“‘For goodness sake,’” she mimicked in a high voice. “What are you, five years old?”
I took a deep breath. “Cass, it seems like you’re trying to pick a fight with me. I’m not sure what’s going on with you and Mike, and I’m sorry if you’re not getting along. But don’t take it out on me.”
“My relationship with my husband is none of your business. And don’t think he’s going to chauffer your ass tonight!” she told me.
“I don’t need his help. I have a ride.”
“With who?”
I bit my lip. This wasn’t going to go over well. “Luke.”
“Luke Whitaker is driving you around? Nice work, Emily. You move pretty fast.”
I flushed. “No, you don’t understand. He’s helping us out, Cass.”
“What is it that I don’t understand? I totally get that my sister is fucking my boyfriend.” She stared at me, then smiledtriumphantly when I didn’t respond. “I knew it. You act like you’re a fucking nun, but even you couldn’t say no to a Whitaker.”
“Just shut up, ok? Can you just shut your nasty mouth, for once? I like him, Cassie! He’s a really great guy! Just because you screwed up your chance with him and got stuck with a loser…” Oops.
Cassie’s face turned bright red with anger. “Get out of here! You ugly, conniving little bitch! Get the hell out of here!”
I was breathing as if I had just gone for a run. I went into my bedroom, which was a mess, and reeked of Mike. Disgusting. I grabbed my old bookbag, and started stuffing clothes and makeup inside. I wasn’t spending the night here on the couch with Charlie gone. As I walked to the bathroom to grab the rest of my things, I paused slightly in front of Cassie’s open door. But she didn’t say a word, and neither did I. Fine. I was tired of being the bigger person.
I went down to the moon garden and aimlessly weeded, picked up sticks, and raked up more dead leaves from around the sprouting bulbs. These were the early white narcissus; under the maple tree in the shady corner I saw the snowdrops coming up. I ran my hand across their white buds. Cassie and I had talked about planting more tulip bulbs in the fall, and maybe a white peony bush. But those were expensive items. I looked up at her window, and raised my hand in a wave. Maybe she was watching. I was sorry now that we had fought. Forgive, and you will be forgiven. I started to walk toward the house.
Luke’s Tahoe pulled into the driveway, crunching down the gravel. “Hey,” he called, and I changed course and walked to meet him. “Let me check.” He took my face in his hands, turning it back and forth. “Nope, nothing on you today. Nodirt, no price tags.” I hit him in the stomach and he let out an exaggerated “oof.”
“If you were a gentleman, you would have pretended to be blind to my faults,” I told him. “Nana instructed me to only spend my time with gentlemen, so I’m sorry, but.…”
“What faults?” he asked. “I thought that your dirty face was part of your charm.”
I laughed, and he leaned down and kissed me, pulling me close, reaching under my coat to grab my ass to pull me even closer. His hands were gripping and rubbing me, and I gasped into his mouth. He let go and lowered me back off my tiptoes, and brushed the hair out of my face. “Ready to go?”
“Uh-huh.” I threaded my fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth down to my neck.
“Not quite ready?” Luke bit my throat softly, then ran his tongue around my ear.
“Ohh…” I breathed out.
“We better get going, to get you there on time,” he whispered.
“Mmmm.” I was more interested in his tongue.
“You get loopy when I kiss you,” he said, pulling back. “I like that I drive you to incoherence.”
“Yes,” I muttered, trying to reach his lovely mouth, then giving up, and resting my cheek against his chest. “I guess we should go. Let me get my bag.” I still needed a break from the situation with Cassie and Mike.
I went back around the house to get my bookbag, and gave one last wave at Cassie’s window, hoping she would see me. “What’s the bag for?” Luke asked, as I hopped into the car.
“I’m going to spend the night at Tara’s. I think. Can I borrow your phone to ask her?”
Luke didn’t say anything, and he didn’t move to give me his phone. “You could spend the night at my house.”
I froze, staring at him, and he looked over and laughed. “I also like it when I make you blush.”
“I’m just hot in this coat,” I explained. “Sure, if you don’t mind, that would be good. I could spend the night at your house, you know, to sleep, and stuff.” Very casual. Excellent. My heart hadn’t gone into paroxysmal atrial fibrillation, not at all.
“Good,” he said, and reached over for my hand, which he brought to his mouth for a kiss on my knuckle.
