“A triple date, actually. Taryn’s brother is in town, and she says that he’s bound to have hooked up with someone and won’t be going alone. I should’ve checked.Youcould’ve been his date.”
“Yes, you should have.” Rachel wagged her finger at the screen and tsked. “Especially if there’s a family resemblance.”
“Apparently there is, but it’s a bit of a sore spot for Taryn. I think her whole family is a sore spot, to be honest.”
“Huh. What does that make yours?”
Cassie glanced out the window and thought about her mom, who’d been avoiding her calls since she’d bought her the emergency car. She knew what her mom was doing: not answering so Cassie had no choice but to visit. “Out of bounds and not a good topic for conversation.”
“You haven’t talked about your mom?”
“Would you talk about my mom with the person you were having amazing sex with? I mentioned she wasn’t exactly a Hallmark movie mom, but I shut the conversation down. We’re not really having the kind of relationship where we share the negative parts of our life.” It wasn’t exactly true. Cassie was beginning to feel like she could talk to Taryn about her messed-up family and maybe about her brother eventually. Their time together was so easy, and that was something precious to Cassie because the rest of her lifewasn’t. “Anyway, weren’t you the one who told me that all that stuff didn’t matter because we were just having sex?” she whispered after she caught the driver’s overly interested expression in the rear-view mirror.
“That was when you were only having a one-night stand. You seem to have strayed into friends with seriously hot benefits territory.”
Cassie pressed her left earbud twice to lower the volume. She didn’t think the driver could hear Rachel, but it didn’t hurt to be more discreet given the topic. Cassie didn’t want to be a story her driver would tell his buddies later. “You think that’s a bad thing?”
Rachel shook her head. “I didn’t say that, but I don’t want you to get hurt, Cass. You’re protecting yourself, right?”
Cassie couldn’t help but giggle. “I’m not going to get pregnant, Mom, no.”
“You know what I mean, smart ass. I’ve never seen you interested in anybody beyond one night…” Rachel widened her eyes as if that would fill in the blank she’d left.
“You’re worried I’m going to fall in love and get my heart broken when the tall, dark, handsome not-a-stranger-anymore leaves town?” Cassie didn’t expect Rachel to respond in the affirmative, but she nodded. “Are you serious? I’m not a brooding, overly emotional teenager, Rach. I can have no-strings sex and really not get attached.”
Rachel shrugged. “Good. Then I can relax, and you can keep on having some real fun. I’m proud of you.”
“You remember I’m your elder, don’t you?”
Rachel tapped repeatedly on her phone screen. “Andyouremember who had to drag you out of your house every month for a booty call?”
“That sounds so wrong.” Cassie shuddered at the thought of having sex with her friend—all that long hair in the way. No, thank you.
“You’d be lucky to get me into your bed.” Rachel’s pout was even more pronounced this time.
“I would. You’re right.” Cassie smiled then scrunched up her nose. “But I still never evereverwant to.”
“I think that makes you hair-ist. Is that a word? Are you a femme-o-phobe?”
“I like what I like, and I’ve always been that way. Sorry, not sorry.” Cassie looked up when the Uber slowed and was surprised when she saw they’d already gotten to the hotel. “I’m here, so I have to go. Let me know if you get the night off so you can come to the launch party, and I’ll ask Taryn to arrange a room for you, okay?” She waited until Rachel nodded. “And I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”
“You don’t have anything to make up for, Cass. I love that you’re out there having fun. If anyone deserves it, you do.”
Cassie blew her a kiss and ended the call. It was sweet of Rachel to be so forgiving, but the guilt still nibbled at Cassie for practically forgetting all about her friend while she’d been carried away with Taryn. She paid the driver and got out of the car, resolving to send a special basket of Rachel’s favorite goodies to her house.
Taryn waved to her from the edge of the fire fountains near the main doors, and Cassie’s breath caught. Taryn was dressed in a light gray three-piece suit with a forest green shirt and gray tie, a perfect combination. The green shirt made Taryn’s eyes even more striking, if that were possible. As she walked toward her, Cassie noted Taryn’s hair had been freshly cut and shaved, making Cassie want to wrap her hands around Taryn’s head and pull her in for a hard kiss. Her expression must have broadcast her desire because Taryn gave her that cute, lopsided grin she sported when she was unguarded and shy.
Taryn brushed the lapels of her jacket when she was only a few feet away from Cassie. “You like?”
“I love. That shirt color makes your eyes really pop.” When she was within reach, Cassie tugged Taryn closer with her tie and kissed her. “You look good enough to eat.”
Taryn gently shifted Cassie’s hair over her ear. “I’d suggest that we skip dinner again, but my brother’s come a long way to see me.”
“I can wait. Anticipation can be a powerful aphrodisiac.”
“Then I’ll probably explode when I finally get you to bed tonight.” Taryn half-turned and offered Cassie her arm. “Ralph’s brought someone with him from Miami, and he’s acting strangely, so I apologize for him in advance.”
Cassie squeezed Taryn’s bicep as they walked. “I’m sure everything’s going to be fine.”
