Page 32 of Free to Dream
Just wait until she realizes I have photo evidence I’ve been holding onto. Forget about it. I’m a big girl. I’ll figure this out on my own.
Em is still laughing when I stand up to stomp out of her office. “No! Wait Cass, hold on,” she pleads, still chuckling. My hands are holding my phone and planner so tightly, my knuckles are turning white. “Please, Cassy, sit with me.”
Pausing, because Em pulled out a name only she ever gets away with calling me, I plop back down next to her, setting my stuff to my side on the chaise.
Em takes one of my hands and gives it a squeeze. “What are you more upset about, Cass? The schedule snafu, a date in general, or with Caleb specifically?”
“I have to choose?” I ask her in return. My voice is rich with derision.
“No, but it helps to have a place to start.”
Sighing, I squeeze our joined hands. “I think it’s because he throws me so off balance, I can’t quite catch myself. I mean, a few days ago, I thought he was getting married to two other men! He came to see me, took me out for coffee, and the next thing I know, I’m agreeing to a date.” I catch Em’s grin. I release one of her hands and start to pick at an imaginary piece of lint on my jeans. “I didn’t even think at what might be on deck. It was like I knew we didn’t have anything important going on for his brother, so it was okay to accept. What if we had another wedding that night? It’s bad enough it’s the dress extravaganza.”
She’s quiet for a few minutes. “What’s your heart telling you?”
“About Caleb?”
“No, about Santa Claus.” She rolls her eyes.
I narrow my eyes at her through my lashes.
“I know you, darling. The nightmares have come back, haven’t they?”
My head flies around. It’s a good thing she’s so damn tall or I would have clocked her.
“Just because you’re older, doesn’t mean we don’tseeyou. It doesn’t mean we don’t know when you’re hurting. What happened here and at the farm…let’s just say I know when you need space. The others have been ready to tear down the door to your cottage for the last few days.”
“I’d have killed them. They would cost a fortune to refurbish.”
“I know.” We both smile, but her smile fades. “Are they as bad?”
I shrug. “They’re there. Not as bad as they were at the beginning of the week.”
“I could have easily knocked out both Phil and Ali that night, Cass, I was so fucking mad. At Phil for not explaining dick. And Ali? I still haven’t spoken to her since that night. Her apology better either be on her knees or the equivalent. And no, for the record, that isnotwhat we think of you. You fucking know better than that.” Damn, Jason must have been on a rampage when he went inside the farm after I walked home Monday night.
My face must reveal more than I thought. “Phil is on everyone’s shit list, and competing for a close second is Ali. Corinna, Holly, and I are waiting to see how you want to handle this. We’re yours to command, Captain.” Em mock salutes me.
It makes me laugh a little sadly as I put my head on her shoulder. I can’t remember the last time we’d had such a fracture in what I feel are some of the cornerstones of this family.
Respect. Trust. Honesty.
Em’s head comes down next to mine. She repeats her question.
“What’s your heart telling you, Cass?”
This time, I reply without hesitation. “He’s gorgeous, arrogant, and used to getting his own way.”
She chuckles. “Yep, I figured that one out in the few minutes I spent with him.”
I slip my hand from hers and hook our elbows together. “He loves his brother as much as I love all of you. He apologized for what he did in the office.” I think about what I’m about to say. “He doesn’t want to sign the NDA. He wants me to trust him enough to tell him where I’m going to be so he can reach me.”
Em just whistles long and low.
“And when he touches my hand, my fucking hand, Em, it’s like my mind blanks.”
“So what’s the problem? He’s hot as fuck, has excellent taste in women, and is basically a nice guy. Or am I missing a downside?”
“How about my schedule issue? You know, the reason I came to your office?”
