Bonus Chapter 1 #3
“Pictures,” Liam demanded, pointing at her. “Ask for pictures. Tell them to take hundreds. Actually, thousands. I want photographic evidence of this friendship from every possible angle.”
Rohan finally tore his attention away from him.
Liam exhaled in relief.
Under the table, Cassian found my hand and threaded his fingers through mine.
When I glanced at him, he was fighting a losing battle against a laugh, the corners of his mouth already giving him away.
“You know,” he murmured, a thoroughly satisfied smile spreading across his face, “I’m having a great birthday.”
Dinner carried on with more stories, more teasing, and enough food to feed twice the number of people sitting around the table.
Eventually, Cassian cut the cake we’d baked together earlier, accepting the inevitable teasing when everyone discovered just how unevenly it had been decorated.
Then, one by one, everyone said their goodbyes and made their way to the door, their laughter trailing down the hallway before fading beyond the front entrance.
Soon, the house belonged to just the two of us again.
Later, Cassian and I were curled together on the couch, debating what to watch, when he shifted beside me.
He hesitated. That alone was enough to pull my attention away from the television. “I want my gift now.”
I sat up straighter, immediately interested.
Cassian had spent the entire day insisting he didn’t want gifts from anyone else, only to spend the rest of it reminding me that he did want one from me—and that he’d tell me later what he had in mind.
“Really?” I asked, studying his face. “Okay. What do you want?”
“I want a nickname.”
He said it with such unmistakable pride that I simply stared at him.
“What?”
“I want a nickname,” he repeated, shifting closer. “You know how I call you sweetheart sometimes? I want you to call me something like that too.”
Of all the things Cassian could have asked me for, a nickname had never crossed my mind.
“Uh… okay.”
I pressed my lips together, fighting the laugh threatening to escape.
“What do you want me to call you?”
“I want you to come up with it.”
His answer came with complete confidence, as though handing me that much freedom could possibly end well for him.
“Done.”
I smiled and turned back toward the television, scrolling through the movie options.
A few seconds later, I glanced over and found him still watching me.
“Oh. Now?”
“Now’s great.”
His whole face lit up, and the sheer excitement in his expression made me bite the inside of my cheek to keep from laughing.
“Okay, let me think.”
I tapped a finger against my chin and put on my most thoughtful expression, even though I already knew exactly what I was going to say.
Then my mouth curved into a slow, delighted smile.
“I know what I’m going to call you.”
His brows shot up, excitement lighting up his face.
“That fast? You already had one ready, didn’t you?”
“Actually…”
I turned toward him with a smile I knew he was going to regret trusting.
“I’ve already called you this.”
He went completely still.
His eyes widened with dawning horror as the pieces fell into place.
“Alessia, no—”
“Bro.”
His face fell so dramatically that I almost felt sorry for him.
Almost.
“I hate you.”
He straightened immediately and turned toward the television, crossing his arms.
“What?” I burst out laughing, staring at the sheer offense written across his face. “It’s a great nickname. We have history with it.”
“I hate whoever came up with that word.”
He shook his head, his mouth pulling into a dramatic scowl.
My laughter only got worse.
“Okay, okay.”
I tried to compose myself, wiping the corner of my eye.
“Jokes aside, I actually do have a nickname for you.”
He turned his head toward me, suspicion battling hope across his face.
“Really?”
He tried to keep his expression guarded, but the tiny lift at the corner of his mouth gave him away completely.
I nodded, fighting another smile.
“Yeah. A real one.”
He turned toward me fully, all traces of his earlier outrage forgotten.
His smile returned at once, bright and shameless.
“What is it?”
I reached up and threaded my fingers through his hair, smoothing it back from his forehead before leaning closer.
“Happy birthday, Cassie baby.”
He shot to his feet so fast I barely had time to blink.
“I hate Liam.”
I laughed even harder.
“Hey, come back.”
I doubled over, barely able to breathe through my laughter.
“Hey!” I called after him when he turned and started walking away. “Come back!”
“Nope.” He didn’t even turn around. “I’m leaving.”
I put my feet up on the couch and sank deeper into the cushions, making myself thoroughly comfortable.
“Since you’re already up, can you get me some ice cream?”
He stopped. He glanced back at me, let out a resigned sigh, and nodded.
“Thanks, love.” I set the remote on the table and leaned back.
One.
Two.
Three.
He launched himself at me.
I barely had time to squeal before he was covering my face in kisses, one after another, until I dissolved into helpless laughter and tried to push him away. He finally pulled back, grinning down at me with such ridiculous happiness that I couldn’t help laughing again.
“You’re the best,” he breathed, looking at me with unconcealed affection. “I love you.”
“I know.”
I reached up, kissed his cheek, and gave him my sweetest smile.
“Now go get me ice cream.”