Page 4 of Under The Cherry Blossoms
“Now, Skyballs.” And she walks out my bedroom door without a backwardglance.
As we walk down the steps to the sidewalk, Cassidy links her arm in mine and we start the three-block walk toward Monroe’s, our favoritediner.
“So, seriously babes, how did it go?” She squeezes my arm reassuringly and waits me out, knowing that I need a minute to verbalize mythoughts.
“It was good, Cass. Really good. I mean, a bit awkward to begin with, but once we had a laugh over how ridiculous it was to be so nervous, the ice was broken and it felt just like talking to himonline.”
“But…” Cassidy prodsme.
I pause as I decide how to continue. When Ben drove away last night I was on a high. Almost drunk on the giddy feeling his kiss had left me with. It wasn’t until later when I was lying in bed alone, that I realized the night had not ended the way I had planned. I wasn’t sure what to make ofthat.
Monroe’s appears up ahead and my stomach grumbles almost instinctively. “Let’s eat and then talk, yeah? I may need to drown my sorrows in some maplesyrup.”
“Maple syrup? Fuck yeah!” Cassidy picks up speed, dragging me through theentrance.
I glance around the bustling diner looking for an empty seat when our friend Wyatt, who also happens to be our favorite waitress, rushes past and calls out over her shoulder, “Free booth down at the very back!” I throw her a grateful smile and we head in the direction sheindicated.
Taking a seat, I watch as Cassidy throws herself into the booth like an excited toddler and snatches up themenu.
“Why do you even bother? We both know you’re going to get pancakes with ice cream, maple syrup and a side of bacon. It’s what you alwaysget.”
“Are you insinuating that I’m predictable,Emery?”
Even the idea of Cassidy being predictable is laughable and I dismiss the idea with asnort.
“I’m just saying let’s save time and order what we both already know we’re going to get.” With impeccable timing, Wyatt appears, pen poised ready to take ourorder.
“Hit me with it,cuties.”
“Skye finally went out with McSausage last night,” Cassidyreplies.
“Oh my god, how did it go?!” Instead of taking our order, Wyatt is now sitting opposite me with an expectant look on her face. That is, until she gives Cassidy a side-eye look. “Wait,McSausage?”
“Oh please, we all know he’s too hotnotto be packing a huge pork sword.” Turning to me she continues, “Confirm or denyplease.”
Ignoring her, I turn and give my attention to Wyatt. “I’d like French toast please, Wyatt, and the biggest chocolate milkshake you can possibly bringme.”
Looking between the two of us she seems unsure how to proceed until Cass also gives her order. Wyatt sighs and gets up, ready to walk away. “You owe me details, Skylah!” Then she races off, hopefully to put in ourorders.
“Okay, Balls, talk,” Cassidydemands.
Cringing inwardly at the use of this particular nickname, I opt for the direct route and reply, “We didn’tfuck.”
“Right. Okay. Well that blows. I mean, not literally, obviously, but you know what I mean. You said it went well though, does it matter if you didn’t bellybump?”
“But that was the whole point of this, right? To get intimate with something other than my own hand? I couldn’t even seal the deal, I mean, he didn’t eventry!”
Cassidy sighs emphatically and I can feel every bit of her frustration in that deepexhalation.
“Talk me through this, Skye, because from what I’m understanding, you’ve met a nice, smart, hot guy who is actually into you. Who hasn’t messed you around at all in the month that you’ve known him. A guy that had to chase you down before you would actually meet him. But he did. He did that for you, and I’m not even joking when I say there’s a part of me that hates you right now. I think he’s one of the good ones, and there’s not many of them around, so I kind of want to tell you to get the fuck over yourself and just go with it.” Running out of breath as she finishes her spiel, Cassidy slumps forward onto the tabledramatically.
I try to quiet the noise in my head that her speech created and figure out how to put my thoughts into words. I know it doesn’t make sense. I’m the girl who reads the romance novels. The one who tells my friends to never give up on love because their happy ending is out there and I absolutely, wholeheartedly believe that. For some reason though, I can’t have that same faith in myself. I watched my father walk out when I was thirteen years old and I swear it almost broke me. The man that was supposed to love me more than anyone, walked out that door and he didn’t look back, not even once. I’m not sure I could survive thatagain.
“I don’t need him to be one of the good ones, Cass. I need him to bend me over a table and fuck me until I black out.” And in a case of the worst possible timing, a guy in his early twenties walking past stops in his tracks and, as if in slow motion, turns to look at us. Leaning down, he offers me his hand and says, “Hi, I’m Michael, might I be of someassistance?”
“No, you might not be, Creepy McPervert! Move along,” Cassidy spits out as I feel my face turn a distinct shade of red. I’ll just die now, shall I? “Well, Emery, look on the bright side,” Cassidy offers, taking in my beet red face. “At least you know you have options available.” I can’t control the laugh that escapes as she waggles her eyebrows atme.
“I’m not quite that desperate – yet. Okay, here’s the deal. I like Ben a lot. Likea lota lot. But, I don’t want to like him. I want to bang him, scratch my little itch and then go back to my life where I’m at no risk of being hurt. Ireallydon’t think that’s too much to ask for.” My phone vibrates on the table but I ignore it as I await Cassidy's reply. I’m pretty sure I know what to expect, she’s been fairly consistent in her disapproval of my attitude towards love all these years, but you never know, today might be the day she gets on board. But as I look across the table and into her bright blue eyes, I’m shocked by the sadness theyhold.
