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I peered at Cassidy’s tall and lithe figure through the glass window of the door as she stood by the wall directly across from the door. Waving at me in her tight white dress and matching white rose on the side of her hair, she really embodied the dream of many guys. She had such flawless beauty, and other than her instances of bratty behavior I’d witnessed, everything about her seemed to be what any guy would want.
I gathered my personal items into my satchel and did a quick job of cleaning my work area, and took my egg-white wrap from the fridge and left the HR department.
“Hey,” Cassidy said. “Are you all right?” She examined me from head to toe with her luminous azure eyes.
I grinned at her. “How come you didn’t tell me that you were dropping by to see me?”
“After I’d had a talk with Father, I hung out with Brody a little up front and then he’d told me that he hadn’t seen you go out for lunch.”
I nodded and we walked down the long hallway and into the break room, which some employees were leaving.
“How come Mrs. Clark wouldn’t let you come in?” I wondered out loud.
Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Because I used to work as an interoffice mail clerk, and I came late like six times. She told Father on me, and he terminated my employment on the spot.” She pouted.
“Hmmm. She does seem strict. But six times, Cassidy?”
She shrugged her shoulders and her cheeks turned pink. “I went a little overboard with my tardiness. But I think she ratted me out because she hasn’t liked me since I was a girl.”
“So what do you do during the day?”
“Whatever I want.” She laughed and I slightly shook my head. “About this morning,” she huffed. “I never meant to have my private life on show like that. We just got carried away and the vibe between you and Chase makes me believe that…something may have been going on with you and him too.”
I had to force myself to take a bite of my wrap. I went to the machine to get a can of juice and sat back down again. Lifting my shoulders dismissively, I said, “We flirted with each other. Nothing close to serious. And I didn’t know about you and him.” Even though I liked Cassidy and she was my cousin, I wasn’t going to tell her what Chase and I had discussed, or how he’d affected me. A bond wasn’t established between us like it was between Pierce and I. I supposed it was because this was the first personal conversation that she and I had had.
“If I’d known about it, I would’ve stopped…hooking up with Chase. We started three months ago and we knew that that was all it was. Other than that, we have nothing in common, and he’s a very…simple-minded person. But I don’t speak to him anymore because he’s not going to have two Pruitt girls. I am not doing anything exclusive, but that’s just gross!”
“I don’t wanna share a guy with my cousin either,” I agreed, and I forced myself to eat the rest of my wrap.
Her eyes sparkled and she leaned her elbows on the table. It was a move that appeared uncharacteristic of her. “Remember that guys we danced with?” I nodded. “Well, the guy I’d been with is Evan and the guy you danced with is his friend, Andrew, and he wants to hang out with you Friday or Saturday. If you’d prefer, Evan and I can stay with you guys until you want to be alone.” She tittered.
Chase and I were supposed to go to the Tainted Virtue concert on Saturday. Though I should meet new guys, I needed to get Chase off of my mind. Going on a date with Andrew wouldn’t accomplish that. I didn’t even recall Andrew’s face. Andrew may not care if I was substituting him for Chase, but I did.
“It’s a date,” Cassidy said, “and you can leave if it doesn’t go well. You’re a cute girl. You may find another guy, and you’ll be like ‘Chase who?’”
“I don’t know,” I said
“Come on. You’re datable.” Cassidy looked at some of the other employees who had come inside. “We only deserve the best, and the includes the best breed of men. No more scraps.”
Her comment didn’t sit right with me. “Don’t you think that’s kind of a snotty way to talk about Chase?”
Had Chase decided that Cassidy was beddable and I hadn’t been? Most likely. But I didn’t like the way she was talking about him. Someone could easily say that about me; I didn’t have much and I came from one of the poorest areas in Franklin Parks. Also, Chase was a really talented graphic designer and I was confident that he gave his heart and body when he was on the field to help his team succeed and make UM proud. I just couldn’t ignore those qualities about him.
“No, it’s not. I am just telling it like it is. I am not better than anyone, but guys like Chase aren’t on our level. Defending him only proves why you should go out with Andrew.”
I crossed my arms. “So, now I am on your level because I am staying at your house for the summer?”
“Absolutely not.”
“Okay,” I said. “Then what puts Chase in your scraps category?”
“He fucked us both without our knowledge.”
***
Brianna flashed me her toothy smile as she came from behind the counter and gave me a bear hug, which I instantly reciprocated. She had her sandy brown hair in pigtails, and wore a beige shirt that was cut off at her midriff and the kind of demin skirt I’d wear, save for the rhinestones. The family crowds were enjoying their meals and conversations.
The meetings Pierce and Uncle Anton had were going long, and Pierce had sounded upset when he’d called me. I’d told him that I’d walk home if Brianna wasn’t able to drive me to his house. I’d agreed to stay here and wait for him if no one was able to give me a ride. Chase was going to drive me because his shift ended when mine did, but I didn’t have it in me to act blasé and accept a ride from him.
