Total pages in book: 81
Estimated words: 75999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75999 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 380(@200wpm)___ 304(@250wpm)___ 253(@300wpm)
Typical.
Cass remains quiet, and his green gaze follows Malboro Man’s younger, prettier cousin until he’s no longer within sight. It is only then that he notices my presence again. “So… what do you think?” he asks.
I swallow, rubbing my forehead. Do I lie?
“You really like him? I’m just trying to sort it out in my head.”
Cass’s shoulders drop as if he’s a human-shaped balloon that just popped. “You don’t?”
I laugh nervously. I don’t want to make him feel bad about his choice. “He seems a bit… I don’t know. Arrogant? But if he’s a good lay, who am I to cockblock you?”
I stand a bit too fast but manage to save my chair from falling.
“Arrogant? He’s not that at all,” Cass says, and the smile he had for Logan earlier turns into a frown.
“Oh, really? He’s all look-at-me-and-my-cowboy-hat. I’m sorry, I’m just being honest. But, as I said, it’s fine, it’s not me dating him.” I shrug and push the tables apart, making my point in silence.
Cass rolls his eyes. “Wow. Confidence is not the same as arrogance. Why would he be making himself small?”
I have to take a deep breath to cool my head. “Okay, fine, I’m sure I’ll like him better once I get to know him. Maybe I’m just protective of my bro, hm?” I laugh and nudge him with my elbow as he pays for our food.
This makes him relax somewhat, and he gives my arm a little squeeze. “I’m sure he’ll grow on you.”
I’m sure he won’t.
Chapter 5
One month later
I hoped to warm up to Logan, I really did, but it’s been way over a month, and every time I see him, he aggravates me more. He’s coming over tonight, so I distract myself by putting up some Halloween decorations while Cass prepares an elaborate dinner. Just for the two of them, of course, because a friend of seven years is not someone another dude cooks for.
It would have been weird.
I buy us these delicious vegetarian burritos sometimes, but that’s different. We also eat together on pizza night, but that makes sense, since it’s buy one get one free. And then in the morning, if I’m already making oatmeal, I might as well make a bigger portion. It goes both ways, too. Cass makes great scrambled eggs, so he prepares enough for both of us.
That’s the thing with being roommates: you can share both the chores and the benefits.
But while Cass promised to set aside some pasta for me once it’s done, it’s not the same as eating it with him as we watch Bear Grylls drink his own pee out of a snake skin.
Cass looks great in everything, even sweatpants and slippers, but he’s dressed all nice for Logan tonight. A Henley shirt with sleeves rolled up to show off the dark hair on his forearms, and the V-shape of his torso, as well as a pair of green jeans that must have shrunk in the wash. Either that or he’s been squatting an extra amount at the gym to get his ass this round.
But I don't want to consider the shape of his butt. It’s enough that whenever Logan spends the night at ours, I keep to my room with headphones playing music loudly enough to drown out whatever noise they are making. It’s never been a problem for me before, and back at my previous college, when I shared the room with another guy, I was perfectly fine with him bringing girls over, even if it meant I had to spend the night on someone’s sofa.
But the thought of overhearing Cass and Logan’s sex noises makes my skin crawl.
So I distract myself by sticking the other end of the ghost garland above the door. I always loved Halloween, and back at school, Cass and I used to match our costumes. Once, we both went as Indiana Jones, but from different movies, because why the hell not.
It makes me wonder if Cass just has a thing for hats and that’s why he‘s into Logan.
“No, don’t use the spiders,” Cassian says as I’m halfway through placing plastic spiders all over our living room.
“What? Why not? Remember that time I dressed up as the spider from It, and you were Spiderman?” It was a pretty elaborate costume, and Cass spent two weeks building the legs with me out of papier mâché and wire.
Cass sighs and tastes the sauce for the pasta before adding some more salt. The Henley shirt makes his shoulders look even firmer than they normally seem. I bet Logan fucking loves it.
“Yeah, but Logan has a bit of an arachnophobia. Those look too real.”
A smile blooms on my face as a dark cloud of glee rises in my chest. “Are you kidding me? Just think how hilarious it would be if he squeaked seeing one that’s fake!” I laugh, but while a smile passes over Cass’s features, he shakes his head.