Everything Changes (8 page)

  I turn to look at Jack.

   “You and I need to talk in the kitchen” He nods and gets up and walks to the kitchen without saying anything.

   “Two minutes
” I whisper to Tyler. He nods and I follow Jack into the kitchen.

  I find Jack leaning against the far kitchen side near the window, with his arms
crossed. I walk over to him until I’m standing in front of him.

   “Can we please get over this thing with Tyler?” I say in a hushed voice.

   “Cass, I’m probably never going to like him, the way you were last Sunday was bad enough, what happens if your feelings are hurt worse because of this forced engagement he’s in?” I sigh. And there is the main problem. He isn’t going to drop it until he knows the full extent of this ‘forced engagement’.

   “It’s not my story to tell. But it’s some serious shit with this engagement. Not everything is what it seems Jack. Can you at least say you will try for me? I know Justin won’t be a problem, conside
ring he has bigger problems now” I shake my head. I’m still in shock with that.

   “Can I just ask you one thing Cass? You’re not sleeping with him are you?” he looks uncomfortable asking me that question. He stuffs his hands in his basketball shorts.

   “I’ve slept with him yes, sex, no”, he frowns. “Tyler brought me in last night. I fell asleep in his car. Apparently I worried him because I fell asleep so quickly and deeply like I do” He nods.

   “You use to scare the shit out
of all of us when you done that”, he smiles softly.

   “Are you going to try with Tyler
? Remember he is just my friend” I mock bat my eyelashes and pout. He narrows his eyes at me.

   “
Fine, I will try and be civil but if he hurts you Cass that’s it” I squeal and hug him tight.

   “You’re lucky I love you kid” He ruffles the top of my hair
I pull away and glare at him. Kid! Really? I’m 3 years younger than him. I’m just about to lay into him about the age, when he kisses my forehead and walks away from me and into the front room. I follow and plop down next to Tyler.

   “So,
Batman is better than superman” I state proudly.

  Jack, Justin and Tyler groan
. “No he isn’t” they all say in unison.

I smile. And Sunday is now sorted.

Cassie

  I wake with a start on Wednesday morning.

  Monday and Tuesday seemed to have flown past. But they seem to do that a lot n
ow. Tyler and I text constantly, I don’t think there is a time that we’re not texting.

  I haven’t heard from Tate in a little while. Maybe I should text him? I really do miss the miserable bastard.

  I can’t figure out what woke me up, when I hear my phone start ringing. I pick it up and see Tyler’s name across the screen. I swipe my finger along to answer it.

   “Hello?”

   “Hey, baby cakes. Did I wake you up? I did try and ring before but it went to voice mail” I frown and pull the phone away from my ear. I see I have a little icon with a missed call on it.

  I look at the time and see its 10. Not bad. I’ve got today off because another woman got hired. So I get an extra day off. Not that I’m complaining.

   “Baby cakes? And you did but it’s ok and I’ve just looked. Apparently I was out for the count” I hear him chuckle down the phone.

   “
I’m trying out new names, so baby cakes, off the cards. I can’t keep calling you babe , what about sexy?” I smile lazily down the phone and stretch.

   “How about my name
Cassie, that has a pretty good ring to it. That’s what people have been calling me for the last 21 years” He chuckles again. How can he be so happy? It’s the morning. No one should be this happy at this time.

   “Nope, that
’s too normal. You need a name to stand out from the crowd” I roll my eyes. Why would I want to stand out from the crowd? “How about Batgirl you seem to have a thing for Batman” I shake my head then remember he can’t see me.

   “
Don’t diss Batman. He’s cool”

   “
I’m not dissing your precious Batman. How about general?” oh I can’t wait to hear how he’s going to explain this one.

   “And why should it be General Tyler?” he starts laughing.

   “Because when you’re near my dick stands to attention” Jesus Christ. Where does he come up with these things?

   “Really!
You’re going to call me general?” I can practically hear the smirk on his face.

   “Yep, definitely y
our name is now general” I sigh, great.

   “So now you have my ‘name’ picked out. What did you ring me up for? Or was it to just figure out a pet name for me?” I ask. I pull my covers off me and swing my legs off the side of the bed.

   “Oh, no I did have a purpose for this phone call. It was just a happy coincidence that we got that sorted too. I rang you too ask what you are doing today?” I frown.

   “Nothing, as far as I know, y
ou got something planned for me?”

   “I’ve got to go to town to get my mum a birthday present but I don’t know what to get her, so I thought. Who would know about wom
en stuff? Then I thought of you”

   “I’m touched that you would think I would know. But how would I know what your mum would like?”

   “I don’t, but you’re a woman. Don’t you all like the same things?” I shake my head and sigh.

   “How did you by her presents before?”

   “I brought her gift cards”, he says almost sheepishly.

   “And you can’t do that, this year why?”

   “It’s a big birthday. She will be 50” I flop back and lie on the bed again.

   “Do
you even know what she likes to give me a little clue?” I heard him shuffling around on the other end of the phone.

   “Well, I think
she likes gardening and reading” I perk up at the mention of reading. That stuff I know about.

   “Does she read paperbacks or has she got an e
-reader?” he grunts and answers.

   “Paperback, you should see the front room i
t’s like a damn library”

   “Why don’t you just get her an e
-reader then? It might be better for her”

   “Ha! I found it!” I frown again.

   “What the fuck are you going on about?” I ask.

   “I dropped a coco pop on me and I couldn’t find it. But I have n
ow. Don’t be worried” He chuckles.

   “I
can assure you I wasn’t worrying. And please tell me you didn’t eat it?” I hear crunching down the phone.

   “I’m not going to waste it! Anyway it
was only on me. It’s not like I have germs” Lucky coco pop.

   “You make me wonder about you sometimes. Are you sure your 23?” he laughs again.

   “Of course, general I even blew out 23 candles”, he says with a smug voice. I put my hand on my head. Jesus Christ.

   “Fine I will come with you b
ut we have to stop in somewhere. I need to get something and you can’t moan. I was going to venture into town at some point anyway, so you’re just making it easier for me”

   “Where do you have to go? And where could we get this e
-reader then?” I smirk.

   “Ann Summers
” I hear him choke on his coco pops. He starts coughing.

   “Ann summers? Are you shitting me Cass?
” he chokes out around coughing. I start laughing.

   “I
do actually need to go in there” I don’t think he will like what I will have to go and get.

   “I think I might have to wait outside and what exactly have you got to get in there? If its underwear. You can model it for me? Don’t want you getting
something that won’t look nice”

   “You’ll be torturing yourself. But I do have
to get that and something else”, he groans down the phone.

   “You better no
t be getting yourself a new toy” I start laughing again. I get up off the bed and walk into the bathroom.

   “What would you do if I did?”

   “Break it” I gasp.

   “You wouldn’t!”

   “Oh I would
”, he growls and just like that I’m instantly aroused.

   “Tough shit,
I’ve got to get off somehow or do you want me to do it manually. I can start using my fingers, then If I see you that day and I touch you innocently you’re going to be thinking did she get herself off today with her fingers”

   “Cassie
” He growls my name out. “Cut that shit out now. You’ve got me horny when I’m meant to be getting ready to get my mother a present” I start laughing again.

   “When are you going to pick me up then?” I chirp. I love that he is as affected as I am.

  I hear him sigh and blow out a breath.

   “Well, we’ve been on the phone for about 10 minu
tes so I will pick you up in 20”

   “Ok, I’m just goin
g to jump in the shower quickly”

   “Please tell me you haven’t been talkin
g to me naked” I look down at my t-shirt and shorts. I smirk.

   “Oh yeah,
I got undressed about 5 minutes ago” He groans.

   “I’m going. Bye general
”, he growls out. I laugh again.

   “
Bye” I say and hang up. I love doing that to him.

  I shower quickly and walk back in my room. I dress in a pair of leggings and a nude top with a sheer cover top. I don’t see why it’s called a cover top. It’s see through. It has the illusion that I’m not wearing anything underneath. I pick up a pair of nude sandals. I didn’t wash my hair so I pull it out of the messy bun on top of my head. It falls in natural waves down my back.
I run my hair brush through it and I go for the natural look with the makeup. I spray myself with some perfume and deem myself ready.

  I walk out my bedroom, grabbing my phone
and bag on the way and walk into the kitchen. I look through the fridge for dinner tonight.

  I wonder if
it’s going to be tense with this Melissa coming round.

  I see there isn’t much, so I make a little list
to make spaghetti bolognese and to grab some garlic bread.

  Just as I’m finishing writing the little list Tyler beeps. Déjà vu.

  I stuff the list in my bag and walk to the front door, pick up my keys and lock the door behind me.

  I walk over to his car and climb in the passenger side.

   “General” He nods his head at me and gives me a two finger salute while smirking.

   “
Ice” He gives me a ‘what the fuck’ face and I laugh.

   “
Ice, what’s that about?” I smile.

   “Because when you get me hot, I
get wet” I wink at him. “If I’ve got a pet name you should too” The look on his face says he’s less than pleased.

   “You suck
”, he grumbles playfully.

   “I know
” I wink and stick my tongue out.

   “Is this how today is going to be? If so I may need a break at some
point to relieve some pressure” I throw my head back and laugh.

   “I’m so glad I can make y
ou laugh. But I’m being serious” I stop laughing and look at him.

   “Didn’t you ‘rel
ieve the pressure’ before you came and got me” I ask.

   “Of course, but if we keep joking like
that and we have to go in Ann Summers, I’m definitely going to need a break”, he sighs. I smile and buckle myself in.

   “Ok
, I’ll try and keep it innocent” I turn to look at him with the innocent eyes.

   “Ha. Yeah right. You haven’t go
t an innocent bone in your body” I gasp in mock offence.

  He laughs and puts the car in reverse.

   “I’m offended. I’m more innocent than you” I cross my arms over my chest and raise my eyebrow.

  He looks at me and shakes his head.

   “Don’t know what you’re talking about, babe. I’m practically a monk” I look at him with a slack jaw.

   “A monk,
I’m pretty sure a monk wouldn’t do what we did on Sunday” He smirks.

   “Well this monk does b
ut that was the only time I’ve ever touched myself”

   “Like fuck. I’m the V
irgin Mary then” He laughs.

  We’re half way to town when I remember the list in my bag.

   “Are you busy tonight?” I ask him. He flicks his eyes over to me.

   “
Nope I was just going to sit at home and watch TV why?”

   “Well we have Melissa coming round for dinner tonight. An
d I’m cooking spaghetti bolognese. You can keep me company”

   “But that’s a family thing. Wouldn’t you just want it with you, Jack, Justin and Melissa?” I shake my head.

   “No. I want you there. Please you can be there to give me moral support”, he sighs and nods his head.

   “I’ll come, but if it seems l
ike I’m not welcome. I’ll leave” I smile and settle back in the seat for the rest of the drive.

   “So where
are we going to first?” Tyler asks after we park the car.

   “Somewhere to find a kindle
” He nods and we make our way through the shops.

   “When do you next work?” I a
sk him as we’re walking around the shops. We find a kindle in Argos. I said to get the basic one because it’s easier to work than any of the others.

 
“Tomorrow night”, he replies. I nod my head and grab his arm and drag him towards the Ann Summers shop.

  He groans and tries to slow down.

   “The quicker we do this. The quicker we can have something to eat” He narrows his eyes at me and starts walking at a normal pace.

  We walk in
to the shop and I see they have a sale on.

   “Ah! a
sale” I practically squeal in delight.

  I walk over to the corsets and look through them. I see a red and black one in my size and hang it on my finger. I find the matching thong and grab that too. I pick up a pair of stockings too.

   “Tyler can you get me a basket. There are loads in here I like” I look up and see he’s scowling at me.

   “What?” I ask confused.

   “Who the fuck are you going to wear that for?” he asks harshly. I stare at him in shock.

   “Myself. Can’t I buy myself nice things?” I narrow my eyes at him. I roll my eyes and brush past him.

   “Where are you going?” he asks.

   “To get a basket i
s that ok with you?” this is always going to be a problem. He can’t have me so no one else can. I wouldn’t be so happy if he was in my shoes and I know it’s hypocritical but I don’t care.

  Well if he’s going to be an arse. So am I!

  I put the items I’ve already picked out in the basket and go back to the sale rack. I find a lacy bra and knickers set with purple bows on. I put that in the basket too.