I finally pried my eyes open and checked my phone to see that it was promptly five o’clock in the afternoon. Looks like I absolutely slept the day away and I have zero regrets. Scrolling through my text messages I see a few from the group chat talking about Arianna’s upcoming date with her masked man from the club, Naomi shooting down any and all of Arianna’s inquiries of her time Friday night and then finally a private text from Naomi.
Naomi: How did this weekend go? Is he gone?
I scoff, shaking my head as I type out my response.
Me: If by gone, you mean is he staying for an extra week, then absolutely.
Her response comes almost immediately.
Naomi: WHAT
Naomi: EXPLAIN
Naomi: NOW PLEASE
I decide it’s better to voice note but I make sure to keep any names or details out of it in case someone is close by.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told. No explanation. No elaboration. Just point, blank. Clearly this entire situation isn’t nearly as painful for him as it is for me. If I was in control, I’d get the hell out of dodge immediately. I’d already be gone. Like it’s bad enough that he’s here, but in my house?” I add on with a whisper. “He’s such a fucking asshole. I take back everything I ever said. He’s trash in every way possible. But, on a random bright side, you’ll never believe who I ran into at dinner last night.”
I pause for dramatic effect before continuing.
“Alec Thompson,” I say, already hearing her squeal of surprise. “It’s so fucking sad, Nay. His parents died, he almost did too, or could have at least. Now he’s out here taking care of his dying grandma. My heart is broken for him. He picked me up this morning and took me to Donny’s like old times. It was actually sonice. So like yes, I hate thatheis here but the plus side of things is that Alec is kinda in the picture, at least for now. He said he was going to take me out again soon and let me tell you, sparks definitely don’t dim with time,” I say as I end the voice note.
Forcing myself out of bed, I decide to head downstairs and see what the plan is for dinner. I know Naomi will be blowing up my phone for the foreseeable future which will be hilarious to come back to. She always loved Alec and swore that we were endgame, she was almost more devastated when we broke up than I was, which is pretty crazy because despite me ending it, I was heartbroken. I knew that she would latch onto that piece of the story as soon as it left my lips. Maybe that’s why I did it. Because if my journalist major bestie is focused on my former boyfriend who she adored, maybe she won’t see that I’m lying through my goddamn teeth.
Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. I wouldn’t say through my teeth.
Am I happy I ran into Alec? Absolutely.
Do I think Nicholas is a trash human? Undoubtedly.
Am I feeling major sparks with Alec after one date that outshine what I felt with Nicholas for just one hour? Not even fucking close.
I wanted to. I really did. It was a great kiss, and there was…something that stirred inside me when I kissed him. To be honest, I don’t know what to think. Is it in my head? Am I standing in the way of happiness because I’m so caught up with guilt and shame? I honestly don’t know and I’m nowhere near emotionally mature enough to dive in and discover the answers.
So, I’m going to force it until an answer smacks me in the face. It’s my own special brand of avoidance that works out for me about 33% of the time, which is not nothing.
As I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen, the smell of my mom’s famous meatloaf fills the room. I don’t know why meatloaf has such a bad reputation, maybe some people don’t cook itcorrectly. If they had my mother’s they’d never eat anything but again. My eyes roam over the kitchen to see that she also took the time to make her sweet rolls and mashed potatoes? Fuck me upppp.
“Hey sleepyhead,” my mom smiles.
I give her a tired smile as I zombie walk my way over to the plate of fresh rolls. Stealing one and avoiding my mom’s hand smack all in one. A talent, I know.
“Cassi, you know mom and I don’t care what you do on your days off, but waking up at five in the afternoon?” my dad laughs from his recliner.
I smile and shake my head at him. “I took a little nap that turned into a long one.”
“I heard some activity early this morning, what were you up to?” my mom asks.
Before I can respond, a cutting voice comes from the hallway before the owner steps into the kitchen. Nicholas is wearing a pair of slacks and a black dress shirt, way too dressed up for a lazy Sunday if you ask me but maybe that’s why arrogant pricks like to wear on their days off. Who am I to judge?
“She had a date, with that waiter from last night.”
His eyes cut to mine, almost in a taunting way. Does he think I’m twelve? Think he’s gonna get me in trouble with mommy and daddy? To my delight, and his surprise, my parents react the way I anticipated.
“Alec? Oh sweetie, that’s wonderful!” my mom says as my dad nods.
“I always liked that kid. How are his folks doing?”
