CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE #2
“Thank you,” I say simply. I don’t really think I wanted anything other than for her to apologize.
I put my hands in my pockets and shrug as we continue on our way.
“For the record, after I realized who you were, I listened to all your songs.” Then I offer her another truth.
“And I waited for you that night. You never came back. Your song should really be about a cowboy who sat like a chump in the back corner of a bar as the woman he just had some pretty mindblowing sex with drove off into the sunset.”
She turns to face me, one eyebrow raised.
“Mindblowing?” She laughs, then her smile fades. “You’re right. I was an asshole. The song should’ve been about that.”
I chuckle lightly. “Sounds like a hit.”
Cassie places her hand on my arm briefly.
“Look, I’ve made mistakes. I mistook you for someone who had nights like that all the time. I might put on a strong front but sometimes I’m scattered, anxious, and I find it hard to be brave. I just couldn’t say goodbye. It was easier to run. It’s a shitty excuse, but it’s the truth.”
“I get it,” I tell her honestly. I’ve put on a strong front in the name of saving face more than once, and even if it is a shitty excuse, at least Cassie’s being open with me now. Which makes it easier to forgive her.
“And hey, about the song, there is a compliment there you know, Haden. I write what inspires me. And you inspired me. Not many people do,” she says before moving toward me and wagging a finger at me. “Just don’t let that go to your head.”
I nod in response. “Noted.”
“Don’t worry.” She pats my arm. “No one knows it’s about you. I never told a soul about us before the other night.”
I stop walking and take a breath for a second. “Since we’re clearing the air here,” I say, “I want to get this straight. I didn’t care if anyone else knew it was about me. I knew, Cassie. That was the only reason I was angry about it.”
“Was?” Her face softens as she acknowledges what I’m saying. She looks so damn pretty and apologetic it makes me want to fuck with her just a little bit as payback.
“It’s true. You made me seem like the dick who left you high and dry,” I tell her in my best hurt voice, staring down at her from my full height.
Tiny flakes of snow have started falling from the sky and everything is eerily quiet.
The whole scene around us on Penny’s dark driveway is static.
There isn’t a breath of wind. I put my hands on her shoulders and look deep into her eyes.
“The truth is Cassie …” I push her heavy locks off her shoulder, letting my hand slide down her arm. She shudders as I look deep into her eyes. “You were really the dick all along. The biggest dick of all.”
She blinks in shock before a wide smile breaks out on her pretty face.
“Screw you. I’m the dream.” She swats at my arm as she laughs. “I mean, c’mon. Don’t most guys want a woman who fucks and ducks?”
I almost choke on thin air. “What the hell is ‘fuck and duck’?”
“I don’t know … Ginger said it.”
“Christ. That makes total sense.”
We reach her truck, and Cassie stops at the driver’s-side door.
She sticks her hand out to me. “Alright, well … lots of progress tonight. Good talk?”
“Good talk?” I ask. This fucking woman. Could she get any more awkward? Or any cuter?
“Yeah … friends?” She crosses her heart with her first finger.
Yep, she can get cuter. I grip her hand and shake it like we’re making a business deal and cross my own heart in response.
“Friends,” I affirm.
“And uh … thanks for being a good sport about me following you.” She smiles, sliding her hand away from mine just enough to grip my pinky finger with her own.
“It’s not like you gave me the choice,” I joke. We’re still locking eyes and pinkies and I can’t seem to look away.
Before I can stop her, Cassie surprises me, letting go of my hand and wrapping her arms around my waist in a hug.
Her soft hair settles against me and my body comes alive with her touch.
My chest tightens as I give in and wrap my arms around her too.
The way she sinks into me is so comforting and it feels like we were just made to fit together. Perfectly.
I breathe her in. Goddamn. She smells incredible.
“I had fun shoveling shit with you tonight.” She laughs softly into my chest, and the feeling of her like this, of us, ignites me.
I have to physically force myself to pull away from her.
She’s too sweet, too warm and too enticing.
That tiny scrap of control, that last shred of armor I’ve still got is hanging by a thread.
I remind myself that she won’t be here long and that Wade asked me to keep my hands off her.
“Follow behind me close,” I tell her, backing up even further. “There are deer all over these roads at this time of night.”
“Yes sir,” she says, saluting me.
I must be spending way too much time with this girl.
A week ago I was constantly annoyed by her.
But now? I don’t know what the hell I am.
She says I’m not who she thought I was and that sits with me as I climb into my truck.
Because she isn’t the princess I thought she was either.
And, right now, I’m struggling to think of one reason not to like Cassie Spencer.
“So, next time you want to know what I’m doing, just ask. Yeah?” I call to Cassie from my driveway as she gets out of her truck.
“I don’t know. The stalking worked out well for me tonight.” Cassie smirks with a hand on her hip, before looking down at her keys in her hand. She looks back up at me and I see the sincerity in her face as she says her next words. “I had fun with you, Haden.”
The snow falls lightly around us and the space between our cabins seems too fucking far as my eyes hold hers. I force myself to look away and forget the way she felt in my arms. To forget the way she smells. I turn and head up my steps, breaking the connection between us.
“Stop trying to butter me up, Princess,” I joke. “I’m not forgetting you stalked me.”
“Stop pretending you didn’t like it!” she singsongs as she climbs her own steps and closes the door before I have a chance to respond.
I pull my front door closed and lean against it.
Blowing out a breath, I fight the urge to go to her as I head to the shower.
All I want to do right now is take her in my arms and kiss her like it’s the second chance I never thought I’d get.