Page 79

“You’re right.”
We talked some more, drank lots more, and nibbled on the snacks that Eriss had prepared before we decided to call it a night. Gavin had come over with Raegan so that she could drink and didn’t have to worry about driving home. He had gone downstairs to the man cave with Aydan to watch football.
When we finished, Raegan went downstairs to get her husband, and Eriss did the same. I retired upstairs alone with a broken heart.
I lay in the bed for several long minutes and tossed and turned, wondering if I should text Casimir or wait until the morning. He clearly had no plans to reach out to me.
I stared at my phone for the longest time and then sent him a text.
ME:Hey, can we talk?
HIM:Sure. You want me to call you now?
ME:I was thinking that maybe we should have this conversation in person.
HIM:You want me to come and get you? Where are you?
ME:Maybe not now. Besides, it’s late, and I’ve had a couple of drinks.
HIM:Where the hell are you, Elle?
ME:With friends. Safe in the home I’ve been staying in.
HIM:Please. Can I come to you now?
ME:It can wait until tomorrow.
HIM:I can’t.
ME:You’ll have to.
HIM:A’ight. I’ve got a few meetings tomorrow. Meet me in the evening at the Cherokee Springs Botanical Garden at six.
ME:See you there.
I had been surprised that the minute I texted him, he immediately texted back. I thought it might be a minute before he responded, if he responded at all. My heart leaped inside of my chest at the thought that he was missing me as much as I had missed him.
I was startled when, a few moments later, my phone rang. I saw that it was Casimir FaceTiming me.
“Hey.”
“Hey.”
“I thought we were waiting until tomorrow,” I stated and bit my bottom lip.
“I told you I couldn’t wait. Even if we don’t have the conversation tonight, I wanted to see you.”
“Okay.”
“I miss you, Elle.”
“Really? What do you miss?”
“The way that you feel underneath me, on top of me, in my arms. I miss our conversations, dinner together, your laughter, and your scent. I miss all that. I miss the way you taste, Elle.”
“You act like we’ve been together forever.”
“The first sample of you is enough to get a man addicted. And that’s not even talking about how sweet you taste, those pouty lips, or your southern lips.”