Chapter Eight #2
I roll my eyes and shake my head at him as he laughs.
From there, the topics stay a lot lighter and a lot more flirty.
Our lovely waitress brings us our food and we eat while catching up.
He tells me about a few friends of his back in New York and I talk to him about Arianna and Naomi.
He was shocked to find out that we are still friends, honestly, I don’t get why.
We have been friends for so long, we are in it for the long haul. Until we’re old and grey.
After our nearly three hour breakfast date, the waitress finally came right out and said it was time for us to leave, which honestly had us cracking up.
Alec quickly paid the tab and though I offered to pay my own meal, he just rolled his eyes and told the waitress she could keep the massive tip.
Her eyes widened out of her head and for the first time since we were there, she looked almost kind, softened.
She said thank you under her breath and quickly rushed into the back.
Alec smiled after her before standing up and offering his hand for me. I took it easily and together we made our way back to his bike. The drive back to my house went by faster than I anticipated. I closed my eyes as I rest my head onto his back and when I opened them again, we were there.
Pushing myself away from him, I step off the bike, taking the helmet he gave me off before handing it to him. He pushes his helmet off as well, running a hand through his blond hair before swinging a leg over so he’s just leaning against the bike.
“Thank you for breakfast, or maybe it’s now considered lunch?” I laugh.
He smiles as he reaches for my hand, pulling it up to his lips before placing a gentle kiss against my knuckles.
“It was my pleasure.”
I feel soft butterflies flutter inside me as I look at him. Our eyes stay on one another for so long, you’d think it would be awkward. It’s not, though. Nothing is with him. Everything is easy, simple. Comfortable. Like riding a bike, we have picked up practically right where we left off.
His hand tugs on mine gently, and I know what he wants without his having to speak. I close to the distance, coming to stand between his legs as his hands come to my hips, holding me in place.
Mindlessly, I wrap my arms around his neck as I smile at him.
Even leaning down like this he’s still at perfect eye level with me, which means I can see the way his eyes dart down to my mouth before back to my eyes.
A silent ask of permission. I was always the dominant one in this relationship, though, and it looks like some things never change.
Leaning forward, I press my lips against his as one of his hands lift to the back of my head.
He holds me tenderly as his lips move against mine, his tongue licking the seam of my lips before I part for him.
He twirls his tongue against my own, letting out a soft groan as he does.
I feel myself wanting to be closer and closer to him as I hold him tighter when he roughly tears himself away, letting out an almost pained groan.
“If we weren’t in your parent’s driveway in broad daylight, I’d bend you over this bike and show you just how much I’ve fucking missed you.”
“If you knew how to have fun, I’d let you,” I tease against his lips.
Another moan that sounds more reminiscent to torture than pleasure escapes him as he presses one more kiss to me. When he tears himself away, he shakes his head.
“You are fucking trouble Cassi Fischer.”
“And you love it Alec Thompson,” I smirk.
“Absofuckinglutly do,” he says on a short laugh.
I smile at him as one of his hands starts rubbing soft circles on my lower back.
“Does this mean you’ll let me take you out again?”
I pretend to think about it before he pinches my side, causing a laugh to squeal out of me.
“Yes, I’d love that,” I nod.
“Good, because you actually didn’t have a choice.”
“Oh no?” I ask in amusement.
“Absolutely not. I got my eyes on the prize, babygirl,” he says as he stands up, swinging his leg over his bike once more and starting it up.
I cross my arms over my chest as I lift an eyebrow at him.
“Keep looking. It’s gonna take more than a short stack of pancakes and a good kiss to get this prize.”
“Don’t I know it,” he says with a shake of his head before shooting me a wink.
I laugh at that as he slips on his helmet and gives me a wave. I wave to him as he takes off out of the driveway and down the road. I don’t even realize that I’m still smiling until I’m inside, when I run straight into a hard chest.
That familiar scent fills the air around me, and I look up to see Nicholas glaring down at me.
“What? Decided to cut your porno short?”
I screw my face up in confusion at him.
“What are you even talking about?”
“That little display. I can only assume you were filming it, if you’re hurting for money that bad, all you have to do is ask for help,” he says dryly.
I honestly can’t tell if he’s being serious or not, mainly because his personality fucking sucks.
“Shouldn’t you be in Boston? You know, far fucking away from here?”
And me.
Nicholas stares at me for several seconds before he speaks, his voice tight and short.
“Change of plans. We’re staying through the week.”
I can feel my face fall at his words.
“Why?” I ask, as if knowing the answer will somehow allow me to find a way to get him and Carly on a plane as soon as fucking possible.
“Does it matter?” he asks as he turns and walks away.
Yeah, it really fucking does
When I got back from my date with Alec, I decided to take a much needed day nap. Which I know sounds ridiculous since I went to bed at noon but it’s my last day off before I start back at work tomorrow so I’m going to enjoy it.
I finally pried my eyes open and checked my phone to see that it was promptly five o’clock in the afternoon.
Looks like I absolutely slept the day away and I have zero regrets.
Scrolling through my text messages I see a few from the group chat talking about Arianna’s upcoming date with her masked man from the club, Naomi shooting down any and all of Arianna’s inquiries of her time Friday night and then finally a private text from Naomi.
Naomi: How did this weekend go? Is he gone?
I scoff, shaking my head as I type out my response.
Me: If by gone, you mean is he staying for an extra week, then absolutely.
Her response comes almost immediately.
Naomi: WHAT
Naomi: EXPLAIN
Naomi: NOW PLEASE
I decide it’s better to voice note but I make sure to keep any names or details out of it in case someone is close by.
“Yeah, that’s what I’ve been told. No explanation.
No elaboration. Just point, blank. Clearly this entire situation isn’t nearly as painful for him as it is for me.
If I was in control, I’d get the hell out of dodge immediately.
I’d already be gone. Like it’s bad enough that he’s here, but in my house?
” I add on with a whisper. “He’s such a fucking asshole.
I take back everything I ever said. He’s trash in every way possible.
But, on a random bright side, you’ll never believe who I ran into at dinner last night. ”
I pause for dramatic effect before continuing.
“Alec Thompson,” I say, already hearing her squeal of surprise.
“It’s so fucking sad, Nay. His parents died, he almost did too, or could have at least. Now he’s out here taking care of his dying grandma.
My heart is broken for him. He picked me up this morning and took me to Donny’s like old times.
It was actually so nice. So like yes, I hate that he is here but the plus side of things is that Alec is kinda in the picture, at least for now.
He said he was going to take me out again soon and let me tell you, sparks definitely don’t dim with time,” I say as I end the voice note.
Forcing myself out of bed, I decide to head downstairs and see what the plan is for dinner.
I know Naomi will be blowing up my phone for the foreseeable future which will be hilarious to come back to.
She always loved Alec and swore that we were endgame, she was almost more devastated when we broke up than I was, which is pretty crazy because despite me ending it, I was heartbroken.
I knew that she would latch onto that piece of the story as soon as it left my lips.
Maybe that’s why I did it. Because if my journalist major bestie is focused on my former boyfriend who she adored, maybe she won’t see that I’m lying through my goddamn teeth.
Okay, maybe that’s an exaggeration. I wouldn’t say through my teeth.
Am I happy I ran into Alec? Absolutely.
Do I think Nicholas is a trash human? Undoubtedly.
Am I feeling major sparks with Alec after one date that outshine what I felt with Nicholas for just one hour? Not even fucking close.
I wanted to. I really did. It was a great kiss, and there was…
something that stirred inside me when I kissed him.
To be honest, I don’t know what to think.
Is it in my head? Am I standing in the way of happiness because I’m so caught up with guilt and shame?
I honestly don’t know and I’m nowhere near emotionally mature enough to dive in and discover the answers.
So, I’m going to force it until an answer smacks me in the face. It’s my own special brand of avoidance that works out for me about 33% of the time, which is not nothing.
As I make my way downstairs and into the kitchen, the smell of my mom’s famous meatloaf fills the room.
I don’t know why meatloaf has such a bad reputation, maybe some people don’t cook it correctly.
If they had my mother’s they’d never eat anything but again.
My eyes roam over the kitchen to see that she also took the time to make her sweet rolls and mashed potatoes? Fuck me upppp.
“Hey sleepyhead,” my mom smiles.
I give her a tired smile as I zombie walk my way over to the plate of fresh rolls. Stealing one and avoiding my mom’s hand smack all in one. A talent, I know.
“Cassi, you know mom and I don’t care what you do on your days off, but waking up at five in the afternoon?” my dad laughs from his recliner.
I smile and shake my head at him. “I took a little nap that turned into a long one.”
“I heard some activity early this morning, what were you up to?” my mom asks.
Before I can respond, a cutting voice comes from the hallway before the owner steps into the kitchen.
Nicholas is wearing a pair of slacks and a black dress shirt, way too dressed up for a lazy Sunday if you ask me but maybe that’s why arrogant pricks like to wear on their days off. Who am I to judge?
“She had a date, with that waiter from last night.”
His eyes cut to mine, almost in a taunting way. Does he think I’m twelve? Think he’s gonna get me in trouble with mommy and daddy? To my delight, and his surprise, my parents react the way I anticipated.
“Alec? Oh sweetie, that’s wonderful!” my mom says as my dad nods.
“I always liked that kid. How are his folks doing?”
A pang of sadness hits me and my eyes cut to Nicholas’s before deciding he doesn’t need to be privy to Alec’s situation. He clearly has a distaste for him and therefore, doesn’t deserve intimate details.
“Good,” I say, keeping it short. “Can I help with anything, Mom?”
“You’re okay. I just needed some more butter from the store and Nicholas was sweet enough to run out for me.”
On cue, he reaches between us, handing my mom a box of butter with a smile that would charm any woman right out of her pants. Certainly charmed me out of mine when he aimed it at me.
“It was no trouble,” he says simply.
My mom smiles at him lovingly in a way that has me resisting the urge to vomit. Give me a fucking break.
“Where is your girlfriend, Nicholas?” I ask.
“Nico,” he corrects flatly, his tone brokering no argument.
Tough luck for him, I’ve officially found out what pisses him off the most, so as a little sister would, I will forever use it to bug the living shit out of him.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. Do you prefer, Nico? Carly always told us your name was Nicholas,” my mom says.
His harsh stare towards me melts away when he looks to my mom.
“I do. Nicholas just feels too formal for me.”
“Yeah, you are the picture of relaxation,” I scoff with a shake of my head.
My eyes find my dad’s who gives me a ‘what the hell was that for’ kind of look. I shrug my shoulder to him, looking anywhere else as my mom and Nicholas keep chatting.
“You didn’t answer my question, where is Carly?” I ask, cutting into the conversation.
“Why is it any of your business, Miss Nosey?” my mom tosses out. “She’s getting her nails done. Carly and Nico are going to stay with us through the week. Won’t that be nice?” she asks with a smile that says be polite.
I give my best fake smile as I nod my head and look to him.
“Why yes, what joyous news.”
My mom sighs, shaking her head as I move to the cabinet for plates.
“I’ll set the table,” I say as I gather up enough dishes for us all and head for the dining room. Not before I catch my mom’s words.
“Sorry about her. Carly and Cassi have never gotten along very well. I’m afraid you’re the enemy by association.”
“Something tells me I’ve earned that title by my own merit.”
Well, at least he’s telling the truth for once.