Page 45 of Be Your Somebody
“I haven't shared it with him yet. I was just waiting for the right moment. And I’m nervous he won't like it. As for the contest, I’m, uh…well, I’m considering it. You think I could win with this song?” I ask.
“Avery, that manadoresyou. Of course, he's going to love it,” she replies. “As for winning, Avery, this is Grammy-level shit. I think you need to enter it.” Bri and I made casual conversation before she stood from the bed and said, “Anyways, enough emotional talk. You have a date to get ready for. I’ll be by my phone eagerly awaiting a play-by-play.” She gives me a playful wink before walking towards the door.
My eyes flicker over to the bed where the dress and shoes lay. This is it, my first date with Cas. I mean, you think that after everything that happened this morning, I wouldn't be nervous. My body is trapped in barbed wire and the spikes are my anxious feelings, poking into me. I look at the clock on the end table closest to my bedroom door and it reads 11:00 a.m.—seven more hours until he comes to get me. I have no idea how to pass the time, so I reach for my phone and text him.
Me: Hey
Cas: Hi, yourself. I can’twait for tonight.
Me: Me too. Is it weird that I’m nervous? I mean, after this morning, I feel like I shouldn't be, but I am.
Cas: I’m just as nervous, maybe even more so now.
Me: Now?
Cas: Yeah. This morning was, well, hot as fuck. I just feel like I built up this expectation in your head of what it will be like and I won’t measure up.
Me: I feel the same way. But after how we connected this morning, I don't think that will happen. Let's promise each other now that we'll be honest if things get weird or either of us doesn't feel it.
Cas: Deal. But Avery?
Me: Yeah?
Cas: Now that I have tasted your lips, I need to taste every part of you.
Woah, this conversation escalated quickly. This seems to be the theme of our friendship. Relationship? Situationship? His words play on repeat in my brain, causing the heat to pool between my legs. Those words continue to float around in my brain, so I reach for my vibrator, hoping to release some of this tension.
Chapter 28
Cassidy
She’s my home
It'sfinallyhappening—myfirstofficial date with Avery. Anxiety and excitement are two boxers circling each other, waiting to see who throws the first punch. I find myself checking the clock frequently.
This morning was fucking hot. It took all of my willpower not to devour her completely. The way she pressed against my body felt like two magnets finally coming together. Just thinking about it gets me hard. My hand moves towards my dick to release the growing pressure when the sound of my phone pings with an incoming text. I open the text excitedly, thinking it's from Avery, only to have my heart stop beating. No matterhow many times this fucker texts me, my anxiety spikes every time. This time though, I’m ballsy enough to text back.
Unknown: *image* You know you wanna get fucked up. You think you’re done with this shit? Once a junkie always a junkie.
Me: What the fuck do you want from me?
Unknown: Guess you’ll find out soon enough.
What the fuck? I’m pissed that this fucker keeps texting me. I’m even more pissed at myself for my mouth involuntarily salivating when I saw the needle in the picture. I’ve done so much work on myself, yet the sight of a fucking needle has me fighting a craving I hoped I’d never have again. Whoever this is seems to know this and finds new ways to contact me, no matter how many times I block the previous number. My gut feeling is that I know who this is, but I just can’t put my finger on it. The sound of an alarm blaring startles me into the current moment.
Shit, I have thirty minutes to get ready. How did the time fly by so quickly and why can’t I remember anything in the last half hour or so? I make my way to the closet in search of the perfect outfit for tonight. While sifting through every option, I notice my hands are shaky with nerves. I’ve been on many first dates in my lifetime, but never while sober and never with Avery. Everything has to be absolute perfection tonight, as she deserves nothing but the best. My hand brushes a silky, emerald button-down shirt and plain, black dress pants. The shirt matches the color of her eyes, making my decision on what to wear easy. I take the quickest shower of my life and race against the clock to finish getting ready.
I’m ready to go and realize only fifteen minutes have passed. I sit down and focus on some breathing techniques my therapist taught me to help reduce my anxiety levels. After a few minutes, my heart rate has slowed and my breathing is more regulated. Before heading downstairs, I give myself a once-over in the mirror to ensure everything is in place. I am halfway out the door when I realize the flowers I picked for Avery earliertoday are still sitting on the table. I run back inside, grab them, then bolt out the door.
When we were kids, Avery always gravitated toward the wild lavender lilies that grew in between our houses. I knew I needed to pick some for her. As I approach her door, my heart is beating so fast I’m surprised it hasn’t jumped out of my chest. I take a calming breath to steady my nerves. Flowers in hand, I knock on her door.
“Come in. The door’s open,” Avery says.
I open the door, not sure what I expect to see. “Avery, you really should lock this door. What if I was—" The rest of my words fall away and I stare. In front of me stands this goddess of a woman in a stunning black dress. Her wavy hair brushes over one shoulder in the most beautiful and sexy way. My gaze roams her face, noticing her eyes have this gold dust stuff across her eyelids that brings out her green eyes with such intensity I lose my balance. Her full, pouty lips are painted blood-red. My throat goes dry as my eyes travel down her body. The flowers fall to the floor with a soft thud. My eyes land on her thigh, exposed by the slit in her dress that travels so high that one wrong move and I will see everything underneath. My eyes continue their journey down her body, and on her feet are these extremely high heels that as red as her lips.
The second my eyes land back on her face, my feet move swiftly on their own accord. I slam her up against the wall. Her wild eyes are the invitation I need to lean in, but her words stop me.
“Can I ask you for a favor?” Avery’s hesitation piques my interest.
