25. Chapter 25
Chapter twenty-five
“He seems pretty chill to me.”
Cassandra walked next to Wes as they left the car and approached his front door. He stopped before opening it. “I have a…cat.”
“Okay.”
“He’s a bit… actually, a lot neurotic.”
“Most cats are moody.”
“This goes way beyond that. You probably won’t even see him, because he’s scared of everything and he hates people. Even me.”
She smiled. “So, why do you still have him?”
He cocked his head. “What am I supposed to do? Throw him back out on the street where I found him?”
She put a hand on his cheek. “Of course not. He’s not going to attack me or anything, right?”
“He’s not violent. As I said, you probably won’t see him.”
“Okay. Can we go inside now?”
He opened the door and let her go inside before him. The dark gray and slate blue furniture contrasted nicely with the dark brown bookshelves. A blue and gray rug on the wood floor tied it all together. “This is really nice, Wes.”
“It’s comfortable.”
“How long have you been here?”
“Ten years.”
“It’s very…” She turned to him. “You.”
“Meaning?”
“I love it.”
He smiled. “Okay, good.”
She turned to him and put her hands on his chest. “So…here we are.”
“Alone at last.” She kissed him, and he took a step back. “I need to do one thing first.”
“What’s that?”
“Clean my room.”
Cassandra laughed. “I don’t care if your room is messy.”
“Hmm. It’s a little… Just have a seat and give me a few minutes.”
“I’ll be on the couch.”
“I won’t be long.”
He headed for the bedroom and stopped at the doorway.
“Shit.” He leaned his crutches against the wall, then went to the unmade bed and straightened the sheet and comforter.
His pajamas, track pants, and T-shirt lay on the floor.
He hobbled over, picked them up, and tossed them into the hamper in the closet.
His running shoes and a pair of boots were by the chair, and he put them away.
He looked around. “Not bad.” Bathroom. He went into the bathroom, put down the toilet seat, rinsed the toothpaste from the bottom of the sink, then put away the few things on the counter.
After giving the bedroom one last look, he went to his crutches and left the room. Cassandra, sitting on the couch with Frank purring on her lap, stopped him mid-step.
“What the hell?”
She looked up and smiled at him. “He seems pretty chill to me.”
He pointed at Frank. “That cat has never sat on my lap. Nor have I ever heard him purr.”
“I think he likes me.”
Wes moved closer, and Frank rubbed his face on Cassandra’s arm, then glared at him and jumped to the ground. She looked at Wes. “He thinks you don’t like him.”
“He’s right.”
“Poor baby.”
“Him or me?”
Cassandra stood and went to Wes. “I think you two need some family counseling.”
Wes took her hand. “Good thing I know a therapist.”
“I’ll see if I can fit you into my schedule.”
“You do that. But first, my bedroom is ready for visitors.”
They headed down the hallway and into his room, stopping beside the bed. Cassandra set the crutches beside the nightstand while Wes took off his shirt. She put her hands on his chest, then kissed him. “Let’s get you out of those pants.”
He smiled. “Now see, that’s the other and much more preferable meaning of that sentence.”
Cassandra snuggled into Wes’ neck and kissed his shoulder. “I hate to go.”
“Stay a little longer.”
“I can’t.” She kissed him again, then sat up. “I’ll be back in a few hours to pick you up for work.”
“I should be able to start driving soon.”
“I don’t mind coming to get you. Give it the rest of the week.”
He put a hand on her back. “Would you like to take your new best friend home with you?”
She turned to him. “Frank? No, you two are going to figure things out.”
“It’s been over a year.”
“There is always hope.”
“Hmm. We’ll see.”
She got out of bed, wrapped a small blanket around her shoulders, then picked up her clothes and headed to the bathroom. When she turned on the light, she glanced back at him. “Your mother trained you well.”
“How so?”
“The toilet seat is down.”
“Um…right. Yeah.”
Cassandra laughed. “Men.”
He called out as she closed the door. “I live alone.”
She opened the door again and pointed at him. “And that’s why Frank has a problem with you. You don’t consider him a true roommate.”
“He’s a damn cat.”
“I’ll fix this.” She closed the door, then leaned on the counter and breathed in the scent of his aftershave still on her skin. She pulled the blanket tighter and sighed.
Wes was lying with his head resting on his bent arm when she left the bathroom. Cassandra went to the bed and sat next to him. “It’s very hard to leave you like this.”
“Well, I’d say, don’t leave. But…damn responsibilities.”
She kissed him. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Send me a quick text when you get home.”
“It’s a few blocks away.”
“Still.”
She kissed him again. “Okay. I should go.” She kissed him one more time, then stood. “I’m going.”
By the time Cassandra got home and into bed, it was after midnight. She sent Wes a quick text, then climbed into bed, falling asleep almost instantly. The smell of coffee woke her, meaning Bailey was already up. That never happened. Cassandra looked at the time.
“Oh, crap.” She threw back the blankets and headed for the bathroom. When she entered the kitchen fifteen minutes later, Bailey handed her a cup of coffee.
“Morning, Mom.”
“Why didn’t you wake me? I slept through my alarm.”
“You came home late. I figured you needed the sleep.”
“I’m going to be late.”
“School doesn’t start for thirty minutes.”
“Wes likes to get there early.”
“Right. You’re still his chauffeur.”
“The rest of the week.” She drank some coffee. “Which is fine. I don’t mind.”
“I’m sure you don’t. That board meeting must’ve run really late.”
Cassandra peeled a banana and took a bite. “We went to have pizza afterward.”
“They close at eight.”
“We…” She took one more bite of banana. “I need to go.” She gulped some more coffee, then picked up her purse.
“Mom, it’s okay.”
“What’s okay?”
“I’m nearly an adult. I know that you and Mr. B are…” She held up a hand. “It’s fine. Cool, actually.”
Cassandra cocked her head. “You think it’s cool? You’re not freaking out because…”
“My mom and my principal are…” She took a breath. “No. I’ve accepted it. You’re happy. He makes you happy. How can I have a problem with that?”
Cassandra went to Bailey and hugged her. “When did you get so…mature?”
“I’m almost eighteen, Mom.”
Cassandra stepped back and looked at her. “Is this you accepting things because you’re going to tell me about some boy, and…”
“No. There’s no boy. Unless you’d be okay with me going after Luke.”
Cassandra pointed at her. “No. He’s too old.”
“I know.” Bailey laughed. “But, man.”
“You will meet the right guy at the right time.” She kissed Bailey on the forehead. “Don’t be in a rush.”
“I’m holding out for a college guy next year.”
“Okay.” She picked up her purse again and finished her coffee. “I really need to go.”
“Is Mr. B your right guy at the right time?”
“I think he is.”
“Do you wish you had stayed with him instead of Dad?”
“Of course not. I wouldn’t have you.”
“Okay, go pick up your dream man. And don’t worry, I won’t spill the beans about you and the principal.”
“Just put it in that box with all the other secrets we’ve asked you to keep.”
Bailey smiled. “You owe me big time.”
“Hmm. How about I pay you off with a pretty new guitar?”
“Done!”
Cassandra left the house, and when she got into the car, she texted Wes.
Sorry, I’m on my way.
No worries, I just got up.
When she pulled up to the house, Wes came out using a cane instead of his crutches. He crossed the yard, then got into the car.
“Look at you. Where did you get the cane?”
“From the last time I wrecked my knee.”
“It’s very… distinguished.”
“Kind of like Mr. Peanut?”
“Nothing like Mr. Peanut.” She leaned over and kissed him. “I don’t suppose we could…”
“No.”
“We don’t have to miss the whole day.”
“Cass, start the damn car. It was just last night that I was defending myself against the angry mob.”
“Of course. I don’t think it was a mob, though. A few…”
“Assholes?”
“Yes. But you’re right. You probably shouldn’t play hooky the day after that. Have you ever missed work?”
“Of course.”
“When was the last time?”
“Um…two years ago, I think. I had the flu.”
She started the car. “You’re very hard to compete with.”
“How so?”
“Well, because you’re perfect.”
“Not perfect, just slightly obsessively responsible. It’s kind of a pain, really.”
“I’m not sure you can be slightly obsessive. You either are, or you’re not.”
“Thank you, Dr. Jordan, for clarifying that.”
“Anytime.” She pulled onto the street. “My daughter informed me this morning that she’s aware of our…intimate relationship.”
“How does she feel about it?”
“Surprisingly accepting. It’s weird. I need to get her a guitar soon. Payment for keeping all of our secrets.”
“Sounds reasonable.”
“She didn’t ask. It was my idea.”
“We’ll go to the music store this weekend. I talked to Milo about the lessons. He said he’d love to, but he doesn’t have much time. He suggested I ask Luke.”
Cassandra laughed. “That’s probably not a good idea.”
“Why?”
“Bailey has a bit of a crush. Even though she won’t admit it.”
“Well, maybe that’s a good thing.”
“How so?”
“It would give us something to hold over her head.”
“Even so. I don’t think dangling a cute Buchanan brother in front of her is such a great idea.”
“It’d be kind of cool, though. My brother and your daughter.”
Cassandra pulled up to a stoplight and looked at him. “That wouldn’t be cool, Wes. It would be weird.”
“Yeah, maybe. If they fell in love and got married, she’d be my stepdaughter and my sister-in-law.”
Cassandra cocked her head. “For Bailey to be your stepdaughter, we’d…what are you saying?”
“Isn’t that where this is heading?”
“Um…maybe.” The car behind them honked, and she saw the green light. “Weston?”
“Drive. You’re holding people up, and we’re going to be late.”