Page 81 of A Little Bit Extra

“Why do you say that?”

“Growing up, my parents…” I pause, adjusting to lie fully on my side, moving my arm to be underneath my head. “I didn’t have a lot of love at home. It was a lot of public love, but nothing in the privacy of our home. We didn’t eat dinner as a family, we didn’t take vacations unless it was for the media, and they never cared to ask what I wanted to do with my life. I suppose I never thought I could have love like this.” I bite my lip. “I guess what I’m trying to say is, I am completely and utterly in love with you.” With my thumb, I gently stroke her jaw, back and forth.

Cassie leans in toward me, pressing her lips to mine. “I love you too, Hotshot.”

I playfully push her away, our laughter blending with the sound of our conversation as we unravel the depths of each other.

26

Cassie

My phone ringing awakens me from my peaceful slumber. I open my eyes to find Emmett no longer beside me. I squeeze my eyes shut, then open them wide to try and wake myself up. Neither of us have to be at the studio until 11, so we definitely took advantage of that and each other last night.

I roll over to my left side, facing the nightstand, to find “Mom” on my phone display. Ugh. I don’t even know what time it is.

I click accept. I was going to talk to her today anyway, might as well be now, before I forget to call her.

“Hi, Mom.” I yawn.

“Cassie. Am I waking you up?”

“I mean, yeah—”

“Good!” My mom cuts me off. “When were you going to tell me about Annie?”

She’s angry. I’m not surprised. If I found out my last child was not only leaving the house to go to college, but doing so over 2,000 miles away, I would also feel a bit hurt and enraged.

“Um.” I sit up and rub my eyes with the heel of my palms. I'm in desperate need of a caffeine boost in the form of a steaming cup of coffee. “What about Annie?” I try to play dumb.

My mom sighs. “Annie is moving by you. You’re both going to be too far from me. What are we going to do for the holidays?”

“Annie is chasing her dream, Mom, just like I chased mine. She needed to tell you herself. It wouldn’t have been any better coming from me.” I shift so I’m facing the side of the bed, placing both feet on the ground. I make my way to the kitchen, greeted by the warm glow of the morning light streaming through the window. “And for the holidays, I don’t know. We can still come to you or you could come visit over here. Depends if you want sunshine or snow.”

She sighs again. I enter the kitchen to find Emmett by the stove, making eggs. He glances in my direction, and I mouth that I’m currently speaking with my mom. Nodding, he reaches for a coffee mug and pours it full to the brim for me. Oh, this man. How did I get so lucky? I mouth the words “thank you” before settling into my seat at the island.

Something changed between us last night. The thought of living without Emmett is no longer an option for me. I take this time to stare at him a little longer while my mom rambles on about Annie. He's wearing one of my favorite outfits, his bare chest is exposed and gray sweatpants hang low on his hips. In my mind, I visualize myself ending the call with my mom, moving toward Emmett, taking hold of his hand, and kneeling in front of him.

It’s like he hears my thoughts because as my gaze travels up his back, he turns around and meets my gaze. He smirks at me, a hint of amusement in his face. That jerk.

“Cassie? You still there?” Oh right, shit. I swivel the stool around so I’m facing away from Emmett. I can’t pay attention with him standing there, taunting me with his body after the night we shared.

“Yeah, Mom, sorry. What was the last thing you said?”

“I said that at least you’re out there to watch her and take care of her if she needs something. I was angry at first. Not because she was moving out, but mad at myself because she thought she couldn’t talk to me about this. I just wasn't ready to be alone yet.”

It had always been the three of us. Since I moved away, it has been just the two of them. Mom tried hard to get Annie to stay. She found special programs and paid for her to pursue unpaid internships in the city. She went on trips with her to help her not feel stuck, hoping she would choose to attend a local university. In the end, Annie still wanted to get out and experience somewhere else.

I don’t blame her. I did the same. Mom will be okay. Lonely for a bit, maybe, but she will adjust. She knows that. She just needs some reassuring that we will come home.

“Well, we could start doing more regular FaceTime chats and maybe when Anns gets here, I can plan a visit back home with her. Maybe in the fall? I might bring my…” I hesitate for a minute. Glancing over my shoulder, Emmett's eyes are locked on me, his coffee mug cradled in his hands. He's supporting me while also giving me the opportunity to chat with my mom.

“Bring who, Cassie?”

“My boyfriend. I’d like you to meet my boyfriend, Emmett.” Emmett smiles at me. I turn back around to face the living room again.

“Oh, Cassie, that’s great. I know we haven’t had the best relationship these past few years, but I’m happy for you.”

I’m happy for myself too.

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