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“Go back to the party before you’re missed. Happy New Year.”
“Erin—”
“Go back to the party, Cassie.”
Cassie went.
Erin didn’t finish her glass of champagne. She poured it down the kitchen sink instead, and closed the bottle with a reusable airtight cork.
Acacia knew. Parker’sroommate.
Parker’s roommate knew Erin and Cassie were… whatever they were doing. Erin hardly knew Cassie. She should’ve known better than to trust her. This wasn’t going to work itself out just because Erin wanted it to.
The world kept reminding her that this was a bad idea. She should listen. She should be a better person. She had no excuse for this.
You don’t need an excuse to feel good.Rachel’s voice in her head was never a good sign. Now Erin had Cassie’s in there, too, because fuck should, right? Cassie was only here for another week. The holidays were a time for excess.
Besides, Erin hadtriedto be better. It hadn’t worked. She didn’t seem capable of being nice to Cassie without flirting, but she also couldn’t distance herself from her without being cruel. This was the situation that worked best for everyone. Cassie was happy, Erin was happy, and Parker was happy. Not telling your kid something wasn’t lying. It was like when Parker asked whatBreaking Badwas about before she’d turned double digits—Erin had said a chemistry teacher and his family, and that hadn’t been a lie. What she didn’t know wouldn’t hurt her.
It was only for another week.
Thirteen
CASSIE
Cassie didn’t wake up hungover, because she’d stopped drinking at midnight, but she still felt nauseated. She chugged the glass of water next to her bed. Acacia had texted seven more times. OneHappy New Year from the past!and six more variations offuck I’m so sorry. Cassie had already told her it was okay.
It wasn’t okay, but it wasn’t Acacia’s fault. Something had to give, fucking her best friend’s mom.
She wanted to apologize to Erin again. She brushed her teeth and went downstairs.
It was silent there. No one else was awake—Parker was sharing her bed with Lila and the rest were passed out in the basement. Erin had a cup of coffee ready for her. Cassie mumbled her thanks and took a sip. It was too sugary. Erin stood a few feet away. Neither looked at the other.
Before Cassie decided whether she wanted to stew in silence or actually address this, Erin said, “I don’t want to talk about it, Cassie. I understand, but I don’t want to talk about it, okay? Now, are you going to kiss me good morning or not?”
Cassie swallowed. Her body leaned toward Erin before she’d consciously decided what to do. This seemed like a break. She’d be stupid not to take it.
She kissed her carefully. She’d never really tried to put so much feeling into a kiss before, to sayI’m sorryandIt’s okayandHow did you expect me to do this without telling someone about you?She cradled Erin’s face. Erin bumped their noses together.
Too soon, they heard footsteps coming up the stairs from the basement. Cassie and Erin moved away from each other, and Cassie forced herself to look away.
“Morning, Dr. Bennett. Morning, Cassie,” Caleb said as he entered the kitchen.
“Honestly, Caleb, when are you going to start calling me Erin?”
Cassie smiled at the tender frustration in Erin’s voice.
Everyone got out of the house pretty quickly. Cassie and Parker were still in their pajamas, getting ready to watch the Rose Parade, when Erin came into the living room.
“I’ve got to go to the hospital,” she announced.
Parker’s head snapped in her direction. “What?”
“I told you I was on call, didn’t I?” Erin asked, sitting down to slide her feet into her tennis shoes. “They need me.”
“It’s New Year’s Day,” Parker said. “We always have chili and cabbage and watch the parade and football.”
“I’m sorry, baby,” Erin said. “But the chili is already simmering on the stove, stir it every once in a while, okay? You can eat it whenever. I’m sure Cassie will watch the parade and football with you.”
