25. Trina #2
It doesn’t change the fact that I’m still having nightmares most nights, my mom still hasn’t called, and there’s a big, lingering part of me that’s worried Casey will decide my anxiety is too much for him.
But maybe I should do what Isabella is suggesting in not so many words.
Maybe I should just enjoy him and stop worrying about the rest. I got a glimmer of that life yesterday outside of the bar. It was nice.
I open my mouth to respond to her, but her face splits into a shit-eating grin.
“Don’t look now, but lover boy is here.”
“What?” I spin in my seat and, sure enough, Casey is picking up his coffee from the counter and waving at the barista.
“Oh my god.” Isabella cackles. “That’s why you were acting so weird the last time he was in here.”
“Will you keep it down?” I whisper with as much urgency as I can.
“Why? It’s not like he doesn’t know you’re practically in love with him.”
He doesn’t know that, actually. I’m not even sure I know that. And I’m getting a little wary of these people throwing around the L-word lately.
“Oh, hi, Casey!” Isabella lifts her arm and waves like a maniac. “Imagine running into you here.”
My cheeks are on fire now. “What are you doing?” I grind out.
Finally, she lowers her voice so he can’t hear her. “Calm down. It’s not like we’re in high school and you have a crush on him. Don’t you want to see your lover?”
“Please don’t ever use that word again,” I grouse.
“Good morning, ladies.” Casey’s deep voice resonates behind me. “Mind if I join you?”
Isabella waves at the chair next to me, still sporting an obvious smirk. “Please do.”
As Casey sits, he makes sure to brush against my leg under the table as he does. He flashes me a smile that does very little to quell the blush rising on my cheeks.
“Hi,” he says to me in a softer tone.
“Hi.”
We might not be in high school, but I sure feel like a schoolgirl when he looks at me like I’m the only person worth looking at in the room.
“I didn’t know you frequented this coffee shop,” Isabella says suggestively.
He takes a breath and drags his gaze away from me to her. “Only when I’m in the area,” he says. “I’m glad I ran into you, actually. I wanted to talk to you about the submission you sent me. Have you had any other offers?”
Isabella quickly shifts into a more professional demeanor, straightening up and wiping the smirk off her face. “Not yet, but there was some interest from Halo Sun. I’m not sure why they’re dragging their feet.”
Casey stiffens next to me. I doubt Isabella notices, but I clock it. He did this before, when I mentioned the new Morgan & Danielson imprint. And I was going to ask him about it then too.
“I’m going to send you an offer today,” he says firmly.
“Really?” She straightens in her seat. “That’s fantastic. We’ve been on submission for months.”
“I have some slots open for fall, so I’d like to move fast on this one if your author is up for it.”
She nods enthusiastically. “I’m sure she will be.” Picking up her phone, she says, “Oh, that’s her now. Excuse me. I’m going to tell her the good news.” And before anyone can say anything, she rushes out the door, pressing her phone to her ear.
As soon as she’s outside, she removes the phone from her ear, leans against the wall, and starts scrolling.
“Her phone didn’t even ring,” I mumble before turning to find Casey already watching me with a gleam in his eyes, leaning forward as if he’d rather drink me than the coffee in his hand. “What was all that about Halo Sun?”
He deflates slightly, but only a little of the heat leaves his eyes. “What do you mean?”
“That’s the second time I’ve seen you get weird when they’re mentioned.”
Casey drinks his coffee in a clear tactic to buy a second before responding. “They’re new, and so is Starlight.”
That’s not the full story, but just like he hasn’t pushed me, I won’t push him.
“I hope you don’t mind,” I start to change the subject, “but I told Isabella about us. I think that’s why she’s pretending to be on the phone.”
His entire expression changes. He grows softer, happier, more relaxed. “Baby, if I had my way, I’d shout from the top of the roof of this very building that we’re together. The only thing holding me back is that you’ve asked for some discretion.”
That heady feeling of holding some power comes over me again. Casey holds me up in a way no one else ever has. He trusts me, believes in my choices and supports them. He wants what’s best for me.
“I’m with you,” I tell him honestly. “I just want to figure a few things out.”
“Take all the time you need,” he says. And that feels honest, too. “But now that I know Isabella knows, I don’t have to feel bad about kissing you while she acts like she’s not watching us through the window.”
A giggle bubbles up out of me, but Casey stops it with a kiss so tender, so sentimental, that my toes literally curl.
“I have to get to the office.” He rests his forehead against mine.
“Wait, why did you come all the way out here before driving out there?”
“It’s on the way.” He pulls away and winks. “And you said last night you were meeting Isabella. I was hoping to run into you.”
“That’s adorable,” I say as he stands.
“Makes sense. I’m adorable.” He waves at Isabella to come back inside. “See you tonight?”
Isabella looks exactly as giddy as I feel when she reenters the coffee shop.
I want to put this feeling in my pocket and keep it forever.
It’s almost enough to completely outweigh the disappointment that my mom still hasn’t called and the lingering worry I can’t shake that I’m making a terrible mistake for my career.
But I push all of that aside for now. Casey’s grinning at me with a smile so bright it rivals the late-summer Chicago sun. I’d be a fool not to soak up his rays.
I smile back at him, hoping I’m returning at least half of what he’s giving me. “I can’t wait.”