Page 20 of Most Likely to Fear Love

Cassidy:You’re really the only person I can talk to about this.

Yeah, that’ll do it.

Me:Hi. Just checking in to see how you are feeling today.

Barely ten seconds had gone by before the dots appeared to let me know she was typing a reply.

Cassidy:Not so great. I didn’t sleep well.

Me: I’m sorry to hear that.

Cassidy: Thank you. At least work is really busy, so I’m good and distracted.

Me: That’s something, at least.

Cassidy: Yeah. How about you? Are you having a good day?

Me: I am. Just picked up two cats from the local shelter, so I’m just home making sure they settle in well.

Cassidy: How’s that going?

Me: Pretty good so far. They’re in an enclosure on their own for now, but I’ll move them to the bigger one when I see how they are with the other cats.

Cassidy:First the chickens, now the cats. What else have you got there?

Me:What else have I got? Let’s see… two very nosy goats, a couple of parrots who won’t stop telling me how pretty they are, and a miniature donkey named Derek who thinks he’s a dog. Plus, two actual dogs. Oh, and I’ve got my eye on a pot-bellied pig that needs a home. Thinking of naming him Kevin Bacon.

Cassidy:Fuck off! You have not got all that!

Me:I have.

I stepped off the porch and held my phone up, lining up the shot. The goats barely acknowledged me, staring at the cameralike they were too important for this kind of thing. Derek, on the other hand, started trotting toward me, his curiosity getting the better of him. Beyond them, the lake shimmered under the sun, the pine trees framing the whole scene like a postcard. I snapped the photo and checked it. Satisfied, I tapped out a quick message.

Me:Proof incoming. Try not to fall in love with Derek. He’s a heartbreaker.

Cassidy:Oh my god, that’s just made my day. Where did you get them all from?

Me:Rescues, mostly. Or sometimes people bring them to me.

Cassidy: I love it. I have to get back to work, but thanks for making my day brighter.

Me:You’re welcome.

Sap.

It was nearlyten o’clock at night, but my success rate for not thinking about Cassidy Hayes was zero. Her sadness, her stoicism, her sweetness, all pulled at something deep inside me that I didn’t have the strength to resist.

The fact that she felt she didn’t really have anyone to talk to made it even worse. Because she did have me. And I couldn’t just leave her on her own. Making sure she was okay was my new personal mission.

Me:I know it’s late, but I just wanted to say I hope you have a good night’s sleep.

Her reply came through immediately.

Cassidy:I appreciate the sentiment, but no dice, it seems.

Texting had definitely been the right thing to do.

Me: What are you doing right now?

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