Page 75 of Emerald Moon
You can’t tell me that wasn’t two people already in love.
Remembering that night and how Cass’ presence made Jo forget to be self-conscious and afraid to be themselves around their family made them smile.
Ha.You’re probably right.
I’m always right.
Are you sunburned already?
Shut up.
That’s a yes.
Next it was time to tell Krista.Instead of a wall of text, Jo sent one short message and waited for the call or texts with a bunch of exclamation points that would come next.
We kissed.For real this time.
twenty-three
Jowashedtheirhands,proud of the bowls of carefully cut fruit for Billie and the evening shift to use in the tarts.They’d prepped other parts of the baking process, too, but there was something about seeing their successes piled up that was so satisfying.
“Alright, Emmaline, I’m headed out,” Jo said, slipping their apron over their head.
“Are you going up to the front before you go?”She asked.
“Wasn’t planning on it.”
Emmaline grinned.“You might want to.Go grab you a snack for later.”
“Okay,” Jo replied slowly, giving their hands one final wipe on their apron before slipping through the doors to the front of the bakery.“Emmaline told me to – Cass?”Their eyes jumped from the sight of Wil at the register to Cass sitting at a table off in the corner.
At the sound of her name, Cass stood, the chair clattering behind her.She was holding a bouquet and was dressed in a crisp, short-sleeved striped button down without a hint of birds on it.“Are you done with your shift?”
Jo nodded as they stepped closer to her.
Cass’ lips quirked up in the corners as she held out the brightly colored bouquet.“Jo, would you like to go on a date with me?”
Jo laughed.“Yes.I’d like that.”
“Is now a good time?”
The phrasing brought Jo back to the conversation in the car when they were planning on what they’d tell Jo’s family members about their dating history.“Is this –”
“The date I’ve had planned since I first met you?Yes.”
“Then I think my next line is something about needing to go home and change.”
“Do you think you need to?”
Jo looked down at their band t-shirt, sweaty from working in the back and dotted in flour and fruit juice.“Yes, definitely.If I remember correctly, you’re taking me to your favorite restaurant next and I can’t go looking like this.”
“I wouldn’t mind.They wouldn’t either.”
“Speak for yourselves.I’m gross and I’m changing.Want to walk back with me?”
They fell in step together on the way back to the Pitch Mountain Pack house.Cass asked how Jo was feeling and they could honestly say they were feeling more like themselves again.Jo rambled about their day so far, monologuing as Cass nodded along and tried to not make their steps so big that Jo couldn’t keep up.Cass chimed in when she could, chatting about work at the butcher shop that day.
Right before they reached the front door, Cass gently grasped Jo’s hand and tugged them back towards her.
