Last on the List (Wait With Me #5)(58)

It’s late Friday night when I hear the faint buzz of a sander running in the garage. Everly is in her pajamas and watching a movie in the basement, finally seeming to be in better spirits after we talked at dinner. Apparently, today wasn’t the best for her, but she assured me nothing was wrong, just an off day, so it makes me think Cassandra’s texts she sent me earlier might be right.

Cassandra: Tough day today. ? Everly cried a lot after she hung up with her mom and just couldn’t seem to shake the emotions away all day. I even tried to do a dance party with her on the deck, and she wasn’t in the mood.

Me: What can I do to help?

Cassandra: Ice cream always helps me when I’m feeling blue.

Me: I’ll bring it home when I’m done at the office. You think she’s just homesick for her mom?

Cassandra: Yeah, I’m sure that’s part of it. I also think it could be hormones. I’m not a mother, but I’m a woman, and when she broke down crying because she misspelled a word on her book report, I knew it wasn’t just missing her mom.

Me: Maybe a quiet night at home tonight?

Cassandra: Definitely. And perhaps some screen time. I know you try to limit her, but she’s a young woman whose body could be changing. It’s a lot to think about, and sometimes the escape of a good movie helps calm the nerves.

Me: For once, I agree with you, Cassandra.

Cassandra: It’s about time. ?

Me: Thank you for letting me know.

Cassandra: Always. XoXo

I head downstairs and find Everly still engrossed in her movie. Her eyes look bright and happy as she offers me a quick smile, so I leave her to continue watching some young Lindsay Lohan film in peace.

I walk through the kitchen toward my bedroom but pause when I reach the door that leads into the garage. I should really talk to Cassandra. This is the first day that Everly has struggled since she started, and I want her to know that I appreciate her comforting my kid.

Plus, I haven’t had time to really talk to her all week. She seems jumpy every time I bring her a cup of coffee, and I’m not trying to freak her out. I’m just trying to show her that she’s appreciated. And she is. Today she sent a photo of Everly cuddled into her chest. Her eyes were red, and her smile was kind of sad, but I still saved the damn thing to my phone because she was cared for. That’s not something I take lightly.

I make my way out to the workshop and find Cassandra hunched over a long piece of wood clipped to a sawhorse. She’s running a handheld sander over it and my eyes can’t help but slide over her curves. They are still just as alluring as they’ve always been. I wonder if my teeth marks are still on her ass?

My dick reacts to that errant thought almost immediately, pressing against the zipper of my jeans. It’s interesting because with most women I hook up with, the attraction fades almost instantly after we sleep together. But with Cassandra, I didn’t want to leave her bed the next day. When my brother texted me to ask what time to bring Everly home, I nearly begged him to keep her one more night so I could continue the fuck-a-thon with the nanny.

God, I’m fucked up.

And I will not allow sex to be a priority over time with my child, no matter how mind-blowing it is.

“Oh hey,” Cassandra says, jumping when she spots me leering at her from the doorway of her shop. “Didn’t hear you come in.”

She shuts her sander off and pops out her earbuds before pushing her goggles on top of her head. She’s wearing that backward green hat again, and I swear to fuck, it’s the sexiest thing I’ve ever seen her in. And I’ve seen her naked.

“How’s Everly?” she asks immediately, and it just somehow makes her even more attractive.

“She’s good. Watching some Lindsay Lohan movie downstairs,” I reply, making my way over to what she’s working on.

“Which one?”

“She’s young in the movie and has a horrible British accent.”

“Parent Trap!” Cassandra exclaims excitedly. “I loved that movie as a kid. You know I thought Lindsay Lohan really had a twin sister. My sister told me the twin hated the fame they got from the movie and went into hiding. Thought that was dead-ass facts until like two years ago.”

“Seriously?” I stare back, waiting for the punchline that doesn’t come.

“Yeah, I’m not proud.” Her lips purse as she removes her leather apron to yank on her top to cool herself down. I have to fight my eyes from ogling her chest as she adds, “Anyway, did she enjoy the five kinds of ice cream you came home with?”

Cassandra’s taunting expression is something I would really like to kiss off her face. How is she mocking me for buying too much ice cream when she literally just told me she thought Lindsay Lohan was a twin until recently?

I shrug and run a hand through my hair. “I maybe went a little overboard on flavor selection.”

“You think?” She giggles.

I pin her with a heated look. “I’m an overachiever when I want to be.” She bites her lip, causing me to bite mine as well, and it suddenly feels very hot in here. I pause before adding, “I just wanted to stop in here to say thanks again for today. She’s had issues with anxiety in the past, and it’s usually something she wants her mom for, but she seemed really comforted by you. That means a lot.”

“Oh, anytime.” Cassandra gestures to her body playfully. “It’s hard work being a female and constantly trying to fuck the patriarchy.”