They shouldn’t be here.Heshouldn’t be here.
I lean back against the island, doing my best to catch my breath. And just as I’m starting to calm, to collect myself, the kitchen door opens and in walks Cassie.
She peers around the room for a moment, and as soon as her eyes land on me, she grins. “Hey, Atticus.”
Her words are slightly slurred, telling me she’s already been drinking. In her jean skirt and red blouse, her long brown hair curled perfectly to frame her blue eyes, she looks like a woman on a mission.
A mission of seduction.
Did she dress this way for Cameron? For me? What’s happening?
“All the refreshments are upstairs,” I say drily.
Cassie just laughs. “I know. I was looking for you.”
“Why? Here to tell me that I’m repulsive and crazy?”
“You know I didn’t say that. Cam did. And he’s really sorry about it.” Her smile falls away as she approaches where I stand, replaced by one of longing, regret, and something close to pleading.
“I don’t care.” But I do. Ireallydo.
“You can’t forgive me, Atticus? It was a misunderstanding,” Cassie says. “I think Cam was just looking out for me, and I didn’t even say anything.”
The image of her sitting on that bed, staring up at Cameron with a narrowed gaze, enters my mind. She’s right; shedidn’tsay anything. And that’s what sucked.
And the fact that Cameron thinks so lowly of me, of course.
“Come on,” she continues. “Forgive me. I’ll doanything.”
Her manicured fingers wrap around my bicep. She’s standing far too close for comfort.
“No,” I reply. Simple and efficient.
“Why not?” she pushes. “I can make you happy, Atticus. I can be nice… with the proper guiding.”
I can’t tell if she’s flirting with me or if she’s implying that someone has been teaching her to be kind.
I swear to god, if Cameron has been the one to correct her through positive reinforcement, sex, and attention… I’ll lose it. I’ll freak out.
“Cassie—” But I don’t get to finish.
The kitchen door swings open, and there Cameron stands, his chest rising and falling as he glares between the two of us.
“Cassandra,” he hisses out, his stormy eyes narrowing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him truly angry before. “What is this?”
Oh. He’sjealous. He doesn’t want his girl alone with me. Which is a hilarious turn of events, considering how he crumbled to pieces in my hands whenever I touched him before.
Hypocrite.
“I’m talking,” Cassie replies simply. “Is that a problem?”
There is a solid few seconds where nobody moves, speaks, or even breathes too loudly. And then, as if he were never angry at all, Cameron sighs and straightens up.
“Kim is upstairs. She’s looking for you,” he explains.
“Oh.” Cassie’s eyes return to mine. “I should go. But please, think about what I said?”
I say nothing as she turns and slips past Cameron, who shuts the door behind her.
