Page 42 of Since Always

"You guys are all idiots," I finally say, getting up and starting out of the room. "And we're all going to have hangovers for three days. I'm going to bed."

"Alone," Chris adds. "Don't you wish you had taken my advice now?"

"I'll live." I head towards my room, all of the emotion I had been pushing back earlier slamming into me.

I am no better than those baboons downstairs. In fact, I am much worse.

I pause before stepping into my room, glancing at the door down the hall and hating that, even after all that, all I want is to walk back in and lay down beside her.

Goddamn it.

Much worse, indeed.

CHAPTER 13

Cassidy

I know he is gone when I wake up in the morning, and part of me is grateful he was careful. The other part, however, feels empty when I reach across to his cold side of the bed.

The memories of last night flash through my mind and I can't help the smile they bring to my face, or the feeling they provoke between my legs. I can still feel him there, inside me, and my stomach flips with butterflies at the thought of my new reality. I had sex with Owen. The Owen. My Owen. The thing I have dreamed of since I knew what it was. It happened.

And it was incredible. He wanted me as much as I wanted him, and the joy on his face—I will never forget that. I want to leap out of bed and run into his room to wake him the same way he put me to sleep, but I know I can't take that risk. It is only 8:30 am so, because I know I went to sleep hours before anyone else, I am assuming I am the only one awake. I lay in bed, scrolling through my phone to see everyone's tagged pictures from the night. Eventually, I drag myself to the bathroom where I take a long, hot shower and get ready for the day. Throughout it all, my mind wanders back, and I wonder if Owen will be up soon. I feel like I need to see him, for confirmation that what happened really happened. I know he turns his ringer off at night, so I take a chance and text him.

Me: Good morning, whenever you wake up. I hope you had sweet dreams.

I end it with a kissy-face emoji I know he will think is ridiculous and hit send, feeling giddy as I do.

The dots pop up right away, and I am thrilled he is awake.

Owen: Good morning, gorgeous. Did you sleep well?

I am glad to see the "gorgeous," because a part of me was scared he would regret it all today. I am not sure I would have survived that.

Me: Yes. Something made me very, very tired last night. I can't imagine what that was.

Him: No, that's weird. I hope you aren't coming down with something.

Me: Well...I was definitely "coming" down with something last night.

My hand shoots up to my mouth the second I send it. It's brazen and I'm sure it's crossing a line. After all, last night was one thing, but now it's the light of day and—

Him: lol. I remember. It was one of the most incredible things I've ever witnessed.

My fingers hover over the letters, debating sending the next text, but then decide there is no harm.

Me: Do you think anyone else is awake right now? Because if not...

Him: I'm not sure I care right now. Give me 10 minutes.

I scramble up off the bed and examine myself in my full-length mirror. I had just dressed in jeans and a t-shirt for the day before I texted him, but I rip them off and take stock of the bra and panties I am wearing. Black lace would be better, so I quickly change those. A few minutes later, Owen taps on my door, and I open it to find him standing with two cups of coffee in hand. He hurries into the room without looking up at me.

"No one's awake upstairs, and Chris's door was still shut. I just went to get this and—"

He turns around and groans as he sees me.

"Jesus Christ, Cassidy."

"What?" I say, giving him my most innocent expression. "These old things?"

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