“Can I help you?”
I shake my head.
“I’m good right here, thanks.”
Cassi tosses her head back on a laugh as she glances at me once more.
“How lovely for you. I, however, am busy creating culinary art, so if you could give me a little space…” she trails off, gesturing for me to release her.
I only hold her tighter, though, burying my head into her neck as I inhale her scent slowly and sigh. I hear an irritated groan that doesn’t sound irritated at all, really, before she continues her extremely important work.
Once the sandwiches have been flipped and properly grilled on each side, she cuts each diagonally and slides a plate in my direction. I don’t release her, so she settles for turning in my arms to face me.
“Bottoms up, big boy,” Cassi says as she holds out her piece.
I pick one up, grimacing as I look down at it.
“I think that only applies to drinks.”
She shrugs. “Says who?”
Cassi taps her sandwich with mine as if we were cheersing before taking a bite. She moans in pleasure, doing a little happy dance once more. I can’t deny I’m more than a little hesitant but when she looks up at me with those big beautiful expectant eyes, what am I supposed to do?
Taking a bite of the sandwich, dread is heavy in me as the contrasting flavors hit my tongue. I chew for a moment or two before the flavor changes. Both of them morphing into some kind of combination, that I hate to say, works. I continue chewing my bite, swallowing it down before Cassi speaks.
“So, what do you think?”
I look down at the sandwich appraisingly, honestly taken by surprise.
“It’s actually not bad,” I say as I take another bite.
She practically leaps into the air, pumping her fist invictory.
“I knew it! You love it, right? It’s literally the best little late night treat!”
I chuckle at her excitement and realize that in this moment, it could taste like manure and I would agree with her. Anything I need to do to keep that smile on her face, I’d do it. Luckily for me, it really isn’t terrible. It’s different, but almost in a good way? If I have to eat these damn things every day for the rest of my life to keep her this happy, it would be a sacrifice well made.
“I’m breaking up with Carly,” I say virtually out of nowhere.
It forces her celebration to pause, her smile to drop as her eyes watch me carefully.
Real, fucking smooth, Nico.
“When she gets back. I actually was planning to do so when we got back to Boston but then she took that cruise and…” I trail off for a moment and swallow as I look down at Cassi.
She doesn’t speak for several moments, though it looks like her breathing has become more ragged. I can practically see the millions of thoughts racing through her mind as she just stares at me.
“You two have broken up before, lots of times.”
I nod. “Which is why it needs to be done. It should have been the first time.”
“Then why wasn’t it?” she asks quickly.
I pause for a moment before shaking my head.
“Honestly, I don’t know. Loneliness combined with convenience.”
She seems to wince at that, like that was the wrong answer, but it’s the truth. I shrug as I set down the sandwich in my hand and reach for her. When she doesn’t pull away, I know I haven’t totally blown things as I continue.
