Page 48 of Becoming

It sounded as though Miranda wanted to add a “duh” at the end of that sentence. “No! God, no. She’s the most incredible woman I’ve ever known. I’m proud to be with her.”

“Well, something has to be wrong with her if you’re not telling me about her. Do your parents even know?”

“Not yet. And there is nothing wrong with Rebecca. We’ve just been wrapped up in each other.” Literally. Cass hated that Rand was making her feel insecure. Was Rebecca ashamed of her? “Listen, I’m sorry we couldn’t do lunch today. But, what do you say we get together sometime next week? The four of us.”

“If you’re not bored by then?” Miranda laughed but stopped when Cass didn’t join in. “You really are serious about this one.”

“Yeah, I am. So, could you lay off the bored shit, please?”

“Are you in love with her?”

Cass shrugged. She hadn’t said the actual words to Rebecca, yet. With a girlfriend who had run away before, a little patience was needed. Even if Cass didn’t feel so patient. The positive was, Rebecca didn’t seem to mind spending almost every night together. That was a good sign.

Miranda pursed her lips. She didn’t look terribly happy. Then again, Cass’s best friend was the type of person that needed to know everything the minute it happened. If she didn’t, she felt left out.

“Fine. Lunch would be good. I’ll run it by Connor.” She backed away. “I apologize for teasing you, okay? I just never thought I’d see the day Cass Giles settled down. Can’t wait to meet her. She must really be something. I’ll, uh, text you later for details on lunch.”

With that, Miranda was gone as hastily as she said those words.

Cass shook her head. Rand always loved drama while Cass hated it. She preferred to take a more laid-back approach to life. Though that didn’t work when you had a deadline. Which she did with the mural. Cass Giles did what she did best. She cleared her mind and painted.

“HEY, BABE?” CASS called out.

“In here!” Rebecca called back from her home office. She chuckled as Cass walked in holding Rebecca’s ringing phone with two fingers. “You’re carrying that thing like it’s a viper.”

“Yeah, um, not to sound obvious here, but someone named Hunter is calling you. I didn’t mean to look at it, I swear. I thought it was mine.”

Rebecca stood, took the phone from Cass, and hit the answer button. “Hang on, Hunter.” She put her cell on her desk and wrapped her arms around Cass’s neck. “I don’t care if you look at my phone, baby. I have nothing to hide from you.”

“I didn’t want you to think I was snooping.” Cass sighed. “And, I certainly don’t want to be jealous of whoever’s calling you.” It wasn’t Eve Sumptor-Riley or Rebecca’s Aunt Wills. Business calls came through on a business-specific phone registered under the club’s name. Hunter was not a name that had been brought up before, and that scared Cass. It was stupid, of course. Surely, Rebecca had tons of friends that would pop up here and there.

“You shouldn’t be. Hunter is an old friend, Cassidy. Nothing more.”

“Ever?”

“Are you going to ask that of everyone you meet or hear of?” Rebecca asked testily, then sighed. “I’m sorry. I told you before that you are my only exception. No one that has been in my room is in my life anymore.”

Cass hung her head. “I know.” Rand legitimately got in Cass’s head today.

“We’re going to talk more about this when I’m done. Okay?”

Cass nodded and made a move to leave, but Rebecca took her hand and pushed her gently into her office chair. After settling herself in Cassidy’s lap, Rebecca put the phone on speaker.

“Sorry about that.”

“You okay?”

“Yes. Hunter, you’re on speaker. I’m here with Cassidy. My girlfriend.”

“Cass,” Cass muttered automatically.

“Oh! Um, hello. Wow, I had no idea!”

Cass couldn’t get a read on this Hunter person’s vibe. Of course, she had only said like three sentences, but still. Was she interested in Rebecca? Who wouldn’t be? Rebecca is fine as hell. What was Cass up against?

“I know, sorry,” Rebecca said softly. “I should have told you sooner, but I’ve been a bit preoccupied.” She winked at Cassidy and kissed her lightly.

“Understandable. It’s nice to meet you, Cass.”