6. Cassidy

cassidy

. . .

L ike clockwork, Travis is knocking on my door fifteen minutes after his message. After my talk with Ingrid, I’m in my own head. I glance at my ring and take three deep breaths in through my nose and out through my mouth, reminding myself that Travis and I are friends. Nothing more.

I open the door and my stomach does that stupid whoosh thing it likes to do whenever I see him. His eyes fall to my left hand and I swiftly cross my arms over my chest to hide my ring. “You have exactly three minutes. I have to take a nap before work.”

His lips tilt up. “Can I come in?”

Opening the door wider, I gesture inside. As he passes me, there’s the faint smell of citrus and cinnamon, making my heart ache. It isn’t only physical attraction; I have to actively keep myself from reaching for him. It’s part of the reason I’ve avoided Travis since I started dating Zack. I’ve been cheated on before; I’d never do that to my boyfriend— fiancé .

The moment the door clicks shut, Travis sighs, “I’m sorry, Cass.” I keep my back turned, hand on the handle. Not only does he remember the stupid pact, he never intended to collect on it. It twists my heart and tears threaten the corner of my eyes. Tears I don’t deserve to shed. I’m a happily engaged woman, there’s nothing to be upset about. “Cass?”

I open the door an inch. “You should go.”

Travis comes up behind me, reaches above me, and closes the door. “Not until we talk.” I remain rooted in place. If I turn, I’ll do something incredibly stupid. “You’re not going to marry Zack.”

“Why not?” It comes out more breathless than I’d like.

“Because you’re supposed to marry me.”

“Marry you?” I huff a humorless laugh. “You were there last night. And even if you weren’t, word travels fast here. You know I’m engaged.”

He leans in, his warm breath fanning my neck as he whispers, “I was going to propose, but he beat me to it.” The sensation makes my nipples peak and I’ve never been so thankful for a padded bra. Gripping my hip, he slowly turns me. I can’t meet his eyes, instead focusing on the small scar that splits his eyebrow for a moment before looking away. “Am I too late?”

“Too late? Only by a decade. Even if I wasn’t engaged, I have a boyfriend, Travis,” I seethe.

“Dump him.”

“What? You’re not serious.” I huff a small laugh and his nostrils flair. “Oh, fuck. You are serious. For what? So you can collect on a stupid pact we made when we were younger? Fuck. That. You made your choice over and over again, and it was never me.”

Travis bites his lip to hide his smile, but it still meets his eyes. What the hell does he find so amusing? “You’re right, I didn’t choose you when I should’ve, but it’s always been you, Cass.”

“So, I break up with my boyfriend, and you’ll wife me up? You hardly know me. Sure, we grew up together, but we never dated. For all I know, you’re terrible in bed. Then where would I be? Married to a man who doesn’t know how to properly fuck me? I’d rather be single.” His eyes darken and he leans in to kiss me, but I stop him with my fingers to his lips. “I don’t think so. You don’t get to come in here and pretend we’ve been something and demand I break up with Zack. You had years to choose me.” I reach behind me to the door handle and tug it open. “Goodbye, Travis. Your three minutes are up.”

With a wolfish grin, he steps back for me to open the door. “The pact was if we’re not married. You’re not, and neither am I. We haven’t dated, but that ends now.”

As he steps onto my porch, I protest, “I can’t date you. I have a?—”

“Boyfriend? Fiancé? Zack’s a great guy, but you’re not going to marry him. See you around, wildcat.” He struts back to his truck with unmatched swagger.

Asshole.

I close the door and rest my back against it. Sliding down the cold wood until my ass hits the floor, my heart is beating a mile a minute. The audacity of that man! He thinks he can come in here and turn my world upside down…

He doesn’t just think it, he ruined everything.