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“How would you know?”
“Because you’ve been doing it for the past decade,” Acacia said. “Anyway. Parker, how are you, babe?”
“Good,” Parker said with a grin. “How’s your Christmas so far? Emerson get you anything good?”
“Fuck yeah. He gave me money to cover the class to get my motorcycle license.”
Cassie wolf whistled. “You’ll look hot in leather, Kaysh.”
“Just promise me you’ll wear a helmet,” Parker said.
Acacia rolled her eyes. “Duh, Parker. I don’t have a death wish.”
“Good, because I won’t hesitate to pull the plug if I have to,” Cassie said.
“Thanks, boo.”
“Anytime,” Cassie blew a kiss to the computer screen.
“So what’d you guys get?” Acacia asked.
They rehashed their morning and present hauls. When Cassie mentioned the necklace, Acacia gave her a look that Parker noticed, but thankfully misinterpreted.
“I know,” she said. “I thought it was weird because the last necklace she wore was from Seth, but she claims it’s not weird.”
“It’s not weird; it’s cute,” Cassie said. She held the necklace up to the webcam. “See?”
“It is cute,” Acacia said. “Does this mean you accept that you’re going to be an astronaut?”
“I accept that I may be working on rocket ships that in reality look nothing like this necklace.”
“Boring,” Parker said.
“You’re exceptionally uncool, you know that?” Acacia said.
“I do, thank you.”
They managed to take up well over an hour chatting with Acacia, though it’d been less than a week since they were all together. Emerson and Mama Webb popped their heads in, too. By the end of the call, Cassie’s cheeks hurt from smiling. It was the best Christmas she’d ever had.
Ten
ERIN
Erin sat in her home office, but she wasn’t working. The mystery she was currently reading was open on her desk. It’d be more comfortable to read in the living room, but that was too accessible. She’d hidden in her office since she woke up, almost an hour earlier.
It was 8:37A.M.when she finally heard someone come downstairs. Cassie, probably. Parker hadn’t gotten up before ten for all of break.
Yesterday, listening to Parker and Cassie video chat with Acacia, Erin had made a decision. Well, she recommitted herself to a decision she’d already made.
Nothing could happen between her and Cassie.
Cassie was Parker’s friend. It was never more clear than last night—Cassie and Parker and Acacia talking way too loudly over Zoom, giggling and shrieking and acting like Parker had with her friends since she was a kid—albeit with more cursing and dirtier jokes.
Meeting Cassie separately, meeting herfirst,without knowing she knew Parker—Erin saw her differently than Parker’s other friends. Erin knew Caleb when he was still in Melissa’s stomach. Lila and Madison were in kindergarten with Parker. Parker’s friends hadn’t just been her friends first, they’d beenkidsfirst. Erin had met Cassieas an adult. She had known she was young from across the bar. Her smooth, flawless skin and that middle part in her hair. Erin just hadn’t realizedhowyoung.
Not that her age was even the issue. Her age made Erin feelgood,actually. She hated the way youth was revered in women. Lusted after. But she couldn’t deny it felt nice that a college student thought she was hot.
No, it was the small issue of Cassie knowing her daughter. The Christmas video chat with Acacia reminded Erin of that, and she swore to herself—again—that nothing could happen with Cassie.
