Page 60 of Scoring Chances
“The whole team,” Ryker adds.
Cassidy’s eyes widen. “Oh.”
“So… basically a giant party. You’ll get to meet everyone.”
I lean over to Cole. “You too, Pole. If you want to hang out with us old folk.”
He rolls his eyes at me.
“I knew you could hear me.”
Maddie and Parker both start complaining that they want to get out. I sit up to get them but Cassidy puts a hand up. “I got them.”
She grabs the other two towels and brings them over to the kids. “Whose ready for snacks and a midday movie?”
“I’m going with them,” Cole says, grabbing his things and following Cassidy.
The two kids jump up and down and she helps them out, wrapping them each in a towel.
I can feel eyes on the side of my face.
“What?”
“Nothing,” Ryker and Izzy both say at the same time exchanging looks.
“Nothing happened.”
“Oh, we know,” Izzy says.
“What do you mean, we know?”
She shrugs. “Girls talk.”
“And what did she say?”
She laughs.
“Isabella-almost-Balinger… what did she say?”
“I can’t tell you, Hicks. Girl code.” She makes a scout’s honor sign with her right hand.
It’s frustrating. We’re in this weird limbo where we both clearly know we’re both attracted to each other. But we can’t make any moves. One, because if I do, she’ll almost certainly leave and the kids will never let me forget it. They actually like Cassidy. And two, I’m trying to be a better person here.
What she says is rejection is me trying to prove to her that she’s more than just a forgettable lay for me. And as backward as that feels–it has to work. She asked me to prove it. This is me fucking proving the shit out of it.
I like her. And I don’t want to ruin things between us.
So I keep my distance.
But I don’t know how long I’ll be able to.
Chapter 17
Cassidy
I’ve heard of the infamous Heatwave parties. Even as a daughter of local pastors–I wasn’t immune to the allure.
Hot athletic guys. Mansions and penthouses. Music, dancing, fun. I remember when I had just turned eighteen, a friend from college told me she was invited to one. She insisted I should come.