Page 111 of Meet Cute Reboot

“Do you want donuts?” I ask.

“No, I’m good. I think I’ll take a shower and then head to Nana’s. I need to stop somewhere and get potato salad or something. Nana will turn her nose up at it, but I don’t want to go empty-handed.”

If I went with her, she wouldn’t be empty-handed. But again too much too soon. I’ll reconnect with her family soon enough. I hope. And I don’t think it’s a false hope. This overnighter went better than I ever could have anticipated.

While Cassie is showering, I eat a piece of cold pizza, occasionally tossing bits of ham to Korg who acts like it’s the best thing he’s ever tasted. Cassie returns looking fresh despite her lack of sleep. I always enjoyed her natural look the most. Still do.

She sets her bag on the recliner and bends over to dote on the kittens some more. “C’mere Cheez Whiz.”

“Cheez Whiz,” I say with a laugh. “We’re naming them already?”

Cassie shrugs. “Why not?”

While she continues assigning names, the doorbell rings. Korg goes into beast mode, running over to the front door and barking up a storm.

“Calm down, Korg,” I say as I follow him into the foyer.

“Is it Girl Scout cookie season?” Cassie asks.

I glance over my shoulder at her. “Maybe?”

Or it could be Amazon. That company is an over-achiever, delivering boxes the day of, even on a Sunday. I didn’t order anything, but it could be from work.

“Sit, boy,” I say to Korg. He wants to please me more than he wants to bite off the Amazon delivery guy’s leg. I’m able to open the door without any snarls or growls.

“Luke!”

Shock renders me mute.

“Oh, Luke. I’ve missed you.”

Macy crosses the threshold and plows into me, throwing her arms around me tightly. She’s put on twenty or so pounds, which are very visible in (you guessed it) a tube top, that displays her assets in a way that makes me uncomfortable, especially when those assets are pressed against my chest.

Before I can push her away, she anchors my cheeks with her hands and plants a juicy kiss on my lips. Panic sears my veins.

“Macy. No.” I extract myself from her lip fillers and push her away. Movement in my peripheral vision catches my attention. Cassie is standing in the foyer watching Macy’s love bomb.

“Cassie—”

“Cassie?” Macy says in a mean-girl tone. “Why’s she here?”

“We’re on a date.” I monitor Cassie’s expression as it goes from shocked, to hurt, to angry.

“Why? Doesn’t she know you’re a cheater?” Macy snarls.

“I wasn’t— I’m not— This isn’t what it looks like.”

Cassie’s nostrils flare.

“It’s exactly what it looks like.” Macy approaches Cassie with her finger pointed. “Luke and me have a history. You and him are nothing.”

“What kind of history?” Cassie says. Her tone is cool.

“The kind where you decorate nurseries and pick baby names.”

“No, not like that,” I holler over Macy’s fury.

Macy flips her blonde hair over her shoulder and glares at me. “Tell her the truth, Luke.”