Page 24 of Whiskey Sour
“Need any help setting it up?” Cassius asks. “While we don’t have money, we can put in the work.”
“Money seems to always be the issue,” she groans and rubs her fingers against her temple. “Let me look at some numbers, and I’ll text you two.”
“Sounds great.” I hop onto the tips of my toes so I can hug her as best as I can with a counter between us. “We’ll be back next week! Try to convince Gregory to stay, okay?”
She returns my hug. “Sure thing, Skylar. It was good to see you too, Cassius.”
He doesn’t hug her—he’s not much of a toucher with anybody else—but he does nod as he leads us out the door and onto the busy sidewalk.
“I know you’re worried about that kid, but you’ll get through to him,” he tells me as he threads his fingers with mine. “Patience isn’t your strong suit, sunshine, but it’s going to take some time.”
“How did you get through it?” I ask him, curious as I cock my head. “You were always getting into fights. I know you said that you just didn’t want to do that anymore?—”
He steps into my space, wrapping his arms around my waist as he presses his forehead against mine. He smells just like our strawberry shampoo, all fruity and delicious. Running his nose down my cheek, he smiles. “I had a good reason to stick around.”
“Me?”
“Who else?” He chuckles, pressing a kiss to my cheek, still holding me even as he takes a step back. “I wised up because I couldn’t let anyone take me away from you.”
I don’t know what I would have done without Cassius by my side. We’ve been inseparable since we were ten and shoved into that nightmare of a home together. Through all the pain, all the… I don’t like to think about it because it makes me itchy. All I know is, I don’t think I could have survived it without him.
“We have to go if we want enough time to get ready before work.”
“Okay,” I say cheerfully, holding on to his hand as we cross the busy street. Before we can get in the car we share, I hug him tightly. “I love you, Cass.”
And the smile he gives me lights up my heart. It makes all the bad memories fade to a simmer and takes me to my happy place. “I love you too, sunshine.”
CHAPTER NINE
Skylar
Family time isthe best time.
Holding the omelets I—well,Cassius—made, I wait for Elton to let us in. Cassius chuckles and places a calming hand on my shoulder, stopping my movements. “Patience, sunshine.”
“Oh, I’m just so excited!” I continue to wiggle. “It’s been forever since we’ve had a family brunch.”
He scrunches his nose. “We had one last Sunday.”
“Like I said, it’s beenforever.”
He shakes his head in amusement and reaches over to press the call button again. Looking down at me, he smirks. “Think Everest tried to cook again?”
I giggle. “It was a disaster last time. How do you mess up cereal?”
“I guess he must have found a way.” With a shrug, he presses the call button again. “I swear, if he and Knox are fucking…”
I open my mouth to tell him that would be absolutely wonderful, but the ding of the elevator cuts me off. When I race inside, Cassius follows atsucha slow pace. Since this elevator only goes to the penthouse, we wait until the doors close for it to take us up.
“I heard they invited Max,” I say.
Cassius snorts. “Youinvited Max.”
“Well, I didn’t want him to feel left out. He’s one of us now.” I chew nervously on my bottom lip. “Do you think he’ll have a good time?”
He places his arm around my shoulders and drags me to his side. “I think from what I know of him that he could have a good time staring at the sun.”
I laugh as I slap his chest. “You’re so mean. He’s just a little…”
