I Knew You Were Trouble - Cassie Mae Page 0,44
eases through the heavy branches inside me, and the thorns start to retract. I scoot closer without really thinking about it and knock my knee against hers. “What’re you doing here?”
Candace has art class on Mondays, so she doesn’t work the late shift, which is about to start. I still haven’t found sleep, but her presence is better than an energy drink.
She lifts her hand, her paycheck clutched between her fingers. “Forgot to pick it up Friday.”
Oh to be in the position to forget pay day. My gut feels sticky and heavy as I realize that every bit of money on mine is now going to my dad.
“So… are you not inviting your parents for Christmas?”
I raise an eyebrow, and that apologetic wrinkle makes an encore appearance.
“Sorry. It’s not my business.”
“No.” I lift a shoulder.
“No it’s not my business or no you’re not inviting them?”
I chuckle and fall against the back cushion. My knee is still pressed against hers. I’d move it, but I kinda like the warmth, and it’s not like she’s straddling me on my bike again. I thought for sure my brain would short-circuit that night and I’d prove every horrible bike horror of hers right.
“I let them know they can come if they want. But I need Demi there.” My eyes focus on my lap. “I’ve got her tree.”
“Is it decorated yet?” she teases.
“Maddie made it look much better, yeah.”
“Good.” She leans into the couch with me, and I wonder why she’s not more in a hurry but grateful she’s sitting in my silence with me. Almost like she’s sucking the tension out of the atmosphere around me bit by bit.
“I hope they come,” she says after a minute.
“Hmm?”
“Your parents.” She rolls her head to meet my eyes. “I hope they come for Christmas.”
I’d like to say me too, but I’m not sure what I want.
“You close to your parents?” I ask, dropping my gaze to her leg. She’s wearing an awful pair of red sweats, her fingers playing with the drawstring. The tiniest spot of paint spatter stains the hip.
“Yes. Not physically, but… emotionally?” She laughs. “I know I’m lucky in that aspect.”
“You’re lucky in a lot of aspects,” I say pointedly. She rolls her eyes but doesn’t disagree.
“I’m not lucky enough to have Christmas plans, though.” She nudges me. “Just found out Mom and Dad are stuck in Paris.”
“How sad for them.”
“Right?” Her smile falters. “So it’ll be me and the spider’s corpse for Christmas this year.”
“We both know you cleaned that corpse up a long time ago.”
“Can’t fool you.”
“You really got no one to spend Christmas with?” With her money and comforts, I feel like she should have some party to go to or some fancy place to fly to in a private jet.
But she shakes her head and lifts a shoulder. “I’m used to being alone.”
Well, that’s not okay with me. I curl my hand in a fist and lightly knock on her upper thigh. “You should hang with me and my sisters.”
“Yeah, okay.”
“I’m serious.” I lift my eyes and wait until she meets my gaze. But when she does, I lose my nerve, and I scramble for an excuse to have her at my house. “I could use the help, actually. It’s my first year playing Santa.”
“You haven’t even wrapped anything, have you,” she accuses. Accurately.
“I’d first have to get wrapping paper…”
“You are hopeless.” She sighs, but it’s light and friendly, like I’m not hopeless at all. “You do realize it’s the twenty-first.”
“Is that bad?”
“Pete…”
“See?” I put my hands together. “Please help me.”
She snorts and pushes my hands down to my lap. Her hand lingers longer than usual, and she jerks back, eyeing me like she hopes I didn’t notice.
I noticed.
“What time?” she croaks out, reaching up to twist at the end of her ponytail.
“Well, I’ll be picking Demi up at seven-ish when I get off work. We’ll do cookies and shit that night.”
“You got the Christmas Eve shift? Yuck.”
“Requested it.” The corner of my mouth twitches. “Need the holiday time.”
She nods, taking in a long, deep breath. When she breathes out, I get the scent of candied apples—something I’ve come to associate with her. “I can head over early. Get all the gifts wrapped and hidden for you. Get out of your hair so you can have time with your sisters.”
“You don’t have to do that.” The way she jerks at my haste must have her wondering if I don’t want her in my place without me, but really, I