Page 63 of Stay
My eyes narrow at the humor in her tone. “You’re making fun of me.”
She straightens to her full height as a frown flashes across her face. “No, I’m not. I want to know what the issue is, because if there wasn’t one, you would have said so by now.” She raises her brows. “Am I right?”
“What you are, is annoying.” I glance around the kitchen, wishing there was a way to escape from the conversation. “Seriously, where’s Thomas when you need him?”
“Oh, just answer the question.” She chuckles, clearly enjoying herself. The woman is totally in her element when she’s attempting to drag information out of me.
“I don’t know,” I grumble. Before I can stop myself, everything that has been rolling around in the back of my brain is shooting out of my mouth. “She’s a little closed off. I can’t figure out what happened to her, and she refuses to tell me. It’s like she doesn’t trust me.”
Mom is quiet for a long stretch of silent moments as she turns my words over in her head. That’s the thing about her. She really does care and wants to help, which is exactly why she can’t let the Jackie situation go.
She wants resolution.
Even if it’s not her relationship.
Maybe it’s my mom specifically, or it’s females in general, who feel the need to smooth everything over in order to move on with theirlives. Guys don’t operate like that. If the relationship is over, it’s done. No need to come to a good place.
A long time ago, we’d been friends. Now we’re not.
End of story.
“Maybe she needs more time to feel comfortable with you in order to open up.”
“Maybe. I’m just not sure it’s ever going to happen.”
Once I’ve released that into the atmosphere, I realize how true it is. No matter how much I like Cassidy, I can’t force her into a relationship. “I’m not sure where this is headed.” I drag a hand over my face. “Sometimes it feels unnecessarily complicated.”
Her expression turns thoughtful. “You seem to really like this girl, but if it already feels difficult and you just started seeing each other, it’s not going to magically get easier. Relationships don’t work that way.”
As much as I don’t want her words to ring true, they do.
And that sucks.
I can’t be the only one fighting for this.
17
CASSIDY
Meet me downstairs ASAP with your hockey bag.
I stare at the phone in my hand before typing out a response.
Are you serious?
Just do it.
Bossy much?
The eye roll emoji pops up on the screen.
Fine. I’ll be down in 5.
I grab my hockey bag from the closet and throw on a navy jacket before heading out the door. Once out on the sidewalk, I find Cole’s Mustang idling at the curb in front of the dorm. When he sees me, he pops open the trunk before hopping out of the vehicle as I jog over.
He gives me a quick kiss on the lips. Before I can register the gesture, he pulls away, looking strangely hesitant.
“Ready to go?”
