Page 3 of Roman and the Hopeless Romantic
Only in her books.
They spoke of various things for the rest of the hour. Annie was the one person Cassie was really open with. She knew more about Cassie than even Jesse did, and she accepted her.
Though, Cassie’s dad paid good money for Annie to accept her. They weren’t friends, Cassie knew that. But there was no anxiety in her office. It was as if the sound of crashing waves and squawking birds calmed her, pushing the past to the back of her mind.
True to his word—as always—Jesse waited for her in the parking lot when she was done. He leaned against the hood of his Jeep wrangler looking like the all-American boy everyone loved.
Sometimes Cassie wanted to hate him for not being with their mom the night she died, for being spared the trauma of cowering behind a car waiting for a second bullet.
But since then, Jesse took care of her and their brothers. He was sixteen when he became much more than just their older brother, when their father dumped too much responsibility on him.
And he never complained.
Waves of calm rolled through Cassie like they always did after appointments with Annie. “I don’t want to go home yet.”
He raised an eyebrow in surprise.
How did she explain it? She was already out of the house, over that hurdle. For just a little while, she wanted to enjoy the salt air that hovered over Gulf City.
“Want to go get a coffee atEmma’s?”
Emma’s. The local diner Jesse and his friends obsessed over. She hadn’t been there in years. “Okay.”
Jesse shot her a smile and rounded the Jeep to hop in. Cassie climbed up and sat back in her seat. She could do this. At least, she could try.
They drove through downtown Gulf City—if you could call it a downtown. Single-story, Venetian buildings lined the street. Shops and restaurants tried to make a go of it in the seasonal tourist town.
Locals who wanted a bigger feel drove the forty-five minutes south to Tampa.
Two cars sat in the parking lot behindEmma’s.
“It’s okay.” Jesse must have read her mind. “Looks like only Callie and the cook are here today.”
Callie was the owner and someone Jesse had known for years from frequenting her diner. Cassie only met her a few times when she was younger.
They entered the diner, finding it as empty as they’d expected. A pretty woman with her brown hair in a single braid rushed toward them. “Jesse Carrigan, you should be in school.” She swatted him with a menu.
“Figured you could use the business.” He gestured to the empty room.
“We just got through the breakfast rush. Those snowbirds can put away a lot of food. I’m glad for the peace before lunch.” She turned to Cassie. “Is this little Cassie? I haven’t seen you in a long time.”
Cassie gripped the edge of one of the wooden booths, focusing on her breathing.In. Out.Callie stared at her, waiting for her to say something.
The waves of calm Cassie felt earlier roiled, turning into frothing anxiety clawing at her from the inside out. She opened her mouth, trying to force words out, but they never came.
After what seemed like an eternity but was probably only a few seconds, Jesse stepped in for the save. “Can we just get a couple coffees to go?”
Callie’s face softened in concern. “You got it.” She walked away, returning a moment later with two large travel cups. “On me today.”
“Thanks, Callie.” Jesse pried Cassie’s hand off the booth and held it in his. “We appreciate it.”
They stepped toward the door. “Thanks,” Cassie squeaked at Callie as they passed her, pushing the single word out with so much force it took her breath with it.
But she did it. She spoke to a woman she barely knew. Annie would call it progress. Cassie considered it a friggin’ miracle.
