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She sure as hell doesn’t kiss me.
“Where were you?”
I shove my hands into my pockets. “Finn called me, wanting to hang out. So I ended up spending the night at Arlington.”
All true.
I haven’t lied to her again.
Yet.
This is the obvious opening to come clean. To tell herexactlywhere I spent the night.
But my little sister—mypregnantlittle sister—is just down the hallway.
Cassia didn’t even tell Sydney we all but broke up this summer. I’m certain she doesn’t want to air out our dirty laundry now. And me sleeping in another girl’s bed isn’t exactly the sort of thing I can mention to her and then say we’ll discuss it more later.
So, that’s all I tell her.
“How’s Finn doing?” Cassia asks.
“He’s…Finn.”
“Did you see Harrison?”
“Yep.” My molars grind, recalling our conversation before the party. There must be some sick irony in him apologizing just before I found out he slept with Sydney. “I’m gonna kill him.”
“It’s not his fault.”
I raise one eyebrow. “It’sabsolutelyhis fault.”
Cassia glances over one shoulder to make sure Sydney isn’t back yet. “You really think this is what he was after? Come on, Holden, you know him.”
“Turns out, I really don’t.”
“He’s a good guy. It could be worse.”
“Yeah. Agood guywho’s spent years telling me I’m too much of a fuck-up for you, but then turns around and knocks up my sister.”
“Everyone makes mistakes.”
I silently pray she’s still this forgiving when I tell the rest of what happened last night.
“Sydney’s spending the night here?” I ask.
“Yeah. I bought cookie dough. The plan is to stuff our faces in our pajamas.”
I smile. “She’s lucky to have a best friend like you.”
Cassia closes the distance between us, running her hand up my arm. “I’m lucky to haveyou. You’re my best friend too. And you’re not a fuck-up.”
It’s hard to smile while what feels like a rusty blade saws my chest open, but I manage it. I want to rewind time so I can punch myself in the face last night.
I tilt my head down and kiss her. Once, tentative and soft. But as soon as I feel her respond, self-restraint dissipates.
“I’m glad you came over.”
“I wanted to see you.” I kiss her jaw. “I missed you.” My lips move down to her neck, and a breathy moan leaves hers.
