Fearless Attraction (Cassie Series) (15 page)

             
Shit!

             
I look at the time. Its four minutes past eight. It's already started. I don't know what to do, I really don't. Even if I left now, by the time I got there it'll be over. I stand up and walk down the hall to the bathroom. The door is closed but I open it, not even knocking. Pierce's hands are on the sink and he is leaning forward, looking down. I don't think he even notices me.

             
"Go," he says. Okay, so he does notice me.

             
I walk forward and wrap my arms around him. "No, I'm staying."

             
I think I surprise us both. I couldn't go, not after seeing him like this. I know I owe it to Avery, I really do, but it's too late now. There is no use in hurting Pierce to show up to a fight that has already ended.

             
"Cassie, he is probably going to lose the fight if you're not there."

             
"It shouldn't matter if I'm there or not. We're not together. He needs to focus on his fighting."

             
He turns his head to look at me and his lips are hinting towards a smile. "You underestimate your worth."

             
I roll my eyes and smack his butt. "Cook me some food wench."

             
His laughter lightens the tension surrounding us. "I thought I was your bitch."

             
"That too," I laugh out. I wink at him then strut towards his bedroom again. I slide on one of his tee-shirts from his dresser then walk back into the kitchen. He threw on his jeans without his boxer briefs. He is shirtless and barefoot and holy fuck he is so goddamn sexy!

             
He pulls a few things from the fridge and heats them up for us, then we sit at his kitchen table and eat. "Is it safe to say you're spending the night?"

             
I look up at him as I'm finishing off the rest of my food. "Yeah," I say with a smile.

             
"Good." He finishes his food, then stands up, grabbing both our plates. He places them in the sink and walks to the living room. "Movie?"

             
I hop up and pad towards the living room as well. "Yeah, that sounds great."

             
We cuddle on the couch together while watching some stupid so called comedy about a bunch of stoners. I don't think either of us laugh once and I'm not even sure why we finish the dang thing. When it does finally end, he looks down at me and gives me a weird expression. "I think I just lost IQ points watching that."

             
Laughing, I elbow at his stomach. "You're the one who put it in. That was ridiculous."

             
"Yeah, it really was." He stands up. "Want another movie or?" His eyebrows wiggle suggestively.

             
"I want the or." I stand up and run towards the bedroom, laughing as he chances after me.

Chapter Eleven

             
Avery doesn't return or answer my phone call for two weeks. When he finally does, he snaps at me. "What?"

             
I cringe at the anger in his voice. "I'm sorry Avery!" I nearly yell it at him.

             
I can hear him sigh. "Whatever, it's not a big deal. Just stop blowing my phone up. I got a lot of shit going on."

             
"I didn't mean to miss your fight. I could have explained myself if you'd have answered."

             
"Oh, don't worry, I've been told by everyone about you and your boy toy. I thought you would have gotten the hint, but apparently you're just not that smart."

             
"Why are you always insulting me when you're angry?"

             
"You just don't get it, do you?" He laughs but it's dry and bitter. "I say mean things because it'll hurt you Cassie. You fucking rip my god damn heart out, over and over, so yeah, I'm going to do something to hurt you too. Did you really have to start fucking the bastard right after we broke up? Huh? Well fuck you too."
              The phone goes silent and I look to see he ended the call. Out of anger, I throw it and it hits the wall, shattering to pieces. Great! I walk over and pick it up the same time tears flow from my eyes. Always, always screwing things up. I just don't learn.

             
I remind myself, this is what you wanted Cassie. You said it yourself, you're going to let him go. It'll hurt him less in the long run. If I keep him at a distance, I can't fuck with his feelings, I can't break his heart, and he'll eventually be happy. It's best for him, even if it hurts him right now.

             
It's the most fucked up logic, but I know in the end he'll be okay. We'll both be okay.

             
I toss my phone into the kitchen drawer, get dressed, then I head out the door. Today is the day of Aubrey's baby shower. It's at her mom's house, so I head over there to help decorate. I already brought all my gifts over yesterday. Her mom bought the crib, and I bought the bed set, so I put the bed set together inside the crib.

             
I also bought the diaper bag and filled it with random things for the baby, and bought a few outfits that I wrapped nicely. It should be an amazing shower and I'm quite excited for my best friend.

             
Stella is there helping her mom get things set up. I'm not sure why, she probably got paid by her dad to help. As everything finally starts to look nice and put together, with a little bit of arguing between Stella and I, guests start arriving. By the time everyone gets here, there are around fifty people filling the living room right up.

             
We silence as we hear Mason's truck slow to a stop. I know Aubrey is going to get the hint when she sees all the vehicles outside but I'm very anxious to see her face when she walks in.

             
It lights up and she instantly starts crying. Mason wraps his arms around her and helps her move into the living room as she seems frozen in place. "Wow, I wasn't expecting this quite yet! Wow. It looks great. Thanks so much, everyone." Her eyes take everything in as she gushes about all the little details, everything from the balloons to the presents to the cake.

             
Mason kisses and tells her to call when she is done. I sit next to her and write down all the gifts and who they're from, while her mom brings the presents to her and places them away from her when she is done. She got nearly everything she needs for the baby, including hundreds in gift cards, so she can buy whatever she didn't receive.  I believe the only big gift she didn't get is the car seat.

             
It's interesting in the amount of people who bought pink and blue. Some people are determined they know the sex of the baby. It was the hardest part in the baby shower shopping, not knowing if she was having a boy or girl. Of course, everyone will be happy with whatever she has, but that poor child is going to be dressed mostly in yellow, green, and white.

             
One game we mashed different candy bars into a diaper, and passed them around. The guests had to guess which chocolate bar was in the diaper without touching or tasting it. It looked like pooped, since we heated in the microwave before smashing it. It was actually pretty gross but so very funny. The second game was a questionnaire about the mom and dad to be. Last thing we did was have everyone make a dollar bet, which we put into a jar for now, and everyone said when she'd have the baby, the weight the baby would be, and the sex. Whoever comes the closest when the baby is born wins the entire jar. Her mom is hanging on to it until the time comes.

             
We eat some food and cake, then the guests leave one by one, all giving Aubrey hugs on the way out. I'm shocked more than ever when Stella walks over, rubs Aubrey's belly and gives her a hug. Is she softening up? I didn't think that day would ever happen. Then again, babies will do things to you like that.

             
"Do you want me to come over and help you set things up in the nursery?" I ask Aubrey once almost everyone is gone.

             
"Oh, that is okay, actually. Thanks though." She seems a little fidgety when she replies.

             
"Is uh, everything okay?"

             
She looks sad and glances down at her belly that she is rubbing. "It's just that I needed some masculine help with different things in the apartment before the baby is born and Mason asked Avery to help. So he is there right now. I just don't want you guys fighting or there to be too much tension. I don't need any added stress."

             
"Oh, of course Aubrey. That's okay. If you need help later this week, call me. Oh. Crap!"

             
She gives me a strange look at my randomness.

             
"I broke my phone this morning. I need to go get one, but I have to run to my mom’s first."

             
"Oh, that sucks. Okay, well I'll call you tonight or tomorrow. I miss seeing you most days."

             
I hug her to me. "I know, I miss you tons too."

             
I head over to my mom’s house, and there is an extra car parked in the driveway. I knock on the door before entering, in case it's her lawyer or something, I don't want to bother them. She answers the door while laughing, but it quickly fades when she spots me. "Why are you knocking?"

             
I point towards the car. "Didn't want to interrupt if you were with the divorce lawyer or something."

             
"Oh, no, actually, I'm glad you're here."

             
I walk in when she moves out of the way and wait for her to tell me what she seems to want to say. "I've met someone."

             
Whoa, not what I was expecting, not at all. "You did?"

             
She looks bashful and it's actually pretty adorable. "Yeah, Dianne claimed I should use one of those internet dating websites. I was a little reluctant on it, and thought I'd meet a serial killer or something, but I gave it a go anyways. We started talking about a month ago but I wanted to wait until I was sure about him before I told you. Last night was our fourth date and we've decided to take the next step and become official. I was planning on telling everyone this week or next."

             
I smile at my mom, very excited for her. I hope he is a good guy. She walks towards the living room and I follow behind her.

             
"Jerry, this is my daughter Cassandra that I told you about. Cassandra, this is Jerry Little." He holds his hand out and I shake it. It's a nice, firm grip and he is a pretty attractive older man. He is balding but what he does have of hair is a light brown. His eyes are round and almost a golden brown. I'm pretty sure he is at least five years her elder, but they look good together. He seems just as happy about my mom as she does him, and my heart swells for them.

             
"Nice to finally meet you Cassandra, I've heard a lot about you."

             
"Thanks, Jerry. It's nice to meet you as well."

             
I sit down in the recliner as my mom joins him on the couch. She leans forward, towards me more, probably feeling uncomfortable. "So what brings you here today?"

             
"Can't I just visit my mom once in a while?" I tease her. I actually still come over weekly for a drink out back on her back-beach-yard in front of the fire. It's become a tiny tradition between the two of us. I still haven't opened up to her about Avery's and my break up, and I certainly haven't told her that I've hung around Pierce more often than not these past two weeks. Besides that though, I've been honest and open about a lot.

             
She smiles. "Oh, of course you can, you know that. But I also know you and there is something you want or need."