Page 5 of Under The Cherry Blossoms
“Babes, I love you. You are probably my favorite person in the entire world. You deserve to be so happy that I wanna puke at the amount of sun you’re shining. Not every guy is going to hurt you, and even if they do, fuck them. You, babes, are a fucking warrior and you will survive it. Youneedto take chances though. Risk your heart a little bit. The payoff could be so incredible. You could find your person. And fifty years from now, when you’re old and gray and your tits are hanging by your knees, are you really going to regret the chances you took? Or the ones that you let passby?”
I feel the sting of tears as I process her words. Cassidy has experienced the devastation of heartbreak first hand and I know she’s talking straight from the heart. The fact that she still opens herself up to the possibility of love makes her one of the most courageous people I know as far as I’m concerned, and I decide right here and now, to try to be as brave as sheis.
“I promise not to act rashly, okay? I promise to give this a real chance and not just act out of fear. That’s the best I cando.”
Cassidy reaches over and squeezes my hand. “Well then, babes, that’s all I expect fromyou.”
Wyatt appears suddenly, plates in hand, and the air of gravity that had gripped us lifts. She slides our food along the table and plops herself down next toCassidy.
“So, what are we talking about?” she enquires enthusiastically. My green eyes meet Cassidy’s blue ones across the table and we reply in unison, “How ‘bout themMets?”
“Fuckers.” She sighs as she reaches across and steals a piece of bacon from Cassidy'splate.
A few hours later, I am safely ensconced on my sofa, binge watching The Bachelor when I remember the missed text from earlier and pull my phone out to readit.
BEN:Last night wasfun.
SKYE:It definitelywas.
BEN:It was hard saying goodbye, literally *wink*
SKYE:*groan*
SKYE:You didn’t have to saygoodbye.
BEN:I was trying to be agentleman.
BEN:Don’t worry, it won’t happenagain.
SKYE:Lol!
BEN:I think, next time, I’d like to end the night with my face buried between yourlegs.
Oh, my holy shit. My face flames and my heart pounds at the image of Ben’s head dipping between my thighs. Well, I did promise Cassidy I would give this a chance,right?
SKYE:I’ll look forward tothat.
Sunday
BEN:How adventurous areyou?
SKYE:Is this a sex question? Because you really need to work on your subtlety if itis.
BEN:LMAO. No, it’s not a sexquestion.
SKYE:Oh, then I guess I am reasonably adventurous. I’d like to think I’d give most things ago.
BEN:Great.
BEN:So, if it had been a sex question the answer would’vebeen…
SKYE:Pervert!
Monday
BEN:Are you afraid ofheights?
SKYE:No…why?
