Page 54 of Jockstraps & Newspapers
"Why?"Lily cocked her head, peeking up from her work.
"That's why I asked you.I…I feel shitty about it, okay?Like I know he doesn't want me to know because there's something that could get me hurt.But I can't stop thinking about what happened to Jessie that was so bad, that even Elliot couldn't tell me.He tells me everything."
"Does he?Or did you forget the time he didn't tell you about his heat because he didn't want it to affect you?Or the time you didn't tell him about Stevie, because you didn't want it to affect him?"Lily sat back on the couch, folding her teal hands over her pajama bottoms.
"Woah, okay, that was…okay, damn you're right."Cass pouted as she flopped down into the plush armchair.
"You both have a history of considering the others’ emotions more than your need to be honest with each other.Which, in of itself, isn't the worst, because it's not selfish; it's just not healthy.You both would rather avoid confrontation with each other in hopes of sparing the others’ feelings than hash it out.Then, you both spend days or hours after making that decision in agony because you want the truth but you're not willing to share the emotional weight.You're both showing signs of emotional neglect from when you were children and weren't allowed to express your emotional needs and find them accepted by your parents.For you, they would find your burden troublesome or a bother, so therefore, you keep things locked up in consideration of the other in hopes they'll love you…"
"Ow," Cass huffed."Damn Lily, calm down, it's 9am."
"You're the one who asked my advice, and you specifically said you wanted my therapy advice."Lily shrugged nonchalantly and returned to her paperwork.
I did this to myself.Cass tossed herself out of the chair and stomped to the kitchen.She couldn't face her emotional baggage on an empty stomach.In hopes they'll love you.Elliot's confession returned to her ears as she pulled out slices of bread for toast.I love you too much.Her heart fluttered and a terrible ache happened at the same time.He loved her.Cass gasped for air as she slammed the toast into the purple, fish shaped device.Sinking back against the counter, she replayed it over and over.Him, desperately wanting to be honest, but holding it back.
I can't tell you because I can't have it end up in your articles.If you dig into this one Cassie, if you treat this like you did Stevie, people are going to get hurt…you're going to get hurt.
The truth was…he feared telling her anything would end up in an article.It should hurt to think of it that way, but he had a point.He'd been the one to tell her about Stevie.What did she do?Turn around and turn it into an article.Even if he'd approved of it and liked that she'd gone to bat for him, she'd still used what he told her to propel her professional position forward.Their whole relationship started on him being truly honest with her for her gain.
"No wonder he can't trust me," she murmured, poking at the whale shaped butter dish.
"He can…but not with things of this nature because he knows you."Lily leaned against the other end of the kitchen island.
"But he can!He could have just told me and said he didn't want me to write about it."
"Would you have listened?"Lily cocked a brow.
"Of course I would have!I love him too much to break his trust like that!Stevie was a pervert who needed to be outted to keep everyone safe…but this?Whatever this is, it's personal and telling people about it won't fix anything.I just want to know, I want to share the emotional weight with him!"The words flew out of her mouth like water from a fire hydrant.She practically yelled them.
Lily smirked, "Then tell him that.Give him some time to process whatever emotions he's got going on, then tell him.Start there."
The siren winked at Cass before sauntering back to the living room.Cass stood in the kitchen, stewing in her truth and breakthrough.Holy fucking shit, well…what now?When the toast popped a few moments later, someone knocked on the door.She forewent the toast to answer the door.Cass pried it open and smiled broadly as a bush of wildflowers were pushed into her hands.
"Elliot," she breathed, clutching the flowers.
"I'm sorry, baby.I was kind of a jerk last night and I wanted—"
Cass dropped the flowers onto the closest counter and threw her arms around him.He grabbed her by the waist, hoisting her up.She kissed him feverishly."It's okay, you're dealing with stuff.I'm sorry for being a stubborn mule."
He chuckled weakly against her mouth."It's one of my favorite parts of you."
"Mmm, I think there are other parts of me you like better," she snickered wickedly, kissing the tip of his wet nose.
Elliot let out a weak, needy wheeze, "I like all of you."
"Yeah, Of course, but like…if you had to choose?"She grinned impishly from ear to ear, "Would you pick my glorious rack or my—"
He cut off her rampage with another heavy kiss.Pressing her back into the doorway before pulling the door shut behind him.Cass giggled evilly as he pulled back from the kiss.He groaned, breathlessly, "You have finally learned to love fun."
"I don't hate fun!I just like my kind of fun," she winked at him.The feeling of Lily watching them eagerly like a movie goer with a full bucket of popcorn settled over her back.She cleared her throat, realizing how obviously horny she'd been in front of her friend and roommate."You want some toast?Or cereal?I don't have protein shakes but, I can whip up some eggs or something."
"Thanks, but I'm good.I ate something on the way to the dealership."
"Dealership?"she squawked.
"Uh…check the flowers."He nodded towards them with a cheeky grin.
Lily and Cass squealed as she ripped the flowers back into her hands.Attached to a plastic stem in the middle, was a thick cardstock note and a hidden set of keys rubber banded to it.Lily was already on her heels, looking at the keys as Cass freed them from their prison.A heavy set, with more than just a vehicles keys on it dropped into her hands.She knew the logo from the electronic key; it was a mid-size sedan type, the kind people took hiking, but could also pack an entire house into at the same time.
