Page 74 of As the Rain Falls
“Texting really does feel too impersonal. Overrated, really. And we’re friends, right?” I wonder, speaking out loud. “I should be able to knock on his door and ask for sugar or something. Jesus, I’m, like, dog-sitting for him. I’m literally doing him a favor. I’m not just trying to be nosy.”
“Right. Cassandra, just knock on his door, for real.” The piano song that’s playing in the background comes to a halt. “Shit, Maude keeps forgetting to fix her sickled feet.”
“You’re right, I just have to knock.” I slip on my sandals and try not to sprint on my way to Beckett’s place. We’re next-door neighbors, but I still have to walk through my garden and his to reach the front door. “Thanks for picking up the call.”
“Don’t mention it,” she whisper-yells, and I can imagine her perfectly curved eyebrows forming the biggest frown ever as she watches her teammates struggle through the routine. “Will you call me tonight to tell me what happened?”
“Of course!” I bob my head. “I’m telling youeverything.”
“Don’t let Nathaniel get in your head.”
“I’m not.”
“Seriously, what the fuck is his issue?” Kayla groans. “And that thing about kindergarten, who even cares?”
I smile and agree, “Right? I don’t even remember what that was about.”
“Me either. We have to ask Mom about it.” She pauses. “Listen, I really have to go now. But have fun, okay? You’re good with dogs, and Pepé already loves you.”
“I know.” I inhale deeply, trusting Kayla to know best. She wouldn’t lie to me about this, because my best friend understands just how much I care. “I’m just nervous.”
“I know you are, but you can do this,” she coughs a little. “I’ll talk to you later. Love you, bye.”
“Love you too.”
I reach Beckett’s house a few minutes after, and carefully ring the bell twice, which is the very polite thing to do in case he missed the first one. Pepé‘s excited barking erupts from inside. It calms me down a little to see how happy he is.
“It’ll be okay.” I check my reflection one last time on my phone screen. “You’ll be fine.”
My hair is still a bit damp from my post-class shower, but my short blue floral dress—the cutest one I own—makes up for it. I remember buying it from a vintage store in town, and the lady working at the front promised it was one of a kind.
I don’t think she was telling me the truth, but I don’t mind wearing things that are secondhand or common. As long as the outfit is cute, I’m pretty confident I can make it work.
“You’re fine. Breathe. You’re okay.”
The door opens, and my smile falters.
“Mr. Evans?”
“Dad, I said I could get the—” Beckett appears behind his father, shirtless, aggressively drying his hair with a towel. He tosses the tower over his left shoulder, pulling the door wide open, and says, “I could get the door.”
“Good afternoon, sir,” I clear my throat. “And hi, Beckett.”
“Cassa—”
“And who are you again?”
Mr. Evans interrupts,clearlynot remembering who I am. I’m not surprised; I don’t think he ever paid much attention to me before. Beckett frowns at his dad, annoyed by the interruption.
“How do you not know her?”
Seeing them side by side, it’s like watching a time machine at work. Gregory Evans totally looks like an older, sharper version of his son. They have the same blue eyes and the same caramel blond hair. Their features are strikingly similar too: sharp around the edges and perfect to a fault.
Altogether, he is the kind of man who looks like he knows exactly how intimidating he is. I think that’s the reason why Nathaniel doesn’t like the Evans very much. They have a natural air of superiority to them, something that can’t be easily replicated.
“It’s okay, Becky. I don’t mind it,” I answer with a forced smile, placing my hands behind my back and pinching my skin, trying to keep myself from blushing. “I’m Cassandra Rivera. I live next door.”
“Ah, yes,” Gregory smiles, the corner of his eyes softening. “I remember you! Cassie, right? Little Cass.”
