I Knew You Were Trouble - Cassie Mae Page 0,54
one?”
“I knew I shouldn’t have said anything.” She plunges into the box with more gusto this time, grabbing the second to last gift—a pack of animal shaped earrings for Dem.
“It’s perfect timing.” I adjust again on the floor, my butt slowly inching toward her as the presents dwindle. “New Year’s Eve and all.”
“Yeah, and who would I invite?” She cocks her head like she’s got me, but that answer seems pretty damn obvious.
“Uh… your coworkers. Your art class. You know, the people you interact with.”
“And people would come?”
“It’s a party. In your massive house.”
“It’s just a guest house—” Her lips snap shut with the look I give her. We both know damn well that guest house can fit my apartment times five. “Okay… so I invite Troublemakers people.”
“And your art class.”
She suddenly sits straight up, her spine like a yard stick. “Zach.”
And with one word, my butt stops making its way across the room. Right… the guy she’s after. The guy I’m helping her get. How did I space him completely? I’m such a dumbass.
I clear my throat and scoot against my bed, pretending that was my intended destination all along. “Yeah. Could be good, you know. Midnight kiss.”
“A what?”
“Come on.” I roll my head toward her, crossing my arms. “You know what the New Year’s kiss is.”
“Yeah, but… do you think he’d want to kiss me?”
I don’t see why any guy wouldn’t want to kiss her, and my eyes drop to her lips and I imagine them underneath the lights at her guest house, confetti popping around her, her tongue running over the pink skin in anticipation for when the clock hits midnight.
“Sure.” The one word answer is so lackluster that I bet she doesn’t believe me.
She pushes the last gift next to the rest, the pile as organized as she is. I watch as she puts all the wrapping away, gathering up any extra pieces and setting them inside the box I kept the presents. Even though I sprayed half a can of air freshener in here earlier, the scent of her candied apple perfume hits me like a wave as she scoots up next to me.
Her eyes drop to my arm, and she reaches for my wrist. Her touch sends a flame up my arm, setting fire to my skin, like when kernels finally pop in the popcorn machine. Shit, I don’t think I’m breathing.
“Is there meaning to any of these?” she asks, boldly tracing the tattoos covering my forearm.
“Other than they’re cool and I like them?” I tease. My voice is kinda wobbly though. I’ve offered way too much about myself already tonight, and I’m worried more is about to come bursting out.
“Were you trying to be rebellious?” she says, her voice low and husky, and she has no clue how attractive she’s being which makes her all the more attractive.
“A bit.” I twist my arm so she can finish tracing the outline to the snake that finishes just below my inner elbow. It’s unbelievable—the sensation of her light touch. Her finger is on the colder side, causing each hair to stand on end and creating havoc in my chest, making my skin both colder and hotter at the same time. “I did get the lecture whenever I ‘wasted my money’ on the ink.”
“So you did it over and over?”
“When I had the chance.” I chuckle softly, my voicebox working overtime to function. I could easily fall asleep to this, but at the same time, I could see myself staying awake just to watch her all night.
She twists my arm back and forth, examining each tattoo. Her nose almost hits my skin when she tries to read the time on the tiny pocket watch that dangles at the edge of my wrist.
“Have you ever thought of this?”
“Getting a tattoo?” She snorts. “Uh, no.”
“I meant designing.” I bump my shoulder into hers. “You’d be good at it.”
“Such faith for someone who hasn’t seen much of my work.” She drops my arm, but I keep my hand upturned on her knee, resting it there, begging it not to twist and hold her no matter how much it wants to. Her lips stretch open wide for a long yawn, and I realize just how much it’s past her bedtime as well.
“You’re getting better at this staying up thing,” I tease.
“Hey, it’s a whole half hour past my usual breaking point.” She gives the door a tired look. “Do you think Maddie will be much longer? I want to set