Page 2 of One of Them Girls

“Yep. This is the new guy I’ve been dating. So as you can see, you can run along.”

Suspicion lines his eyes, so I pull her closer and whisper in her ear, “Giggle like I’m telling you something dirty. He’s not buying your act.”

On cue, she giggles, pressing her body even closer to mine. Then she leans up and whispers in my ear, “My name’s Cassandra.”

“Xavier,” I respond.

And just like that, we are having our own private conversation in whispers. I glance once more over her shoulder to see the guy stomp off.

“Your ex just stomped off. I think you’re in the clear.”

She leans back, rolling her eyes. “He’s not my ex. It’s a long story. I should go home though. I knew it was a bad idea to show up here.”

She pulls out of my grip.

“Let me walk you out,” I tell her.

“No, you don’t need to do that. Really.” I see a faint blush cover her cheeks.

“What kind of guy would I be if I didn’t even walk my girl out?” I quirk an eyebrow.

She smiles. “I guess you’re right.”

I wrap my arm around her shoulder as I escort her to the door. I give a two-finger wave to Jack as we move through the party. He gives me a confused look, but waves back.

I watch as she gives her own across the room goodbye to a girl, but instead of confusion, she gets a thumbs up.

Once outside and a few houses down, Cassandra shrugs out of my embrace. I give her a little distance.

“This is weird,” she says, breaking the silence. “I shouldn’t be going anywhere with you really, let alone let you know where I live. I can hear my brother cursing me for my idiocy.”

I chuckle. “You’re right. You shouldn’t be out walking with a stranger and leading him back to your place. It’s dangerous. You know what else is dangerous? Rescuing a damsel in distress only to find out she’s luring me to her den. Maybe I should be the one worried.”

She lets out a full-body laugh, shaking from the intensity. Making me laugh with her.

“That’s a good one.” She reaches out to pat my arm.

“You can never be too careful. I mean, you have a crazy ex that I had to save you from. Who’s to say he isn’t following us, waiting to beat my ass then rob me?”

This time she lets out a small laugh, looking a little uncomfortable. “He’s not my ex,” she repeats. “He’s my brother’s best friend. It’s a really long and complicated story I’d prefer not to get into.”

Baggage.

She has a lot of emotional baggage. I get that. I don’t really want to get into my shit either, so I change the subject.

“Ah. I see. Little sister has guards. Guess I should be more careful around you. They could pop out from anywhere.” I jump as if I saw something in the shadows, pushing her in front of me as a shield.

She lets out another genuine laugh. “How chivalrous. Push me in the way.”

I hold up my hands in surrender. “Hey. They’re your bodyguards. They’re unlikely to hurt you. I’m trying to preserve this pretty face.”

As she laughs, I watch as the last bit of sadness leaves her body.

“No bodyguards. Just trying to get him to realize I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself. He’s having a problem seeing that.”

“Ah, that I understand,” I reply, thinking of Tinsley and her brothers.

My phone buzzes in my pocket, but I make no move to look at it.

---