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I pull into Roxbury Diner’s parking lot, park, and turn the ignition off. I’m apprehensive about encountering Cassia. When I agreed to this, things between us weren’t volatile.
It’s got me tense and agitated, walking into a set-up. It was one thing to ignore Cassia when she acted ambivalent toward me. Another to respond when she initiated contact between us. It’s different to pursue—to seek her out when she’s actively avoiding me. Something I told myself I’d never do.
I’m turning a favor for a neighbor into something selfish. But we’re chaperoning a couple of kids, one of whom is her sister. Cassia won’t cause a scene. I won’t be able to do anything really stupid—like kiss her.
Resolved, I turn off the truck. “Come on.”
Ben jumps out of the cab eagerly. Guy doesn’t even know why we’re really here.
I probably should have put some feelers out. Asked if there are any chicks he’s interested in. If he already has a girl, for God’s sake.
I drag a palm down my face and exhale, realizing this plan is unfolding worse by the minute. But it’s too late to back out now. I follow Ben over to the entrance and inside the diner.
Warm air saturated with the smell of grease greets me. It’s not too busy in here. I spot Cassia and Maggie immediately. Maggie is leaning against the counter, tapping her fingers on the Formica anxiously. Cassia is staring out the window.
Maggie spots us first.
“Ben! Hi!” Maggie’s voice is high and excited. But there’s no trace of expectation. No hint she knew we were coming or that this was pre-planned.
I’m relieved. Maybe that will save me from a more permanent spot on Cassia’s shit list, which would surely be earned by knowing I showed up here with the knowledge she would be too. To set her sister up on a date, no less.
“Hey, Holden.” Maggie greets me as an afterthought, her focus on the gangly, sandy-haired teenager next to me.
“Hey,” I respond, when it seems evident no one else is going to say anything. Ben is wearing a shy smile, and Cassia…well, I haven’t looked at Cassia yet.
Awkward silence ensues.
I shove my hands in my pockets. “Funny seeing you guys here.”
Okay, so Maggie’s a better actor than I am.
Luckily, neither she nor Ben seem to notice. The kid finally got over his surprise and is now talking animatedly. They’re slowly drifting away down the counter, leaving Cassia and me standing here.
I take a deep breath and finally look at her. She’s standing with her arms crossed, her expression suspicious. “You set this up.”
“Shhh.” I grab her hand and pull her away, toward one of the empty booths.
“Stop manhandling me,” she hisses.
“You didn’t seem to mind it last weekend.”
Pink spreads across her cheeks. “I told you not to bring that up again.”
“Fine. I won’t. Just take a seat. Let me buy you a burger.”
“I’m not hungry.”
“Then just sit while I eat.”
Cassia scoffs but sits. “I can’t believe Maggie talked you into this.” Her gaze is on the couple now sitting on stools. I follow it, relieved to see that Ben is grinning, appearing as taken with Maggie as she is with him. One potential crisis averted.
“All I had to do was get the guy here. It was no big deal.” I grab one of the laminated menus, even though I always get the same thing here.
Studying the list of options sounds like a more appealing option than meeting Cassia’s accusing gaze.
“Still. There was nothing in it for you.”
“Sounds like you and my paper.” I glance up in time to see her lips purse.
