Page 96 of French 75
Because we’re not just best friends, we’re not just boyfriends, we’resoulmates.
Against my will, I start to sniffle, and Cassius immediately tenses. He steps back only enough to tip my chin up. “Why are you crying? What’s wrong? Is it not everything you wanted?”
Is he asking about the prom? Because the answer that comes to mind has nothing to do with that.
I never thought my life would look like this. When I was young and scared, everything seemed so terribly out of reach. I had Cassius as my lifeline, and I don’t think I ever could have imagined being in love with him. Not because he wasn’t good enough, but because I wasn’t. A part of me wants to be bitter that we didn’t have this when we were eighteen, but therapy has taught me that you can’t linger on the past. I’ll always have nightmares and scars that show what I’ve been through, but I’ve come out stronger because of it.
I know my worth, and I’ll live every day reminding myself of it.
So, is it everything I wanted?
“It’s more,” I whisper truthfully. “It’s so much more.”
His features relax, and the corner of his lips quirk. He knows. Healwaysknows. It’s effortless with him. “I love you, sunshine.”
“And I love you,” I reply, standing on the tips of my toes so I can brush my lips against his. “Forever and always.”
I let my mouth linger on his for only a moment before pulling back. The song changes to something more upbeat, and I take the opportunity to find the whole crew. Knox, Butch, and Rhys refuse to dance—unsurprising—and Everest seems a bit shy. I can’t find Max, but Elton takes the floor at full force.
I think everyone, minus Knox, found it hilarious when he managed to hurt himself doing The Worm.
The night continues with Elton icing his crotch for the majority of it. Max eventually makes an appearance, looking a bit flustered and out of sorts, but he charms all the kids when he reveals that he knows how to make balloon animals.
Side note: he doesn’t.
Since this is a kid-friendly event, we stop the prom around nine. We won’t open for regular business until tomorrow, but it’s time to get the kids home. All the volunteers and the crew end the night with a big dance and then make sure everyone leaves safely. When the last kid leaves, Sadie is overflowing with tears and gratitude. Davis chose the wrong moment to make his appearance of the night when she threw herself into his arms and proclaimed him a saint.
Truthfully, I think he was two seconds away from telling Butch to escort her out.
“Okay, let’s look at the list!” I shout, trying to gather everyone to help clean up. “Let’s go, let’s go! Time is money, people!”
“Actually,wewon’t be helping.” My eyes widen in confusion as Cassius takes my elbow and starts dragging me to the back entrance.
“What?” I ask. “That’s not fair.”
He chuckles as he kisses the top of my head. “I think you might change your mind when you see what I have planned.”
Opening the back door, he pushes me through. “I don’t think so. We can’t just leave it all to them. What could possibly be—Holy shit!”
Okay, I take it back. The crew can tear down the whole club themselves without any guilt on my part because I’mnotpassing up a chance at this.
Because when I see Cassius’s motorcycle parked where we left it, but withtwohelmets hanging off it instead of one, all my dreams come true.
“You’re finally giving me a ride!” I squeal, jumping into his arms. “Oh my God. You’re fucking with me, right?”
He shakes with laughter and sets me down, but keeps me bracketed in his arms. “Nope. It’s for real. I never did give you the ride after you wonDance Party Extreme, and I am nothing if not a man of my word.”
I pull my bottom lip into my mouth. Yeah, no way am I rejecting this, but I’m feeling a bit bratty. “So, you’re suddenly not worried about me getting hurt? Love me a little less, Cassy?”
This sobers him up. Growling, he wraps his hand around my throat and yanks me to him. He seals his lips against mine, fucking into me with nothing but raw power and passion. I’m dazed when his tongue slips along mine, when his teeth dig into my bottom lip, and when he pulls away before giving me more.
But it’s his eyes that truly make me feel like I’m about to pass out.
He’s glaring at me with so much unfiltered love that I curse myself for ever not realizing how he felt about me.
“I love you the most, sunshine, and I’ll only love you more with every passing day,” he states as he rubs his thumb against the underside of my jaw. “You’re getting a ride because I’ll never let you fall. I’ll protect you with my own life. You get that, right?”
I nod and wrap my arms around him for a tight hug. “Yes, Cassy. I do.”
