Page 54 of Undoing

Cass’s heart was pounding in her chest. Rebecca’s arms were wound around her neck, and her lips were close enough that if Cass just tilted her head, she could…

Cass cleared her throat. “I know, but why walk when you can get a free ride?” she grinned. She gently deposited Rebecca on the couch and covered her with a soft blanket. “There, all cozy.” Cass’s fingertip grazed Rebecca’s cheek as she pushed a strand of blonde hair behind Rebecca’s ear. Their eyes were fixated on each other, but neither quite knew what to say.

“What happened?”

Ugh! Perfect timing, Aunt Wills! Rebecca barely managed to control her frustration. “Nothing happened. I got dizzy, and Cass helped me to the couch. End of story.”

Cass stood faster than a teenager getting caught with her hand down her girlfriend’s pants. “I-I probably should have called before I came over. I didn’t mean to cause any undue stress.”

Rebecca reached up and touched Cass’s hand. “No, it wasn’t your fault.”

Willamena could have kicked herself for interrupting their moment. But she wouldn’t gamble with Rebecca’s recovery. She’d apologize to Cass later.

“You know you’re always welcome here, Cass,” Willamena said, noting that Rebecca was still holding Cass’s fingers. “Did you need something, or were you hoping I had more pasta?”

Cass smiled. She, too, was painfully aware Rebecca was still touching her. Cass’s body wouldn’t let her try to ignore it. It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine. Keep a cool head, try to stop the blood from traveling south, and we’re good. All good. “I will never turn down food. Actually, I’m here because, uh, I forgot to pack Becca’s favorite brush.”

Now that she was standing here in this situation, Cass’s reason for coming here sounded incredibly pathetic.

“Brush?” Reluctantly, Rebecca let her hand drop because she couldn’t think of a good reason to keep holding Cass’s hand. “I… have a favorite brush?”

“Totally.” Cass grabbed the brush out of her back pocket, waving it around like a prize. “You use it every night. It makes your hair so silky and soft. I love running my fingers… I mean, uh…” Cass sputtered, not knowing whether to apologize or run away.

Rebecca absently touched her ponytail. Oh, what she wouldn’t do to have Cass running her fingers through her. Hair! Through your hair, Rebecca! But her hair was neither soft nor silky at the moment. Still, something inside her itched for the chance to tease Cass.

“They tell me I have amnesia. How do I know this is my favorite brush?”

“Well, I…” Cass saw a glint in Rebecca’s eyes. She’s teasing me! That had to be a good sign, right? “I guess you’ll just have to trust me.”

“I guess so.” Rebecca tried unsuccessfully to stifle a yawn. “Sorry! That is in no way a reflection on my present company.”

“Someone stayed up too late reading even though they promised they wouldn’t,” Willamena scolded playfully.

Right. Reading. “Thank you, Aunt Wills.” Rebecca caught Cass’s eye and made a face. Her breath caught when Cass laughed heartily.

“What were you reading?” Cass asked, wiping tears of laughter from her eyes. Those were much more welcome than the tears of sadness she shed last night as she tried to sleep.

Rebecca pursed her lips. What would Cass think about her reading preferences? Samantha never allowed her to read ‘trashy novels.’ Once, when Samantha was high, she admitted it was because Rebecca didn’t need to get any wrong ideas about what a relationship should be. Rebecca was a possession. A toy for Samantha’s pleasure. No more, no less.

“Just a book I found on Aunt Wills’s shelf. I thought it might keep me entertained while I was cooped up.”

“You’re not cooped up. You’re recouping,” Willamena countered, curious as to why Rebecca didn’t tell Cass what she was reading. She assumed it had to do with Samantha. If so, Willamena was willing to help her niece by showing her she didn’t have to be worried about telling Cass the truth. “She’s reading a Joslyn Cohan book. One from her series.”

Cass’s eyes lit up, but Rebecca missed it because she was too busy glaring at her aunt. “The one with the, uh, interesting dynamic between the two main characters?”

“That’s the one!” Willamena announced with a shit-eating grin.

Rebecca narrowed her eyes. “Don’t you have food to prepare, woman?” Cass’s words then registered in her brain. “Wait, you read Joslyn Cohan?”

Cass nodded. “Hell, yeah! They’re freakin’ hot! Well written, too. I don’t wanna give any spoilers, though.”

Rebecca smiled. “Thank you. I’m almost done, so maybe we can discuss it after I finish?”

She wants to see me again! “I’d like that.” Cass smiled when Rebecca yawned again. “I should go and let you rest.”

“You don’t want to stay for dinner?”

Cass kneeled next to a disappointed Rebecca. “I do, but you can’t stop yawning. My first — my only — priority is your welfare and recovery, Becca. I’m gonna go so you can take a nap. Maybe when you wake up, you can finish that book, and we’ll have our own little book club about it.”

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