Page 10 of Love Wasted

Present

“Cassandra, I can’t believe a girl who looks like you and writes such beautiful love stories hasn’t found the one yet,” my editor, Margo, exclaims over the phone. She called to let me know my latest manuscript is my best story to date.

I’m glad she can’t see my face because I frown at her words.

Every time someone makes a comment like the one Margo just made to me, fuck you nearly slips from my mouth.

“I’ve met lots of men,” I tell her smugly. “In fact, I’ve been dating Richard on a regular basis on and off for the last five years. We have a sort-of commitment.” I grin as I think about Richard. He’s romantic and charming, and damn he can kiss. He’s also an asshole and selfish—can’t have it all, I suppose.

“Richard, huh?” I hear Margo’s voice echo. “And, tell me, when are the two of you finally going to actually commit?”

Rolling my eyes, I flop back on my bed. “It’s…It’s nice, but I don’t know. He seems to care about me, and I love the way he kisses. He’s been there for so long, and he’s comfortable—we’re comfortable. We trust each other.”

Margo sighs. “See? This is what I mean, you…well, you write beautiful romance, but you can’t seem to make it work for you in the real world.” I can hear her rolling her eyes. “If I didn’t read your love stories for a living, I wouldn’t believe there was a romantic bone in your body,” she adds.

“Now you’re just being mean,” I retort, a little peeved at the eternal judgment I receive from my so-called friends. “I’ll have the final draft to you by next week. Goodbye Margo, and happy Sunday.” I hang up the phone without even waiting to hear her farewell.

Standing abruptly, I stomp over to my closet and pull the door open.

Speaking of Richard, I was supposed to call him when I got up this morning, I just wasn’t sure what I would say. After my conversation with Laney last night, I’m trying to keep my mind focused, open…open to the possibility of what I once saw in him, the possibility of us, which seemed to be on track until last night. I even thought about inviting him to Paxton’s welcome home party at the Lukes’, but it just doesn’t feel right, especially now, in the midst of another one of our what’s happening between us periods.

Plus, the memory of last night makes me want to drink, and it has nothing to do with turning a year older and everything to do with Paxton himself. It was the strangest encounter we’ve ever had, awkward and…something else. It’s like he never left and the push and pull between us never stopped.

As I pull on my jeans and new soft blue cashmere sweater, I start humming the tune to Taylor Swift’s “I Knew You Were Trouble.”

“You know you need to stop listening to her music,” Laney says from the doorway of my bedroom, startling me in the process.

“Oh shit! Dammit, Laney!” Throwing my hand over my heart, I glare at my best friend. “You need to knock before entering someone’s apartment,” I rebuke, still trying to pull my sweater over my head.

She walks farther into the room, making herself comfortable on my bed, seemingly ignoring my comment.

“Cass, you’re my best friend. I have a key to your apartment, and you have one to mine. We’ve barely spent more than a week or two apart since we were seven years old. You are not just someone, so knocking seems silly in this circumstance,” she says matter-of-factly, trying to rationalize her action.

Turning to face her, I rest my hand on my hip, cocking it to one side.

“Seriously, you and your brother need to learn some boundaries. I can’t comprehend where the two of you get your bossy and intruding ways because neither of your parents are that way at all,” I say, continuing to admonish her.

Delaney sits on her knees, tilting her head to one side as she looks at me.

“Cassandra, what has gotten into you? Even more important, why are you bringing Pax into it?” she questions, sounding confused and intrigued at the same time. “Are you two seriously still annoying one another?” She sits back on her haunches. “Man, this is going to be an awkward party.”

Rolling my eyes, I swivel away from her. Searching through my closet for an overnight bag, I try to think of the right way to answer her. I need to say the right thing or she will make more out of this than there is.

“I guess I’m dreading seeing my mother after our conversation last night before the party. She brought up my age and my love life. As for Paxton, he has nothing to do with it really; I’m only stating the facts of our friendship over the years and how both of you have an obsessive need to boss me around,” I explain, tossing a pair of polka dot pajamas into my bag.

“Ignore your mom, like I do mine, and as for Paxton, well, he just got back. He hasn’t intruded in our lives for years. We’re older, and he doesn’t have a leg to stand on when it comes to bossing us around.” A light giggle escapes her. “Ignore him too, like I do and like we’ve always done. It shouldn’t be too hard since the party is for him and will be filled with his friends. He won’t even care that we’re there.”

She’s right. Ignore Paxton. After throwing in the last item I need for an overnight stay, I run and jump on my best friend, giggling along with her. What would life be like without her? I would never want to find out.

She reaches over and slaps me on the ass.

“Let’s get on the road, and you’re driving this time,” she tells me, hopping off the bed in the process. “Also, don’t forget the Tim Tams! I need sugar and hangover food.”

Shaking my head, I get up off the bed, picking my bag up as I leave my room. I’m not sure what this weekend will be like, but I’m a smart, twenty-six-year-old successful author. I’m fine. My life is fine, and my romantic life is fine, even if it is a bit more on the in care side than the in love side.

As I pull into my parents’ driveway, I notice neither of them is home. I glance over at Laney’s house next door and realize Mrs. Luke’s car is also gone.

“Seriously! Where in the heck are my parents?” I say out loud as I pull the keys from the ignition. Delaney is out of the car and opening the back door before I’m even out of my seat. “I’m going to throw a pretend temper tantrum over the fact that I can’t open my birthday present until they get home.” I grin over the top of the car at Laney and she rolls her eyes as usual.

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