Chapter Seven
Josh
I spend the rest of that night barely sleeping.
Lying there, awkwardly turned away from Cassie so that she doesn’t notice my raging hard on, with that kiss replaying over and over in my mind.
I was so close to taking it further. To kissing her like I really wanted to kiss her - fierce and strong and with every part of my body. Pushing her up against the wall and feeling her sweet curves melt into me as I plunge into her mouth, exploring every part of it and tasting her own passion and desire. So close to throwing caution to the wind and seeing where it led.
But I couldn’t. I was just supposed to be proving my point - finishing a debate gone a little bit too far. And, of course, showing her a little of what kissing me would be like - putting that idea in her head, to linger in the background of this boyfriend-and-girlfriend act.
If I’d gone too far, so soon, I know just how Cassie would’ve reacted the next day.
So I kept it cool and controlled - a casual, careless thing thrown out there. Not the fierce passion that’s getting harder to conceal every day we do this.
At least from the look of it, I certainly had the effect I’d wanted.
Which only makes the rest of the night torturous, as I imagine what would have happened if I’d pushed further, picturing that clear as day fuck-me look she was giving me as I broke it off.
When morning finally rolls around, it’s a relieving break to that loop playing in my mind.
Cassie and I step carefully around each other when getting dressed for breakfast, and I can’t help the small smile that curves at my lips, wondering if she’s thinking about what happened last night too.
Our usual banter and light-hearted relationship has been broken up with moments of awkwardness since this pretense started and that, if nothing else, is a sure-fire sign that things are getting confused between us.
“So,” I say with a smile as I come out of the bathroom, raising an eyebrow in Cassie’s direction. “Excited for your sister’s engagement party?”
“Ecstatic.” She says dryly, turning from where she’s fiddling with a necklace in front of the mirror and rolling her eyes at me.
I walk over to her, taking the necklace out of her hands and settling it back around her neck neatly, catching her eyes in the mirror as I do so. My fingers brush her collarbone and I can feel her pulse flare as my smile turns just a little more heated.
I lean down and kiss her temple, not removing my hands from her shoulders. “Maybe I can make it a little more entertaining for you.”
I try really hard not to make that a sensual promise, but it takes her eyes a moment to clear anyway. Then her hand comes up to cover mine, not trying to move it as she shoots me a small grin through the mirror.
“What, have we gone from young lovers to old married couple now?” She giggles, and the way that lovers sounds on her tongue has all the images from my restless night flitting through my mind again.
I give her a small smile, then step back. “Just thought you could use some help, love.”
But my heart is thudding hard in my chest.
Cassie doesn’t giggle. And it makes her seems younger, lighter, more carefree in a way that has my cock wanting to spring to attention.
She grabs my hand as we turn to leave the room, and I feel like some stupid school kid as my heart jumps into my throat. I stop trying to catalog every little signal, and instead I’m just enjoying it, smiling warmly at the woman walking next to me and how close I feel to her - my girlfriend for the week.
Then we enter the dining room to a mass of chaos - people and decorations and noise everywhere - and that’s enough to bring me back down to earth as we hastily back out of it again with a quick glance at each other.
“Hey, you two!” John, Maria’s husband, calls from down the hall and we turn to find him giving us both a cheery smile. “I see you haven’t had any luck finding breakfast either.”
Cassie smiles back and shakes her head. “I didn’t know the plans for breakfast today were different.”
“Neither did anyone else.” John says with a laugh, as we fall into step with him. “We’ve all been kicked outside while they redecorate the house for Beth’s do - Maria thought it would be a good idea for me to let the stragglers know.”
“Maria seems to have a better grip on this mothering thing than Adelaide.” I say casually
John winces, giving Cassie a quick glance. “Maybe don’t say that around anyone else.”
“Well, I haven’t yet.” I laugh, winking at him as if I don’t sense the sudden awkwardness.
He gives me an uncertain smile, and then we’re through the large glass doors and outside before either of us can add anything else.
This game of pissing off Cassie’s family has been an interesting balance so far. It would’ve been so easy to make some offensive comment about John being pussy-whipped there, but while I won’t deny I enjoy irritating the hell out of Beth or Cassie’s Mom, I actually like Maria - and John seems like a good guy, too.
If I’m going to have them disapprove of me, I’d rather make it things that I could easily clear up later, instead of a personal dislike that’s pretty hard to overcome.
So far, I think it’s working.
“Did we really need to hire professional decorators and caterers for this?” Henry is asking as we step out onto the deck, seeing a smaller scattering of breakfast foods and the rest of Cassie’s family dispersed over nearby tables.
It’s the most I’ve heard from him so far.
“Of course we do - it’s my engagement party, Dad!” Beth argues, “It only happens once!”
“You hope.” I catch Anne muttering under her breath and don’t even bother to hide my smile.
“Maybe it’ll only happen once for you, but don’t forget I have three daughters.” Henry grouses. “Not to mention, your wedding will only happen once, too, but no doubt that’ll put me another few years away from retirement. I thought you said his family are rich - why aren’t they paying for more?”
The table goes silent as everyone turns to look at Neil, who shoots daggers at a suddenly-awkward Beth.
“I didn’t say anything like that!” She says sharply, “And, besides, I’m your daughter - don’t you want me to have the wedding of my dreams?”
Henry opens his mouth to answer, but Adelaide gets in there first, laying a quelling hand on his shoulder. “Oh, come now, Henry. Let’s not spoil today by fussing over silly things like this, hmm?”
He looks at her, shakes his head and mutters something, then walks away to get another plate of food, refusing to look at anyone else.
Beth looks like she’s about to complain to Adelaide again, but Neil grabs her attention first and they engage in a rapid-fire discussion under their breath.
I take a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding and wrap my arm around Cassie’s shoulder, bringing her close to my body in a subconscious attempt to shield her from some of the obvious tension.
She looks up at me and rolls her eyes, whether at me or her family I’m not sure, but it’s clear enough that this is nothing new to her. It makes me smile, and I look around as we start moving towards the food.
“Is Matthew not here anymore?” I ask the family in general, deliberately keeping my voice neutral.
Until that had happened yesterday, I’d thought Cassie had been exaggerating about her family - and her mother in particular. But the moment I’d worked out what was going on between him and Cassie, I’d had to physically restrain myself to stop from punching the guy.
Sure, maybe I’m not actually Cassie’s boyfriend, but Matthew didn’t know that - and my fury had been more than real enough to have the guy on the floor. Instead, I’d very reluctantly settled for irritating the hell out of him - and I know if he’d tried anything, I wouldn’t have been able to hold back.
“No…err, he said something came up.” Adelaide says, giving me an uncertain glance.
I return her look evenly, taking some small enjoyment from her confusion about how much I’ve guessed about his invitation. It’d take a complete fool to be that oblivious, but since I haven’t said anything, I figure she’s hoping to get away with it.
“We need the space for my friends, anyway.” Beth interrupts, “I’m not even sure why you invited him. Oh—we need to make sure the beds are made up, in case we all crash out here—not that we’re going to be doing much sleeping—and the jacuzzi too, has anyone set that up? And—”
“Jacuzzi?” I nudge Cassie, forgetting about Matthew. “How come that didn’t make it to the list of favorite places you showed me yesterday?”
Cassie laughs and before I can think about it, I’m leaning down, kissing her. Bringing her lips up to mine and brushing them against each other - light and gentle and totally appropriate, but unable to keep the hint of something darker, more illicit out of it.
Maybe it’s that I haven’t been able to get last night’s kiss out of my head. Maybe it’s that now that I’ve done it once, it feels too natural and normal to deny - especially when she’s here as my girlfriend. It’s what I would do with anyone else, and with Cassie…there’s no chance of resisting.
I linger just a little, enjoying the soft feel of her mouth against mine and wanting so much more, but knowing better than that.
I can feel everyone’s eyes on us when I finally break it and give her a heated smile, my warmth overcoming the surprise in her eyes.
“Well, maybe we’ll have to find some time to explore it.” I say, deep and inviting as I think about getting to pull her body against mine, the bubbles caressing her soft skin and my hands starting to explore…
She coughs slightly and looks away from me, pulling my wandering mind back from the jacuzzi to finally notice the strange not-quite-subtle looks that everyone else seems to be sending our way.
“What’s that about?” I murmur to Cassie.
They can’t have that much of a problem with a little chaste morning kissing - I mean, I’ve seen Beth and Neil doing worse, and with the comments we got yesterday at breakfast…
“Probably confusion. I’ve got a good idea of the rumors Beth might have spread after that awkward-as-hell moment last night. Enough that watching us kissing like that probably surprised them.” She gives me a sidelong smile, still talking quietly. “They weren’t the only surprised, either.”
I grin back, then turn so I’m fully facing her and take her mouth in a more dramatic gesture, kissing her again and nipping lightly at her lower lip. If I’ve got an excuse to do this, no way in hell I’m not going to take advantage of it.
I wait until I feel her slightly indrawn breath and then step back.
“Good thing we practiced last night, then.” I smile wickedly, keeping my voice low. “Can’t have them thinking that about us.”
The slightest hint of red appears in her cheeks.
“Yeah…practiced…” She says, and I know she’s recalling exactly what happened after Beth left…and how the last thing it felt like was practice.
That brief, enjoyable moment between us is interrupted by Maria’s sharp, clipped voice, and I turn around to see her and Beth glaring at each other. I blink, hear something about Beth wanting Ellie and Lucas to stay out of the way of the party, and then Cassie tugs on my hand.
“You know…I’m not really hungry anymore.” She glances across to where Mark and Henry are sniping at each other at the table full of food. “Want to get out of here?”
My stomach rumbles and I look mournfully over at the freshly cooked bacon laid out.
“Err, sure…just one moment. I’ll catch you up.” I say.
I push in between Henry and Mark, making some inane comment about the beautiful weather - of course it’s full-on sun, this is springtime in Arizona - and pretending not to notice the way their dirty looks have turned from each other onto me.
Score one for having full permission to act like a jerk. Who knows, maybe being pissed at me will get them to forget their irritation at each other.
I quickly fix a couple of bacon rolls and raise them in toast to the two men scowling at me before turning to find Cassie looking at me with a mixture of amusement and exasperation - an expression I know all too well. I grin back, and then rejoin her side to head away from the breakfast chaos.
“Really, Josh? You needed two of those?” She asks with slight incredulity.
“Sorry babe,” I say, “I don’t think we’re far enough into our fake relationship for me to give up breakfast for you.”
“Shhh!” She says, but she’s trying not to laugh. “Not this close to my family - you don’t know who might hear that.”
I grin and glance around. “I think we got away safely.”
Cassie sighs and looks back to the decking around the house. “Yeah, I guess so. They’re going to be distracted all morning anyway.”
“Pool then?” I suggest.
“Yep.” She nods. “Celebrations are always a terrible time to hang around my family.”
I laugh. “Sure, that totally makes sense.”
She nudges her shoulder against mine as we walk together, and I wrap my arm around her waist. “Mmhmm…I’m sure you’re starting to get my point about them.”
“Maybe…that thing with Matthew almost threw me over the edge.” I agree. “I was this close to punching the guy.”
“You know, that might’ve been better than boring me for hours with property talk.” She laughs.
“And you’re usually the one holding me back, Caz…” I raise an eyebrow at her, but I’m enjoying that image too much to profess any innocence myself.
“There are always exceptions.” She grins at me, then glances sidelong at the sandwich I’ve started eating. “I think you might have been right about breakfast, though. Now I’m away from that stress, skipping it doesn’t seem quite such a good idea.”
I just smile, and hand her the extra I brought. “Yeah I thought so, Caz - this one’s yours.”
Her gaze heats as she takes it from me, and our eyes meet for a few moments longer than they should. I tuck her hair behind her ear and lean forward to kiss her forehead.
“Just trying to be a good fake boyfriend, Cassie.” I murmur, then turn to head over to the sun lounger I claimed yesterday.
I feel her eyes lingering on my back, and it takes a while for her to make a move to join me.
* * *
“Where’s all the real food?” I complain loudly.
Beth turns to me with a glare, interrupting her non-stop conversation with a couple of her friends to correct me. “This is good food, Josh. The sort of thing you probably should be eating, instead of all the shit we usually get. Wholesome, healthy food for once. The best catering firm in Phoenix’s specialty menu - worlds apart from small-town diner crap…but I can see how it might be too sophisticated for your tastes.”
I’m too distracted by the ridiculous spread in front of me to point out that LA probably beats Phoenix for cutting-edge food trends.
“Quinoa cake…celery sticks…chia seed yogurt…” I mutter. “How the fuck is this party food?”
Beth has already airily turned back to her friends, and Mark shakes his head next to me.
“Hey, I see your point man, but it’s Beth’s party.” He gives me a disapproving look. “Just let it be.”
“I’m glad I have the liberty to be a dick about this.” I murmur to Cassie as she takes Mark’s place at the table - I’ve been standing here for god-knows-how-long and I still haven’t found anything I want to put on my plate. “Because really…some things are too much to ask of me.”
She gives me an amused look and adds a slice of quinoa cake to her plate, heaping the rest of it with lettuce and salad.
“Hey, you’re a doctor - can’t you tell them that all this stuff doesn’t do shit for you?” I continue, aware that the glances around the table are starting to become hostile and not giving a fuck about it.
“I’m not a nutritionist, Josh - or even a qualified doctor, yet.” Cassie points out, then adds a load of…something completely unrecognizable…to my plate.
“Hey! I didn’t say I wanted…whatever that is.” I object, looking at it suspiciously.
“Quiche. And you can’t stand here all day, Josh. I was simply…helping you choose.” She pulls me away from the table as I scowl at it.
She’s obviously trying not to laugh at me, and I’m not entirely sure whether or not I’m putting on an act here.
We give way to one of Beth’s friends and gravitate towards the edge of the gathering. The room is decked out in elaborate white-and-pink banners, streamers and pom-poms, and the table of alcohol and cocktail ingredients easily rivals the health-food table in size and splendor. Beth is squealing enthusiastically in the middle of her group of friends, and Neil is standing off to the side talking to the couple of mates who seem to be the only people he’s invited. The rest of Cassie’s family is lining up to get food and talking quietly amongst themselves.
Beth’s party indeed.
At least we got to spend most of the day relaxing on the ranch before everyone arrived.
I look at everyone gathered in awkward groups and poke at the quiche on my plate, starting to wonder whether this whole thing is going to be standing around watching Beth and her friends’ increasingly loud-and-excitable conversation. But a few minutes later, the catering staff answer my question as they start circulating with champagne glasses.
I raise an eyebrow at Cassie as we both take one and she shrugs, apparently not surprised.
Am I the only one that sees the issue here?
“Health food and champagne at lunch…any bets on how long before you’re under the table?” I ask lightly.
“I’m not that bad.” She shakes her head with a laugh, trying to work out how to hold a champagne glass, balance the plate of food and eat with only two hands.
“You only think that because you never remember it.” I grin, and set my plate aside to take her champagne glass for her.
Quiche wasn’t really me anyway.
She takes the opportunity to continue eating, but narrows her gaze at me. “Are you just doing that so I don’t drink it?”
“Would I do that?” I say perfectly innocently.
For some reason that only seems to make her more suspicious.
Before she gets a chance to answer, Henry makes a point of coughing loudly and expectant silence slowly rolls out from where Beth and Neil are standing together near the center of the room.
“I just wanted to thank you all for coming.” Henry begins, and I prepare myself for a long speech, wondering idly whether it’s rude to start drinking the champagne during it - then remembering that I’ve got the perfect excuse to be rude even if it is. “To celebrate Beth and Neil’s engagement with us. Adelaide and I couldn’t be happier that Beth is marrying such a fine young man, and I hope you’ll join me in wishing them all the best for their wedding and the future.”
He looks over at Adelaide, and then raises his glass in an obvious signal that he’s done. I blink, not even having had time to put my newest rude-boorish-behavior plan into action, and then Adelaide follows his lead.
“We’re very happy for you, darling, and to our future son-in-law as well!” She raises her glass, and then we all do the same. “To Beth and Neil.”
We repeat the toast, and I clink my glass against Cassie’s before taking a sip.
Neil wraps his arm around Beth’s waist and she squeals as he tips her back and kisses her dramatically, half of her champagne sloshing out of her glass and onto the floor. When they come up for air, all Beth’s friends cheer and she flashes a dazzling smile around at everyone.
The room disperses into muted chatter again, and I glance at Cassie.
“So…is that it?” I ask.
I don’t know whether to be relieved that we might be able to slip off pretty early, or disappointed that the much-anticipated engagement party is just going to be Beth getting drunk with her friends.
“Aeeee!” The ear-splitting shriek comes from the center of the room, and immediately seems to achieve its objective of ending every other conversation. “Hey, so, everyone!”
I look up to see one of Beth’s friends - a tall, pretty blond type - tapping her champagne glass and looking around the room.
“Since this is, like, to celebrate Beth’s whole relationship, and I’m one of her oldest friends, I’ve prepared a few little things.” She turns and looks at Beth with a huge smile. “To make you remember all the good times you’ve had, and you know, how you and Neil are just perfect for each other.”
“Ohhh Emily!” Beth sighs happily, then looks up at Neil, who kisses her again.
She grins back at Beth and then turns to everyone else. “So if everyone could gather round, and you know, join in…we want to make this really special.”
Cassie and I exchange glances, but oblige along with the rest of the family as we migrate to another pink-and-white bedazzled room - this time with large couches and old polished wood furniture.
“Do you know Beth’s friends?” I murmur to Cassie, watching as they follow Beth and Emily.
Cassie shakes her head. “No, I think they’re all from college. Why?”
“No reason.” I shrug.
Now doesn’t seem like the right time to ask whether she’s also getting the impression that they’re as vapid and shallow as Beth.
One of them turns around and catches me looking her up and down - a pretty brunette who gives me a small smile and glances up at me from under her eyelashes. I return it with a polite smile and steer us towards one of the few couches that we could probably get away with not sharing with anyone else.
I have no idea what a few little things might be, but I want to be able to comment on this display to Cassie without having to be too cautious about what I say.
Not that you’ve held back too much so far…
I watch Beth and Neil together, wondering whether I’m being unfair to them both and too ready to dismiss this whole engagement party. The way they look at each other does seem genuine, and just because I’ve seen them both be snide and unpleasant to other people doesn’t mean that what they have isn’t real, even if it might lessen my interest in spending a whole day wishing them every happiness.
“What are you thinking about?” Cassie asks, picking up on exactly when to ask that question as always. “You have a strange look on your face.”
“I was just wondering whether they…really love each other, I guess.” I finally say.
To my surprise, she laughs and nudges me. “Because you’ve never experienced it?”
I look down at her, catching those eyes sparkling back at me and can’t help thinking that I could be perilously close right now.
“I wouldn’t suggest using them as a model.” She continues, saving me from needing to reply. “Maybe it is love, but it’s not what I’d want my relationship to look like.”
I want to ask her more about what she does see her relationship looking like, but before I get the chance, Emily takes over again.
“So first of all, I want to tell a little story about how Beth and Neil met…” She starts.
It’s one of those ‘cute couple stories’ - complete with a little bit of humor, some nudging and winking, and ending with an appropriate aww moment. So much so that I can’t help wondering how much of it is embellished.
“We should’ve hired Emily to create a how we met story for us.” I murmur to Cassie, and she has to cover her mouth to stifle her laughter, nudging me to try and shut me up.
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her closer, smiling as she shushes me.
It gets less interesting from there though, and with Cassie’s warm body right beside me my attention starts to wander. I find myself playing with her hair and wishing I could bring her in for another kiss - and I haven’t had that teenage makeout-on-the-couch moment for a long time.
But it’s hard to sit and listen to all the sweet things Neil has done for Beth, recollections of their first few dates, and all those anniversary surprises - just how many anniversaries have they had anyway?! - without thinking about all the time I’ve spent with Cassie over the years.
Sure, maybe none of it was dating, but I think I’ve got more shared memories of the last couple of years than I do individual ones.
“You know, at least this is one area we can compete with any real couple - I could probably give dozens of these stories off the top of my head.” I interrupt Cassie’s polite attention again.
“Shh! You need to stop saying that stuff here.” She glances around at everyone looking over at Emily and Beth. “And you know, we’ve only been together for six months - how many of those stories work for that?”
“Ah, shit. You know I have no clue when anything happened.” I say, keeping my voice quiet. “And you can relax, baby, no one’s paying any attention to us.”
“You have no idea how good my family is at overhearing the most awkward things.” She says, but then continues in a musing tone anyway, apparently giving up on quieting me. “I could probably piece the time-line together for you, if I have a look back through my diary.”
“You have a diary of things we’ve done together?” I ask immediately, my attention sharpening with sudden interest.
“I have a diary.” She laughs. “Though, since I don’t write anything about work, I guess it probably is of the things we’ve done together.”
My heart skips a beat at the idea, but I cover it with a smirk. “Hah, I have to see that.”
“Not as interesting as it sounds.” She gives me a wry smile. “It’ll probably just be an account of all the things you’ve done to piss me off.”
“Even better.” My smirk becomes a grin. “I have to know what’s most effective, after all.”
“Josh!” She snorts, and then I hear Mark cough from the couch beside us.
We glance up to see various dirty looks aimed at us, mostly from Beth’s friends, and I put my hands up in apology.
Whoops.
“Sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. We were just a little…distracted.” I say, not particularly remorseful. “Maybe all the champagne.”
“Well, if you can find it in yourself to pay attention for just a little longer, hopefully you’ll find our next activity more…engaging.” Emily says, with a bite in her voice.
That doesn’t sound good.
I manage to refrain from saying that, at least, and deliberately don’t look at Cassie.
From the way her shoulders are vibrating, I can tell she’s trying not to laugh - she obviously doesn’t care that much about interrupting - and I know that if I catch her eyes, neither of us are going to be able to hold it back.
“More champagne is a good idea, though!” Beth adds, completely ignoring my point.
As if they’ve been waiting just for that, the catering staff circulate again - with more champagne and a few nibbles. I consider our refilled glasses with suspicion, but Cassie starts drinking immediately.
“What?” She murmurs as she catches my look. “It’s good champagne - and it’ll make this more fun. I’ll ease off before it starts really affecting me.”
I get the feeling ‘more fun’ might still not bring it up to the level of actually ‘fun’.
I shrug and join her anyway - this is hardly the first night we’ve gotten stupid drunk together. And who knows, maybe she’ll actually take it easy this time.
“Okaaay!” Emily announces, and I wince again. I hope her voice decreases a few octaves by the time the alcohol hits. “Time for some games, guys!”
Cassie and I share a look.
Not good indeed.
“This first game is all about whether you really know each other! First, we want to get all the couples together…” She stands up and starts shooing people into place as I reach over and squeeze Cassie’s hand.
“Dammit.” She mutters to me. “I’m starting to feel like we should have practiced for this.”
I’m wondering the same thing, but I cover it with a cocky smile. “Ohh, I think I know you pretty well, babe.”
“Well let’s hope your answers say the same thing!” Emily appears in front of me, making Cassie jump and my heart trip over itself as she hands me a pile of cards and a pen.
“See?” Cassie hisses at me after Emily has left and I know just what she’s getting at - that sort of thing could have happened at any ill-timed moment.
“Okay, okay.” I say, still not sure I’m actually going to change anything because of it.
“So, the guys will answer the questions about their partners on the cards, then we’ll get the girls to give the right answer, and see how the guys did!” Emily announces. “And let’s do this in silence, please - no cheating here.”
She sends another glare in our direction, and I struggle not to laugh.
Cheating seems a little unnecessary for something that’s meant to be a fun party game.
I roll my eyes at Cassie, and she moves dutifully further away from me on the couch as I unwrap the slightly excessive number of question cards I’ve been given.
I start writing the answers to the first few and slowly relax - favorite songs, food, place, color…I can do all that. I’ve known Cassie for years.
Why were we even worried about this?
But then I find out why. They get more personal and I stumble around, realizing I have no idea about some of these answers. Where she went to school, things about her hometown and past that she’s just never talked about. I shrug, hoping I can put my lack of knowledge down to a six month relationship and this being the first time I’ve met her family.
Then I see the relationship questions and that stops me entirely.
Where did we meet, and have our first kiss, what date is our anniversary and what did we last do to celebrate it…
Fuck.
I look up, at everyone else scribbling away, and a couple of the guys looking as stressed as I probably do right now. Only a group of silly, immature girls would think it fun to make a test out of this stuff and try to show the guys up.
I flick through a little further, looking for inspiration - and ‘how many kids does she want’ stops me. I pause for a moment, staring at it and thinking of the seeds I’ve already planted as the solution comes to me.
Could I really do that…?
But if I’m not going to get the right answers anyway, why not use it as a chance to highlight a few major issues?
However well I might know Cassie, I’m not going to be able to guess whatever answers she’ll make up for this.
Let’s see whether we can introduce a little more tension in our fake relationship.
I scribble a few answers, hoping that Cassie will pick up on what I’m trying to do and follow my lead.
It doesn’t stop me from looking around awkwardly when Emily announces the time is up and collects our cards in. She goes to stand in the middle again and starts reading questions out to Maria. She answers, and then John says what he wrote, to which Emily nods along. I can see most people getting into the swing of things, laughing and smiling at the various answers.
He does very well, only missing a few of her favorite things and hitting all the relationship questions on the head.
Afterward, she kisses him on the cheek and they’re smiling at each other, obviously buoyed by the reminders of things they’ve done together.
Okay, maybe this isn’t such a bitchy game if you’re actually in a decent, stable relationship.
They continue around the group, and I catch Cassie glancing over at me, obviously concerned. I try to smile easily at her, but I know she’s picking up on my mood. I’m starting to see her point about working this stuff out before we came.
Mark and Anne don’t do as well, but he seems to manage passable responses, and I belatedly wonder whether I should be paying more attention to learn more about Cassie’s family.
A couple of Beth’s friends completely bomb out, neither of them appearing to remember anything about the relationship apart from their first kiss. The guy just turns to his girlfriend with a shrug. “Yeah, I’m totally only with you for the sex.”
She gives an outraged laugh, flushes red, then looks around and nudges him with a grin. “You know what? I’m totally okay with that.”
“Can I do that?” I mouth at Cassie, intending to make a joke of it, but from the worried look she gives me it clearly misses the mark. I add a quick, “Don’t worry.”
Then the attention falls on us and I give my best winning smile. Whatever I feel, no one can deny I’m good at portraying the complete opposite.
I smile at Cassie as I start asking her for all her favorite things, getting almost word-for-word answers right. I can see her start to relax as she shoots me a few surprised looks. I have to stop myself from interrupting the whole thing to remind her that I have known her for four years.
How we met works out because we’d already been quizzed about that, but the moment I ask about our first kiss, her slow relaxation stiffens immediately.
She, inevitably, makes up something completely random on the spot.
“At…UCLA.” She says, stiltedly, and when prompted with a ‘come ooon’ from Beth, reluctantly embellishes with more details that are going to be impossible for me to copy. “After…arguing about whether Friends or How I Met Your Mother is better.”
It’s not a bad guess. We argue about that a lot.
“After treating you to an elaborate date at the local diner.” I repeat what I’d written earlier with a wry smile, shaking my head at Cassie as if I’m amused.
“Oh. Yeah.” She says, trying to play it off and act like I was right all along. “I’d forgotten about that.”
“Guess it can’t have been that good, hey?” Emily quips. “You two might have trouble with the next game!”
Another one?!
My heart sinks further. And as much as she’s trying to play it off as joking, I swear she has it out for us because of that interruption earlier.
“Well, I’ll tell you now, the next two were never gonna work for me.” I grin at Cassie, having already decided to preempt the anniversary questions. “Cassie’ll be the first to tell you I have no head for dates and times…and besides, we’ve only been dating six months, we haven’t even had an anniversary yet!”
I steadfastly ignore the fact that Beth’s three-year relationship recounted at least a dozen anniversaries of some form or another earlier on.
Cassie laughs along with me, but it feels awkward - no doubt because she’s wondering how many we’re going to fall down on. It has the intended effect of making her seem less than happy about that comment, and there’s a moment where the previously good-natured atmosphere falters a little.
Emily frowns. “Well, okay, since you already gave away your answers for those - blank - I guess we’ll skip them. The next one’s always fun, though. How many children do you want, Cassie?”
She starts in surprise - somehow only just realizing this would come up, despite having heard three other women be asked it so far - then looks over at me. I know exactly what she’s thinking - I’ve already used no children as a way to worry Maria, and we haven’t talked about whether she’ll play along yet or not. Either way, though, it should work.
And the way she’s looking uncertainly at me makes it easy to mistake our tension from the game for relationship tension. Exactly as I’d hoped.
“I…don’t know.” Cassie finally answers.
The rest of her family are starting to look concerned now, and I know this has always been a hot topic between Cassie and her mother.
“Aww, c’mon Cassie, you don’t have to be certain, just pick a number - one, two, three…you never know how it’s going to work out anyway. It’s just a bit of fun.” Beth enthuses, obviously not minding the drama at all.
“Well, maybe…” She looks over at me again, and my mouth quirks in a small, secret smile. I see understanding dawn in her eyes a moment later, and she jumps on the bandwagon with me. “I…don’t know that I want…any…yet.”
There’s a moment of stunned silence, and Emily looks down at the card with my answer on it.
I smile at Cassie like I’ve won some sort of victory.
“Yeah, I don’t want children.” I confirm again, wrapping my arm around Cassie. “We’ve got our whole lives ahead of us - far too much to enjoy for us to be worrying about that.”
Adelaide is looking at us with a mixture of shock and utter horror, and everyone else won’t look at us at all. Maria is the only one who doesn’t seem surprised, but even her expression is sad and more than a little worried as she glances over at her little sister.
I’d actually thought it wouldn’t have been that much of a surprise to Cassie’s family, since I’d already announced it to Maria - but I guess she didn’t tell anyone.
“Right…well…” Emily tries to recover the situation, and I feel a momentary pang of guilt for spoiling the mood of the party.
Maybe I went too far?
Emily forces a smile. “So, Adelaide and Henry, would you like to go next?”
“I…er…” Henry blusters.
Adelaide interrupts with a cheery agreement, and then what follows is at best Henry scraping through some idea of his wife’s favorite things and vague memories of what must have been years ago now.
They don’t do particularly well, but at least Adelaide’s obvious disappointment and chastisement of her husband takes some of the attention off us.
Beth and Neil are the last couple to go, as I could’ve guessed from the beginning, and that brings the atmosphere back to a pleasant, warmer feel as they recount more love-at-first-sight stories.
I squeeze Cassie’s hand. “You okay?”
“Yeah.” She murmurs back. “I guess we got through it.”
“Mmhmm - maybe it wasn’t a bad thing, Caz. It set a few things up for us.” I say quietly.
She nods and shrugs, taking another sip of her champagne that almost empties the glass, but at least she seems to relax a little. “At least no one seems to think we’re not actually a couple…but I swear, next time we do this, we plan it out properly like I wanted in the first place.”
“Next time, Cassie?!” I do everything I can not to laugh and interrupt Beth again.
Cassie looks at me, realizes the insanity of what she just said, and bites her lip hard to contain her own laughter. Not trusting herself to speak, she makes a dismissive gesture instead and I grin at her.
She makes a point of looking away from me, refocusing on Neil and Beth. I try to do the same, and catch the tail end of the questions they’re being asked.
“Do you think they rehearsed this?” I say quietly to Cassie, as they give almost word-for-word answers to each question.
“Shh!” She says again, but she flushes and gives me a brief, knowing grin before starting to shake with restrained laughter.
At least she’s happier again.
The questions come to an end - at which point Emily announces gleefully that they’ve won, and are clearly the best couple in the room.
I hadn’t even realized this was meant to be a competition.
Luckily, most of the other couples in the room are older and mature enough not to take offense at that comment, and to accept indulging Beth’s ego for today at least.
We get a few minutes’ break, where everyone chimes in and congratulates Beth and Neil - again - and chats about some of the things they’ve said. Cassie and I just chuckle together on the sofa - whether from so-far-restrained amusement, the champagne, or stress relief at it being over, I’m not sure.
“Aaand now, the kissing contest!” Emily interrupts us all shortly after that.
I look up, getting irritated by her whole attitude - but also feeling my body light up at the prospect of kissing Cassie again.
We don’t have a chance to do much more than look at each other before Emily declares the rules for this game - which seems to just involve everyone kissing each other, at the same time, and her judging it.
Okay, so you can think of a worse game…
I grin at Cassie, and see she’s slightly flushed as she looks back at me, eyes wide. I can’t believe how beautiful she is like this, and I have to shift on the couch to disguise my sudden interest as I lean in towards her.
I barely hear Emily declare the start of this game, too intent on the woman in front of me as I bring both hands up to cup her chin, my fingers caressing her neck.
The whole thing might be ridiculous, but I don’t even care - the last game was complete shit, but this…this I can work with.
And if we’re doing this on display I’m going to make it as over-the-top intense as I want it to be. Maybe it’s for something as cheap as a silly contest, but if I have the chance to kiss the woman I can’t stop thinking about…yeah, I’ll make that count.
Cassie is looking up at me expectantly, her eyes wide, and I give her a slow smirk as I bring our lips together.
I brush hers with my own, gentle and exploratory for one brief moment, letting her feel the barest glimpse of me against her. But I can’t do soft and teasing for long. I want so much more.
Within moments, that desire overcomes me and I’m deepening the kiss - my tongue entering her warm mouth and desire rushing through my body as I feel her respond and open to me. I take full advantage, unable to contain my need to have her, and I kiss her like it’s the start and end of everything.
Her eyes drift closed, and sparks are shooting behind my own as my pulse thuds in my ears.
I suck on her lower lip, our mouths moving over each other and her lips vibrating against mine with a moan she doesn’t dare let anyone else hear. Her whole body shifts against me and it’s all I can do not to push her back onto the couch, to take this so much further.
My cock is hard and throbbing in my pants, and I know if my hands were to drift down, to reach and touch, that I’d find her nipples stiff and eager for my attention.
I don’t.
I keep my hands above her neck, chaste and innocent.
Except for everything about the way I’m holding her. Firmly. Intently. Deliberately.
Keeping her open and exposed as my tongue explores every part of her desperate, eager mouth. I can feel every hitch in her breath and the pounding of her pulse at her throat, and I steal that breath one slow, toe-curling moment after another.
By the time I finally ease off, heat and desire has flooded through every part of me, my body tingling where it’s touching hers. I break the kiss with a soft parting and a hand brushing her hair back from where it had fallen into her face, then look back at her and smile.
I couldn’t keep the look of pure lust out of my eyes if I tried, so I don’t even bother. It’s reflected on her face anyway, and I see her try and catch her breath, staring at me with a mixture of shock and longing.
“Good thing we practiced last night, hmm?” I ask softly.
Emily interrupts the moment loudly enough that I actually notice there are other people in the room again, announcing grandly that Beth and Neil won the contest - of course.
Cassie seems to be having similar difficulties paying the slightest attention to that, the atmosphere hanging suspended between us, and I feel like those wide, beautiful eyes are seeing me for the first time.
“My god.” She finally says. “What…was that?”
I smile, cupping her chin again and deciding on the spot to take the easy way out. It’s Beth’s engagement party, not the time for big, potentially life-changing conversation.
Besides, I’m starting to think that a hell of a lot of things are working better unspoken between us.
“You know me, I can’t help that I’m competitive, baby.” I say, my voice deep and sinuous despite me trying to lighten the tone - the desire still pounding inside me spilling out anyway. “Do you really think their kiss was better?”
She gives me a half-smile, meeting my heated gaze with her own. “I have no idea, Josh…I couldn’t see anything else.”
My cock pulses in response, and I ignore it with effort as I lean forward to kiss her forehead. Only the slight tilt of her head makes it obvious she would have liked it to land somewhere else.
“Good enough for me, Cassie…” I murmur, and finally shift back to give us both some space.
I feel like we could start a fire with the sparks flying between us right now, and we’ve been completely ignoring the rest of the party around us.
Not to mention, I’m horny as hell, and I’m not sure I can let Cassie know just how much of an effect she’s had on me. Not yet.
Instead, I turn back to my champagne glass and see Cassie do the same. I raise it in a brief toast, and she clinks hers against mine before we both down them.
Forget what I said earlier.
Alcohol seems like a fucking good way to get over this slightly-shaky-feeling right now.