Chapter 10 – Cassie
I was pretty sure the sun was directly next to my window, not a million miles away like it normally is. The rays of light shining through the slits in my curtains pierced my eyes and shot straight to my soul.
My body felt heavy, my head heavier.
Everything was sore, but I couldn’t imagine how much worse it would have been if I hadn’t taken medicine before going to bed. Shout out to Jace for hooking a girl up before he left last night.
Lying in bed, I contemplated what I needed to do first. Shower probably. Hot water against my skin was more than likely the only thing that would take this pain away.
After turning the shower knob to hot, I pulled off my remaining clothes from last night.
As they hit the floor, memories of taking off my pants in front of Jace came back to life.
Most girls would have been embarrassed if some guy had seen them in their underwear.
I was just relieved he hadn’t seen my burns.
Standing in front of the bathroom mirror, I studied my naked body.
I’d come to love everything about myself—my red hair, the freckles all over my body, my green eyes. Everything except the scar down my right side from the healed burn, a permanent memory from that terrifying fire all those years ago.
It was springtime. June Bug had just turned two.
I had spent most of the day at Ellie and Colt’s, celebrating my favorite niece’s birthday.
Ponies, pink, and pinatas everywhere. June Bug was so happy.
She had more toys to open than her cute little brain could even register.
After leaving that night, I lay down in my bed with a heart full of happiness and a belly full of birthday cake.
I hadn’t slept long before I woke up to the sound of the smoke detectors in my apartment going off.
When I got out of bed, the smoke was so thick that I couldn’t even see two feet in front of me. Within a minute, it slipped down into my lungs, making me cough uncontrollably and pass out.
The next morning, I woke in a hospital bed with no memory of what happened after my body hit the floor.
Doctors and first responders helped me piece it together.
The fire department said the cause of the fire was a faulty safety switch on my space heater that had malfunctioned, causing it to overheat.
At some point after I fell asleep, it got so hot that it sparked a fire.
Flames climbed my curtains and engulfed the apartment in a matter of minutes.
The firefighters rushed up the fire escape just in time.
A minute longer and I would’ve died they said.
While I’d been passed out, the fire crept close to my body, giving me third-degree burns on the right side of my stomach. When I woke up in that hospital bed, the pain had almost been unbearable.
Two years later and I’d never so much as lit a candle in my house. Just the thought of fire burning made my side hurt. Remembering it still caused goosebumps to break out all over my body, just like right now.
Hopping into the steaming shower, I stood under the warm water for what felt like an eternity, letting the heat wash away the soreness from my body. Who knew hot water and a bottle of soap could make a girl so happy?
Wrapping a clean, fluffy towel around my body, I stepped out of the shower onto the cool bathroom tile.
My stomach growled so loudly that I was sure my neighbors would hear it, so my next destination was the kitchen.
Most mornings, I didn’t have enough time to make myself a hot breakfast, so I was going to take the chance while I still had it.
Rounding the corner of my hallway, I stepped into the living room, stopping dead in my tracks when I realized there was a large man asleep on my couch. Not just any large man––Jace.
What the hell was he doing here?
I thought he left after tucking me into bed last night. How had this man slept on my couch all night without me even knowing it? How did I not hear this snoring all night either? Based on how loud it was, he was very tired.
He was still wearing his jeans and T-shirt from the night before. His cowboy hat covered his face as he lay there asleep.
No pillow. No blanket.
Why didn't he ask for some? What if he was supposed to be elevating his broken foot while he slept?
I stepped back slowly, trying not to wake him, tiptoeing down the hallway back into my bedroom, quiet as a mouse. I stood there in the middle of my room.
Should I wake him up? Should I let him sleep some more?
Pulling on some old blue jeans and a white T-shirt, I decided to be nice and let him sleep.
My original plan had been to head into the kitchen and make some French toast, so I guess I’d be making French toast for two now.
Surely this would get me some brownie points with the man upstairs.
I lifted my eyes toward the ceiling as if I looking at Jesus himself.
Are you watching this? Me being nice to Jace McKinley?
I tiptoed into the kitchen, trying to be as quiet as possible while I searched for all the ingredients. After I set everything in a neat row on my countertop, I got to work, whisking the eggs and milk, adding a dash of cinnamon, heating up the pan, and so on.
As I cooked, the delicious aroma filled the kitchen. If this wonderful smell didn't wake Jace up, nothing would. And if he walked in here and told me he didn't like French toast, I’d change my mind and kick him out after all.
Sorry, Jesus.
As I continued cooking, the smell of cinnamon and sugar mixed with the fragrance of a man’s cologne. When Jace jumped up behind me, trying to scare me, I didn't flinch.
“What the hell? How did you know I was there?” he asked, frustrated that his no-good antics hadn't worked.
“Your cologne gave you away,” I said, trying not to laugh.
He stood in the doorway of my kitchen, wearing just his blue jeans and T-shirt—no cowboy hat, barefoot except for the medical boot. He looked simpler than he had last night. More relaxed, as if his guard was down.
“I’m sorry about passing out on your couch. I meant to stay long enough to make sure you fell asleep and didn't start throwing up. My plan was to be gone by the time you woke up,” Jace explained, rubbing the back of his neck like he was embarrassed.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m making French toast if you want some,” I said, extending a peace offering so he’d know I didn't care that he’d crashed on my couch.
“Is that the smell that woke me up?” he asked, scooting onto one of the wooden stools that allowed the other end of my kitchen island to serve as both my junk pile and the occasional dinner table.
“Yup,” I replied happily. If there was any way to get into my good graces, it was by complimenting my cooking or my coffee. My two passions.
“Just so we’re on the same page, we’re even now, right?” I asked, eyeing him from across the marble slab.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, his country drawl mixed in with his groggy voice that I was finding a little too appealing. “What can I help you with?” he asked, standing back up, as if he got bored quickly and needed something to keep his hands busy.
I stood there for a moment, caught off guard. I wasn't used to anyone asking what they could do for me.
“It’s fine, I’ve got it.”
“Cassie I’m not standing here in this kitchen empty-handed while you do everything. If my momma saw this, she would kick my ass. Tell me what you need me to do, and I’ll see to it.”
Yes, sir.
Until today, I hadn’t realized how much a guy taking charge turned me on. Too bad Jace McKinley was the first one to show me, and I’d never be able to see how far the whole I’m-in-charge-here thing could work on me.
I may have been coming around to the idea of a ceasefire with Jace, but I sure as hell wasn't about to let him into my pants anytime soon.