Page 102 of Hiding from Hope

“I am sorry, Casey. I didn’t mean to snap at you all those times. I do appreciate everything you’ve done for me. I had no idea all my drama caused so many problems for you. I… I miss you and I want to be sisters again, or like sisters for the first time. I feel like we have missed out on something by being who we were.” Her face drops as she speaks, pain and sadness, and I hug my arms around my waist.

“I’m sorry, too. For smothering you, for pretending I was okay when I wasn’t. I am trying to be better at that. I miss being your sister, too. I do really want to be able to hang out and just bitch and moan instead of walking on eggshells.” She laughs lightly, nodding her head.

“Umm… also, about the studio—”

“Oh, I never saw that lawyer,” I clear up.

“Oh, thank god.” She laughs gently, and her eyes bulge with gratitude. “I do love working with you, Case. I love this job, and I love the studio. I really didn’t want it to go.” I nod, knowing. I was hoping she’d come around because I equally didn’t want our partnership to end.

“Let’s be better sisters?” she asks, and I pull her into another hug that she returns.

“We can certainly try. As long as you stop being a bitch.” I joke and she hoots a laugh before withdrawing and rolling her eyes at me. We head for the door. “Ugh, you’re already going to be insufferable. Maybe I should take it back.” I laugh with her, and as we open the door to leave, I’m not in the slightest bit surprised to find Jessie leaning against the wall opposite the room. A deep frown on his face instantly assessing me before leveling Grace with a stern look, his arms across his chest, his body vibrates with a menacing energy and I have to smother a giggle.

“Geez, he never outgrew the predator vibe, did he?” Grace says under her breath, and I shake my head, no longer able to hide my smile. I wink at him and he nods slightly before disappearing back around the corner, and I walk Grace to the door.

“You coming back to class soon?” She nods enthusiastically.

“I am! I…” She clears her throat and looks around the room. “I started seeing a therapist. For the grief. Evan and I are seeing a fertility doctor, and we’re going to wait but try again soon. But I want to get back to a normal life.”

“I’m so proud of you, Grace. Your usual classes are ready for you when you are.” She lets go of a big breath. We say our goodbyes and my heart is practically beating out of my chest with joy as I skip back into the staff room, finding Jessie scrolling on his phone. It’s promptly discarded when I enter. I walk up to him and he pulls me to stand between his legs from where he sits on the dining chair, his hands tickling the backs of my thighs as his eyes scan my entire face.

“You playing guard dog?” I tease.

“I heard her shouting. I was getting ready to intervene,” he says, a lethal air to his words.

“I can handle Grace,” I assure him, brushing his hair off his forehead, the perpetual mess that it is. His grip tightens on my thighs and he pulls me closer.

“I know you can. You just don’t have to handle it alone anymore,” he says gently, and I bite my lip to hide my smile. His eyes catch there and I watch them darken with desire.

“I’m looking forward to tonight,” I whisper, and he grunts in response.

“I’m thinking about skipping straight to dessert.”

His voice oozes with a dirty promise and I lean down to whisper in his ear, “But then you’ll miss the lacy gift I got you.” When I pull back, I’m thoroughly satisfied with his pain as he bores those stunning eyes into me and something like a growl works its way up his throat.

“It is inappropriate for me to be hard as a rock at your workplace, Ace.” I giggle and walk backward, pulling him up to stand. He wastes no time shoving the lunch back in my face. “And I’m not leaving until you finish this. You need to eat.”

I roll my eyes at him. “You’re no fun.”

“I’ll be plenty fun later, with you spread out below me when it’s my turn to eat.” I feel my cheeks blush, and I have to swallow the moan his dirty words elicit from me.

Jessie, motherfucking, Jenkins.

Casey

“Jessie?” I call for him as I enter his café. It’s dark out, the snow was relentless today, and it’s absolutely freezing. I shiver as I step into the shop, the fireplace to the left heating the space and setting a romantic, warm glow across the space. My chest warms, and I can’t fight the smile that spreads across my face. I take a few more steps in and look around the shop. It’s different at this time of night. None of the ceiling lights are on, only the fireplace and a corner lamp light up the room, the back of the shop disappearing in darkness. Only flickering light coming from the mezzanine above the counter.

“Jessie?” I call again, now slightly breathless. Either the desire to see him or the romantic setting stealing my breath. I have no idea at this point.

“Hey, sunshine.” His deep voice from close behind startles me, and I turn quickly, almost tripping on my feet, but his strong hands dart out to catch me, pulling me against him. His smile is devastating, his eyes hooded as he looks me over. “You look delicious.” He hums and leans down to steal my lips in a kiss. I sigh into it and let him kiss me for a few moments before he pulls away. “I have a surprise for you.” He turns and drags me by the hand up the stairs to the floating second level. This is usually just a reading space; books line every wall and there are reading couches and silent areas gathered in the center. Except, when we crest the top level, most of the center furniture has been pushed aside and there is a simple table and two chairs lit up with candles everywhere, a stunning bunch of marigolds lay across the table and I have to smother the squeal from my throat. He walks us to the table, lifts my hand to kiss my knuckles, and hands me the bunch of flowers.

“They’re beautiful,” I breathe as I take them from him and hide my blush from his gentlemanly act.

“I have to admit something,” he says with mischief.

“Oh?” I raise an eyebrow at him and lay the flowers back on the table as he pulls me into his arms.

“I watched The Notebook today.” By the look on his face, he is mortified at the admission, and it has me giggling like a schoolgirl. Jessie starts to sway us in the open area of the top level, an arm wrapped around my lower back holding me to him, his left hand holding my right,

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