“Oh, come on, give me something!”
“Goodbye, Fin.” I laugh as I hang up.
I leave the room, walking down the stairs, making my way back outside.
“Hey, where are the girls?” I ask Jack.
“They wanted to hit the shops down the street.” He shrugs, eyes closed as he chills in a deck chair.
“Ah.” I nod.
“Everything okay?”
“Yeah, why?”
“You were frowning when you saw who was calling you.”
“Nah, it was Fin. We’re not exactly friends, so it was a little random. Everything is good though.”
“Good.” Jack nods. “So, you and Ace looked pretty cozy in the water.” He teases, making me laugh.
“It’s nothing.”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” He shrugs. “Just make sure you cover her face with a pillow when you fuck her.” He shivers. “I really don’t want to hear her moaning,” he says making me laugh.
6
Cassi
I flick between the hangers on the rack, checking out different graphic t-shirts.
“So,” Rebecca drawls, peeking between the clothes and myself.
“Spit it out,” she says, making me sigh.
“What do you want me to say?”
“I want you to tell me you’re into Xavier and won’t go back to dipshit.”
“I was never with Jared.”
“Might as well have been with the way he acts,” she scoffs. “Look, I just want you to be happy and healthy. Jared doesn’t make you happy and is toxic.”
“You just don’t understand our relationship.”
“See, that’s where you’re wrong,” she says, giving up on looking at the clothes. “I grew up with those guys too. I know your dynamic. You and Jared only hooked up out of grief. And Xavier? He could bring you back to the land of living. He could help you move on.”
“He makes me smile,” I mumble.
“See!”
“Mara put the moves on him and he turned her down.” I smile, thinking about when he met her at the bar.
“Fuck Mara,” Rebecca spits out.
“Rebecca,” I sigh.
“No, seriously, I’m so glad you finally saw her for who she really is. Between her and Jared, I don’t know who’s worse for you,” she says, angrily searching the clothing rack again.
“You know, I don’t like walking away from people. Especially now.”
“Because your loyalty knows no bounds. You can’t keep holding onto the old because of sentimentality. It’s okay to remember the good times fondly, but you don’t need to keep giving them your everything when all they do is take.” She sighs. “Look, why don’t you just give whatever it is between you and Xavier a chance. It doesn’t have to be forever but, I think it could be if you guys give it a chance.”
She’s my best friend, but I haven’t told her I’ve already been feeling that way. Our texts are daily. Our phone calls almost as frequent. When we aren’t calling or texting, it’s usually because we are hanging out together. Sometimes it’s alone, while other times it’s with Jack and some other guys.
“I’ll think about it okay?” I tell her. “Now, what do you think of this?”
“I think it will make Xavier lose his mind and you should wear it tonight.” She deviously smirks.
I look down at the dark green lace bralette that ties between the breasts. Typically, it’s something I would never wear but when at the beach.
“Pair it with a pair of white shorts,” Rebecca encourages.
“I do have a pair,” I murmur, thinking about how the top would look with the shorts.
Would Xavier like it? Only one way to find out.
“Fuck it,” I say breathlessly as I hang the hanger over my arm.
“That’s my girl!” Rebecca cheers. “Now let’s check out and get ready for tonight,” she says as she walks toward me. Rebecca grabs my wrist and pulls me toward the registers, making me laugh.
“Slow down.”
“No time to waste! We have prepping to do.”
The five-minute walk to the shops seems to take much less time as Rebecca continues to power walk back to the house. I’m nearly out of breath just trying to keep up with her.
Once back at the house, Rebecca ushers me upstairs to get ready. I take a quick shower, washing the grime away and blow dry my hair. As I step out of the shower, I find Rebecca sitting on the counter, feet in the sink, applying her makeup.
“You’re ridiculous.” I shake my head as I dry off.
“You know it.” She winks as I throw my hair up in the towel.
Hustling into my room for the weekend, I get dressed in the green top and white shorts. Walking back into the bathroom, I come to a stop.
Damn, I look good.
Even with no makeup and a towel on my head.
“He’s going to swallow his tongue,” Rebecca says gleefully as I grab her blow dryer.
“Whatever you say,” I tell her as I plug it in.
Twenty minutes later my thick hair is dry and large and in charge.
“Can I curl it?” Rebecca asks as I wrap the blow dryer up.
“If you brought your curling wand.” I shrug as I reach for my makeup. After quickly putting on the basics and her doing my hair, we head downstairs, finding the guys once again in the kitchen, music on and pizza on the counter.
Jack whistles. “Damn. I don’t know about you X, but I’m feeling pretty lucky tonight,” he boasts.
“Jack,” Xavier warns, never looking away from me.
I bite my lip, looking away. “So, what kind of pizza did you get?”
“Ham, right?” Xavier clears his throat, pushing a box toward me.
“Thanks.” I smile at him as I take a piece from the box.
Xavier and I eat in silence as Rebecca and Jack talk enough for the both of us.
“We should probably start the fire,” Xavier says, abruptly.
“I’m game,” Jack says, tossing his paper plate in the trash.
I watch as Xavier takes his time, wiping his hands off on a napkin and wiping off the counter under his plate before he tosses his trash.
“Meet you out there,” he says to me as he passes.
“Sounds good,” I whisper.
As soon as the back door closes Rebecca cackles.
“What’s so funny?” I frown.
“Oh, god, the sexual tension! I swore the room was
