“I told you, like damn siblings,” she grumbles to Henry.
My face twists up at that as I look to Cassi with a face of horror. She has her lips mashed together in a tight line as she nods her head as if to say ‘yeah, you heard that right.’
The horror across my face quickly melts away to amusement because what I’m going to do to Cassi tonight is so far beyond brotherly.
After dinner, Cassi and I drove back to her work so she could pick up her car. We made out in my car for a solid ten minutes before I’d even let her get out. Then, I walked her to her car door and lifted her into my arms before we kissed for another few minutes. I know that I was being ridiculous, that we were literally returning to the same house a handful of miles away but I can’t help it. This woman is like a drug, and I’m so goddamn addicted.
I let her take off first, following quickly behind her as she led the way back to her house. When we got there, I was actually relieved to see that the extra car wasn’t there. That means that Carly borrowed a car and isn’t here. Perfect. It’s the last night that we are in Seattle and once we are back in Boston, I’m going to sit her down and tell her it’s time for us to call it quits once and for all. I can’t keep doing this with her.
We’ve both been checked out of this relationship for a long time. I think the biggest reason I’ve held on for so long was because of how amazing she was when my mom passed away. She never left my side and I think I developed a sort of duty to her. Like I owed her for her kindness, when in reality, it’s what any decent human would have done.
Unfortunately, that was one of the last times I saw Carly be a decent anything. It’s time to rip off the band aid once and for all, and no, I’m not saying that so I can jump into bed with her sister guilt free. That is absolutely the plan, though. As horrible as it is to think, I’m going to be jumping into bed with Cassi Fischer regardless because not only do I not want to stay away from her. I can’t. The white flag is raised. I give up.
Cassi and I step into the house together and hear the TV on in the living room. Shit. Despite it only being nine o’clock, I was really hoping that Henry and Mary had went to bed for the night. For one, I’ve been sleeping on the couch since I saw Carly’s texts. Well, except for last night. Two, now alone time with Cassi is off the table and I do my best to hide my upset atthat little truth.
She looks up at me like she had similar hopes before I rest a reassuring hand onto her lower back and nod for us to head into the living room. There, Tom is sitting on the couch watching today’s baseball team. The Seattle based team has been crushing it this year, there is already talks of them going all the way to the World Series, though it’s too early to tell for sure. I’m not a huge sports guy, but Henry is, and he educated me all about the legacy and future for Seattle baseball. He was so enthusiastic about it I couldn’t do anything but listen attentively and nod.
“This seat taken?” I ask as I walk around the couch and gesture to the seat beside him.
“Not at all, please!” he says. “The girls never wanted to watch sports with me as kids so this is a treat.”
“Uhm, excuse you. I’ve watched plenty of games with you,” Cassi corrects.
Henry rolls his eyes. “Want to, not have to, Cass. You watched out of pity and we both know it.”
“What do you think Nico is doing right now?” she challenges.
I turn around and send her a look that tells her to back down and let her dad have this. To my surprise, she rolls her eyes but obliges. Interesting. Maybe she’s less of a brat than I had her pegged as. Since getting past our dislike for one another, or should I say, her dislike for me, we haven’t really explored…dynamics…too much yet. I was already looking forward to one on one time with Cassi but this little development just made things all the more interesting.
While Henry and I watch the game, I hear Cassi and her mom laughing as they chat. From time to time I’ll turn around to check on them and see them pouring glass after glass of wine as they put together those ready to bake cookie dough packs you can get from the store.
“Why not homemade?” Henry griped at one point, which earned him a quick smack to the back of the head as Mary shoved a cookie in his mouth.
“Be grateful for what you have.”
He chewed over the hot treat as he grinned at her.
“Yes, dear.”
I couldn’t help but smile at their interaction, and honestly. I was kinda disappointed when the game was over and they went up to bed. Cassi was still lingering in the kitchen while I was on the couch when not two seconds later, Carly came stumbling into the house, clearly drunk. Again.
“Oh my goshhhh you’re still up!” she smiled as her heels clicked against the floors before she practically side tackled me off the couch.
I catch her easily as he dress rides up around her hips, fully displaying her with the only thing protecting any kind of modestly is a pair of crotchless panties. Classy.
My head turns to see Cassi watching with a disgusted look before she rushes off upstairs. I want to call out to her but what am I going to say?
Cassi’s footsteps thunder upstairs and I sigh in disappointment as Carly drunkenly crawls into my lap.
“I missed you, baby. I’m so tired of us fighting all the time. Can we just make up already?” she whines.
“You’re drunk,” I say pointedly.
“Soooo what are you gonna do with me?” she grins as she leans down and begins kissing my neck.
I roll my eyes before standing up, holding her in my arms as I carry her up the stairs. She continues kissing on me, an excited giggle escaping her as I push open her bedroom door and lay her down onto her bed. She pulls up her dress to fully expose herself but I keep my eyes on her.
“Get some rest, Carly.”
