Page 39 of Free to Dream
A few minutes pass before we’re again composed. Phil picks up our conversation as if the Baltimore Oriole mascot hadn’t just come to life in our family room.
“I agree, Em does a lot, Cass, but you still run the program on top of everything else. It teaches these kids there are important things out there they can help with.”
I smile. It always feels good to give back to the community we call home.
“Thanks. I love the first night of this. I can’t believe I almost forgot it.”
Phil turns me slightly. “Yeah. So, I heard about your date. By the way, you look great.” His face shows his hurt briefly.
Shit. Phil may have been a clueless dick about the way he handled the whole Lockwood-Dalton wedding, and we’ve had our issues being the two most stubborn of our family, but he loves me.
I know down to my soul how much he loves me.
I reach up and touch his cheek. “I’m sorry, Phil. I never meant to not tell you. I assumed you’d heard, and then the girls were rushing me in all manners of things I will never tell you about. I guess a part of me was just trying to wrap my mind around the idea that I said yes.”
He wraps his arm tighter around my waist without pulling me closer. I raise a perfectly plucked eyebrow when he smiles. “I don’t want to mess you up before your date.”
I snort.
“He’s a good man, Cass,” Phil says quietly, among the chaos in taffeta swirling around us. “He should be on his knees, thankful you said yes.”
“You’re making me freak out even more now, Phil,” I say, half-joking, wringing my hands before wiping them down the front of my jeans.
“Don’t be. It’s your first date. If these girls can handle it, I know you can. You need to know dating isn’t something you can plan or control. You need to be ready to jump, be ready to take chances, to be scared to death, to be hurt, and to laugh. And promise me you won’t hold back the amazing woman I know you are.” He kisses me on the temple. When he turns me to face him, his blue eyes lock with mine before he takes a deep breath and lets it out. “I’ve waited a long time to say this, Little Girl.”
I am clearly confused. “Say what?”
He swallows hard. “You are strength, you are fire, and you are beauty, Cass. It’s time to let others see it.”
Tears begin to fill my eyes, making them brighter than normal.
“Ah, screw it,” Phil says as he pulls me close. “I know living with me is like being on a spin cycle, but never doubt my love for you, Cassidy. Enjoy your first date, little one.” He steps back, wiping under my eyes. Humor sets his eyes dancing before he says, “And if you choose to sleep with him, use protection.”
“You ass!” I exclaim, then clamp my hand over my mouth as a few of the senior students pass by, snickering at our conversation. Our eyes meet and we both start laughing again.
“What? It’s the same advice I gave to Ali, Holly, and Corinna when they went to UConn.” As I fall away from his arm, laughing, he winks before looking past me. “Think I should go rescue him?”
“Who?” I ask, having lost all sense of self and time.
“Caleb. He just walked in.”
I spin, my hair flying. As it settles, our eyes meet across the room. Cue the butterflies. “No,” I tell Phil. “I’ve got this.”
I’m so focused on Caleb, I barely hear Phil murmur, “I know you do, Little Girl.”
I take a few deep breaths as I begin to make my way through the makeshift dressing rooms, occasionally hearing mothers and daughters arguing about dresses over the music being played through the sound system.
As I get closer, Caleb’s eyes run from the top of my head to my shoes, and back up again. His eyes darken in what I think is appreciation.
“Hello, Pixie.” His voice is dark and sexy as he holds out his hand.
“Hello, Caleb.” I try to keep my voice under control, tentatively reaching out my hand. He grabs it and gently tugs me toward him. Despite the sky-high shoes, Caleb is topping me by around eight inches in height. Amazingly, I don’t feel overwhelmed. I don’t feel intimidated. I feel like curling my body against his. I’ll have to think about that one later. When I can think, that is.
“So, what do we have here?” he murmurs next to my ear, sending shivers down my spine.
Jesus. He’s only holding my hand. We’re not touching anywhere else, and the feelings are stampeding through my body. It’s startling. It’s exciting. It’s scary as fuck.
“Where, here?” I say stupidly, taking a step back and returning his perusal.
