It was the truth. Cassie had absolutely no thoughts about Seth and the star necklace she used to wear. Parker looked like she didn’t believe her. Cassie shrugged.
“It’s a cool necklace,” she said, tugging at the charm.
* * *
“What up, losers?” Acacia’s voice came over the speakers before her video kicked in.
“That’s it, Kaysh,” Cassie said. “I’m returning your Christmas present.”
Acacia’s face appeared on their screen. “Don’t lie—you haven’t even bought my present yet. You’re waiting for the sales.”
“How would you know?”
“Because you’ve been doing it for the past decade,” Acacia said. “Anyway. Parker, how are you, babe?”
“Good,” Parker said with a grin. “How’s your Christmas so far? Emerson get you anything good?”
“Fuck yeah. He gave me money to cover the class to get my motorcycle license.”
Cassie wolf whistled. “You’ll look hot in leather, Kaysh.”
“Just promise me you’ll wear a helmet,” Parker said.
Acacia rolled her eyes. “Duh, Parker. I don’t have a death wish.”
“Good, because I won’t hesitate to pull the plug if I have to,” Cassie said.
“Thanks, boo.”
“Anytime,” Cassie blew a kiss to the computer screen.
“So what’d you guys get?” Acacia asked.
They rehashed their morning and present hauls. When Cassie mentioned the necklace, Acacia gave her a look that Parker noticed, but thankfully misinterpreted.
“I know,” she said. “I thought it was weird because the last necklace she wore was from Seth, but she claims it’s not weird.”
“It’s not weird; it’s cute,” Cassie said. She held the necklace up to the webcam. “See?”
“It is cute,” Acacia said. “Does this mean you accept that you’re going to be an astronaut?”
“I accept that I may be working on rocket ships that in reality look nothing like this necklace.”
“Boring,” Parker said.
“You’re exceptionally uncool, you know that?” Acacia said.
“I do, thank you.”
They managed to take up well over an hour chatting with Acacia, though it’d been less than a week since they were all together. Emerson and Mama Webb popped their heads in, too. By the end of the call, Cassie’s cheeks hurt from smiling. It was the best Christmas she’d ever had.
Ten
ERIN
Erin sat in her home office, but she wasn’t working. The mystery she was currently reading was open on her desk. It’d be more comfortable to read in the living room, but that was too accessible. She’d hidden in her office since she woke up, almost an hour earlier.
It was 8:37 A.M. when she finally heard someone come downstairs. Cassie, probably. Parker hadn’t gotten up before ten for all of break.
Yesterday, listening to Parker and Cassie video chat with Acacia, Erin had made a decision. Well, she recommitted herself to a decision she’d already made.
Nothing could happen between her and Cassie.
Cassie was Parker’s friend. It was never more clear than last night—Cassie and Parker and Acacia talking way too loudly over Zoom, giggling and shrieking and acting like Parker had with her friends since she was a kid—albeit with more cursing and dirtier jokes.
Meeting Cassie separately, meeting her first, without knowing she knew Parker—Erin saw her differently than Parker’s other friends. Erin knew Caleb when he was still in Melissa’s stomach. Lila and Madison were in kindergarten with Parker. Parker’s friends hadn’t just been her friends first, they’d been kids first. Erin had met Cassie as an adult. She had known she was young from across the bar. Her smooth, flawless skin and that middle part in her hair. Erin just hadn’t realized how young.
Not that her age was even the issue. Her age made Erin feel good, actually. She hated the way youth was revered in women. Lusted after. But she couldn’t deny it felt nice that a college student thought she was hot.
No, it was the small issue of Cassie knowing her daughter. The Christmas video chat with Acacia reminded Erin of that, and she swore to herself—again—that nothing could happen with Cassie.
When Cassie came downstairs, though, Erin still hadn’t decided how to make that clear to her. The thought of actually talking about it made her itch. She didn’t want to address the choices she’d made since that first breakfast. How could she explain choosing an outfit for the a cappella concert that would be easy access for Cassie? How could she explain following Cassie to the bathroom or kissing her on Christmas Eve? How could she explain any of it while claiming to not want it to happen again? What she wanted wasn’t the problem. Or—it was very much the problem, because she wanted to do it all again the exact same way. She wanted to keep doing it. Cassie was hot. She had a smirk that made Erin wet, every time, and she used it way too often. She was great in bed—or in the back of the car, anyway, and in the bathroom, too. Her mouth on Erin’s chest had made Erin want to forget about the concert, about her daughter, and drag Cassie to her hotel, get her to use her tongue on more interesting places. Two nights ago, with Parker down the hall, Erin had slid her leg between Cassie’s. Erin had wanted so much more than they’d had time for.