Page 118 of The Things That Hold Us

“It's unlocked.” I yell, not bothering to get up.

“Where are you at?” Cassie yells from the kitchen.

I hear her set a box down, then hear her footsteps.

“What are you doing back here?” she asks, then stops when she sees me.

“Oh no. Charlie?”

She sits down in front of me, crossing her legs.

We both sit quietly, and I know she’s waiting for me to speak first.

“I asked Logan to leave.” I whisper, and her eyebrows pinch in confusion.

“It's only 10am.” she says, then adds, “OH. He stayed the night?”

I nod my head.

“Why did you have him leave?”

I hold out the note he left on my pillow, “He left a note on my pillow.”

Her eyes soften as she grabs the note.

After she reads it, she looks up at me. “He called you Charlie girl?”

“Yes. He has been and every time he does it my heart feels like it’s cracking.”

“Babe.” she frowns at me.

“I don’t know what to do, Cass.”

I watch her contemplate her words, then finally she says, “You like him, right?”

“I do. A lot, and it kind of freaks me out.”

“How has he taken the Sam thing? Like how has he acted about it all?”

I blow out a shaky breath, “Amazingly. He’s been so nice about it. He even brought me to a marigold field.”

Her eyes go wide.

“If I were to move on, he’s the perfect person to move on with. I just don’t know if I’m ready.”

Cassie leans in and puts a hand on my shoulder, “Maybe take these next few days to think, and really figure out how you feel.”

Suddenly I remember that I have actual work to do. I can't just sit here and wallow. “Shit, I have to get the shop set up.”

“Yeah, you do. But Garrett and I are here to help, and Nathaniel. Even though he’s been busy with his man.”

I smile, “Thank you. I need to get on the phone and get some shelving and hardware and things delivered. I can't really move things until I get that done.”

“Well, when you're ready, just let me know.”

“I will.”

“Don’t completely push him away? Ok?”

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