Page 60 of Free to Dream
I was tossing out plans, going on gut instinct and intuition, and diving headlong into whatever may come for my chance with Caleb and for love.
It was the right move.
Wasn’t it?
18
Cassidy
Ican’t remember the last time I consumed so much wine.
Snickering in remembrance, I think about how we were a bunch of drunk idiots, falling all over each other laughing. Each time one of us caught another’s eye, we were all set off again. To someone peering in the window, we must have looked like a bunch of deranged hyenas.
Family fun with food night continued long after my little demonstration. Swallowing my cappuccino, I think my throat hurts from the hysterical shrieking as Phil would randomly pick up one of his pieces of food art and proceed to show us how the pros did it.
I, of course, made it my mission to get Corinna to drink shots of the nasty cream and pickle juice mixture. What? Just because she’d actually sucked a cock didn’t get her out of Phil’s life lessons on blow jobs. Phil offered up his husband to me for a live demo, which both Jason and I politely declined, and then proceeded to laugh at Phil’s drunken audacity.
To call last night epic would be an understatement.
By the time Caleb started texting me, we had completely rewritten the description of food porn and killed about six bottles of wine. Ali and Em nabbed my phone out of my hands and started sending voice messages to Caleb over my phone. This escalated to dumping their drinks over their heads and a selfie of the three of us was sent. Quickly realizing how out of control we were, I told Caleb I would call him later. But shortly after Jason got me back to my place, I face-planted into my bed.
Nothing stops work though. We’ve got a small wedding out at Candlewood Lake on Saturday, an engagement brunch on Sunday, and a Lockwood-Dalton tasting Sunday evening for the main event. Perhaps more than one if Caleb and I manage to get together. A small smile plays on my lips. Yeah, my sisters said I showed the potential for mad oral skills last night.
Now, if the stars would just align so I could see Caleb.
I’m still sipping the cappuccino I picked up from my early morning trip to The Coffee Shop, where Ava and Matt continued to smirk over my continued revenge against Phil. I let out a little laugh as I hear him go on in his office to Ali and Em about the incredible taste of the new latte I’ve been bringing him lately, and how amazing it is that Ava and Matt figured out a way to take out the extra fat. Oh, Jason, you doll. While revenge is typically best served cold, this one is best served long-term—hot, with an extra dollop of whipped cream.
I’m comparing my daily schedules for the next few days, grateful for their lightness, when my phone pings.
Caleb: Do you have control over your phone again, or is it still in the custody of one of your sisters? ;)
I groan, remembering everything we sent to Caleb in a fit of drunkenness, and literally bang my head on the desk repeatedly. Has no one ever heard of a breathalyzer for a phone? Another ping.
Caleb: You’re going to leave a bruise on your head if you keep doing that to your head, Pixie. Your skin’s too delicate to put up with that kind of abuse.
I tense before my head snaps up, then my breath catches. My doorway is filled with Caleb, dressed in a navy blue, long sleeved polo, jeans, and boots, his windswept hair framing his rugged face. An amused smirk plays around his mouth as he continues to type on his phone. Finally raising his head, his smile broadens as the text reaches my phone and dings.
Caleb: Since I still don’t have your work schedule, I took a chance you might be available today after a night like that. I went by your house and you continue to amaze me. Here you are.
I begin to type a reply.
Cassidy: You know, you would know my work schedule if you simply signed the NDA, which can be accomplished right now since you’re here. Easy peasy.
I put my phone back on my desk and lean back in my chair with my hands folded over my stomach. A small smile plays on my lips at this game of push and pull we have going on. When his phone buzzes in his hand, he looks down and begins to type. My phone dings.
Caleb: I want you to trust me with the deepest parts of you—your heart and your soul, Cassidy. Wouldn’t an NDA for work almost be superfluous?
I don’t bother responding with a text. “You want in that deep?” I whisper. My heart is racing.
He immediately replies as he pushes his body away from the doorjamb, making his way toward me. “I thought I made that clear the other night. If I didn’t, that was a gross negligence on my part.”
The smile spreading across my face is enormous as I stand up, and I imagine it’s unlike any other I’ve ever worn.
Caleb reaches me and slides a muscled arm around my waist, pulling me to him. No hesitation. My head tips back, my eyes glowing. His are like liquid chocolate as they narrow on mine, his smile fading as his lips come close. I sink my fingers into the thick strands of his hair the minute his lips meet mine. There’s nothing tentative about this kiss. This kiss is about need, want, and desire. His for me, mine for him. I need his lips on mine to breathe under the tidal wave of emotion that’s just swept over me.
When our kiss breaks, I lean my head forward on his chest. I continue to scrape my nails against his neck, his scalp—wherever I can reach. Caleb nuzzles his nose and lips against the side of my neck while murmuring, “I missed you. Those texts last night drove me nuts. All I could think about was jumping in my car and showing up to be where you were.” He leans down and brushes his lips against mine again.
“After that kind of welcome, I’m kind of glad they did.”
