Pete gave her a look, and she took his hand and led him inside.
Later that night while they were making pizza, the conversation from the beer social returned to her mind. “Do you remember meeting Analeise Jewel from the department?” Cassidy asked. “She says she knows you.”
Pete’s face turned pensive as he searched his memory. “Maybe?” he said, squinting. “Reddish, long hair? Working on clear-cut land. Soils, or something?”
Cassidy nodded. “Yep.”
“Huh, that was a year ago, maybe. She was at this party I went to with Aaron at his climbing gym. Some kind of anniversary party or something.”
“Does she climb?” Cassidy asked, surprised.
Pete shrugged. “There was a bunch of climbing videos looping on the TV and we all stood around drinking beer, so I have no idea.”
“She made it sound like you two had dated.”
Pete frowned. “We went to coffee,” he said.
Cassidy’s heart hiccupped.
Pete must have interpreted her look because he quickly added. “But it wasn’t anything. I mean, I wanted to find out more about her project, that’s all. It was right after that huge landslide.”
Cassidy managed a feeble, “Oh.”
“Cass, seriously, I was never interested in her like that.”
“Right, no, it’s okay.” She knew better than to give Analeise any more of her energy. Easier said than done, she thought. “She was just kind of nasty, that’s all.”
Pete’s eyes clouded. “To tell you the truth, she came off as kind of arrogant. I thought her project was cool, you know, reducing landslide hazards to protect fish habitat and all that, but she rubbed me the wrong way, you know?”
Cassidy gaped at him.
“I mean,” Pete stammered, and he began to laugh.
Cassidy laughed too. “Please tell me she did not actually rub you.”
“No, no,” Pete said, laughing harder. “I would never let someone like that rub me. The wrong way or the right way,” he added.
They both busted up, and Cassidy had to hold onto the sink counter. “Oh, my,” she said, fanning her face.
Pete inhaled a deep breath, a giggle catching at the end, and they shared one last fit of laughter. Then Pete took her in his arms and held her.
Cassidy relaxed in his embrace. How easily he got through to her, as though they had known each other for much longer than just these few months. “Oh, did you get a copy of the National Geographic article?” she asked when they separated.
“No, though Mark says it arrived.”
“And you didn’t stop to get it?” Cassidy said, shocked.
He grinned, his eyes sparkling. “I couldn’t wait to get here.” They shared a look, and Cassidy blushed. “Plus, I have good news,” he sang.
Cassidy smiled. “What is it?”
“I found a home for the Greece immigration story.” He grinned so bright his whole face glowed. “The New York Times!”
“What?” Cassidy cried. “Pete, that’s awesome!”
“They want to do a series.”
Cassidy jumped into his arms. “Oh my god! When did you find out?”
“Today. After my meeting.”
“Oh, Pete, I’m so excited for you!”
He swung her in a circle. “I’ve been waiting for this,” he said, putting her down.
“When are you going?” she asked.
“That’s the best part,” he replied, squeezing her. “It’ll coincide with your Etna trip.”
“We can meet up!” Cassidy replied, imagining the two of them swimming in the Mediterranean, skiing Etna, and walking ancient, cobbled streets, hand in hand. Maybe they could even go to Rome, or the Dolomites, or . . . Her thoughts ran away from her.
Later, after sliding the pizzas from the oven and settling in at the picnic table, they were still chattering of Sicily and Greece and where they should meet, where they should go.
By the end of the meal, Pete grew quiet.
“What?” she asked, folding her napkin and setting it aside.
“I know you said not to make a big fuss over your birthday, but . . . ” He gave her a sheepish look. “Can I take you to dinner?”
Cassidy blinked in surprise.
“There’s this really cool place I’ve always wanted to go. But we have to take a ferry and stay the night,” he added.
“Wow, okay,” she said. She didn’t like making a fuss over her birthday because it was a weird day . . . with her parents gone, the only person she celebrated with was Quinn. Pamela and Rebecca always called, and though she appreciated the gesture, it always made her sad. Usually, she buried herself in work to take her mind off it.
“Cool,” Pete said, his energy ramping up. “Can you leave Friday afternoon?”
“I think so,” Cassidy replied, thinking ahead two weeks to the date.
Pete squeezed her hand.
On the Friday of her birthday, Pete was only two minutes late when he picked her up at Casa de Roca.
“Wow,” Pete said as she exited her house in a blue wrap-waist dress and boots. “You look amazing.” He kissed her and a pulse of heat warmed her insides.
“So do you,” she said, taking in his trimmed beard and freshly combed hair. He smelled faintly of wool and his clove-scented shampoo. After storing her bag in the car, they drove through rush hour traffic to the ferry terminal. During the drive she caught him grinning.
“What?” she asked.
With his eyes on the road, he reached for her hand. “I’m just excited.”
She squeezed his hand, and a jolt went through her. “Me too.”
After Pete coasted his car onto the boat, they climbed the stairs to the observation deck. The heat from his skin spread through her body, making her feel electric.
“Let’s go outside,” Pete said, squeezing her hand. “We’ll pretend like we’re Rose and Jack in the movie Titanic.”
Cassidy laughed. “Though I’m not about to lean over the bow like Kate Winslet did,” she said, picturing the movie’s iconic scene. “Let’s find an empty car to make out in instead,” she added, giggling. Her loose curls blew in the wind as they stepped onto the deck. The ferry pulled away from the dock and the blast of cold air chilled her bare knees and cheeks.
Pete pulled her close as the wind swirled around them.
