I decide to kill the remainder of my afternoon packing up the few things I own that litter Quinn’s apartment. I’m moving in a few days, and while the thought of living alone frightens me, I can’t help the little flutter of excitement in my belly. I believe everything happens for a reason, and the possibility that this is the right time for me to learn how to stand on my own two feet is what calms my nerves.
The front door shuts and moments later Quinn appears in my bedroom. “Hey girly. You all packed yet?”
I tape the last box and smile at my best friend. “All that’s left is the bed, and my dresser.”
“You don’t have to go you know,” Quinn sighs, taking a seat on my bed. “I know,” I reply. “But I want to do this. I’ve been too dependent on you, and it’s time for me to try and do this on my own.”
“My baby girl is grown up and flying the nest,” Quinn muses. I laugh, and stand up.
“Tell you what, since you’ll be away with Jarred the rest of the weekend, why don’t we do one last sleep over with too much wine and ice-cream for old times sake?”
“Sounds perfect.” Quinn smiles.
A few minutes later we’re in the living room, a bottle of wine on the table, and The Notebook playing in the background. Quinn pours us each a glass, and we start reminiscing about all the amazing memories we’ve made here. “You’re quiet,” Quinn says, turning to face me.
“Preoccupied, I guess.” That’s an understatement. All I’m thinking about is Kyler’s kiss.
“Does it have anything to do with Kyler?”
My head whips to the side and I can’t hide my frown. “Why would you think that?” my voice is defensive, which gives me away.
Quinn’s brow lifts. “I’m not stupid, and I know you better than you know yourself, Cassey Emerson. I know when you have a boy on your mind. Or in this case, a man. A very sexy man.” Her smirk makes me giggle, and relaxes me a little.
“Is it that obvious?”
“Yes, and I don’t blame you, but what’s stopping you from tapping that?” “What? The fact that he’s my boss isn’t reason enough to avoid falling into bed with him?”
Quinn shrugs. “It doesn’t matter what I think, babe, but think about what you’d regret more. Having one night of amazing, mind-blowing sex with Kyler, or wondering what it would be like to do it.”
“I don’t want to be another notch on his very busy bedpost. I might’ve grown up in a trailer, but I’m no hussy.”
Quinn’s eyes roll. “You’re anything but a hussy, but think about this: every once in our lifetime, we meet someone who sets us on fire, and the only thing that will douse the flame is if we give in, even if it’s just for one night.” Her words take me back to how I felt when Kyler kissed me, how he not only ignited the flame inside me, but also made it burn brighter, and higher. “He kissed me,” I blurt out, gulping down what’s left of my wine. Quinn’s eyes widen in surprise. “What? When?”
“Today, in my office. He just barged in and grabbed me, and the next thing I know he has me pinned on the couch.”
“And?”
“And what? He kissed me, and then walked out.”
Her brows dip. “Well did he say anything before he walked out?” I sigh heavily, contemplating how much I should tell her.
“He said that we will happen, and that he’ll have me whether I admit it or not.” Quinn’s mouth drops open and she stares at me. “You’re shitting me, right?” I reach over and pause the movie. “Nope,” I reply, popping the ‘p’ for emphasis. “Why the hell are you not jumping his bones right now?”
“Because I’m not willing to risk my career for one night in my boss’s bed, not matter how life-changing the sex might be.”
“But this isn’t one-sided, Cass. Can’t you see that? He wants you. I knew it as soon as I saw you dancing with him last week.”
“Even so, Quinny, I can’t do it. It’s not who I am, and I’m not willing to risk everything I’ve worked so hard for on someone I barely know.” “Then get to know him. I’m sure you’ll find something there you might actually like.”
Before I can respond, the doorbell rings and Quinn jumps up. “Pizza’s here!” she yells from the entryway. I press ‘play’ and watch how Noah tells Ally that it wasn’t over for him when she left, and that it still isn’t over. I realize that that is the kind of love I want. The kind that lasts. The kind that is forever.
∞
The drive out the city is always one of my favorite parts of visiting Mr. And Mrs. Knight. To most people, me visiting my soon-to-be retired boss and his wife for Sunday lunch may seem unusual, and a little unprofessional. But for some reason, Robert and his wife, Estelle, took me under their wings in my first year at Knight Media. It was almost like they knew I was in need of a family, in need of people who cared. Now, I seem to be stuck with them. The only strange thing is how I’ve never seen Kyler there. Thinking about him makes my belly flutter and drop at the same time. It comes with the understanding, and not the acceptance, that you want something, or in my case someone, you shouldn’t.
The cab stops outside Kyler’s parents’ Colonial style home and I pay my fair. I grab the chocolate cake Quinn helped me bake, and the flowers I bought for Kyler’s mother. They’re white lilies. Her favorites. I stand in front of their door, and quickly take stock of my appearance before ringing the door bell. The top of my white sundress hugs my breasts and flairs slightly down to my knees.
It’s a classic, and makes my dark locks look even darker. The doorbell chimes and moments later Kyler’s mother, Estelle, appears in the door. “Cassey, sweetheart, it’s wonderful to see you again! Come in!” she says, embracing me in a hug.
“Hi, Estelle! I’ve missed you!” I reply sincerely.
We walk into the kitchen, and I place the cake down, and put her flowers into a vase.
“I brought you a home-made chocolate cake,” I tell her. “My friend Quinn helped me.”
Kyler’s mother smiles warmly at me. “Thank you sweet girl, but I’m sure Robert told you to bring chocolate cake because it’s secretly his favorite.” We chuckle, and just then Kyler’s father, Robert, walks in. “What did I hear about chocolate cake?”
“Cassey here, made us some for dessert,” Estelle chimes in, smiling adoringly at her husband.
“In that case,” Robert says, a naughty grin on his face. “Let’s skip right to dessert.”
I laugh as Robert hugs me in greeting and then pushes me back by the shoulders to look at me. “How are you, sweetheart? You look tired,” he says to me.
“I could say the same thing about you,” I chuckle. “I’m great. Thank you so much for having me.”
“Estelle has been talking about seeing you again for almost a week,” he laughs.
“Oh hush, Robert,” Kyler’s mother chides playfully. “I wasn’t that bad.” He leans down and presses a kiss to his wife’s cheek. “No, my love, you were worse.”
She slaps him on the chest, and the look they share is one of adoration, respect and pure love. The kind you see in fairytales.