mind, so I’ll ask that you save your energy for something else.”
“Cass.”
“Nia.”
“No.”
