Page 146 of As the Rain Falls
I would’ve definitely noticed if something was wrong.
But I still see hesitation there, like she might agree with me, but something is still pulling her back. It’s a weird reaction to have. Her next words leave me even more unsettled than before.
“I just don’t want him to get the wrong idea,” she explains, keeping her words lighthearted. “You know what I mean.”
“And why would he be getting the wrong idea?” I try to smile a little, leaning in slightly. “Am I not allowed to greet my friends?”
Cassandra swallows hard, color creeping up her cheeks. It’s the prettiest shade, reminding me of the oil painting portraits Lucia liked to obsess over.
“Oh, look.” I touch her cheek, pressing my thumb against the corner of her mouth. Her lips part on instinct, and the tip of my thumb finds the glossy texture of her lipstick. I pull back at the last minute, but my skin is stained with a pinkish color. “I’m making you blush.”
She shoves my hand away from her face, shiny lips pursed into a pout. “You’re such an idiot!”
I grin. “Come here. I’m not done with you.”
Instinctively, I take her hand and start pulling her through the sea of people. She traces after me, not resisting, though her thumb brushes every so often against the back of my hand, sending a weird jolt through me.
“Can we go somewhere quiet?” I look around, trying to find a way out of the room. “Help me find a spot.”
“Well, good luck to us. This place is packed.”
Cassandra rolls her eyes but still catches up to me, also looking around. Her steps falter when someone tries to come in between us. I pull her in front of me, sliding my arms around her waist. She gasps when I press a long, loud kiss to her cheek.
“Beckett!”
“Is he still watching?” I ask, refusing to check on Nathaniel again. Fuck him, and fuck what he’s thinking. Funnily enough, Ihopehe is watching. I really want to piss him off.
She exhales, tilting her head back against my shoulder. The movement is effortless and natural, her high heels making her a little taller than usual.
“God, we should really stop.” Her green eyes roll to the back of her head with fake annoyance. “Nathaniel is going to kill me.”
“Why does he care so much about who you hang out with?” I finally blurt out the question that’s been in the back of my head all along. “He’s your brother, not your keeper.”
She tenses in my arms, and I spin her around, making her fall against me. We’ve hit the stage where only a few old couples are slow-dancing together to a jazzy tune.Her hand rests on my shoulder, and while the move is casual and practiced, her fingers won’t stop trembling against the fabric of my tuxedo.
“Beckett?”
“Yes?” I touch her hand, silently asking her to hold mine as we sway. “Breathe.”
“I’m breathing,” she insists, unaware of how nervous she seems. “I swear, I am.”
“No, you’re not.” I lean a little closer, forehead brushing against hers. “We’re just friends dancing at a fundraiser. So what if your brother sees us? Who cares? You’re not doing anything wrong.”
“But I’m supposed to be helping Kayla.” Her grip tightens, pulling me closer. “Alice is here, and I want them to have a moment.”
“If Kayla wants a moment with Alice, she can go and get it.” I glance at the bar, where the two girls are standing side by side, ordering drinks together. “Look at them. Right over there. They’re fine.”
Cassandra presses her head to my chest, her voice dropping. She sounds more upset now, and my chest tightens with worry.
“You don’t understand.” A moment later, she adds, “I really wish you did.”
And yeah, I really don’t.She never really talks about her family besides a random comment here and there, but I’ve also never asked. So while no, I don’t get it, I definitely could if she lets me in.That’s what friends are for.
“Explain it to me.” My hand drifts to her lower back, steadying her. “Why does it matter?”
“Because I don’t want him to see me with a boy tonight.” She shakes her head. “Nathaniel already thinks we’re dating, and if he starts to see us together, he is going to—”
I cut her off and say, “But we’re not.”
