IAN

After two months of dating, you’d think I’d get used to every little habit of hers, but Kasey never ceases to surprise me. 

We spent Christmas in West Haven, where Rosie and Kasey’s father hosted a joint dinner. Taylor got three more dolls, four coloring books, and thanks to me, a karaoke machine that has every Disney song known to man on it.

I’m fairly certain her father hates me now if he didn’t before. 

For New Years, we traveled back to Clinton to celebrate with my friends, which soon became Kasey’s as well.

“It’s about time!” Tessa shrieks as we walk into Marty’s. He’s still got Christmas lights strung up, and a tree decorated in the corner. I’m pretty sure Tess insisted it stay up, because Marty doesn’t seem like the type to keep that kind of thing up past the holiday.

Tess launches herself at me, nearly knocking me down in the process. I have to let go of Kasey before I accidentally make her fall. 

“You Skyped me two days ago,” I remind her, since she acts like it’s been years since we last talked.

“And you called him,” Will calls from the corner booth where he’s sitting with the rest of the guys. 

Tessa shoots her boyfriend a look. “Did I ask you, William? Hmm? I can miss Ian all I want to. It’s not the same picking on you, because you just take it. At least Ian dishes it back.”

Will just chuckles and shakes his head.

Tess turns back to us, her focus narrowing in on Kasey. “You must be Kasey!”

“Uh, no this is April,” I cut in, feigning offense before Kasey can say anything.

Tess pales. “What? I thought …” She looked from Kasey to me, her eyes wide.

I start cracking up, which causes her to smack my arm. “Ian James Wells, that was not funny!”

All the guys are laughing behind her, which causes her to turn around with her hands on her hips, and ’tude in her eyes. They all quickly stop laughing.

“I’m Kasey,” Kasey says, drawing Tess’s attention back to her. “Ignore this idiot.”

Tess grins. “Oh, I do on the daily.”

I roll my eyes. “I guess that explains why another cat picture ended up on our Twitter feed? Interesting how that happens even though we tell you not to post them.”

She sighs dramatically. “There was an album cover in the background!”

“Ollie was laying on half of it,” I deadpan.

“He wouldn’t sit still enough for me to take a picture showing the full cover. Consider it a sneak peek for the fans!”

Dylan snorts. “Of course, you’d find an angle to spin it.”

Tess balls up a napkin and throws it at Dylan’s head. He manages to dodge it, flipping her off.

Tess brushes the gesture off. “Well I’m glad that we get to finally meet you, Kasey. Ian’s been hogging you all to himself.”

I put my arm around Kasey’s shoulders. “Don’t be jealous, Tess. You know I have a special place in my heart for you, too.”

Tess rolls her eyes. “Don’t bullshit me, Wells. It’s unbecoming of you.”

“Oh, shit,” Dylan chirps. “She’s pulling out the big words now.”

“Unbecoming is a big word to you?” I muse, guiding Kasey over to our table.

“When your brain is the size of a walnut like Dylan’s, it sure is,” Tess retorts, plopping down next to Will.

Will kisses the side of her head, putting his arm around her shoulders. “What did we talk about, Tess?”

She grumbles. “That I have to play nice because it’s the holidays.”

“And?” Will prods.

She sighs. “And we have company, so I can’t scare her away.” She looks at me. “Can you believe that he thinks I’ll scare her away? I mean she’s dating you. Clearly, she can handle herself.”

That makes Kasey laugh. “I like her.”

Tessa beams.

“I think you just made her day,” I inform her, nuzzling my face into the crook of her neck.

She giggles when I find the spot that she’s ticklish, and can’t help but remember all the other areas I’ve found during my many explorations of her. 

Even still, we’re finding things out about each other that we didn’t before.

“Can you not make me vomit at the table, please?” Dylan groans, downing half his beer.

“You need to get laid, man,” Bash tells him, shaking his head.

Dylan eyes him. “You’re practically celibate, and you want to lecture me on getting some? Please.”

“Maybe you’ll be less sour,” Tess agrees.

Dylan groans. “Don’t help him! You’re supposed to be on my side.”

“You were a dick to me the whole time Ian was away. This is payback, Hilton.”

He mumbles something under his breath about getting another drink, and gets up to go see Marty at the bar.

Bash looks at Kasey. “So this one hasn’t scared you away yet. I’m impressed. Didn’t know he had it in him to be romantic.”

“Your jealousy is showing again. I know I don’t make you swoon like I make Kasey, but it’s for the better. You should really go talk to Opal. Maybe she can help you out.”

“Your matchmaking days are over, dude. Give it up.”

Kasey looks at me in confusion.

I shrug. “I like to help my friends out.”

“We call him Godmother,” Tess pipes in.

I glare at her. “No we don’t.”

Kasey laughs. “It fits.”

I groan. “Don’t encourage her. Doing that is like feeding a stray cat. It’ll just keep coming back for more.”

“Again with the cat references,” Tess huffs, rolling her eyes. 

Will picks at her sweatshirt, which has a printed picture of her cat in a Santa hat. Underneath, it says “Here Comes Santa Claws.” 

She looks down at her sweatshirt and sighs. “Okay, I see where they come from. But I’m just saying, that there are other animals to choose from.”

“Not with you,” everybody but Kasey says.

Once Tess and Will start their own conversation, and Dylan comes back with beers for himself, Bash, and Ben, I give Kasey a quick peck on the lips. 

“You okay? You’re quiet.”

She looks up at me, smiling. “Yeah, I’m fine. I’m glad I’m here. Your friends are just like you said they were.”

I see Tess cringe. “That could be seen as a bad thing depending on who you ask.”

Kasey laughs. “Well, I like you, so that’s all that matters.”

Tess smiles back before returning to her conversation with Will. 

“Jake always loved the New Year,” she admits quietly to me. “He always took the whole resolution thing very seriously. Said the New Year was meant for bettering yourself.”

“Did you make a resolution?”

She nods. “To be happy.”

“And do you think you’ll accomplish that?”

“I cheated,” she states, “because I’ve already accomplished it. With you. With Rose. Everything seems to be working out better than I imagined.”

I pull her into me, resting my cheek against the top of her head. “I’m happy to hear that.”

Tess asks Marty for a round of shots, and he comes over with a tray full.

“We all need to toast to something,” Tess insists, passing out the shot glasses.

I look at Kasey, and smile. “To risks.”

We stare at each other, both with a light in our eyes that seems to be a silent agreement in itself. 

“To risks,” the table echoes, downing their shots.

Kasey leans into me again, and I silently add, And to a life full of happiness.