Page 39 of Don’t Leave (Stay #2)

CASSIDY

A smile lights up Luke’s face as he pulls me into the warm circle of his arms. “I have about thirty minutes before I need to be at practice. What’s up?”

For a heartbeat I allow him to hold me before untangling myself from his embrace. “Do you mind if we grab a coffee and talk?”

“Sure.”

After we order our drinks, Luke hands the barista a few bills before I can grab the money from my purse.

“I’ve got it,” I say, quickly digging through my wallet. “I’m the one who invited you for coffee. I should pay.”

“You can get the next one.” When he winks at me, the barista sighs. “Don’t worry, I’ll hold you to it.”

A few minutes later, he grabs our coffees from the counter, and we head to a table nestled in the corner. Once settled, we both take a few sips from our mugs. The weather has only grown colder, and it feels good to warm up.

“How are classes going?” he asks. “All caught up?”

Luke understands how stressful my breakup was with Cole was because he was there. It was his and Brooklyn’s shoulders that I cried on. They held my hand and made sure I was doing what needed to be done in school. I’m lucky to have them in my life.

“Yup. It took a while but I’m finally back on track again.” A tiny smile springs to my lips. “Although, I’m pretty sure the library staff is going to start charging me rent. I’ve been living there since Thanksgiving break.” I take another small sip of coffee. “How about you?”

He shrugs as his blue-gray gaze remains focused on me. His blond hair has grown out and I realize the longer length looks good on him. As I glance around the space, I realize that I’m not the only one who thinks he’s handsome. Several girls are checking him out.

“I’ll be glad when this semester is over,” he says. “I’m a little burnt out right now. I could use a break.”

I think about all the papers and exams I have coming up. “Yeah, me too.”

I’ve been working around the clock and can’t wait to return home and spend more time with my family.

The relationship I’m building with my parents feels so much better than even before I left for college the first time.

Even though the year apart sucked, it allowed my dad and me to break the dysfunctional patterns we’d established.

Not only that, but I feel closer with my mom.

We’ve talked on the phone a few times since I returned to school, and we text every day. It’s nice.

Actually, it’s way better than that.

“Maybe after exams are wrapped up, we can get together and celebrate. A successful first semester at Western for both of us.”

I smile at the thought. “It can’t come soon enough.”

As we drink our coffee, a comfortable silence falls over us. Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had time to sort out my feelings for both Luke and Cole. Even though I feel tied to both of them, it’s obvious who my heart belongs to.

And there’s no changing that.

I have no idea how it’ll turn out with Cole but I can’t let Luke think that our relationship will ever be anything more than friendship.

“Cassidy?”

I blink to awareness, not realizing I’ve become tangled up in my thoughts until he says my name. For the first time since we’ve sat down, I see questions swim around in his eyes.

“Sorry. Guess I spaced out there for a moment.”

His lips lift into a smile but it’s no longer full-fledged. “No problem. I know you’ve had a lot going on with school.”

I nod but that’s not the issue and I have to wonder by the way his smile dims if he realizes that.

As much as I don’t want to hurt Luke, I need to be honest about what I feel. “There has been a lot going on, but I wanted the chance to talk to you.”

His shoulders tense and his eyes darken. “You’re choosing Cole, aren’t you?”

My heart thumps against my breast as I nod. “I love him.” That’s the bottom line and there’s no getting past it or around it.

I love him.

I’m still in love with him.

And I can’t let that go.

I can’t let him go without a fight.

Luke’s gaze drops to his coffee as silence falls over us. He’s turned out to be a such a good friend and I don’t want to lose that, but I can’t give him anything more than that either.

“You’ve worked things out with him?” he finally asks.

“No.” I shake my head. “Not yet.”

His brows slide together as his attention settles on me again. “And if he’s not interested in getting back together, what then?”

That could be a definite possibility.

“Then I move on with my life.”

It’s a scary prospect.

Honestly, I’m already at that point. Cole and I aren’t together, and I have no idea if we’ll be able to work through everything standing in our way, but I have to try. I don’t want to walk away from our relationship with any more regrets than I already have.

“And you don’t think you could move on with me?” he asks, voice dipping.

I release a steady breath. “I’ve been doing a lot of thinking since Thanksgiving break, trying to sort out my feelings for both of you.

I like you, Luke. And I care about you. I’m so thankful that you’re in my life but my feelings for you aren’t romantic in nature.

” I reach out, gently covering his hand with my own.

“I don’t want you to wait around for me when I don’t think anything will ever come of it. ”

“I wish you’d give me a chance to show you how good we could be together.”

“I can’t.” I nibble at my lower lip. “I never meant to lead you on and if that’s what I did, I’m sorry.”

He twists his hand beneath mine until his fingers can lock around mine.

“You never led me on. You were always upfront about your feelings. I guess I’d hoped at some point, you’d feel the way about me that I feel for you.”

“It was never my intention to hurt you.”

“I know,” he acknowledges with a slight smile.

“I’m—”

He shakes his head. “Don’t say it.”

I fall silent as my lips quirk.

He draws in a breath before slowly releasing it. As he does, I get the feeling that everything will be all right between us.

“You don’t have anything to be sorry about.”

My hesitant smile grows as I squeeze his hand. “Thank you.”

Even though I don’t love Luke the way he wants me to, I still have deep feelings for him. I think I always will. What happened between us—the experience we shared—bonded us together. I don’t think it’s a connection that can ever be broken.

Luke’s gaze clings to mine. “I told you before that no matter what you decided, you wouldn’t lose me, and I meant it. We’re friends, Cassidy. And we’re always going to be friends.”