Page 65 of A Song for You

Cash and Frank shrug since they aren’t old enough, and Carter sighs. “I mean, YOLO, right? Make that three mimosas,” he says as he nods in Cat’s direction. “You could use one. You seem stressed. Sure you’re okay?”

The waitress takes that as her cue to exit, and Cat shrugs. “I’m fine.”

Deftly, I skate my pinky up between her thighs to the spot where my head was buried only two hours ago. I lick my lips at the memory. She wants to react—to tell me to stop, or maybe to tell me to move a certain way—but she takes a deep breath and keeps herself steady. A fucking goddess under pressure. I love it. When I brush against her panties, she hisses a breath, but I cover it with conversation.

“What’s new at James Liquors?” I ask Cash since we all know Carter has no idea.

Cash rattles off information about their newest malt, the pride he has in his family’s business evident even at the ripe old age of eighteen. It’s too bad Carter doesn’t show as much interest. Cash will likely be the easy choice when it’s time to hand over the reins of the company. I can’t imagine letting the opportunity slip away. I have two older brothers, and I don’t give a fuck how old they are. Hanson Liquors will be mine. I’ve spent years watching every move my father makes, carrying out every one of his directives. There’s no way I’d let one of them run it.

Why doesn’t Carter have the same fire?

Not that I honestly care right now. Skirting Cat’s panty line, I watch her reaction from my periphery, then sink into her warmth. As suspected, she’s soaking wet. And I’m so close to giving away what I’m doing when the waitress returns with our mimosas. I can’t keep my hand where it is when she holds out my drink to me, so I regretfully slip out of her warmth to accept the glass.

But I can’t help but tease my girl a bit more. My eyes locked on Cat, I dip my pinky into the drink and swirl it before sucking it into my mouth. “That’s delicious,” I say, then tap my drink to hers.

Cheeks flaming, she hides behind her glass and mouths, “Deviant.”

I raise my eyebrows to hers in acknowledgment. “And you love it,” I mutter.

“Love what?” Carter says.

“Mimosas. What’s not to love?” Cat quips.

Carter takes a sip and nods. “Sure, tastes like orange juice but makes my meeting with Pa this afternoon less stressful.”

“Meeting with your grandfather today?” I ask.

His lips form a flat line and his eyes dull. “Yup, he wants to talk about my future.”

The conversation turns as Carter really has no interest in discussing business, and soon, plates are being set in front of us. I don’t miss how Cat gazes longingly at my waffles.

“I think I ordered too much,” I say, leaning back in the booth. With my arm, I nudge the plate the waffle is on toward Cat. “I’ll need a nap if I eat this all myself. Help yourself.”

The soft smile she gives me in return is one I pocket. I’m stealing so many things from this girl—firsts, moments, smiles—and I don’t intend to give any of them back.

When we’re all just picking at the remnants of our breakfasts, I pull out my phone and shoot a text to Cat.

Me: Spend the afternoon with me.

When her phone lights up beside her, she turns it over and looks at it. Biting her lip, she taps out a reply.

“What do you have going on this afternoon, Cat?” Cash asks after the server drops off our checks.

“Um, not much. I probably need to head back to Providence. I haven’t been home in a while.”

“Everything all right with Mia?” he asks.

My ears perk up at his question. The way he asks is like he knows. But Cat said no one knows the real her. No one but me. I love the notion of holding her secrets.

She looks in my direction and then back toward her brother. “Everything’s fine. I promise,” she emphasizes. “You know how Mia is,” she adds.

I narrow my eyes. Does he?

“You’ll really be at the game next Saturday?” he asks, his previous question all but forgotten.

I check my phone while they continue talking.

Cat: What do you have in mind?