Chapter 14

Chapter 14

Cassie

Ifinally found my grip on reality again sometime around when I came out of the shower. I think it was partly the look on Parker’s face, down the hall and in the kitchen, when she saw me step out of the bathroom in a towel again.

She’d made a lot of comments about it. She clearly liked the look. I wondered if she’d like the look without the towel, too.

“Bathroom’s clear,” I said. “Sorry I took so long.”

She took a long sip from her water bottle, just dragging her gaze down over me, before she let go with a pop and said, “Who’s surprised?”

I was surprised that she… well… looked at me like that. I was filled with butterflies the whole time I got dressed, my thoughts in a million places, and once I was sitting on the couch in front of the TV watching Anyone’s Guess and Parker finally dropped down on the sofa next to me, her hair still wet, it gave my butterflies butterflies. The look of her shorts and then an oversized hoodie covering them up made it look like she just didn’t have pants on, and she looked great without pants on.

“You put on our show without me,” she said. We’d been rewatching Anyone’s Guess together, and it gave me fuzzy feelings every time she called it our show. “I feel betrayed.”

“You’ll get over it, Scruffy.” Still, I paused the episode and rewound to the beginning. “Valentina Jacobs isn’t even in this episode. You wouldn’t miss it.”

“Sierra Wheaton is in it.”

“For one second in the background.”

She popped open the baggie of carrot sticks she got on her way to the couch, taking one out and crunching on it. “Yeah, and the background feels the loss every other second of the episode. Are you doing okay, Sparkles?”

“Yeah, I’m doing okay. Thank you. I mean, again, you know. For all of that.”

“What, throwing a drink at Gary?” She ate another carrot stick before dropping the bag onto the space between us, and I took one automatically. “I told you, that was a favor for myself.”

I rolled my eyes, smiling to myself. “Parker Ferris. For someone who tells me to compliment you all the time, you sure can’t take a compliment.”

“I take compliments. They just have to be true compliments. I’m not nice.”

“Uh-huh. Sure thing, dearest. Did you mean it with the Q&A session?”

She sighed, slumping back onto the sofa. “Yeah, what the hell. Your followers will love it.”

“Our followers.”

“Your followers.”

I laughed. “Okay, little antisocialite. I’ve already gathered a ton of Q&A questions.”

“When were you doing that?” She popped another carrot, crunching it absently. “Going behind my back and interacting with our followers.”

“Oh, so now they’re our followers?” I put my hands up with an over-dramatic sigh. “I swear, Parker.”

“Unicorn’s getting feisty,” she said, elbowing me. “I like it. Now just do it when you’re in the towel.”

I fumbled with my phone, dropping it on the floor. “Oh—uh—well—” I cleared my throat hard, trying my very, very very best to suppress the blush. I wasn’t doing a good job, I knew. “Didn’t think you’d like a difficult girl in a towel. I thought you’d like an easy girl in a towel.”

“Eh… I’ll take either one. Whichever you’re feeling.”

My ears burned, and I bent for my phone, hiding my face. “I see you’re pretty easy, for someone so difficult.”

“Oh, you noticed that, did you?” She hummed to herself. “What are you planning on doing with that information?”

God, she really was hitting on me. Even I could pick up on that. Was Sasha right, it was just because I was a girl and she wanted to sleep with me?

And if that was all there was to it… would I really say no?

Of course I wanted to date Parker. I was head over heels, truly madly deeply in with her. But I knew that was impossible, and if all I could get with her would be casual sex…

“You shorted out,” Parker laughed. “Hey, where’d you go last night, anyway?”

“Huh?” It tugged me back to reality. “Oh, uh… I met Sasha at Strawberry,” I mumbled, looking down at the floor.

“Oh yeah?” Was I imagining it, or did she sound disappointed? I was projecting. Just a matter of wanting her to be disappointed I met another girl at the lesbian bar. “Did you finally make out with her? You know she’s dying to.”

I cleared my throat, looking out the window. “Yes, I… do know that, if we are being honest. But no! I did not make out with her, and I do not have any plans to do so.”

“Ah, I see we are speaking in extended sentences and eschewing contradictions. This is the mark of a truly flustered Unicorn.”

I swatted her. “Okay, look, Parker, I’m gonna need you to, like, literally… stop.”

“Oh, literally stop. I was planning on just figuratively stopping.”

I dropped back onto the couch, opening my notes app to my recorded questions. “Yeah, I know she’s into me. And I already turned her down. And I’m not kissing her, okay? Now, let’s just… let’s record.”

She shifted closer to me on the sofa, close enough I could smell the pomegranate on her still-damp hair, equal parts sweet and tart. “Not going to do another few skincare rituals and put on your trendiest makeup look?”

“I’m rocking natural makeup right now. I look good, right?”

“Absolute showstopper, yeah, yeah, fine, let’s get it over with. Hi, I’m Parker, I’m gay.”

I swatted her again. “Parker. We haven’t started recording. I didn’t even give you a question. And it’s your prerogative when you want to come out, but give me a little warning when you do?”

“So many rules. Fine. What’s the question?”

I checked the camera, making sure we were centered in the frame and the lighting was good, before I hit record and settled back onto the couch with the phone up. “All right,” I said. “We’re running. Hey guys! Thanks so much for checking in with us. I finally managed to coerce Parker into doing a Q&A session—”

“She threatened to leave the bathroom sink dripping.”

“You offered because you knew I was having a rough day, Parker.”

She wrinkled her nose. “Ew, don’t say that. You’ll make me sound nice.”

“No fate has ever been worse, I’m sure, sweetheart,” I said, rolling my eyes.

“You’re speaking sarcastically, but you’re telling the truth, darling,” she sighed, taking another carrot stick.

“So,” I said, turning back to the camera, “I’ve grabbed some of our favorite questions you guys have asked in the comments—”

“Some of your favorite questions. Don’t blame me.”

“—and Parker and I are gonna answer them together! It’ll be fun, right, Scruffy?”

“No. I’m telling you now, I’m going to hate it.”

I shot the camera a conspiratorial wink. “She’s going to love it. Now, first question,” I said, pulling up my phone. “From user… brandy-and-sunshine. Hey, you know what you like. Thanks for commenting! Brandy-and-sunshine’s question is… we know you’re all about the mornings, but do you ever enjoy late nights?”

“Yes,” Parker just about tripped over herself saying. “Yes, I cannot emphasize enough to you, yes. I do. And then Unicorn shakes me awake with that demonic horror in her eyes every morning dragging me kicking and screaming from the bed. I’m clutching at the bedframe like it’s a horror movie and the demon’s got me by the ankle, but my grip isn’t strong enough.”

“Do more angel arms and your arms will tone up, dearest,” I said. “We’ll throw in an extra set of that Monday morning!”

“Please, god, kill me now,” Parker said, dragging her hands over her face.

“Yeah, I like late nights sometimes, too,” I said, turning back to the camera.

“She’s talking about, like… nine o’clock.”

“I was up until almost midnight last night!”

“Yeah, because you were making out with Pinky at the lesbian bar—”

“Okay, that is getting cut from the recording, Miss Ferris,” I laughed, shoving her. “And we were not making out!”

“Yeah, sure.”

I stuck out my lower lip. I needed her to not talk so gleefully about me with other girls. I had no idea how to convey I just wanted her. “I’m really not into Sasha, okay, Parker?”

“Oh, you said my name. That means you’re extra sincere. All right, all right. So who did you make out with?”

“Nobody, Parker.”

“Ooh, there’s the name drop again.”

I rolled my eyes, smiling secretly. “Second question!” I said, hoping my expression looked cool. “This one’s from… spark-plugs-and-pajama-pants. That’s an inside-joke someone has that I’m not getting. Thanks for commenting! Spark-plugs-and-pajama-pants wants to know…” Oh, this was a bad question. I’d been getting all soft and dreamy when I’d picked this one out. No turning back now, though. “What do you think your soulmate is like?”

Parker snorted. “Oh, here’s a question.”

“Well…” I chewed my lip. “My soulmate, huh? It’s hard to say. I think we all change a lot through the years, and the most important thing in my soulmate is someone who’s going to love all the versions of me in the future.”

“She’d be great in bed,” Parker said, and I almost fell from the couch, whirling on her.

“Parker. Are you serious?” I laughed. “Is that how you want to come out on the page?”

“Frankly, I don’t know how they don’t already know I’m gay.” She popped another carrot stick, and I just put my hands up.

“Good lord. Well, there you have it, everyone. I guess this is Parker’s official coming-out post?”

“Yeah, I’m a lesbian. What’s the next question?”

My heart hammered, Sasha’s advice running through my mind. There was nothing wrong with it, right? People weren’t going to immediately assume I was a lesbian just because Parker was.

“For crying out loud, Parker. At least let me say I’m proud of you or something?”

She wrinkled her nose again. “Gross, dude. I don’t do that kind of thing. What’s the next question?”

I sighed, giving the camera my biggest shrug. “Well, I guess that’s that. God, am I going to title this something to do with you coming out, or just leave it buried in the video?”

“Ugh. Just don’t put anything corny up with it. Give me the next question already.”

“You are so difficult,” I said, pulling up my phone. “Next question, from starburst-sunrises! This is a fun one. Thanks for this cute question! Starburst-sunrises says, your favorite cozy wintertime activity?”

“Sex.”

“Parker. I’m cutting that out. Try to at least keep it kind of PG-13.”

She put her hands up. “Hey, I’m telling the truth.”

I turned back to the camera. “This is a really good one. I always like snuggling up in a blanket with hot chocolate and watching those cheesy Christmas romcoms? You know the ones. But Parker’s not into it.”

“We’ve been watching Anyone’s Guess, though,” Parker said, crunching another carrot.

“Ugh, I love Anyone’s Guess. I found out Parker was a fan when I moved in, and we started rewatching together from the first season. We should grab some hot chocolate from Westwind and cozy up to marathon some more tonight. Since you were already trying to sneak ahead without me, little rebel.”

“This is the one thing I share with Cass, and I’m mortified,” Parker said. “But we like it for entirely different reasons. Unicorn just likes it because it’s full of Andrean in-jokes. I like it because Valentina Jacobs is in it.”

“She will not shut up about Valentina Jacobs being hot,” I sighed.

“I’ll shut up about it once she stops being hot,” Parker said. “Which doesn’t seem to be happening.”

“What about you, Parker? What other kind of cozy—”

“The sauna.”

I paused. “Seriously? That’s a thing you do?”

“Yeah. Haven’t been in a while, though.”

“Huh. I don’t think I’ve ever…”

“You’re kidding.” She turned to me. “Let’s go together. I’ll get more of you in a towel.”

I pursed my lips, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. “I’m cutting that from the recording.”

“Well, since we’re cutting this from the recording, let me also say you don’t necessarily need a towel. You can rent a private room.”

The knots in my throat got butterflies in their stomachs. “Uh—I—well—” I swallowed hard, aware of the heat blossoming in my face. “I guess that’s where you go for two of those cozy wintertime activities you like put together?”

“I’m not saying I haven’t had sex in a sauna room before. It’s good. It feels kind of exhibitionistic, and you’re both hot and slick.”

God, my thighs were getting tingly. I didn’t need to be thinking of Parker having sex in a sauna, her hair damp, that smell of pomegranate coming through stronger as a towel dropped off her… her thighs slick and smooth against skin, fingers already moistened…

“I don’t know if I’ve ever seen you that red,” Parker said. “Damn. You look like a cherry candy.”

“Well, I’m sure it’s all the same to you, licking candy, licking girls…”

She arched an eyebrow. “You know there’s still a camera running, right? It’s kind of hot talking about this with a camera on.”

I put my hands up. “You started this, Parker Ferris.”

“Ooh, I just got full-named. Are you thinking about me naked in a sauna licking a girl?”

“What would be the point in denying it, Parker?” I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. My face felt hot to the touch. That was new. I really must have been red even for me.

“I’m telling you, you should try it sometime.”

I sank back into the sofa. “The sauna, or licking a girl?”

She grinned. “Or being licked?”

God, I was getting wet at this point. I should have been embarrassed enough to die on the spot. But instead, I somehow heard myself saying, “By you specifically?”

She shrugged. “I’ve been told I’m good with my tongue.”

I didn’t need to know that. I felt like I really did need to know that, though. “Well, in that case. I’m sure you’ve got all the girls thinking about you licking them in a sauna.”

“Trust me, dude, I am not just limited to the sauna. Were we going to do more questions?”

“I think I’m going to need literally a year to stop looking like cherry candy.”

“You know, a steamy bathroom works a lot like a sauna.”

Well, we definitely had one of those handy. I couldn’t stop picturing Parker naked in the shower, shoving me up against the shower wall, her hands slick running down my front…

“I’m pretty sure you already know this, but that doesn’t help with the blushing situation.”

She arched her eyebrows. “What, never had sex in a bathroom before? Dude. You’re seriously missing out.”

“Forget it. I’ll explain the blushing away if anyone asks. Next question,” I said, turning back to the camera, struggling to suppress my blush. “This next one is from, uh… brfaephshn271! I think I pronounced that wrong. Is that supposed to sound like anything? I’m really not sure. Okay. Thanks for the question! Your question is, uh… what’s your coffee order? Oh, this is topical.”

“White mocha, medium, triple shot, ristretto, whole milk steamed to one forty. Depending on the place, maybe I’ll add a pump of lavender, or a drizzle of caramel. Sharp’s Coffee Company makes an incredible white mocha with coarse lavender sugar.”

“Chocolate syrup in a cup to drizzle over a girl’s naked body.”

Finally, finally, I caught Parker off-guard, blinking fast as she whirled on me. “Oh,” she said, finally. “Yeah. Actually, I think I’ll change my order to that one. Or maybe not, because Cass has already got it covered.”

“Oh, I’ll get it covered, all right,” I said. “But don’t worry. I’ll clean it all up.”

She shifted. “Uh… why do you suddenly have top energy, Cass?”

“I’m just answering the question, Parker,” I said, all smiles and innocence.

“You know, I don’t think that’s something I’ve ever heard you order before.”

“I’ve got chocolate syrup in the fridge,” I said. “I don’t need to order it.”

“Well, look at you. Ready for everything.”

“You want me to do the rest of this Q&A in a towel?”

She looked me over, appraising. “Tell you the truth, I think I’d like without the towel better.”

I pulled my shirt off.

I just about tore the thing off, grabbing it on one side and wrenching it up over my head, flinging it to the side. Parker flinched, eyes wide, looking me over with a slow nod.

“I can get to that look right now,” I said, my voice husky and hot enough I didn’t even recognize it.

“You know what’s funny?” Parker said, her eyes still fixed on my black-and-pink bra. “I can get myself to that look too.”

“Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Parker.”

“Dude, don’t tempt me.”

“Oh, is this not tempting?” I stood up, my mind left somewhere miles and miles behind all of this, and I unbuttoned my pants, dropping them before I could rethink it. The way Parker bit her lip, looking me over, that made it all worth it.

She was flushed. Just the littlest bit—she had a warm, peachy blush that didn’t stand out much—but she had the tiniest little freckles that only showed when she was flushed like this, little light spots over the flush. I felt like that was a lifetime’s worth of victory prizes.

“Cass, the… the camera’s running.”

“Do you want me to turn it off?” I growled.

“Nope. Just… thought you might want to know.”

“Is this tempting, Parker?” I slipped my fingers under the waistband of my panties, and based on the way Parker bit her lip, the answer was yes.

“Dude, do you even know me? Tempting’s kind of an understatement. Don’t say you didn’t ask for it, Sparkles.” She came up onto her knees on the sofa, pulling her sweatshirt up over her head, and for all of my guts and daring, I lost it when I saw her in those tiny little sleep shorts and a sports bra.

Her slender frame was pockmarked with more light freckles that only barely showed under the light, and I let go of my panties with a snap, arms falling to my sides as I took in the sight of her. A tattoo of a violet rose from the upper band of her bra to her shoulder, another tattoo of a colorful bird nestled in branches on her upper arm… I’d never known she had tattoos. I wanted to touch them, those little marks of her that only people who got this close with her ever saw.

I wanted to touch every single inch of her.