“I’ll ask her,” I promise.We chat for a little bit longer about nothing much, then we hang up.I sigh deeply, rubbing my hands over my face.If Mama Keegan wills it, then so be it.I roll out of bed, get ready for the day—no morning jerk-off sessions anymore since Casey became more than just my friend—and step out into the living room.
And I absolutely love what I find.
Casey is curled up on the couch, gripping the edges of a book like it might float away.The look of concern on her face is so intense I’m afraid to utter a word.
“Good…morning?”I say softly.
She jolts, looking up at me like she doesn’t know where she is.Then clarity returns to her eyes.
“Oh my god.I’m sorry.This book is too good.”She presses a palm to her forehead, drawing a deep breath.“Good morning.”
“How you doing?”I sink onto the couch next to her, pulling her onto my lap.My plan had been coffee, but now?My plan is Casey.
“Honestly, not the greatest,” she admits with a small laugh, resting her head against my shoulder.“I stayed up too late reading.Then when I went to bed, I couldn’t sleep because the book was too good.So I got up early to keep reading.Now here I am.”
“Wow.That book soundsgood.”
“A little too good.”She snuggles against me.“So now I have a raging book hangover.Which will get even worse when I actually finish it.”
I chuckle, slipping my hand beneath the back of her tank top as I rub lazy patterns against her bare skin.“Sounds like a lose-lose situation.”
She hums softly against me, her eyes fluttering shut.“You’re right.And beyond that, I’ve been spending a lot of time researching something…new.”
“New?Like…a different career?A new business?”
“Like…a potential diagnosis.”She rubs at her face.“I haven’t said this out loud yet, but I have been wanting to run it by someone.I think I have ADHD.”
The words trickle in slowly.“That’s okay, right?”
“I guess,” she says with a small laugh.“I don’t know.The more I learn, the more my entire life starts making sense.Things I thought were just frustrating quirks or obstacles might be because of ADHD.I don’t know.”
“Do you want to see someone about it?”I ask.
She nibbles at her lip for a moment, her gaze drifting off.“I don’t know why it’s so hard for me to say yes.But I think I do.Even though the thought of that whole process makes me want to wither and disappear.”
“All right.Then I’ll make it happen.”I lean down and kiss the top of her head.“I’ll find the best therapists out there.”
She smiles up at me, and I can tell some of that stress inside her has softened.“Thank you.Between that and my book hangover, I feel ready for a nap.It’s a good thing I don’t have to work today.”
The comment reminds me of what my mom requested.“If you’re free tonight…I have an idea.”
“Oh yeah?”
“My mom invited you to family game night at her house.”
She sits up, her eyes wide.“Really?”
“Yeah.She hates that you’ve been living with me this long and still haven’t come to game night.So she wants to change that.”
Casey grins, but it falls slightly.“Does she think we’re…you know…”
“No, I explained the situation.”
“Youtold her?”Casey nearly shrieks.
“No, notthatsituation.”I squeeze her thighs, which just makes me hungry again for more of her.“I explained that you and I are friends only, and you coming to game night could be construed as more, and that I didn’t want my asshole brothers harassing us about being an item.”
Casey runs her finger along the hem of my shirt.“Okay.”
