Page 78 of Common Grounds

My smile turns secretive as I reply.

Emery: That’s nice of him to let you sleep in.

Trevor’s response is almost instant.

Trevor: He may have suggested WE sleep in.

I chew on the corner of my lip. I wasn’t kidding when I told him I was open to more than one night. As I study Cass as she and Vi toast their cans of sparkling water to my success, though, I don’t think I can leave her. She’s grinning like a fool, but her eyes are still rimmed with red, and her posture is still slumped slightly. What kind of sister would I be if I bailed so soon after a crisis for a booty call?

Emery: I’m with Cass. She was upset, so I came over. I don’t feel great about leaving her tonight.

Trevor: Is she okay? Everything okay with the baby?

Emery: Yeah, she’s fine. Baby’s fine. Just some family drama.

I touched briefly on my parents a few times, but I’ve kept it intentionally vague. Now, over text message, doesn’t seem to be the time. Luckily, he doesn’t seem phased.

Trevor: Good. Well, not good about the drama. You know what I mean.

I grin at his awkwardness as three little dots appear at the bottom of the screen.

Trevor: Mike says he can open Sunday instead. Unless that stuff about Cass was a polite way to tell me to take a hike.

I suddenly realize the room has grown silent. I look up from my phone again to see Cass and Vi staring at me wearing matching, goofy grins.

“Who are you texting now?” Cass asks in her singsong voice.

“Would you believe me if I said Ethan and Josie?” I ask.

“Not a chance,” Vi chirps. “Not with that look on your face, anyway.”

I sigh through my nose. “Trevor says his friend Mike will open the shop for him so we can sleep in on Sunday,” I say cautiously.

Cass doesn’t miss a beat. “Yes,” she says. “Do it.”

“Let me think about it for a minute,” I protest.

“What is there to think about? You like him. He’s hot. You’ve slept with him more than once, so the sex must be good.”

I drag my hands down my face. “Please do not.”

“Go.” She drags out the O and widens her eyes. “What do you have to lose?”

My heart? The tenuous hold I have on whatever is left of my dignity? But I know what Cass will say if that’s my response, so I just swing an arm around her shoulders again and squeeze. “Fine, if it’ll make you happy. But tonight is about lasagna, and I fully expect to make popcorn and watch a terrible movie, too.”

She leans her cheek against mine, and I can tell she’s about to cry again. Vi gets up to get another piece of lasagna, giving us a minute. I can worry about Randall and respond to Trevor later. Right now, this is where I need to be.

Chapter thirty

Trevor

A quiet knock sounds at my door at six-thirty on Saturday night. I try to play it cool and walk slowly to the door, but I’m too excited. I’ve been giddy since she texted me Friday night agreeing to come over, so I end up bounding to the door in a few steps. I pull it wide open to reveal Emery. She’s wearing a purple satin tank top and the same cutout jeans she was wearing the night we met. Her dark hair falls over one shoulder in waves. It grazes the top of her breast that’s peeking out over her shirt.

My mouth goes dry at the sight of her. She’s the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“Hi?” Her voice tips up at the end like a question, and that’s when I realize I’m staring at her and leaving her standing in the hallway.

I clear my throat and step back from the door into my cramped entryway. “Hi. Sorry. Come on in.”

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