AllFreeNovel
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“How long have they lived there?” My voice sounds scratchy, but I’ll blame that on my recovering throat and not wistful memories.
The rest of the ride is filled with Cassandra explaining how her parents decided to move to a retirement community. How she went on tours with them, the mishaps of a moving truck with a flat tire, and how her parents’ ninety-year-old neighbor, Harold, hits on her every time she’s there.
Me and Harold are gonna have a problem.
Cassandra’s hands fly up. “Turn here!”
The panic in her actions is unwarranted since I was already lifting my hand to flip on my blinker, but, of course, she didn’t notice that. Which is good.
I follow her directions through the large complex of buildings, parking lots, and well-manicured lawns.
Having looked it up, I know this place has everything from regular apartments to full nursing care, so residents can just move buildings as they age.
It’s nice. If you’re into this sort of thing.
Even with this new talk ofretirement, I don’t really see myself living to the age of ninety. Hell, at this rate, if I hit fifty, I’ll be fucking lucky.
Cassandra has me pull into a spot labeled for visitors next to her parents’ building.
“Seriously, thank you so much for the ride. I really?—”
I turn off the engine.
Cassandra pauses unbuckling herself. “What are you doing?”
She really thought I was just going to drop her off and let her fend for herself to get back home.
She’s pretty. But she’s a fool.
“I’ll wait,” I tell her.
“You’ll… You’ll stay for dinner?” Her tone is a mixture of shock and hope.
“No, I’ll wait.” I settle back in my seat. “Go eat with your parents, Cassandra.”
I should’ve opened the window before I turned off the truck, but I’ll do that after she leaves.
A small choking sound leaves her throat. “You can’t just sit in your car.”
Heaving out a breath, I turn and face her. “You aren’t getting a ride home from some stranger, Butterfly. It’s dangerous. Now get out of the truck and go inside. I’ll be here.”
She mouths the wordbutterflybefore shaking her head. “You’re coming with me.”
“No—”
She cuts me off. “I literally cannot go enjoy myself while you sit out here roasting like a potato in an oven.”
“Potato?” I look down at myself. I know my outfit isn’t the height of fashion, and I might not be as chiseled as I was in my twenties, butpotato?
She shoves at my shoulder. “I didn’t mean you look like one. I just like food analogies.” She fans her face. “Seriously, I’m already baking in here. Let’s go.”
With that, she unclips her seat belt, opens the door, and slides out of my truck.
Yeah, sure, let’s go have dinner with my obsession’s fucking parents.
If Karmine could see me now.
I shouldn’t be seen with Cassandra in public.
