Chapter 4
Chapter Four
Cassi
The next day after a much needed lunch since we slept through breakfast, I’m driving back to my house, well, my parents’ house.
I know, I know. I’m twenty one years old and still living with my parents.
In my defense, Seattle is one of the most expensive areas to live in the country and free housing is free housing.
My parents are also very relaxed and we all kind of keep out of each other’s way. It’s a win, win.
Ari was the first one back to the hotel last night. She sent us a text letting us know she was back in the room and I was right behind her within an hour or so. The only one that went radio silent until the early hours was Naomi who came strolling in at the crack of dawn.
My man from last night left soon after we were finished and honestly, I didn’t feel a need to stick around and find a new partner for the night because I’d already found the perfect one. How could anyone compare?
We exchanged phone numbers, him just leaving his contact name as N and mine as C.
We could have exchanged names but what would be the fun in that?
This whole anonymity thing is kind of hot, it’s freeing.
I’m sure I’ll find out his name when I come out to Boston because make no mistake, that will be happening.
I’m embarrassed to admit I texted him first. I was waiting for him to text me but when it was approaching one o’clock west coast time and he was already back in Boston, I figured it was enough time.
Or maybe I was just eager. Either way, it’s now almost four o’clock my time and still nothing.
Maybe he only said he wanted to see me again just so he could get past the whole awkward post sex conversation.
I tried and honestly failed to hide my jealousy when Ari told us that she got asked back to the club by the man she spent the night with.
They planned to meet up the following weekend and I don’t know.
Something about it seemed so sure, that he wanted to be with her again more than anything and I was definitely a shit friend for it.
I’ll call her and apologize tomorrow. Right now I just want to go home, eat some dinner and pass out.
When I pull into the driveway, I check my phone one last time. No new messages. Fuck.
I try not to let disappointment take over me but it’s hard not to.
Last night wasn’t just some great sex it was…
something else, that’s for sure. The connection we had even before the sex, the way his eyes watched me steadily, the way his hands felt on me.
I’ve never experienced anything like it in my life.
Oh well. I’m quickly coming to the realization that it will have to remain tucked away as the most perfect night ever.
The most perfect birthday ever. I guess I can live with that.
Better than having the memory tainted when I find out he’s actually a sleazeball who is married with a bunch of kids or something.
Shrugging it off, I step out of my car, throwing my overnight bag over my shoulder as I head inside.
I slipped on some leggings and an oversized sweatshirt before piling my hair on top of my head.
I’m not actually a red head. I have the same mousy brown hair as the rest of my family.
I dyed it for the first time in eighth grade and never looked back.
It’s become practically my whole personality, and I don’t think that I could ever go to a ‘normal’ color.
Besides, it fits the scattering of freckles my mom blessed me with well.
A trait my sister was lucky enough to avoid.
“I’m home,” I call out as I push inside, dropping my keys into the bowl by the door as I move into the living room.
My parents have a nice house just outside Seattle.
It’s been in my dad’s family for three generations, hence why we are able to afford it.
My mom is a substitute elementary school teacher, and my dad owns a few grocery stores.
I am currently enrolled in college, though I don’t know what the hell to major in if I’m being honest. My best friends were going to the local college and when I applied and got in, I thought, what the hell.
I’ve been a receptionist at a dental office for the last two years and it’s fine for what it is.
I mainly work on weekends or pick up a few hours after classes to help the full time receptionist out.
It’s not exactly a lucrative position but it gives me enough to pay my bills, help my parents out and have some money for extra expenses.
Like getting a hotel room and going to a sex club for my birthday.
We’re a very healthy middle class family but in Seattle, middle class is basically on the poverty line with the cost of living out here. Okay, that might be a little dramatic but still.
“In here, sweetie,” my mom calls out.
“How was your birthday?” my dad asks as I walk up to him, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
“It was great,” I smile.
My parents definitely believe me and the girls rented a hotel room and went bar hopping on capitol hill last night. And that’s exactly how I intend to keep it.
“What, not gonna say hi to me?” Carly, my older sister snarks as she plops down onto the couch.
I raise an unimpressed eyebrow. I forgot she was coming to town this week.
Could have gone without. My sister and I have always had a strained relationship.
She always strives to be the center of attention and god forbid she doesn’t get it.
She’s exhausting and I truly haven’t thought about her much since she went to college at Boston University.
If she’s here I guess that means she finally brought home her on-again and off-again boyfriend.
Three years together and she’s just now bringing him home.
Curious as to what she’s hiding with him.
“Hi, Carly,” I say with a fake as fuck smile that she reciprocates before flipping me off.
“Nicholas, get in here and meet my bitchy little sister.”
I scoff at her as a figure moves from the kitchen into the living room. I do my best to wipe my irritated look from my face because it’s not this guy’s fault that he’s dating my terror of a sister. Wait, I guess he volunteered for the position, so maybe it is.
The polite smile I try to screw into place quickly falls away, as my eyes widen in horror. A mirroring look is displayed across ‘Nicholas’s’ face as he sets his eyes on me, freezing in place. Oh my god. That face, those eyes, that mouth.
The man that I spent last night with. The man that made me see fucking stars after tying me up in a sex club. That man is…my sister’s boyfriend.
What the fuck.
I seem to recover faster than he does. Honestly, he looks like he’s having a stroke at this moment. I know the feeling. Attempting to conceal my absolute horror, I give a half hearted wave to him as I clear my throat.
“Nicholas,” I say, allowing the name to sound as sharp and venomous as I intend. “So nice to finally meet you.”
He continues staring at me for a moment before blinking.
“Cassi, right?” he asks.
I nod before his brows furrow, his own head nodding.
“I swear he’s usually more eloquent,” Carly laughs, once again drawing the spotlight back to her.
Good, because I’m freaking the fuck out right now. Those hazel eyes never leave me, even for a second. They look puzzled and frazzled, I imagine mirroring my own reaction because what the actual FUCK. So, he cheated on my sister. He cheated on her with ME. Oh my god, I think I’m going to be sick.
“Excuse me,” I say as I step out of the room, dropping my bag to the floor as I rush for the first floor bathroom.
I almost make it into the bathroom, throwing the door shut behind me when a hand catches it, pushing it open before the owner of said hand steps inside, shutting the door behind him.
“Last night never happened,” he says sternly.
I let out a humorless laugh as I stare at him because is he actually fucking kidding?
“What part? When you cheated on my sister or when you cheated on her with me?” I hiss.
His jaw clenches as he shakes his head.
“I didn’t cheat on her. We broke up.”
I scoff at that, crossing my arms over my chest.
“So, you landed in Seattle together, broke up, fucked me and then magically got back together twelve hours later? Yeah, real believable.”
“It’s the truth,” he practically snarls.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night. It doesn’t matter.
You’ve been with my sister for three years, you know her as well as I do.
You think I’d honestly risk my life telling her that I fucked her boyfriend?
Even if it was an accident? She’d destroy me and I hope you take all of the offense when I say this, my life is worth more than a mediocre fuck,” I lie straight through my fucking teeth.
What looks like disbelief passes across his face and I attempt to slip past him and escape this suddenly claustrophobic bathroom. In a move that I can only compare to superhuman speed, his hand snatches my own, spinning me around to face him before caging me in against the wall.
My breath is stolen from my chest as I look up at him, frozen in place as he lowers his face to my own.
“Mediocre? Sweetheart, don’t even try to pretend last night wasn’t the best night of your goddamn life,” he says, his words are teasing and playful, but his tone and expression aren’t. They are harsh, accusatory with just enough bite to have a chill running down my spine.
I swallow roughly and notice how his eyes flick down to my mouth, a hazy look to his gaze as if he too were reminiscing about our night together. He can try to act unaffected, just as I am, but I think it’s obvious last night…and our newfound revelation, has left us both more than a little rattled.
Instead of responding to him, I choose the safer option.
“I think you should let me go before my sister…your girlfriend, walks in and sees you pinning me against the wall like a starved animal.”
His hazel eyes bore into me for a second longer before he blinks roughly, tearing himself away from me as he turns his back to me. I don’t hesitate to take my escape, scurrying out of the bathroom before running straight into my mom.
She catches me easily, giving me a soft smile.
“Careful, Cass. You okay?”
“Yeah, fine. Kinda hungover,” I lie with a short laugh.
My mom rolls her eyes and smiles. “You don’t know hangovers until you hit thirty, trust me.”
I smile, nodding along with whatever she says right now so that I can just retreat to the safety of my bedroom. Unfortunately, I only make it three steps before my mom continues.
“Why don’t you go get ready, we are all going out for dinner. Leave here in an hour?” she asks.
I pause, turning to her with a feigned look of disappointment.
“I’d love to but I’m kinda tired. Rain check?”
She purses her lips as her brows furrow. “Cass, your sister rarely comes to visit anymore. I know you guys don’t always get along but it’s just one weekend. Please, for me?”
Well how the fuck am I supposed to say no to that? My mom is literally the best human I know. She does everything for everyone, and she is really the only person that I can’t stand letting down.
Releasing a heavy sigh, I resign myself to the idea of going to dinner with them.
Mom is right, it’s one weekend. It’s already Saturday so really, it’s just tomorrow and then boom.
They are gone. Nodding to my mom, she smiles and presses a kiss to my cheek before heading back into the living room while I make my way upstairs to my room.
I honestly couldn’t tell you who I’m looking forward to spending time with less, my evil bitch of a sister or her slimy cheating boyfriend. What a match made in hell they are.