Mistakes Were Made(28)
“You saw the towels in your room? And Parker showed you where the shower is?”
“Yeah,” Cassie said. “I’m good, thanks.”
She texted Acacia before she was all the way up the stairs.
Cassie [Today 8:09 AM]
Please tell me not to do anything stupid.
Acacia [8:12 AM]
Dude 1) it is too early and 2) you owe me so much for being this good of a friend to you because I really feel like I’m being a shit friend to Parker.
Acacia [8:12 AM]
But yeah no, don’t do anything stupid
Cassie [8:13 AM]
Even if it seems like she was flirting with me?
Acacia [8:13 AM]
Especially then
The problem was it did feel like Erin was flirting. Maybe Erin was just that nice, but no one smiled that much in the morning, did they? Even if they did, it was a specific sort of smile; the kind Cassie had first seen across a crowded bar when she got caught staring. Maybe it was just Erin being an adult. Being mature. Maybe she smiled like that at all of Parker’s friends. Maybe Cassie just looked at Erin through heart eyeglasses like the ones Acacia loved to take selfies in. It was probably nothing, but it felt like something. It felt like Erin wanted her.
They didn’t have pancakes for breakfast in the end, because Parker didn’t get up until eleven, and they were meeting Parker’s friend Lila for lunch at noon. Cassie had spent the morning cooped up in the guest room on her laptop. She didn’t shake off her anxiety until they were out of the house.
After lunch with Lila, an Indian girl who was so pretty it wasn’t fair, Parker’s friend Caleb, who Cassie had already heard plenty of stories about, joined them for coffee. Lila and Caleb were both easy to get along with, mostly because they liked embarrassing Parker as much as Cassie did. Cassie retold the story of Sam and Parker at the party, adding in some parts about groping she hadn’t actually seen, but from the way Parker’s cheeks went red, apparently happened.
They were out for hours, and it was so fun that Cassie forgot to be anxious when they came home to Erin in a tight V-neck sweater. She looked really fucking good, and Cassie enjoyed it instead of worrying. They watched TV and during commercials, Parker updated Erin on her friends. Erin grinned as Parker talked about Lila’s plans to study abroad next year. Cassie couldn’t help but watch her, only a little embarrassed by how blown away she was by Erin’s gorgeousness. Erin caught her staring, and her grin went bigger. It was exactly like the night they met, and maybe it was just her good mood, but Cassie was completely unconvinced that Erin wasn’t interested in her.
“You look happy,” Erin commented when Parker was in the bathroom.
“Yeah,” Cassie said. “It was a good day. I’m glad I came.”
Erin smiled. “I am, too.”
They held eye contact until Parker came back into the room. Cassie knew she was in trouble when she didn’t even consider texting Acacia.
Erin made them dinner—it was delicious, again, Parker totally wasn’t lying about her mom making good food—and they got ready to meet up with more of Parker’s friends. While Parker rummaged through the pantry for snacks to bring, Erin caught Cassie by the arm. Her pulse shot up.
“Here, take my number,” Erin said. Her smile had a hint of mischief. “If you need a sober ride home, let me know. Parker tends to lose her phone when she’s out with her friends.”
“She doesn’t lose it,” Cassie said as she programmed the number back into her phone, under Erin this time. “She has to give it away so she won’t drunk text people.”
“Cassie, honestly, could you stop?” Parker yelled from the pantry. “I know you like embarrassing me, but she’s my mom. Do you have to tell her everything?”
“You can’t invite me and then tell me I’m not allowed to have any fun,” Cassie called back.
Erin smirked at her. “Do you have to do the same with your phone, so you don’t drunk text anyone?”
Cassie ducked her head, trying not to blush. “Nah,” she said. “I’m usually pretty good about it.”
Parker reappeared, then, three bags of chips in her arms and a glower on her face when she looked at Cassie. “Are you ready?”
“Yeah, let’s go.”
“Bye, Mom.”
“Bye, honey,” Erin said. As the door closed behind them, she added, “Make sure you don’t text anyone you shouldn’t.”
“I literally hate you,” Parker told Cassie.
“You invited me to be a buffer with your mom! I’m doing a good job!”
“Maybe too good of one.”
Cassie grinned. She really hoped that was true.
* * *
When Cassie came downstairs the next morning, Erin had a cup of coffee ready for her.
“Good morning,” she said, offering the mug. “I poured it when I heard you coming downstairs.”
It looked like it had exactly the right cream-to-coffee ratio. Cassie’s chest felt warm.
“Thanks,” Cassie said, taking the cup from her and taking a sip. “It’s perfect.”
Erin smiled. She sat at the counter and Cassie slid onto the stool beside her. They drank in comfortable silence.
“There are bagels if you want one,” Erin said eventually. “I’d rather you not make too much of a mess in the kitchen—I’ll be cooking most of the day.”