Page 10 of Never Yours

Lesson learned: There are assholes here in Sapphire Lake who will sell a picture for a buck.

I’m just glad they didn’t get one of me talking to Travis to add fuel to the fire.

I toss my phone onto the nightstand and drag my suitcase across the room, slinging it on the bed. As I unzip it, my clothes fly out like a jack-in-the-box.

“Fuck,” I groan and attempt to scoop the contents back into the suitcase.

“Coffee?” Cass’s question makes me jump. “Or… no coffee?”

“Fuck, where did you come from?” I laugh, gripping my chest.

“You left the door unlocked and didn’t answer when I knocked.” She sets down both to-go cups on the vanity and wraps me in a tight hug, her scrubs wafting off a strong medicinal scent. “How did you sleep?”

I pat her on the shoulder when she doesn’t let go. “Um, good.”

“Sorry, just missed you.”

“I saw you last night.” I roll my eyes and laugh. “But I didn’t get to thank you for the heads up that Cay would be driving me home…”

“Oops,” she teases, rocking back on her heels.

“Yeah, oops.” I pull out a pair of black leggings and an oversized tee that’s cut so I can wear it off one of my shoulders. “How the hell are you so chipper after an overnight shift?”

“I’m highly caffeinated and have to open up the bar in a few hours before Cay or Lo take over.” She shrugs and grabs her coffee, gulping half of it.

“Fuck, I’m too old for that shit. Give me an early night with a lavender bath bomb any day.”

I’m about to get changed, when Cass stops me. “So…” She chews on her lip. “You know you can stay here as long as you’d like, but have you made any plans? Are you going to write remotely?” She lowers her voice and jests, “Going to rehab?”

“You saw that?” I cringe. “No rehab for me.” I don’t know what I want to do yet, but I already feel better being back home. I undress in front of her and slip on my clean clothes. It doesn’t phase her, even though she hasn’t seen me naked since high school gym class.

I grab my coffee and take a sip, nearly spitting it out when she asks, “Caleb didn’t stay the night. So, you’re not going to be my future sister-in-law?”

“Hardly.” I wipe my mouth as I sputter a cough. “We talked a little, but that’s it.”

“Bummer,” she teases, taking an exaggerated long sip of her coffee.

“I’m not in a good place to date right now, especially someone like your brother.”

Cass playfully narrows her eyes at me. “Hey, what’s wrong with my brother?”

Nothing, he’s fucking perfect.

“He’s your brother,” I sigh. “And I’m the disgraced sitcom writer who fled New York. I’d break his heart, like I did all those years ago after we slept?—”

My hand flies to my mouth, and before I can retract it, she gasps, “You fucked Cay, didn’t you?”

“Nope.” I shake my head, but she’s not buying what I’m selling. Her eyes narrow, and I concede, “Ok, fine, yes. We slept together. Once… Prom night.” Not an ounce of shock paints her face, her eyes are instead alight with mischief. I rush out, “But that’s it, nothing else happened! I was a bitch to him, and then he went off to the Navy, and I went off to college, and we never spoke again, and—” A wide grin appears, and I glare at her. “You knew.”

“Don’t worry, he didn’t tell me, but I always assumed something happened when you two left together. Why didn’t you tell me?” She sips her coffee, waiting for my reply.

“He’s Cay. I could never… So, I promise nothing will happen between us while I’m back home.”

“So, what I’m hearing is you need to move away to marry him? Great, your bags are already packed, sister-in-law!”

“Why are you encouraging this? I slept with my boss! I’m damaged goods.” My stomach sinks remembering what I did.

“Fuck right off. You’re not damaged goods, and Caleb is a good man. Pretty sure he’s been brooding for the past decade since you ruined him with your pussy.”

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