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)
Still, how am I to make my move when things are so uncertain with Logan? Every now and then I hear Cass talking to him on the phone, so it’s not like the issue is non-existent.
Today though, will be perfect.
Because it’s my birthday.
Cassian woke me up with a cupcake and made me blow out a candle. He doesn’t need to know my wish has a lot to do with him. He’s planned the day for us, and after a nutritious breakfast he made, we head out. He told me to dress for an active day, but the rest is a surprise.
We had guests over for a party at ours on the weekend, but today is for the two of us, and I couldn’t be happier when it turned out he planned ziplining. We had fun high in the trees, and Cass even got us tickets to a special ride high above a valley. It felt like flying, and seeing him waiting for me at the finish line was like coming home.
I’m still buzzing after the burgers he treated me to for dinner, but we’re on our way home. When I ask him about the turn he’s making, he says we’re taking the scenic route. I don’t know how much scenery we’ll see once the sun sets, but in my eyes, he can do no wrong.
“I can’t believe you got waffles even though you now eat them every day.” I laugh and poke his side as he drives down the highway, toward God-knows-where.
It would have only been more perfect if I got to put my hand on his thigh.
“Well, you turned me into a waffle-holic. Who knows what other talents you’re hiding,” he says as we pull into an exit and head toward a town I’ve never heard of. Businesses are sprinkled on both sides of the road, and I look around, certain there’s something else he’s planned. Because the ‘scenic route’ definitely shouldn’t involve the skeletal remains of a Blockbuster Video.
“Oh shit,” Cass mutters.
“What? Are you okay?” I give him a worried glance. He’s been bursting with good humor all day, and he’s a picture of health.
Cass gives a little groan and glances my way. “The car’s acting up,” he says even though the vehicle drives as smoothly as an old Jeep can. “We might need to stop at Walmart.”
I spot the tiniest hint of smile on his lips and realize what this is about. We are about to recreate my seventeenth birthday evening! “Oh no!” I say dramatically. “But what about our plans to go bowling?
He shrugs, already heading to the big-box store ahead. “Might need to do that next time. Sorry, Mattie.”
I cross my arms in pretend upset. “My phone’s out of juice too, so I can’t call my parents to pick us up.” I wink at him as he parks close to the entrance. It’s late, so there aren’t that many vehicles around, and I’m sure we’re gonna use it to our advantage once we get snacks and progress to the cart-racing phase of this evening.
I follow him through the door, and we jog past the greeter.
“To the cereal aisle,” I yell as if I’m seventeen again, but Cass spins around to grab my wrist and leans in, staring into my eyes as if we are about to make a life-changing decision.
“No. You are a man now. It’s the booze aisle or bust.”
My eyes widen. It’s true, I can now buy alcohol. “Is there a limit?” I ask.
“No limits tonight, Mattie,” says Cass as his handsome mouth widens in a smile. It makes my insides melt, and when he storms past aisles filled with seasonal merchandise, I cannot stop looking at him.
But instead of heading straight to the liquor section, we end up following a store security guard around, just because. I feel drunk already as we sneak behind him to the tune of Mission Impossible’s main musical theme provided by Cassian’s mouth. He’s not the best of singers, but it does the job.
By the time we do arrive at the alcohol aisle, it’s the security guard who’s following us. I lean in to whisper into Cass’s ear. “We’ve got every right to be here.”
He sniggers. “Yeah, he can check your ID if he wants to. Choose many tiny bottles, so we can sample and rate them.”
The guard eyes us like a hawk as we fill our hands with every mini bottle that catches my eye, and then we’re rushing through the empty store, straight for the cash registers. A part of me is still nervous when I show my ID, as if it was fake, but the bored cashier notices the date and wishes me a happy birthday.
Once outside, we stuff some of the booze into our pockets, but when it doesn’t all fit, Cass even puts a few of the minis at the front of his shirt, before tying it as if it were a sac. This exposes his midriff, and I end up staring so intensely, I almost miss the empty shopping cart he sends my way.