33. Vivienne
Vivienne
The rain has stopped when I run back to the house, leaving Cassian and Bash in the stables to fight over me as if I’m some kind of trophy.
I open the back door, intent on changing out of my wet clothes and forgetting about men for the rest of the night.
Instead, I scream when I see a figure standing in the kitchen.
Briar whirls around, her eyes wide. “I am so sorry. I assumed Bash told you I was here.”
I hold my hand to my chest, trying to catch my breath. “Yeah, we didn’t get that far.”
“Where is he?” she asks.
A pizza box is sitting on the counter behind her. My stomach rumbles at the aroma coming from it. Lifting the lid, I inhale deeply, then grab a slice. “In the stables with Cass.”
“Seems like an odd place to be when there’s pizza.” She pulls a piece from the box, cheese hanging down in melted strands.
“They had some things to work out,” I say. “We didn’t realize you were coming tonight.”
She shrugs, then hops onto the counter. I kind of love how at home she’s already made herself, no invitation needed. “Bash wanted it to be a surprise. Personally, I would’ve wanted to know, but he insisted.”
“Sure would’ve saved a lot of trouble if he’d listened to you,” I mutter.
She takes a long drink from her Diet Coke and lifts a questioning brow. “Are you going to explain that cryptic statement or am I supposed to pry it out of you?”
I consider whether to tell her as I chew. What if it makes things awkward all weekend? At the same time, she might be able to talk Bash off the ledge if necessary. “Bash caught Cassian and me kissing in the barn,” I say, before quickly shoving my mouth full again.
Briar blinks at me as she sets down her soda. “I knew it.”
“Knew what?” I ask, covering my mouth.
She hops to the floor. There’s a new light in her eyes that makes me wary. “I knew there was something going on between the two of you.”
I toss my crust back into the box. “Except there isn’t. That was the first time.” The hospital doesn’t count.
“That’s not what I was referring to.”
After wiping my fingers, I wad up my napkin and turn to face her. “What, then?”
“I’ve seen the way he looks at you.” She smiles knowingly. “He’s in love with you.”
I let out a cackle. “Cass isn’t in love with me. He likes me, but not enough to fly in the face of my family’s wrath if they found out. Case in point,” I say, pointing toward the stables.
“Speaking of”—Briar snaps her fingers—“we’re going to need ice.”
“If he’s still alive,” I mutter as I move to the freezer and begin wrapping ice cubes in a towel. “Bash can be such an asshole.”
“He just wants to protect you,” she says. “I think it’s sweet.”
“Of course you do.” I roll my eyes, but if I’m being truly honest, I know I’m lucky to have Bash in my corner, even if his anger is pointed in the wrong direction this time.
When the guys finally come inside and it’s confirmed that Cass can still walk upright, I shoot Bash a dirty look.
What? his eyes asks.
You’re an asshole.
Whatever. He rolls his eyes and gives me a goofy grin.
Shaking my head, I reluctantly lift my own lips.
Briar finds a deck of UNO cards, and despite Bash’s protests, we all end up sitting in front of the fire playing the game.
“Why can’t we play poker instead?” Bash asks, pulling Briar’s legs across his lap and not-so-subtly trying to peek at her cards.
She slaps him away. “Because I don’t know how to play.”
“Well, I don’t know how to play UNO.”
“Yes, you do. Even my niece can play.”
He wrinkles his brow. “Isn’t Piper only a year old?”
“Exactly.” She plays a card in the center of the coffee table.
He huffs out a sigh and takes his turn. Cass glances at me, and I meet his eyes for a brief second.
The right one is starting to bruise. I’ve avoided him since everything happened earlier, and he didn’t exactly seek me out either, which is probably good considering how many times I’ve felt Bash watching both of us tonight.
The game ends when Briar wins. We play a few more rounds, but I think she’s the only one actually trying. The tension between Bash and Cass is so thick that it’s hard to focus on anything else.
When the grandfather clock in the hall strikes eleven, Cass gets to his feet. “I’m exhausted,” he says. “I’ll see you all in the morning.”
We wish him a good night, and he heads upstairs. I wait five minutes before saying, “I think I’ll go to bed as well.”
Bash shoots me a look. “You’d better be heading straight to your own room.”
I roll my eyes. “For the love of god, Bash. We’re not in Bridgerton. You don’t need to protect my virtue.”
“I just think it’s suspicious that you’re both going to bed this early,” he says, still scowling.
“Well, some of us have been working and are tired.” I give him an exasperated look as I walk out. Who knew brothers could be so annoying?
I’m almost to my room when I hear it.
“Viv.” The voice is hushed but unmistakably Cassian’s.
I turn and find him sticking his head out of his bedroom. My heart gallops in my chest as I move closer. “What are you doing? If Bash catches—”
“I just wanted to apologize for earlier. I shouldn’t have put you in that position.” He rests a hand against the doorjamb. “I’m sorry.”
I should have anticipated this being how he would want to play it. Sweep it all under the rug and go back to life as usual. “So that’s it, then? We just go back to pretending nothing happened?”
“I assumed that’s what you wanted.”
I glance down the hall to make sure my brother isn’t lurking. “Maybe you should stop assuming what I want.”
He frowns. “You’re the one who said it didn’t mean anything.”
My heart thumps so violently against my ribs, I’m scared Bash will hear it and come investigate. “Did it?” I ask quietly. “Mean anything?”
Cass’s eyes soften, and he drops his arm. He angles his body closer, as if he’s pulling me in. “Of course it did, Vivvy. It meant everything.”
Time stops as I gaze into his eyes. He holds my entire universe in the palm of his hand, and he can’t even see it. Before I can respond, footsteps and Briar’s giggles sound from the stairs. I wait for Cass to pull me into his room so we can finish this conversation.
Instead, he steps back to close the door. “Good night, Viv.”