Total pages in book: 50
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 47521 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 238(@200wpm)___ 190(@250wpm)___ 158(@300wpm)
Cassie moves to block my path. “Absolutely not. Eat with us, then Haven and I can catch up.”
I look between Haven and Cassie, and they’re both nodding their heads. “Okay, sure. Let’s eat.”
I go grab another place setting and then wait for the women to sit. “Would you like water, soda, or wine?”
“Water,” they say in unison.
I grab three bottles of water and carry them to the table.
I sit down, and the conversation is light as we talk about a little bit of everything.
Haven shrugs. “So we going to talk about Dick?”
I practically choke on my chicken Parmesan, and Cassie rolls her eyes. “Ignore her. She’s talking about Richard, my ex.” She turns to Haven. “There’s nothing to talk about. I broke up with him.” It’s obvious that Cassie is trying to change the subject. “What’s new with you?”
Haven looks at me before she answers, “Don’t judge me.”
I hold my hands up. “No judgment here.”
I try to keep my head down and eat. I’m not sure what she’s about to say, but after the dick comment, I feel like I should be ready.
“So you know the new therapist I’ve been going to, right?”
Cassie nods. “Yeah, you said you really like her and you can tell a difference since you started going to her.”
Haven nods and eats a bite of salad. “Yeah, well, I did like her. She wants me to do something, and now I think she’s crazy. I don’t know if I should just tell her no or find a new therapist or what.”
Cassie lets her fork hover over her plate. “You’ve had three therapists in the last year. What does she want you to do?”
She blows out a breath. “She wants me to hire a cuddler.”
Cassie rears back, and I know my eyebrows lift into my hairline. Cassie is shaking her head in confusion. “She wants you to hire a cuddler. What does that even mean?”
Haven looks at me, and it’s obvious she’s embarrassed. I act like I’m completely into the food I’m eating. “I guess since I have my ‘issues,’ she thinks that if I hired a cuddler I can work on stress, anxiety, and my boundary issues.”
She looks at me again. “You didn’t know Cassie’s best friend was crazy, right?”
I laugh. “I don’t think you’re crazy.”
Cassie’s quiet and then blurts out, “You have to do it.”
Haven looks at her in surprise. “Of everyone, I thought you’d agree with me. It’s crazy.”
Cassie is shaking her head. “It’s not crazy. You know you have ‘issues,’ and I can see how this would help. They’re professionals, right? It’s not like you’re just picking someone off the street or anything. It would be safe.”
Haven doesn’t seem so sure. “Yeah, I guess.” She picks at her salad. “Let’s talk about it later. What about you, Baker? What do you do?”
I answer her, and Haven is looking between us and then starts asking me one question after another. The more we talk, the more Cassie starts to look uncomfortable. The more Haven asks me questions, the quieter Cassie gets.
Cassie is looking between us, and she doesn’t have to say anything for me to know what she’s thinking. I should have known when she talked about Haven in the past and mentioned men always fall for Haven that I should tread lightly.
I lean forward. “So you’re Cassie's best friend, right?”
Haven blinks and nods her head. “Yes.”
I nod, hoping I’m doing the right thing. “So you want what’s best for her?”
Haven looks at Cassie and then back to me. “Absolutely.”
I nod and let out a breath. “Okay. Cassie and I are dating.”
I know she wanted to keep us a secret, but she surely can trust her best friend. I look at Cassie, hoping she’s not going to be mad at me, and I’m happy I said it because she’s smiling ear to ear at me. She lights up. I reach out my hand for her, and she threads our fingers together.
Haven lets out an excited whoop. “I knew it. I knew it. Why didn’t you tell me?”
I listen to the two of them talk, and Cassie is no longer unsure as she sits here. I don’t know if she thought I would like her friend better than her or what, but somehow, I need to show her that I’ll always choose her.
After we finish eating, I clear the table, insisting they stay where they’re at.
I bring in dessert and set it in the middle of the table. Cassie gasps. “Is that the famous cinnamon Blaze cake from Red’s?”
I nod. “It is.”
I bring plates and utensils and set them on the table. I lean down and kiss Cassie on the lips. She blushes prettily, and I cup her chin. “I’m going to get some work done in my office. Just holler if you need anything. Haven, it was nice to meet you.”