Todd and Olivia (although they were still working through their issues).
Carter and Laila.
Jax and Paloma.
Diego and Fiona.
Blaine and Jessica.
Liam and Brinley.
And . . . Cassie and Jonas. Sort of.
I melted onto one of the counter stools and sighed.
“It was fun—if you enjoy fishing while Asher once again recited his comprehensive list of reasons he’s better suited for Jessica than Blaine. And then he got so distracted reelingin his fish that he smacked me in the face with said slimy fish. So, yeah. Total blast.”
Cassie laughed, tossing a few more ingredients into the pot.
“What are you brewing?” I asked.
She cast me a meaningful look. “A truth serum. I thought we could slip some to Roman. Maybe it will help. Maybe jar something in him.”
Her voice carried the same desperation I felt.
I rested my head on the counter.
“Hmm . . . drugging my soulmate. Not sure that’s the best start to a relationship, but . . . you have poisoned him before, and I didn’t exactly stop you.”
“Good times,” Cassie said fondly, stirring her potion.
“Who knew the whole time we were supposed to end up together?”
Cassie pointed her spoon at me. “Uh, you did.”
“Oh yeah.” I groaned. “If only I’d let Roman touch me before I locked my stupid heart. Or if I hadn’t locked my heart at all. Then maybe he would have known too, and we could have skipped all this nonsense.”
The words came out whiny, but the ache behind them was real.
“We are not giving up here,” Cassie barked, sounding exactly like one of my old gymnastics coaches.
“Okay, fine, but I’m not drugging him.” I lifted my head from the counter, rubbing at my temples.
“Um . . . hello? I would never ask you to do that. The pleasure would be all mine.” She grinned, leaning back against the stove, one hip cocked.
I sat up and laughed, shaking my head. “I take it you’re still salty that he asked you in your last interview if you considered yourself a good friend to me.”
She was the best friend a girl could ask for.Andshe could poison people.
Cassie rolled her eyes dramatically. “Yeah, that. And he asked how it felt to be a rebound. I’m no one’s rebound.”
“You know Jonas doesn’t see you like that.”
She scoffed, flicking her hair over her shoulder. “I don’t really care what he thinks. It’s just an act.”
“Really? You guys are amazing actors, then.”
Cassie shrugged, lips quirking. “So, he kisses well. Too well.” She lifted her shoulders like it was no big deal, then dropped them with a sigh. “He’s still annoying.”
