Page 99 of A Little Twist
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It’s still drizzlingwhen I open my eyes again. Alex sits on the edge of the bed getting dressed. “I should’ve set an alarm. It’s late.”
Turning, I see it’s after eight, and I sit up quickly. “You’ve got to get home. No telling what’s happening in that kitchen right now.”
He grins, and he’s so damn handsome. I spent all night blissfully wrapped in his arms. Half-asleep, I felt him get up at some point and collect his jeans and tee and put them in Britt’s small clothes dryer. He hung my dress in the bathroom before returning to hold me close as we drifted away again.
Sitting in bed on this overcast morning, I want to pull him to me and disappear under the covers. “What happens now?”
He stands, pulling his jeans over his toned ass, and my bottom lip goes between my teeth.
“I’ll stop by the house and make sure nothing’s on fire. Then I’ll get Pinky, and we’ll come back to take you home with us. I’ll ask Aiden what everyone’s doing for dinner…”
Resting my chin on my bent knees, I love listening to him making plans for us with so much confidence, like I’m one of his family. Just like that.
A shadow passes over my sunshine. “What about Jessica?”
“I’ll take care of it.” His shirt is over his head, leaving his dark hair a sexy mess.
Leaning over the bed, he gives me a light kiss, hesitates, and comes back for a longer one that sends a charge to my core.
A naughty grin curls his lips, and my stomach squeezes. “I’ll text you when we’re on our way back.”
He leaves me basking in the happiest glow, and I snuggle deeper in bed, reliving everything that happened last night. My head is still spinning.
It started so miserably. Being in El Rio, toasting my college admission, I knew I should’ve been happy. Iwashappy. I’d made a plan for my future, and it was all coming together. I was surrounded by friends… And Alex, was impossibly sexy with his broody, square jaw and those sexy eyes all conflicted and sad.
I kind of snapped. After the way he’d done me all week, I was furious he’d act like his dreams were shattered. I couldn’t pretend not being with him wasn’t killing me. My feelings were too real.
Then he chased me in the rain like I was Audrey Hepburn inBreakfast at Tiffany’s, and when he got on his knees… He held me so close, his warm face pressed to my stomach, begging me to forgive him. My eyes heat at the memory. My heart completely melted.
I’ll never forget the words he said to me. They’re imprinted on my memory forever. It was the most beautiful moment of my life. He changed me from the little girl nobody wanted to the woman he can’t live without.
He made me feel cherished, coveted, desired…loved.
Holding out my hand, I kiss the angel ring. I smile so hard my face hurts, and my heart beats so loud in my chest, I could laugh and cry and float up to the ceiling.
Instead, I hop up and take a quick shower and wash my face. Sorting through my clothes, I take out a pair of black leggings and a V-neck tank. It’s not cold, but the drizzle makes me grab a thin cardigan. A quick dash of makeup, and I’m on my way out the door.
I’ll grab a coffee and head over to his place, no need to wait around. But when I reach the bottom of the stairs, the door to the Star Parlor opens, and Piper’s mom steps out onto the landing.
“Martha, hey!” My voice is nervous, and I glance up the stairs from where I just came.
I didn’t realize until this morning the windows were open all night, and Alex and I didn’t give a shit about how loud we were. Hell, I was making animal noises at one point.
“Good morning, Cassidy.” She steps forward to hug me and kiss my cheek. “You’re glowing today.”
Shit shit shit. “Did you sleep here last night?”
“Here? No.” She glances at the neon purple sign with the little gold stars around it. “I just dropped off my special tea for Gwen. She likes to brew it when she’s doing the readings.”
“I remember…” The tea has a strong scent of ginger and herbs, and it creates a mystical vibe in the room, almost like incense.
Martha’s eyes narrow, and she tilts her dark head to the side as she studies me. “You remind me so much of your mother these days. It’s amazing how alike you are.”
Normally, the comparison pisses me off, but for some reason, after last night, it stirs a longing I didn’t know I still had. “You were friends with her, weren’t you?”
“I was best friends with her. The summer she brought you here, we grew very close.”