Page 66 of Emerald Moon
Cass was still asleep, mirroring Jo’s position except she had a lot more leg to try to find space for on the bed.Her knees nearly touched Jo’s.Her breathing was steady and as Jo followed the soft lines of her face, they thought maybe this actually was love.Maybe it didn’t always start with a crush that made Jo fumble over their words and trip over their feet.Maybe this was the feeling they were waiting for, this warmth in their chest that spread to their fingertips and toes, this calm that made them feel like it was all okay, despite everything that had happened the day before.This had to be it.
Jo rolled onto their back and sighed.They had to be sure.They knew how Cass felt and they didn’t want to do the wrong thing again.Cass said they didn’t hurt her, and Jo wanted to believe that, but it was difficult to.
If this was it, Jo needed to be certain.The only problem with that is they had no idea how to figure that out.
twenty
“Jo,”Cass’softvoicepoked through the thick fog of sleep.“We have to check out of the hotel soon.”
Their eyes shot open, and they bolted upright, nearly knocking foreheads with Cass who was bent over Jo’s side of the bed.“What time is it?”
“A little after ten.We have to be out at eleven.I didn’t want to wake you, but —”
“No, you did the right thing!”They sprung off the bed, spun around, and looked at Cass.The smile she wore made Jo’s stomach twist with guilt all over again.“Thank you, really, for everything last night.And I’m sorry, so very sorry for how I messed things up.”
“You didn’t hurt me, so it’s fine.”
“It’s not fine.But I’ll find a way to make it right with you.I promise.”They chewed on their bottom lip as they thought about what else to say.“You’re a really great person, and you mean a lot to me, so I’ll make it fine somehow.”
Cass opened her mouth to speak, but said nothing.Her soft smile returned, and it almost made Jo think they hadn’t ruined things too badly.
“You should go pack,” she said.
“Right.Yes.Packing.Let me go shove things in my bag as fast as I can, and then let’s run out of here.”Jo said the words, but they were glued to their spot, staring at Cass and wishing they had the perfect words to say.When they still didn’t come, Jo excused themselves and, whispering another thanks as they walked out of her room, headed back to their own.
Jo had packed quickly to come here, but it was nothing compared to how they stuffed everything back into their bag with freedom so close.They were almost out of here.They wanted to come back to see June more often, but maybe they could convince her to come out to Hickorywood, too.There was no way they were going to see their mother anytime soon.
They paused in the middle of crumpling a shirt.What if they ran into their mother this morning?That would be too much to handle.They had to make it out of here without seeing her.June had already left for her honeymoon, so the list of people they wanted to see from the wedding was absolutely no one.
Zipping the bag shut, they walked to the door, took a deep breath, and opened it.
Cass was waiting outside.
“You’re all good.I checked.Your mom isn’t anywhere around,” she said, like she could read Jo’s mind.
They looked both ways down the long hallway.“You can never be too sure.She manages to pop up exactly when you don’t want to see her.”
“Then we’ll have to sneak out.”
“What?”
Cass tugged Jo close to her and tossed the light jacket she was holding over both of their heads.“Run!”
Laughing, Jo held on to Cass’ shirt and kept her from jolting forward.“We can’t run in a hotel.”
“Who says?”
“Society says!”
“You said we’d run out of here earlier.”Cass shrugged.“Are you coming with me?”
Glancing both ways again, Jo’s smile grew wider.“We’re busting out of here.Run!”
Together they sprinted down the hall with the jacket thrown over their heads.barely stifling their giggles.By the time they reached the lobby, they’d passed several confused guests and couldn’t contain their laughter anymore.Jo doubled over when they got outdoors, laughing too hard to breathe, and wobbled towards the car.
On the ride home that afternoon, they talked about nothing important – just things they saw or whatever popped into their minds.It lulled Jo into a kind of comfort, and they fell asleep about an hour outside of Hickorywood.Jo woke up when they were pulling up to the Pitch Mountain Pack house.
“Sorry I fell asleep.”
