Page 41 of Breathing Wisteria
“I’m so sorry it took me so long to get here. I had to track down my mom so she could take the kids.”
She breaks the hug and pulls back. Her hands are holding mine and she looks at me with an assessing gaze.
“You look okay.” I’m slightly put out that she sounds disappointed.
“I am okay. Now, why are you here?”
“Layla called me.” She pushes past me and dumps her purse on the kitchen counter. “Why did it take you so long to answer the door?” She narrows her eyes at me.
“I was in bed.” I cross my hands over my chest defensively.
“Bed? At”—her eyes shoot to the clock—“four in the afternoon?”
“I was tired. Do you want a drink? I’m all out of vodka, maybe you could run to the store and grab some?” Perfect. I can get Flynn out of here while she’s doing that, and she never needs to know he was here.
Wait, why am I trying to hide him? If we’re doing this, she’s going to find out. Ugh, why am I so bad at this.
“I thought I heard a man laughing.” Yep, there’s that single-eyebrow-quirking thing. “And, no, I don’t want a drink. Are you trying to get rid of me?”
“Of course, she is.” Flynn comes sauntering out of my room, looking all sex-disheveled and wearing a smirk. “How else can she sneak me out?”
“Ah.” Cassidy’s eyes light up. “ItwasRomeo. Nice to see you again.”
“Romeo? Can I object to that nickname? It’s really not working for me.”
“Nope, it’s pretty much set in stone now.”
My eyes bounce between the two as they banter easily with each other.
“Then I guess I’m sticking with Pink for you.” He shrugs carelessly.
“No.” Cassidy is adamant.
“I callherRed.” She nods to me. “So, you see, the whole hair-color-nickname thing is already played out.”
“No.” Flynn is equally adamant. “She’sCherry.” He pulls me to him so my back is resting against his front, and I try to figure out what the ever-loving hell is going on here.
“Well, isn’t this just a giant nickname clusterfuck,” I state, incredulously. “How about we just stick to Flynn, Cassidy, and Wyatt, hmm?”
“How about we don’t be such a Debbie Downer, hmmm?” she retorts before grabbing Flynn’s hand and dragging him out from behind me.
“Come, Romeo. We have much to discuss.”
“So, you’ll move then?”
“Yeah, I’ve already started looking at places. But it depends if she wants to move. Otherwise, we’ll just stay here.”
“Oh, she’ll move. She’s been talking about finding somewhere bigger for the last two years.”
I sit on the armchair, legs crossed and nursing a warm-ish cup of coffee, feeling like I’m in some kind of weird alternative universe.
Cassidy and Flynn sit on opposite ends of the sofa, their bodies turned toward each other as they discuss the future of our relationship, apparently.
“I’m right here, you know.” I wish I could tell you it didn’t come out as petulantly as it sounded, but that would be a lie.
“Yes,” Cassidy begins as if she’s talking to her three-year-old twins. “But, as it turns out, you are notoriously bad at making good life choices, so Aunty Cass is here to help.” She places a hand over her heart. “Out of love.”
I roll my eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
