I stare at the woman next to me, her braid a little mussed from leaning her head against the couch. She let me pick the movie, but my attention is fully on her. I couldn’t care less about the jokes the actors are saying. Instead, I admire her laugh as she shifts on the sofa, getting more comfortable. I want to pull her closer to me, hold her and make her feel cherished.
As soon as she walked into my house, I could picture her and Rae here, spending Sundays with me, grilling out in the yard. I know her life hasn’t been ideal, and I noticed how she looked around my house. It’s modest, considering my income, but it’s fancier than she’s used to. As I gave her a tour after dinner, she commented on the decor and expressed her amazement at how tied together it all looks considering we are guys.
I wanted to offer her the entire space for her to do with what she wants. Clearly, I’m insane when it comes to this woman.
I smile to myself as she snorts at something the woman in the movie says. Cassidy Rae covers her mouth and looks at me. I kiss her cheek and grin. “You’re adorable.”
“That’s embarrassing,” she says.
“Don’t be. I love to hear you laugh.” I take advantage and pull her into my side.
She shifts her head on my shoulder until she’s comfortable.
“Are you watching the movie?” She looks up at me.
“I’d rather look at you.”
“Smooth,” she teases. Cassidy Rae leans up and turns to me. “Do you want to watch something else?”
“This is perfect.” I hold her hand.
“I don’t mind.” Her smile is easy. Being with her is easy. Cassidy Rae is Sunday mornings when I’ve been stuck in an endless cycle of crappy Saturday nights. She’s the woman I want in my life permanently.
“Let’s talk,” I suggest. Movies can be replayed, but time like this can’t.
“I feel as if I don’t have much to tell because my life has been exactly how you see it for the past few years.”
“I want to know who you are beyond that stuff. What’s your favorite movie?”
“Umm…” she pauses and looks up at my ceiling. “I’m not a big movie fan,” she shrugs.
“What?” My eyes grow big. I wave at my movie collection. “We have to find a favorite movie for you.” Movie buff or not, everyone has to have a favorite movie.
“I’m more of a TV show person. Friends, Big Bang Theory, stuff like that. I used to watch, like, silly romance movies a long time ago, but nothing worth mentioning.”
I shake my head. “I’m on a mission now. What kind of storylines do you like? Romantic? Comedy? Horror?” I wouldn’t mind showing her a horror film so she scoots real close to me and I can hold her.
“No horror,” she shakes her head, her big, green eyes begging me. “Romantic or comedy. I can’t deal with the anxiety of a horror film.”
“And here I thought I’d be able to hold you through a scary movie.”
She smirks and rolls her eyes. The more time we spend together, the more I see the woman in Cassidy Rae. She exposes her, almost as if she’s remembering who she is and becoming her again.
“I like you, Jason.” Her expression is serious. I lean in and kiss her, showing her how I feel, instead of telling her.
“I like you, too, Cassidy Rae. A whole lot.” I touch her lips with mine again. I’m impatient. I want to move time forward, to a place where she and I have known each other longer. I want forever with this woman that I’ve just recently met, and I don’t understand how or why. The craziest part is that I don’t even care that it’s fast. The usually measured man is wiping his ass with the rules and diving head first into a romance with a single mom, and fuck if I don’t want to drown in her.
I tug her braid and she looks at me, a brow arched. I grab her hands from her lap and kiss her fingertips.
“What do I need to do to make you officially mine?”
Her eyes soften, and her shoulders relax. “Yours?”
“My girl. I want you in my life more than a few dates and phone calls. I’m working hard to prove to you I’ll take care of you and Rae. I want a real chance at us.” I feel like a teen all over again, asking the girl I like to be my girlfriend.
“Okay.”
“Seriously? You don’t want to think about it or talk to Rae?” I sound like an idiot.
“Rae and I have already spoken about it. She actually asked me yesterday if you were my boyfriend.”
“She’s too smart for her age.”
“I know,” Cassidy Rae shakes her head.
“So, we makin’ this official?” I drawl. As soon as Cassidy Rae smiles and nods, I cradle her face and kiss her hard, tumbling onto her. She lets out a loud laugh as I crush my lips on hers.
I’ve totally turned into a pussy-whipped guy like my friends, and she’s so worth it.
Cassidy Rae grips the back of my shirt, her laugh intensifying as my lips move to her cheeks, neck, and then back to her lips. My breathing is labored as I stare down at her, her eyes bright.
“My cheeks hurt.” She tries to relax them, but the smile covering her face is more powerful. I love seeing her like this.
“You proved me wrong,” her voice is barely above a whisper.
“How’s that?” I lean up enough so that my weight isn’t on her, but she’s still caged beneath me.
“You showed me fairytales do exist.” She looks to her right as much as she can. “No one has ever prepared a dinner like that for me or cared about me and Rae this much. We have our few friends, but this is different.” Her hand touches my cheek and I close my eyes. I grab her hand and kiss her palm.
“We’ve got our own southern fairytale.” I wink. I kiss her hard one more time before lifting myself off of her.
The movie long forgotten, Cassidy Rae and I talk until I need to take her back home.
I woke up feeling sick after our date last night. Thankfully, we’re not performing at Riot tonight. I wanted to spend another day with Cassidy Rae, but when I called her she sounded about as bad as I do. So I do what any kind and caring boyfriend would do, I pick up lunch and head to her place.
I knock on the door and wait for her to answer. I can hear Rae calling my name from inside and grin.
“Hey.” I look at Cassidy Rae–red nose, messy hair, and a fist full of tissues.
“Hey, babe.” I kiss her cheek.
“You didn’t have to come. You should be home resting.” Her eyes travel all over my face. “How do you still look handsome while sick?”
I chuckle, which ends in a cough. “You’re gorgeous, no matter what.”
“Hi, Jason!” Rae shouts.
I lean back. “Hey, kiddo. How are you?”
“Good. My mommy’s sick, though. She said you were, too.”
“Yeah. I woke up feeling under the weather today. I brought lunch, though. Chicken nuggets and mac and cheese for the best girl I know,” I hold up a paper bag. “And freshly made chicken soup for your mom and me.”
“Thank you,” Cassidy Rae smiles. I help her set the table and we eat. Sick or not, I’d rather be here than anywhere else. Rae tells us about what she learned on a TV show she watched last night at Abigail’s house and all the arts and crafts they did.
“After we eat, I’ll show you some of it,” she says, enjoying her lunch. I look over at Cassidy Rae. Her eyes are sunken and barely staying open.
“Was Joyce okay with you not going to work?” I ask, knowing missing work is difficult for her.
“Yeah. She told me to take the weekend off, so I can recuperate.”
“Hey, it’s okay.” I reach for her hand when she frowns.
“Yeah, I hope so.”
“Caz, whatever support you need, I’m here for you and Rae.”
Shaking her head, she says, “No, Jason. It’s not your job to be in charge of our finances. We’ll be okay. Fortunately, the summer’s been busier, so the tips have been better.”
“I know it’s not my job, and I’m not saying I’ll take away your freedom, but I’m here for you.” This isn’t about money. She may not realize it, but me buying them lunch helps with her finances. This is about her knowing she’s not alone. She has me to be a partner with her.
“Thank you.” She nods and goes back to her lunch.
Once we’re done eating and the table is clean, Rae shows me her arts and crafts as I sit on the couch with Cassidy Rae, a box of tissues between us.
“Hey,” I whisper. Cassidy Rae looks at me with raised eyebrows. “Get over here.” I hold the box of tissues with one hand and lift my other so she can curl into me.
“Are you okay? Besides the whole being sick thing?” I ask her once she’s settled.
“Yeah.” She nods once.
“They say when you lie, your nose grows,” I tease and she giggles, pushing her hand against my chest.
“I don’t want you to get too much in your head about what I said while we were eating. I wasn’t talking about money. I want you to know you can count on me and talk to me about anything. You’re not alone, and you don’t have to deal with things alone.” We may not have known each other for a long time, but there’s no doubt in my mind that I will do anything for her and Rae. I want her to trust me.
“Thank you.” Cassidy Rae kisses my jaw. We sit like this for a bit, Rae humming from her favorite spot on the floor in front of us as she colors.
Cassidy Rae hugs my arm to her as I move my fingers around her shoulder with my other hand. It’s perfection, despite the sore throat and runny nose.
“Can you sing us a song, Jason?” Rae looks up at me.
“Sure. It might sound a little funky today.” I clear my throat and choose one of our older songs, something more upbeat.
I sit up on the couch, keeping hold of Cassidy Rae’s hand, and begin to sing.
Open road, windows down,
Don’t need ‘nything else
but you by my side,
Singing along to my radio,
Holding my hand in yours
Swimming in asphalt
And drownin’ in you,
I’ve got nowhere to be,
I’ve got all I need
Driving with you
I catch myself strumming my fingers, as if I had a guitar. Old habits are hard to break. Mid verse, Rae stands and begins to dance. I chuckle, but stay on beat.
I look over at Cassidy Rae and wink as I sing the words to her. Half way through, I mix it up and transition to another song of ours—smoother and slower. Rae continues to dance, causing Cassidy Rae to giggle and look between her and me, her eyes gentle.
I stand and put my hand out for Cassidy Rae to take it. She takes her time to stand, and I dance with her, still singing.
You’re sunshine and honey,
You’re whiskey on my lips,
Warm and sweet
You’re a slow-down ride
And back road trail,
Getting lost in evergreen
I twirl her around, and before she can come back to me, Rae has taken her free hand. Spying her other hand, I hold it and the three of us dance.
I start coughing as I drag on the ending of the song. “Whoa.”
“Okay, maybe we should rest.” Cassidy Rae looks as if she reached her dancing limit as well.
We sit back down, Rae humming to the beat she heard me sing.
Spending the weekend with Caz and Rae was great. I’d get sick all over again to have Cassidy Rae in my arms. We’re going to dinner tonight, the three of us, when we’re done working in Cash’s house.
“Are you in a hurry?” Ryder asks.
“Kinda.” I look at my watch again.
“You taking the lady out?”
“We’re going to dinner.”
“You two, or her daughter as well?” Cash inquires.
“The three of us.” This is a like a spitfire round of questions.
“So are things serious?”
“They’re getting there. If you’re asking if we’ve made it official, we have.”
“Good for you,” Cash smiles.
“When can we meet her?” This from Cole.
“Not yet. She takes a little to warm up to people, and I want to focus on us before all of you bombard her and Rae.” First, I’m going to take my sweet time falling for Cassidy Rae and making sure she falls for me, and then I’ll introduce her to my friends. I want her to see the potential we have, as a couple and a family. It’s unorthodox, me thinking of us as a family, but that’s what Rae and her have.
I’m bulldozing my way into their nucleus, and I’ll be grateful when they finally welcome me wholeheartedly. Rae already has. She has been comfortable around me from the beginning, and I’ve seen how she’s shy around some strangers.
My ringtone interrupts the conversation. When I see Cassidy Rae’s name on my screen, I smile and move away from the guys.
“Hey, gorgeous.”
“Hi, I hate to do this, but I’m going to have to cancel dinner.”
“Is everything okay?” Her voice is panicked.
“I need to go see my parents. My dad called. Mom’s not doing well.”
“I’ll pick you up.”
“You don’t have to.” Her voice shakes.
“Are you home? Don’t you dare move until I get there. I’m driving you.”
“I’m home,” she mumbles.
“Listen to me, baby, everything will be okay. I’ll take you over there, and I’ll pick you up when you’re ready.” Once she agrees, I hang up and tell the guys I need to go.