In which Garcia’s wife complains about being lonely while her wife works at home…
medical inaccuracies, fluff, soft Garcia bc all of you people hating on her are WILD imo I’m a Trinity AND Garcia defender till I effing die.
a/n: deadass wrote this just to write so if it’s ahh js ignore it gng 😭🙏 it’s also not proofread…anyways here we go 🥹
You sigh loudly, that being almost the 7th time today.
you sat perched on Yolanda’s lap, your favorite place to be other than a designer store. She’s been working on her charting for almost an hour now and you were bored out of your mind. You were used to her giving her full attention, not these small touches liek you were an afterthought.
you most definitely were not, but you like being over dramatic.
“Baby?” You called softly, wrapping one of her curls around around your finger. Her chin rest on your shoulder, focused on typing up important medical information. “Yes, Cariño?” She replied, pulling back her left hand to softly scratch your side—letting you know you had her attention, even if she wasn’t looking at you.
“I’m bored,” you said, “when are you going to be done?”
Yolanda hummed, eyes still glued to the screen. Her jaw flexed as she saw an inconsistency in the graph and chart. The med students were definitely getting a heated discussion tomorrow.
“uhm, not for a while, mi vida.” she smiled softly when your lips made contact with her tense face. Then she added, “Why don’t you go hang out with your friends? Didn’t you say they’ve been wanting to go out for a while”
“I could, but today’s your day off, and we haven’t spent time together in a long time. You’re still working, even now.” You pout, placing your head on her shoulder. “I just miss you. Feels like work is your wife recently.”
The two of you knew it was honestly a stretch, Garcia called you, kissed you, spent every time she could with you. She knew how exhausting her job is. How much you also put into her during college, those late nights feeding her flash cards, the constant consoling when you knew she was silently doubting herself.
“Go ahead and get my phone for me, mi amor.” Yolanda softly said, kissing your cheek as you reached for the device on the desk. “You don’t have to call out just because I said I’m a little lonely, yoyo.”
“Well, we both know you absolutely mean that, you spoiled thing.” Yolanda chuckled, brushing hair from your face, “but the fact you’re lonely at all is a fail by me. You’ve invested as more into me—in every aspect—than anyone else. Calling our to spend time with you is the least thing I can do.”
You hand her the phone with a frown, “I love you.”
“I love you most, don’t you forget it.” Yolanda kissed you slow, enjoying the warmth you brought into her life. Because there really wouldn’t be any without you. Maybe work, and more work. That was really it.
“Don’t start this argument with me, Yolanda.” You say, fingers tracing her features. The wedding ring you wore gleaming in the sundown.
“Okay, I won’t. My wife is always right, I get the drill.” The woman nodded, taking your hand and kissing the rock. “Te amo, mi corazon.”
summary: spending time in italy with cassie and her family has been great. maybe too great. in denial about your true feelings, neither of you know that you are starting to love one another because saying it out loud is hard, so you and cassie won't say it at all… that is until you get wine drunk one evening.
warnings: 18+ age gap (reader is in mid 20’s, cassie is 43), smut, minor angst, buried feelings, cassie pov, butchfemme, dry humping/thigh riding (r!recieving), fingering (c!recieving), mention of daddy kink, drinking (cassie stays sober)
word count: 9.5k
a/n: not yet proofread & smau will be out tmwr or the day after!
SMAU ✦ MASTERLIST
soundtrack ‧₊˚♫ ˊ⊹
Morning light spills through the cracked windows, a soft breeze slipping through the curtains. Cassie’s awake, staring at the ceiling in thought, her hands folded over her stomach. She can hear your gentle breathing from beside her, your face on the mattress and turned towards Cassie.
For a moment Cassie lies still, letting the warmth of the morning sink into her skin, thinking about what you’re going to do today. But she can’t help her mind from wandering to the woman beside her. You.
With a sigh, Cassie looks over to you. Your cheek is smushed against the mattress, and your lips are slightly parted, breathing through your mouth as you slumber. The rumpled white sheets are pulled up on your body halfway, the peach-colored quilt you stole from Cassie in the night tangled around your legs. It feels like Cassie’s staring at a painting, a worry-free idyllic world with you as the beautiful star.
Here you are, the perfect girl, spending your summer days and nights with Cassie. She wasn’t supposed to like you as much as she’s grown to. And she hates herself for it. Cassie’s come too far to be undone by a stupid crush… but she knows it’s more than that.
What was supposed to be a no strings attached, one-time summer affair, has turned into a heavy love affair. At least for Cassie. At times she thinks you feel the same way, but it’s too confusing and hard to think about. You both needed a casual arrangement, and that’s what this is.
Every aspect of Cassie’s life has been beyond fulfilling lately. Well, every department besides love. Cassie is incredibly proud of all the progress she’s made, and won’t do anything to jeopardize that. The fear of losing Harrison again or breaking her sobriety is paralyzing, the life she’s built crumbling may destroy her.
Then there was you.
Then there is you.
Someone who makes Cassie feel in ways that she hasn’t felt in years. You’ve found a way to touch the deepest parts of her that’s she’s suppressed for so long. Romance and love were abandoned, sunk deep down after Chad—hell, during Chad. Cassie’s love life had been deserted like a shipwreck in the darkest parts of the ocean, never to surface again. She truly believed that part of her was gone, and she made peace with that.
But you changed everything.
All Cassie wanted was sex and company. She’s admittedly been lonely. Lonely and horny. Samira, one of Cassie’s few work friends, got fed up with her whining about needing to be laid that she suggested to just find a meaningless hookup. That was supposed to be you, but without Harrison for the summer, Cassie somehow ended up inviting you to Europe with her.
She made sure to set rules though. A safeguard for the both of you. Clear boundaries going into the summer.
“It would be no strings attached and completely casual,” Cassie said.
Cassie has considered asking you if you want to extend your casual relationship with her back in Pittsburgh. Instead of hanging out and being together 24/7 though, it would strictly be for sex. It may not be the same or what Cassie truly wants, but at least she would still be seeing you. Plus, Cassie’s been on the lookout for someone she feels comfortable with to have no strings attached sex.
But Cassie isn’t sure if she would be able to keep it casual, and that isn’t fair to you. It also scares Cassie to think of you seeing her full life. You may have heard stories, seen her Paris apartment, and even met some of her family, but you don’t know what Cassie’s day-to-day life looks like.
You haven’t seen the stress and sadness that comes with her job. You haven’t met Harrison or been around her as a mom. You haven’t had to deal with Cassie’s bad days where she wants nothing more than to get high. Actually, Cassie can’t even remember the last time she craved something other than nicotine—certainly not at any point this summer, but she knows it’ll surface. You’ve never experienced Cassie’s typical day, how she doesn’t go out like young people do. Instead, she’s lounging around the house, her idea night consisting of a bath, reading, and an early bedtime. You’re used to Europe Cassie, a version of her that doesn’t typically have as much energy as her usual, busy Pittsburgh self.
Cassie knows that you like the version of her here, but you haven’t seen her in her natural habitat. She’s a mom, doctor, and addict. The very little time Cassie has outside of work is spent with her son or on relaxing. You wouldn’t want to be burdened with a parter who is bouncing between a demanding job, parenting a preteen, and AA meetings. Cassie couldn’t subject you to that—she won’t subject you to that.
Sloane broke up with you because you were “too clingy.” While Cassie doesn’t mind that at all, she can’t be around all the time. She can’t be what you need, and she knows it. Not only is Cassie not physically available, she hasn’t been in a relationship in years. She gave up on that idea long ago.
On top of that, Cassie’s in her 40’s while you’re in your 20’s. For hookups and flings the age gap doesn’t bother Cassie much, but for a long term relationship, it doesn’t sit right with her. Yes, you’re an established adult, but the stage of life you’re in is vastly different than Cassie’s. If you two were to be a couple, she would be asking you to be a stepmom to a kid who you would’ve had at 14. Cassie doesn’t want to tie you down, her path already set while yours is still forming, the directions nearly endless.
But Cassie doesn’t feel ready to let you go. Not yet anyways. Maybe she never will. It might just have to be something she has to force herself to get through.
It’s weird to think that in a couple weeks you’ll part ways. You feel like an important part of Cassie’s life now. A constant. Someone she’s used to having around.
It surprised Cassie how quickly she felt comfortable with you. Yes, she had been bitching to Samira that she needs to get laid, but allowing someone to have access to her like that scared her. Cassie thought getting her pent-up sexual frustrations out on someone else would help tremendously, and eventually bring her closer to allowing the favor to be returned, and while it did, she was not expecting to surrender to anyone as fast as she did with you.
You and Cassie were practically strangers who started sharing a bed and spending your days together. Somehow, it never felt weird or uncomfortable. Maybe it was a bit awkward at first, but it never felt wrong. As you and Cassie started to get to know each other, the occasional awkwardness of unfamiliarity dissipated, and the two of you fell into the content groove you’re in now.
Cassie never meant to let you in like she did. She never meant to develop feelings for you. And she certainly never meant to start falling in love with you.
Before Cassie can dwell on her conflicting emotions any longer, you start to stir. She doesn’t know whether that’s a blessing or curse—unable to continue to overthink, but the source of her anxieties facing her.
You blink your eyes open, not quite awake yet. The first thing you see is Cassie, her gentle gaze already on you. Among the blue, her right eye has a speck of hazel in the corner, the morning light accentuating it. Your mind is too hazy with sleep to form any thoughts besides of the woman in front of you, although warm feelings of comfort, safety, and peace circle through you.
Mindlessly, you pull the sheets up and closer around yourself, capturing the warmth of the bed. Outside you can hear birds chirp from the trees, the countryside calm. Whenever you blink, your eyes stay shut longer than necessary, the heaviness of sleep willing them closed.
“Do you want coffee?” Cassie whispers.
You groan in response, Cassie chuckling at your sleepy attempt of an answer. Your eyes stay shut, letting sleep win.
“Do you want to stay in bed a little longer?”
“Mm,” you hum.
“Okay,” Cassie murmurs with an amused smile you can’t see.
A few seconds later, the mattress shifts as Cassie begins to sit up. She swings her legs off the side of the bed, about to stand up when you blindly reach out, your hand wrapping around one of Cassie’s wrists.
“You can stay in bed longer,” Cassie tells you softly, turning around to look at your tired form.
You let out a little grunt of protest, your grip on Cassie’s wrist tightening. You then snuggle further into the bed, not letting go of Cassie.
An affectionate smile grows on Cassie’s face, finding it incredibly cute how clingy you’re being. But then a pang of longing hits her heart as she stares down at you, remembering this won’t last. If Cassie was stronger and smart enough to do the right thing, she would shut it down before it could even happen. Cassie’s weak when it comes to you, however, craving the closeness as much as you.
Cassie crawls back onto the bed, rolling onto her stomach like you. She tucks some hair behind your ear, then playing with the loose strands. Cassie stays relaxed like that for a minute or two before leaning forward to press kisses on your upper arm, trailing all the way up to your shoulder.
“Mm,” you groan, stretching your body under the sheets as Cassie kisses your skin.
“Do you need help waking up, ma doux?”
“Mhm.”
“Mkay,” Cassie hums.
Cassie lies flat on her back, her reddish brown hair spread across two pillows. She reaches over to you and grabs your sides, smoothly maneuvering you on top of her. As if you’re a ragdoll, Cassie moves you so you’re resting on her chest, positioning your crotch onto her left thigh. You let your legs fall to either side of Cassie’s thigh, a low hum escaping as she purposefully jolts her leg up, your clit brushing against her.
You bury your head in Cassie’s neck, inhaling her natural scent. Your arms fly around Cassie’s shoulders while her hands find your hips, holding on securely. Cassie slowly moves you over her thigh, making you moan right into her skin.
She does this a few more times, going slow to ease you into it. Your hips roll as Cassie continues to grind you against her, the building pleasure beginning to help you fully wake up. Cassie starts to move you faster, but still slow enough, trying to make you restless.
After a couple minutes, your body starts to move on its own, taking what you need. Cassie happily lets you, her hands sliding down to your ass now that you’re rolling your hips all on your own. With each grind, you become more awake. You start to kiss and nip at Cassie’s neck, your panties and sleep shorts soaked through by now as you keep chasing your high.
Cassie tilts her head, giving you better access. A whiny moan falls from her lips when your tongue brushes over the most sensitive part of her neck. Wanting to hear more sounds from Cassie, you suckle her skin there while you trail a hand down her stomach. When you reach her pelvis, your hand slips underneath her boxers, palming her drenched core right away.
“Fuck,” Cassie mutters, her hips bucking up to meet your hand.
“You’re so wet, Cass.”
“All ‘cause of you, sweet girl.”
You moan, your hips moving even faster than before. You press the base of your palm against Cassie’s clit while you part her sticky folds, her delicate hair tickling your fingers. When you reach her hole, you push your middle finger inside, Cassie’s cunt swallowing your digit immediately.
“You’re real lucky I don’t have nails anymore,” you tease, smirking as you kiss Cassie’s neck.
“Yeah,” Cassie moans, the pleasure inside her already rapidly building. “Give me more, baby.”
You listen, inserting a second digit. Your hips keep moving, although they slow as you shift your focus more onto Cassie. You curl your fingers, twisting them around Cassie’s gummy walls. She groans when you graze a sweet spot, her hips jutting up to meet your hand.
“Oh! Right there,” Cassie exclaims, whining as her body starts to writhe beneath you.
You pump your fingers in and out of Cassie, hooking them to hit her g-spot. Once you establish a steady pace, you begin to grind relentlessly on Cassie’s thigh, the rhythm of your hips in sync with your hand working on Cassie’s swollen cunt. Her lower half repeatedly bucks up to you, sending a wave of pleasure to your pussy every time as her thigh jolts up to your throbbing clit.
“Oh, fuck, baby,” Cassie moans roughly.
“I’m gonna cum soon, Cass.”
“Make a mess f’me,” she replies, squeezing your clothed ass. “And let me hear you.”
“Fuck,” you whine.
Your hips bang against Cassie erratically, rolling deep into her thigh to get the perfect amount of pressure on your clit. Your middle and ring finger continue to plunge in and out of Cassie’s cunt, making sure to keep the heel of your hand pressed hard against her heated bundle of nerves.
“Cass, I’m— I’m—”
You let out a series of whiny moans, your pussy leaking as you cum. While your hips stutter, the pace of your hand doesn’t let up, continuing to finger fuck Cassie with determination. You curl your two digits inside of her, pressing down on her g-spot.
Cassie finishes loudly, letting you hear everything as her pussy clenched around your soaked fingers. You attack Cassie’s neck in kisses, your body slowly rocking against Cassie’s thigh as your peak starts to fizzle out. Cassie grinds against your hand, seeing stars right now.
Once you’re both spent, your body goes limp on top of Cassie, tired but fully awake now. As you pull your fingers out of Cassie’s cunt, there’s a squelching sound that makes your hips involuntarily twitch against Cassie’s meaty leg.
You bring your hand up, lazily putting your fingers in front of Cassie’s mouth. Without a word, she takes them in her mouth, her own slick coating her taste buds as she licks your fingers clean. Cassie sucks on them a bit longer than necessary, enjoying suckling and swirling her tongue around your nimble digits.
When Cassie releases them, there’s a pop sound, your hand then falling onto Cassie’s chest. Her saliva on your fingers sticks onto her shoulder, your hand resting there. Your breathing is in sync with Cassie’s, the two of you recovering together. Cassie dances her fingernails across your back, the simple action soothing and comforting.
“We’re gonna have to shower before breakfast,” Cassie mumbles, burying her face in your hair.
“Yup,” you reply, unable to form full sentences at the moment.
A huff of laughter escapes Cassie. “And I thought you would be awake after that.”
“I am,” you mutter. “But brain empty. Too much work.”
“It’s too much work to think?”
“Mhm. Your fault.”
Cassie cackles, the familiar sound making you smile. You stay like that for a few more minutes, your sweaty body on top of hers. Before you sit up, you press a kiss to her cheek, then her lips. With ease, you climb off the bed, Cassie lying down still.
You place your hips on your lower back, and then lean backwards, popping your back. Feeling awake and ready for the day, you gather the clothes you’re going to wear today. Cassie watches you as you shift around the room, her neck awkwardly against the headboard to see without having to actually sit up.
“Should I go first?” you ask, pointing to the bathroom behind you, your clothes bundled in your other hand.
“Yeah,” Cassie says, waving you off. “I’m old, I need to lay here for another minute.”
You laugh, and then walk off to the bathroom. You leave the door halfway opened, but you’re out of view from Cassie’s line of sight. Neatly, you fold and place your clean clothes on the counter. Then you turn the water on in the shower, letting it warm up before you get it.
As the water runs, you brush out your hair, the strands tangled from sleep and sex. Then you brush your teeth, grateful that Cassie doesn’t mind your morning breath. After that, you get undressed and get into the shower, the warm water cascading over your shoulders and down your body.
You wash your hair, humming a tune to yourself. As you’re rinsing out the shampoo, you hear the shower door open. Once the suds are washed out, you open your eyes, spotting a wet Cassie. She looks like a puppy when her hair is soaked, her blue adorable eyes looking even bigger as she blinks at you, damp strands clinging to her forehead and cheeks.
“Look at you. You’re standing,” you tease, the corners of your lips curling up unevenly into a small smirk.
“I probably wouldn’t be if I was on top.”
You chuckle, your amusement only growing when Cassie smiles fondly at you. “Tiring out so easily?”
“Apparently. I guess it’s good that the summer’s almost over,” Cassie attempts to joke. “I’m too old to keep up with you.”
Your smile fades, your gaze locked onto Cassie’s. Your expression is tender, something sad behind your soft features. You’ve been trying your best to take your mind off of the little time you have left with Cassie, the days slipping through your fingers. At the start of the summer, you were dreading the end of the trip because you didn’t want to return to the real world and your responsibilities, but now you only care about parting ways with Cassie.
“Turn around,” Cassie murmurs softly.
You do as she asks, your back now to her. The warm water soothes your muscles as you stand beneath the steady stream, the gentle heat comforting. From behind you, you hear the sound of a pump, shower gel squirting onto Cassie’s palms. She rubs the soap together, and then puts her hands on your body, spreading the suds across your smooth skin.
Cassie gives your shoulders a brief massage, easing any tension. Once she’s finished washing your body, you do the same to her, being just as thorough. After you’re both clean, you get out of the shower and dry off side by side.
You and Cassie get ready together but separate. While you do your makeup, Cassie blow dries her hair. You catch her smiling every now and then, admiring you through the mirror.
About half an hour later, you’re both dressed and ready. You head downstairs together, making your way outside for breakfast. Cassie’s family likes to have meals together, but it’s not an obligation. Usually with breakfast, her older family members eat earlier than you and Cassie, but they’re still at the table chatting by the time you guys come down.
Today, everyone is outside sitting at the table besides Tessa’s family. An assortment of homemade breakfast foods are scattered across the table, coffee and orange juice in the center. You grab a plate and sit beside Cassie, scooping what you’re in the mood for this morning.
Everyone says good morning, and you exchange polite greetings. Neil, Cassie’s dad, mentions that Tessa, her husband, and kid are at a park and plan to go to a local farm with a petting zoo after. The rest of Cassie’s family doesn’t have any set plans today, although they talked about potentially walking through the vineyard beside their house this afternoon.
“Are you guys hitting any tourist destinations today?” Louise, Cassie’s aunt, asks you and Cassie.
“Um…” Cassie glances at you. “I think we’re just going to take it easy today.”
“Yeah,” you confirm. “The last week we’ve been pretty touristy.”
“Have you gone swimming yet?” Cassie’s grandma asks.
“We went to that creek over the hills in the woods two days ago,” Cassie answers.
“Chiquita, you should use the pool,” Cassie’s grandma says, nodding in the direction of the pool.
“Yeah,” Cassie replies, looking over to you as she finishes chewing her bite of eggs. “We could do that.”
“I’d enjoy that,” you say.
“Oh, before I forget, Papè is going to be serving the wine he made at dinner tonight. I know you won’t have any, Chiquita,” Cassie’s Mamè says, then glancing at you. “But Y/N can have some if she wants.”
“Sure. I’d love to try it. I bet it good,” you reply, giving Cassie’s grandpa a smile before looking down at your plate.
“It’s finally ready after almost a year,” the older man states. “There’s enough for everyone to have at least two glasses.”
“Ooo, well I look forward to trying it,” you tell him, genuinely excited.
“Good. Bon vin ne peut mentir.”
“C’mon, the water’s nice,” you call out to Cassie as she stands beside the pool, you wading in the shallow end.
“Fine,” Cassie grumbles, trying not to smile.
The pool in her grandparents’ backyard is simple and rectangular, though beautiful. It has weathered pale stone edges, adding sort of a rustic charm. The turquoise water glows beneath the afternoon sun, gentle ripples shimmering across the surface. There’s dozens of trees around you, providing natural shade while letting sunlight slip through.
Cassie steps into the pool, waiting a moment on the first step before going deeper. She’s right in front of you in the matter of seconds, clearly not bothered by the temperature. She’s wearing the same swimsuit she wore to the beach in Normandy, the wet spandex clinging tightly to her skin.
“See? Doesn’t it feel nice?” you ask as you begin to swim backwards, migrating further into the pool.
“Yes. But now I have chlorine on me. I’m going to have to shower again.”
“You’re such a baby.”
“Me?” Cassie says with a feigned offended scoff, fighting back a smile. “You’re the one who refused to go swimming at first since you didn’t want to get your hair wet.”
“Hey, hey, hey, that was when I first got to Paris. Clearly I’ve grown,” you tell Cassie, motioning to the glistening water around you. “People can change.”
“Fine,” Cassie replies, putting her hands up in defeat as she starts walking over to you. “Maybe I need to relax. Are you going to help me with that?”
You giggle and quickly glance around the empty backyard. “Cassie!”
“What?” she asks innocently, a sly grin hanging from her lips. “You don’t think I need to relax?”
“I think you’re bullshitting to get in my pants.”
“Bikini,” Cassie corrects, her hands coming to rest on your hips under the water.
“Bikini,” you echo, rolling your eyes as you wrap your arms around Cassie’s middle.
“Stop giving me attitude,” Cassie attempts to scold, the giddy smile plastered across her face making it ineffective.
“Or what?”
“I’ll shut you up.”
“How?”
Cassie stares at you a moment longer before tugging you closer, her lips slamming against yours. You hum into her mouth her tongue darts into yours. As you kiss, you adjust your arms so they’re wrapped around Cassie’s shoulders, your legs coming to wrap around her waist too.
The kiss grows heated quick. A moan spills out as your hips twitch into Cassie, your legs tightening around her torso. Cassie’s hands are on your bottom, holding you flush against her, your body weightless under the blueish green water.
Suddenly, you hear the sound of a door crashing shut. You and Cassie jump apart instinctively, putting distance between the two of you. Both of are breathless, and your lips are puffy and swollen from making out.
A few seconds after the back door closes, Oliver appears wearing nothing but swim trunks and sunglasses. He stops in his tracks as he spots you and Cassie, his hazel eyes widening a bit. There are noticeable ripples in the space between you two.
“Oh, hey,” Oliver says awkwardly.
“Hey, man,” Cassie greets her cousin, looking at him for a split second before staring at the shimmering water.
“Am I interrupting anything?”
“No,” you reply immediately. “We’re just swimming. And chilling. Swimming and chilling.”
Cassie bites the inside of her cheek, holding back a smile as you try and provide a nonchalant answer. Her gaze is glued onto her blurry feet beneath the surface, scared she’ll break if she looks up.
“Is it okay if I join then?”
“Yeah, of course,” you tell Oliver.
He walks into the pool, eyeing you and Cassie back and forth. You tread water in the center of the pool, only five feet deep there. Cassie’s closer to the steps, Oliver walking past his cousin as he makes his way to the deep end. He swims to the seven foot side, pausing when he can no longer stand, his shoulders submerged.
“Are you guys doing anything today?” Oliver asks, trying to make small talk.
“We don’t have any plans. Just… lounging.”
“I bet you need a lazy day after all of that activity. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Act-activity?” Cassie asks, her eyes shooting to her cousin as she crosses her toned arms.
“You know,” he starts to say, a small smirk growing on his face, “I assume you would be tired after all that exercise. Being a tourist and traveling and walking around is a lot. My ass would sleep until noon if I was doing what you guys have been doing.”
A sigh of relief escapes Cassie, her shoulders relaxing. “Traveling you mean?”
“Yes, traveling,” Oliver confirms. “You’ve been bouncing around place to place these last few weeks.” A pause. “And by the way, you might want to cover that up, Cass,” Oliver says, pointing to her neck.
Cassie looks down, puzzled as to what her cousin’s talking about. You squint and your brows knit together, also confused. But then your eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights as you spot what Oliver pointed out. A very small purple love bite peeks out through Cassie’s hair, clearly fresh.
Oliver looks like he’s holding onto a thread, about to burst into laughter. Cassie on the other hand, looks mortified as she realizes what it is that Oliver saw—a tiny but visible hickey, barely tucked away. You purse your lips together, warmth flushing your cheeks as you hold back a laugh, both entertained and embarrassed.
“Chill out, I’m not gonna tell,” Oliver says to Cassie, noticing the panic in her features.
“Tell-tell what?” she stammers.
“That… ya know.” Oliver gestures to you and then Cassie. “That.”
“We’re just friends,” Cassie replies right away, her whole face turning bright red.
“Oh, yeah? Who’s that from then?”
“It’s just a bruise, Oli.”
“Okay, explain this then,” Oliver says with a subtle yet smug smirk on his face.
He gives you a quick look before speaking, his mischievous expression telling you to that whatever he’s about to say probably isn’t innocent. Your lips curl into a downwards smile, knowing Cassie’s going to get more tongue-tied.
“A couple days ago, mom sent me to see if you guys were going to come down for breakfast. It was almost 11:00, and they wanted to put everything away.”
“That was the day after we climbed Brunelleschi's Dome,” Cassie notes.
“Oh my god, the gelato we had after was the best,” you exclaim, recalling your activities that day.
“Anyways,” Oliver begins, “I was sent upstairs to go see if you guys were even up yet. I was literally about to knock on your door— and I mean my fist was in the motherfucking air when I suddenly hear something…”
“Oh, god,” Cassie cringes.
“Do you want to know what I heard?”
“Probably not,” Cassie winces.
“Well I didn’t want to hear it either. Your little girlfriend over here,” Oliver waves his fingers at you, then continues, “yelled out ‘daddy.’”
You press your lips into a thin line, your face heating up, humiliated. At the same time, you want to laugh, knowing Oliver enough to know that he’s not disturbed or uncomfortable by it.
“I mean, whatever floats your boat, I’ve done the same thing,” Oliver says, flashing you a wink. “But damn, you’re in a house full of family.”
“Well-well,” Cassie stammers, “well you tell aunt Louise that I’m a grown adult, and I don’t need her to send her kid up to check on me. There, prob-problem solved. And we are quiet, thank you very much. You only heard because you were right outside our fucking door.”
“Oh, honey, you are not quiet,” Oliver tells his cousin. He then shifts his gaze to you. “And you’re especially not.”
“What?!” you exclaim, waving a hand to Cassie. “She’s the one who likes to hear me! Take it up with her.”
Cassie closes her eyes, her face redder than a tomato. “Oh, god,” she mumbles under her breath. When she speaks at a normal volume again, her voice is higher pitched than usual. “Well, I-I… I’m not— arghhh,” Cassie groans. “I’m not going to discuss my sex life, and certainly not with my cousin.”
“That’s fine,” Oliver says, holding his hands up in defense. “Just make sure I don’t hear it. Problem solved,” he says in a mocking tone, repeating Cassie’s words.
“This is a you problem,” Cassie starts to sputter, her embarrassed state cute. “Don’t stand outside of my bedroom door.”
“This isn’t the first time this has happened,” you chime in, a smirk beginning to form on your face.
“Oh, do tell,” Oliver replies enthusiastically, turning his whole body towards you.
“What are you talking about?” Cassie asks, genuinely confused.
“Trinity.”
Cassie squints her eyes at you and gives her a head a little shake, still clueless. You sigh, glancing at Oliver for a split second before looking back to Cassie.
“When she came to stay with us,” you add.
You pause, seeing if Cassie will fill in the gaps on her own. She doesn’t, however, so you expel another breath before spelling it out for her.
“Trinity heard us. Actually, she kind of heard the same thing Oliver heard.”
“Oh my god,” Cassie says, bringing her hands to the sides of her head. “My coworker knows that I—” Cassie glances around the backyard, then lowers her voice. “Knows that I get called, you know, in-in bed?”
You finally start to giggle, finding the whole situation humorous. As you laugh, you take a couple steps towards Cassie, the water gently swishing around you.
“She’s not going to tell anyone,” you reassure Cassie as you place a hand on her upper arm.
At first, Cassie instinctively flinches, but a second later, she relaxes under your touch as her blue eyes meet yours. Your soft expression melts away Cassie’s anxieties. The way you look at her—that look reserved only for her—makes her heart flutter in a way no one else has ever been able to do before.
“Okay,” Cassie whispers, believing you without hesitation. She then looks to her cousin, an annoyed look on her face. “You called her my girlfriend earlier, and just so you know, she’s not. We’re not dating. This is only for this summer.”
Skeptically, Oliver looks away from Cassie and to you. Your hand slides down Cassie’s arm underneath the water and to your side as you offer Oliver a nod and smile that doesn’t meet your eyes.
“If you say so,” Oliver mutters, unconvinced that you and Cassie aren’t dating. “Moving on, how would you like to get a pedicure with me today?” Oliver asks you, smiling.
“I’m so down with that.”
“Ahem,” Cassie exaggeratedly huffs. “Am I not included in this?”
“You would want to go?” Oliver questions, arching a brow. “You, Cassie McKay want to go get a pedicure?”
“Yeah? So?”
“I thought you hated getting your nails done. I thought it was ‘boring’ and ‘weird.’”
“It can be nice every once in a while,” Cassie replies, looking at the side of the house instead of at you or Oliver.
“If you’re just going to keep me company, I’m totally okay going with Oliver,” you inform Cassie, not wanting her to feel obligated to do something she hates.
“No, I want to go.”
“Are you sure? You could catch up with the rest of your family without me being an awkward thorn in your side,” you suggest.
“No,” Cassie states firmly. “I’m going to go. I-I want to go.”
“Girl, you better not complain,” Oliver playfully warns.
“I won’t. I want—”
“To go,” Oliver finishes, “yeah, yeah, we know. Do you guys want to go in an hour?”
“Yeah,” you answer on behalf of you and Cassie. “Can we stop for gelato on the way back? Ugh, what I would do for a scoop of fior di latte right now.”
“Hell yeah,” Oliver beams.
“Of course, honey,” Cassie murmurs as she leans in closer to you. “You can have anything you want.”
Except this summer being endless, you think.
Except for being with Cassie.
The rest of your day, while slow and rather uneventful, has been amazing. Getting your toenails done with Oliver and Cassie was actually fun, the three of you chatting and bantering like you’ve known each other for years—well, Cassie and Oliver have known each other since Oliver was born, but it’s like you’ve known those two longer than you actually have, fitting right in.
After getting a pedicure, you guys got gelato as promised. You ate the tasty icy cream under the warm afternoon sun, feeling as if you were in a dream. Around you the city buzzed with life, but you didn’t feel like you had to rush anywhere as you enjoyed your gelato with Cassie and Oliver.
Before heading back, you stopped at a bookstore. It was Cassie’s idea, and you’re grateful she suggested it because you liked it just as much as Shakespeare and Company in Paris—if not more.
The place you went to is called Libreria Giorni. It’s a family owned shop that opened in 1937, and one that Cassie frequents when she’s in Florence. She bought you an older copy of Alice In Wonderland, one of your favorite stories.
On your way back to the villa, you unexpectedly got an email from an old coworker, informing you that there’s an opening at a Title I elementary school. With Cassie covering your rent for the past two months and the summer coming to an end, you decided to send in your resume, needing to secure a job. The future has been on your mind more lately, the pull of the real word tugging you back in.
And not only did you get a email regarding your life in Pittsburgh, you got a text too. A text from your ex Sloane.
Technically it was a DM, blocking Sloane’s number over a month ago with Cassie’s encouragement. While you unfollowed Sloane after you broke up, you didn’t block her. You probably should’ve though because she’s contacting you through Instagram now.
You didn’t open her message then, and you still haven’t opened it now. You haven’t told anyone about it either, not even Trinity. It would probably be best to delete the DM altogether and block Sloane, but you can’t bring yourself to. Instead, you’re ignoring it. Hopefully, Sloane’s message gets buried, both on Instagram and mentally. For now, it’s off your mind, your focus on the present in Italy surrounded by Cassie and her sweet family.
Now, as the sun sets, you’re back home—your temporary home—and you and Cassie are eating dinner with her family. Her aunt and grandma prepared pesto pasta with a side of roasted tomatoes. To no one’s surprise, it’s absolutely delicious. You savor each bite, enjoying both the food and the wonderful company.
Cassie’s grandpa served the wine he made to everyone besides Cassie and her kid niece. Ordinarily, you’re not a huge fan of wine—to be fair, you’re not really a drinker in the first place—but you genuinely don’t mind the wine that Cassie’s grandpa made.
The grapes were sourced from the vineyard right beside the villa, providing a more authentic and fruity taste. It’s sweeter, thinner, and earthier than the wines you’ve previously tasted. There’s still a distinct tang to it, your throat warming with each swallow. You’re already almost done with your second glass, starting to get buzzed.
By the time dinner’s over, you’re more than tipsy, but not quite drunk. It’s clear you’re not sober though, giggles spilling out much more than usual. You offer to help clean up the table or to wash dishes, but you’re brushed off, everyone insisting your only job is to relax since you’re the guest.
You and Cassie are about to go back inside to turn in for the night when her dad stops her. Neil hands his daughter a letter, informing her that a letter from her son Harrison has arrived. Cassie makes sure you’re okay first before excusing herself to read the letter, trying her best to contain her excitement. You assure her that you’re fine and tell her to take her time.
While Cassie and Neil go to the parlor together to open the mail they received from Harrison, you grab your now empty glass of wine to bring inside and rinse. You’re going to go back upstairs after and wait for Cassie, but Oliver appears, striking up a conversation with you.
The two of you stand under the porch, talking and joking around. Somehow, sometime as you guys are goofing around, another full glass of wine ends up in your hand, carelessly downing the red, rich liquid. By the time Cassie re-emerges, you’re sure you’re going to be drunk.
“So what’s really going on with Cassie?” Oliver asks you, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Give me all the tea.”
“Um… well, we first met at a bar.” you recall, starting at the beginning. “That night was uh… it was something…”
Meanwhile, as you and Oliver are chatting and drinking, Cassie opens and reads the letter from Harrison. Since she’s out of the country, it takes longer for Harrison’s mail to arrive. The letter details some of his experiences at camp, the friends he’s made and the activities he’s done. Cassie’s heart pangs as she reads Harrison’s handwriting, missing her son.
Before finding you, however, Neil asks Cassie to have a talk with him. Although confused, she obliges, the father daughter duo going outside to the opposite side of the house from you. There, Neil continues to sip on his first glass of wine, him and Cassie sitting at a two person table.
“So what do you want to talk about?” Cassie awkwardly asks her dad, anxious to hear the answer.
“How’s your social life been going back home?”
Cassie scoffs and crosses her arms, leaning back in her seat. “Fine.”
“Hm,” Neil hums, then taking a sip of wine.
“Dad, you literally live half an hour away from me. You’re kept up to date, and you know I’m fine.”
“I thought you were.”
“Because I am.”
“But then I saw how animated you get when you’re with her. You don’t have a lot of friends back home, so it’s nice to see.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“It’s an observation, honey.”
“Unfortunately a true one,” Cassie mutters as she turns her head to look at the yard, the darkness flowing into the distance.
“So why are we never going to see Y/N again?”
“Because she’s my friend. Why would she hang around my family?”
“She’s hanging around us now.”
“That’s different,” Cassie says defensively, sitting up straighter. “I’m not going to take her to Europe again. It’s a one-time thing. I’ll have Harrison with me next summer.”
“So you’re just never going to hang around us with your friends?”
“I thought you said I don’t have friends.”
Neil chuckles, swirling the two inches of wine left in his glass around. “That’s why I think it’s important you stay in touch. She’s a sweet girl, and I think you could benefit from having a life outside of your family and work.”
“I guess,” Cassie says with a skeptical sigh. “But my life is good how it is, why rock the boat? I’ve found my path, and I’m set in my ways. That old, divorced 43 third year resident who’s in bed solo by 8:00PM every night? That’s me.”
“You shouldn’t give up and settle though.”
Cassie sucks in a sharp breath, pursuing her lips together before speaking. “You mean in regards to my love life?”
“Well, yes. Yes, that’s a big aspect.”
“I am certainly not the kind of girl who someone would marry. We saw how that went downhill with Chad.”
“That’s because Chad’s a douchebag.”
Cassie chuckles and shakes her head. “Very true, Dad, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m not marriage material. Hell, I’m not even dating material. I’m unavailable in every way possible.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true!”
“Honey,” Neil starts, his tone becoming more serious as he leans onto his elbows on the table. “I just want to see you happy. It’s clear to me that you’re happy when you’re around her. I know you, Cass. I know that you’re fine with the life you’re living, but I want you to be enthusiastic about it.”
“I am,” Cassie states, rubbing her forehead with her palm. “I’m proud of my son. I’m proud of my career. I’m proud of my sobriety. I don’t know what else you want.”
“I want you to be happy. And that includes welcoming love.”
“Love?” Cassie scoffs. “Jesus, why are we having a talk like we’re in some cheesy movie? Can’t we just shit talk Chad?”
“As much as I hate that dickhead,” Neil begins, pulling a laugh out of Cassie, “I want to get it through your thick skull before the summer’s over that it’s okay to hold onto good things as they come your way. You don’t need to push things, and people, away because you can’t control whether or not they stay.”
“Dad, I love you so much, and I appreciate you, but I’m done with this conversation,” Cassie says, scooting her chair back to stand. “It’s not really your place. I have a lot of good things in my life already, and I—”
“Do you love her?”
Cassie stills, nearly falling over onto the table. Her gaze falls to Neil, a flicker of fear behind her enchanting blue eyes. Speechless, Cassie’s mouth hangs open.
“Uh… what?” Cassie squeaks.
“Do you lo—”
“Y/N?”
“Yes.”
“She’s my friend, and I care about her.”
Neil taps his knuckles against the table. “Okay, then,” he says, starting to rise out of his seat. “Hold onto her, honey. I can tell she ‘cares’ about you too.”
Cassie continues to stand there, trying to wrap her head around what her dad just said. Neil shoots her a small, comforting smile before walking away, leaving Cassie alone in her thoughts, pondering what she was just confronted with.
She genuinely doesn’t know if her dad is aware that you and Cassie are more than friends. Either way, he can tell that you’re important to her. There are rules in place, however—rules that Cassie and you both agreed to. The last thing Cassie needs is a girlfriend almost half her age, she refuses to even entertain that thought.
It doesn’t stop the idea from invading her mind though, Cassie trying to crush it.
With a weary sigh, Cassie takes a few steps to the side door, ready to head inside. Whether or not she’s ready to face you is a different question entirely. But Cassie stops as she hears faint laughter from the other side of the house.
She can tell it’s coming from you, able to distinguish your laughter from the other person’s. Cassie walks around the yard, curious what you’re doing out here still. As she grows closer, she realizes you’re with Oliver. It worries Cassie that you and Oliver are talking and laughing, hoping she’s not the topic. It already makes her uneasy that Oliver knows about you and Cassie.
As you start to come into sight, Cassie approaches you and Oliver. She doesn’t even know what to say or what she’s walking into, but she hopes you’re going to want to go to bed. Cassie sure wants to turn in, and as pathetic as it is, she finds it easier when you’re at her side—technically curled up at her side.
“I can’t believe you snuck out of a third story window in high school,” you say to Oliver in disbelief.
After dishing everything out about Cassie, you were ready for a different topic. Thankfully, Oliver happily sparked up a new conversation, sharing bits and pieces of his life with you.
“I learned from the best.” Oliver leans forward, lowering his uneven, drunk voice. “It was your girlfriend.”
“Oh, shut up,” you giggle, gently smacking his arm. “And she’s not my girlfriend.”
“But why not? You guys are so cute.” A sly grin grows on Oliver’s face. “You could be my cousin-in-law,” he entices.
“I do think I love her,” you confess, whispering to Oliver with a wasted grin plastered across your face.
“What?! You’re serious?”
Giggling, you nod. “This summer has been the best. Cassie’s the best.”
“That’s debatable,” Oliver jokes.
“No debate.”
“So why don’t you tell her?”
“Because we’re not looking for anything. This summer is casual. No attachments. I’ve made peace with that.”
“So you’re ready to go home?”
“I don’t wanna go home,” you whine.
“Why not?” a familiar voice booms from behind you.
You jump and whip around, seeing Cassie creep up to your side. She has a smile on her face, although it doesn’t meet her eyes.
“You’re loving Europe too much?” Cassie asks with a chuckle, elbowing your arm.
You look at Cassie then, the goofy smile on your face melting into something softer. There’s a sparkle in your eye, one reserved for only Cassie. It makes her heart flutter, feeling like a kid in high school at the ripe age of 43. She finds herself leaning closer, waiting for your answer with more anticipation than she should.
“Because you’re not going to be there,” you state plainly, not even thinking twice about your response.
Cassie’s breath hitches. It fills her with so much to relief to know that you’re going to miss her too, but it makes it that much harder to say goodbye. If Cassie was offered a million dollars—which to be fair, she doesn’t need—she couldn’t decide if knowing you want to stay with her is better or worse.
Cassie watches as you lean your forearms over the porch railing, mirroring you. Oliver remains standing where he is, quietly sipping on his wine as he stares at you and Cassie. You lace your fingers together, then turning to Cassie.
“Plus, I have to work again,” you grumble. “I was looking at jobs earlier.”
“You were?” Cassie asks, glad the conversation is shifting to something else.
“Yeah. There’s a Title I school 20 minutes from my apartment that I applied to.”
“I hope you get it.”
You nod, staring down at your clasped hands. “There’s a shortage of teachers, so there isn’t much competition. Although, other fine arts teaches got cut at my last job and in our distract, so maybe there will be a lot of applicants.”
“I could see if Harrison’s school has an opening,” Cassie suggests, her mouth moving faster than her brain.
“He goes to a nicer school, right? I doubt they’re in need of an art teacher.”
“I’ll check anyways.”
“Okay. Well, thanks.”
“Of course,” Cassie says with a smile.
She wants you to get a job, but the thought of your life intertwining with Cassie’s scares her. In order to live her life how she was, she needs you to become a memory. It’ll be impossible for Cassie to be around you when she can’t have you like that. The thought of you dating someone else makes her feel like she has to vomit.
And that’s why Cassie can’t have you hanging in the shadows of her life. She’ll never be able to get over you, and having you around but out of reach will make her miserable. It’s not healthy, and she knows it. Cassie has to allow herself and you to move on, especially when she originally told you that what you guys have is casual.
But Cassie unnecessarily offered to check to see if there’s a job opening at Harrison’s school because she still wants you around.
She silently curses herself, hating that she isn’t stronger when it comes to you.
“Okay, well, I’m gonna dip,” Oliver awkwardly announces, walking backwards.
You raise your eyebrows and give him an annoyed look. “What? You’re just gonna steal all that wine?”
“Hey, I’m not stealing it. Papè’s going to be so happy knowing I liked his wine so much I drank the rest. Also, you’ve had way too much to drink, you lightweight.”
You gasp, feigning offense. “Me? You’ve had more than me.”
“I’m not a lightweight.”
You roll your eyes and flip Oliver off. While it may be true that you don’t hold your liquor as well as him, he’s definitely wasted too.
“I’ll see you lovebirds tomorrow!”
“Shut the fuck up,” you shout back, wine drunk and giggling.
“You’re wasted,” Cassie snorts.
You turn to Cassie, a dramatically straight expression painted across your face. But it only lasts a few seconds before you burst out laughing, unable to be serious right now. Plus, Cassie staring at you like this is making you all flustered.
“Stop,” you drunkenly giggle, swatting Cassie’s shoulder.
“Stop what?” Cassie questions, a genuine smile tugging at her lips, finding your giddy state incredibly cute.
“Looking at me! If you keep looking at me like that I’m gonna fall even more in love.”
Cassie’s heart stops.
“Even more?” she whispers.
“Oops,” you say, bringing a hand up to cover your mouth before erupting in giggles. “I love every part of you,” you confess with a big grin as you playfully poke Cassie’s shoulder.
“You’re drunk,” Cassie whispers, her hands balling to fists at her sides.
“Why can’t you believe it when someone says they like you? Or love you?”
“I’m not doing this. You’re drunk.”
You swat a hand at Cassie. “So what if I’m drunk? I still see you.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying, baby.”
“Yes, I do,” you reply immediately, standing up straighter. “I didn’t want anything serious. I was happy to have a fling with you this summer and go back to our lives after,” you explain clearly, despite your inebriated state. “But how could I not fall in love with you?”
“Y/N—”
“Na-uh,” you scold. “Let me finish.”
“Fine.”
“Obviously you’re beautiful and smart and funny and caring,” you list. “And good in bed,” you add with a giggle. “But you make me feel like no one ever has before. And it’s because you love me.”
“I… can I speak now?”
“Yesss,” you slur, bouncing on your heels.
“I love spending time with you, and I love the person you are, but I’m not in love with you. We’re friends.”
You stare blankly at Cassie. Her stomach starts to turn, worried that she broke your heart. Cassie opens her mouth to apologize when you abruptly burst out in laughter.
“That’s not true! I know you love me.”
“No, I—”
Cassie closes her mouth as quick as she opened it. How can she deny something and convince you it’s not true when it so clearly is—she can’t even convince her family or herself. Cassie’s barely doing a good job convincing herself of her feelings for you, this conversation making it even harder to suppress now that she knows her feelings for you are reciprocated.
“See?” You grin and point at Cassie, taking an unstable step forward. “You love me.”
“I love… your presence. Hanging out with you and stuff.”
You shake your head and take another step closer to Cassie. “You can’t even say it.”
“Just please stop,” Cassie mutters firmly.
“But— woah!”
You stumble forward, Cassie instinctively catching you in her arms. She helps you stand up straight, keeping her arms tight around you for support. Your eyes flutter up to hers, Cassie’s heart aching. She tries her hardest not to look away, conflicted between mesmerizing your expression and needing to look elsewhere to keep from hurting you both.
“But I’m right,” you whisper, gently grabbing Cassie’s chin.
She looks up at the night sky, taking a breath before meeting your gaze once more. You brush your thumb over Cassie’s bottom lip, and then cup her cheek with that same hand. Cassie closes her eyes and nuzzles into your touch. When she opens her marbled blue eyes back up, there’s a battle reflecting in them, the outcome uncertain to the both of you.
“I’m right,” you whisper again, your voice barely audible.
Cassie stares at you for another second. She then nods, holding onto you tighter. You don’t say anything, you just lean into Cassie’s touch, your head coming to rest on her chest below her chin.
“Let’s get you to bed,” Cassie whispers, her voice cracking as her resolve finally begins to unravel.
“Not yet,” you murmur. “I wanna stay here a little longer.” You wrap your arms around Cassie, staring off into the distance, the Italian night stretching endlessly, quiet and peaceful. “Please,” you sigh.
“Okay,” Cassie says, resting her chin on top of your head. “Just a minute longer.”
A minute goes by. That minute soon turns into another and another. It isn’t until your eyelids begin to get heavy that you go inside. Cassie keeps an arm around your waist, helping your sluggish body through the house and up the stairs.
When you reach your room, you head straight towards the bed, but Cassie, stronger and sober, redirects you to the bathroom. You walk in, sleepy but still giggly. Cassie lifts you up by the hips, setting you down on the counter. She then squirts some mint toothpaste on your toothbrush and hands it to you, insisting that you have to brush your wine-stained teeth before going to bed.
After that, Cassie grabs a warm washcloth and uses it to take your makeup off. You’re laughing too much to get out words, Cassie unaware that you have a makeup remover oil that works better than water. Cassie’s frustrated by your giggly state, making it much harder to help you.
“Please stop laughing,” she says softly yet firmly, meeting your eyes to give you a glare before focusing back on your face.
“But I—” High pitched giggles spill out. “I just—” Another round of laughter. “You—” You snort, the sound making you laugh even harder.
“Y/N,” Cassie says sharply.
Your eyes flicker to hers then, a smile still present, although your laughter subsides. “Yes, love?”
Cassie closes her eyes and expels an exhausted breath. “Please stop laughing,” she tells you, opening her eyes back up to get the last traces of makeup off of your face. “Just please stop.”
“I thought you liked my laugh.”
“Yeah,” Cassie sighs.
She doesn’t elaborate further, and you don’t ask or tease. Instead, you listen to Cassie. You may be drunk, but you can still sense that Cassie’s torn up about something—likely you, you think—and you’re aware she needs quiet right now.
Once your makeup is off, Cassie helps you down from the sink and walks you to the bed. You collapse onto your back, wiggling your way up to the head of the bed. You bite the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing as your mind drifts to earlier today in the pool when Oliver shared that he knows about you and Cassie.
In silence, Cassie removes your clothes until you’re left in nothing but your underwear. She then walks over to the dresser that’s opposite to the bed. Cassie opens a drawer, a creek filling the quiet.
“I can sleep in my underwear,” you tell Cassie as you roll onto your side.
“Okay,” Cassie breaths out, setting the shirt she pulled out back in the drawer.
You catch a glimpse of the t-shirt before it’s tucked away again. Your eyes light up, and a small giggle escapes you, making Cassie look at you.
“Yes?”
“Actually I want a shirt.”
Annoyed, but more than willing to help, Cassie pulls the shirt back out. She walks over to you, motioning with her hand to sit up as she gets closer. You listen, sitting up in bed despite your head spinning.
“Arms up,” Cassie instructs.
You raise your arms, allowing Cassie to put on the t-shirt. Then you plop back down onto the mattress, curling up on your side. Smiling, you fist the fabric of the oversized shirt, inhaling it. It smells just like Cassie, her natural scent lingering on her shirt she just dressed you in.
You start to drift off right away, all the activities of the day combined with the wine flowing through your system catching up with you. You’re almost all the way asleep when you feel the bed dip on the opposite side. Cassie turns off the lamp on the bedside table, and pulls the sheets up. She then starts to get comfortable on her side, her back facing yours.
If you stay still, you could be asleep in 30 seconds or less. However, you don’t want to sleep like this. Without Cassie.
Cassie’s breath catches in her throat as she feels your arm wrap around her, your hand resting against her stomach. She’s tense, and you feel it. In hopes to help her relax, you hold onto her tighter, your touch gentle and comforting. Your forehead comes to rest on Cassie’s back, your eyes glued shut. Her warm body heat radiates onto you, making you more cozy.
Cassie lets out a long breath, allowing her body to relax into your touch. Still, there’s a hesitancy that’s not usually there. You’re too tired to really notice though, already falling asleep. You’re barely conscious as Cassie grabs your hand that’s over her tummy, holding her palm over the back of your hand.
You’re already sound asleep when a single tear escapes Cassie.
You’re already deep in slumber when Cassie kisses the back of your hand.
You’re already dreaming, your unconscious mind fantasizing about being able to fly when you hear a faint “I love you.”
Only, you’re not sure if those three words were a dream.
summary: spending time in italy with cassie and her family has been great. maybe too great. in denial about your true feelings, neither of you know that you are starting to love one another because saying it out loud is hard, so you and cassie won't say it at all… that is until you get wine drunk one evening.
warnings: 18+ age gap (reader is in mid 20’s, cassie is 43), smut, minor angst, buried feelings, cassie pov, butchfemme, dry humping/thigh riding (r!recieving), fingering (c!recieving), mention of daddy kink, drinking (cassie stays sober)
word count: 9.5k
a/n: not yet proofread & smau will be out tmwr or the day after!
SMAU ✦ MASTERLIST
soundtrack ‧₊˚♫ ˊ⊹
Morning light spills through the cracked windows, a soft breeze slipping through the curtains. Cassie’s awake, staring at the ceiling in thought, her hands folded over her stomach. She can hear your gentle breathing from beside her, your face on the mattress and turned towards Cassie.
For a moment Cassie lies still, letting the warmth of the morning sink into her skin, thinking about what you’re going to do today. But she can’t help her mind from wandering to the woman beside her. You.
With a sigh, Cassie looks over to you. Your cheek is smushed against the mattress, and your lips are slightly parted, breathing through your mouth as you slumber. The rumpled white sheets are pulled up on your body halfway, the peach-colored quilt you stole from Cassie in the night tangled around your legs. It feels like Cassie’s staring at a painting, a worry-free idyllic world with you as the beautiful star.
Here you are, the perfect girl, spending your summer days and nights with Cassie. She wasn’t supposed to like you as much as she’s grown to. And she hates herself for it. Cassie’s come too far to be undone by a stupid crush… but she knows it’s more than that.
What was supposed to be a no strings attached, one-time summer affair, has turned into a heavy love affair. At least for Cassie. At times she thinks you feel the same way, but it’s too confusing and hard to think about. You both needed a casual arrangement, and that’s what this is.
Every aspect of Cassie’s life has been beyond fulfilling lately. Well, every department besides love. Cassie is incredibly proud of all the progress she’s made, and won’t do anything to jeopardize that. The fear of losing Harrison again or breaking her sobriety is paralyzing, the life she’s built crumbling may destroy her.
Then there was you.
Then there is you.
Someone who makes Cassie feel in ways that she hasn’t felt in years. You’ve found a way to touch the deepest parts of her that’s she’s suppressed for so long. Romance and love were abandoned, sunk deep down after Chad—hell, during Chad. Cassie’s love life had been deserted like a shipwreck in the darkest parts of the ocean, never to surface again. She truly believed that part of her was gone, and she made peace with that.
But you changed everything.
All Cassie wanted was sex and company. She’s admittedly been lonely. Lonely and horny. Samira, one of Cassie’s few work friends, got fed up with her whining about needing to be laid that she suggested to just find a meaningless hookup. That was supposed to be you, but without Harrison for the summer, Cassie somehow ended up inviting you to Europe with her.
She made sure to set rules though. A safeguard for the both of you. Clear boundaries going into the summer.
“It would be no strings attached and completely casual,” Cassie said.
Cassie has considered asking you if you want to extend your casual relationship with her back in Pittsburgh. Instead of hanging out and being together 24/7 though, it would strictly be for sex. It may not be the same or what Cassie truly wants, but at least she would still be seeing you. Plus, Cassie’s been on the lookout for someone she feels comfortable with to have no strings attached sex.
But Cassie isn’t sure if she would be able to keep it casual, and that isn’t fair to you. It also scares Cassie to think of you seeing her full life. You may have heard stories, seen her Paris apartment, and even met some of her family, but you don’t know what Cassie’s day-to-day life looks like.
You haven’t seen the stress and sadness that comes with her job. You haven’t met Harrison or been around her as a mom. You haven’t had to deal with Cassie’s bad days where she wants nothing more than to get high. Actually, Cassie can’t even remember the last time she craved something other than nicotine—certainly not at any point this summer, but she knows it’ll surface. You’ve never experienced Cassie’s typical day, how she doesn’t go out like young people do. Instead, she’s lounging around the house, her idea night consisting of a bath, reading, and an early bedtime. You’re used to Europe Cassie, a version of her that doesn’t typically have as much energy as her usual, busy Pittsburgh self.
Cassie knows that you like the version of her here, but you haven’t seen her in her natural habitat. She’s a mom, doctor, and addict. The very little time Cassie has outside of work is spent with her son or on relaxing. You wouldn’t want to be burdened with a parter who is bouncing between a demanding job, parenting a preteen, and AA meetings. Cassie couldn’t subject you to that—she won’t subject you to that.
Sloane broke up with you because you were “too clingy.” While Cassie doesn’t mind that at all, she can’t be around all the time. She can’t be what you need, and she knows it. Not only is Cassie not physically available, she hasn’t been in a relationship in years. She gave up on that idea long ago.
On top of that, Cassie’s in her 40’s while you’re in your 20’s. For hookups and flings the age gap doesn’t bother Cassie much, but for a long term relationship, it doesn’t sit right with her. Yes, you’re an established adult, but the stage of life you’re in is vastly different than Cassie’s. If you two were to be a couple, she would be asking you to be a stepmom to a kid who you would’ve had at 14. Cassie doesn’t want to tie you down, her path already set while yours is still forming, the directions nearly endless.
But Cassie doesn’t feel ready to let you go. Not yet anyways. Maybe she never will. It might just have to be something she has to force herself to get through.
It’s weird to think that in a couple weeks you’ll part ways. You feel like an important part of Cassie’s life now. A constant. Someone she’s used to having around.
It surprised Cassie how quickly she felt comfortable with you. Yes, she had been bitching to Samira that she needs to get laid, but allowing someone to have access to her like that scared her. Cassie thought getting her pent-up sexual frustrations out on someone else would help tremendously, and eventually bring her closer to allowing the favor to be returned, and while it did, she was not expecting to surrender to anyone as fast as she did with you.
You and Cassie were practically strangers who started sharing a bed and spending your days together. Somehow, it never felt weird or uncomfortable. Maybe it was a bit awkward at first, but it never felt wrong. As you and Cassie started to get to know each other, the occasional awkwardness of unfamiliarity dissipated, and the two of you fell into the content groove you’re in now.
Cassie never meant to let you in like she did. She never meant to develop feelings for you. And she certainly never meant to start falling in love with you.
Before Cassie can dwell on her conflicting emotions any longer, you start to stir. She doesn’t know whether that’s a blessing or curse—unable to continue to overthink, but the source of her anxieties facing her.
You blink your eyes open, not quite awake yet. The first thing you see is Cassie, her gentle gaze already on you. Among the blue, her right eye has a speck of hazel in the corner, the morning light accentuating it. Your mind is too hazy with sleep to form any thoughts besides of the woman in front of you, although warm feelings of comfort, safety, and peace circle through you.
Mindlessly, you pull the sheets up and closer around yourself, capturing the warmth of the bed. Outside you can hear birds chirp from the trees, the countryside calm. Whenever you blink, your eyes stay shut longer than necessary, the heaviness of sleep willing them closed.
“Do you want coffee?” Cassie whispers.
You groan in response, Cassie chuckling at your sleepy attempt of an answer. Your eyes stay shut, letting sleep win.
“Do you want to stay in bed a little longer?”
“Mm,” you hum.
“Okay,” Cassie murmurs with an amused smile you can’t see.
A few seconds later, the mattress shifts as Cassie begins to sit up. She swings her legs off the side of the bed, about to stand up when you blindly reach out, your hand wrapping around one of Cassie’s wrists.
“You can stay in bed longer,” Cassie tells you softly, turning around to look at your tired form.
You let out a little grunt of protest, your grip on Cassie’s wrist tightening. You then snuggle further into the bed, not letting go of Cassie.
An affectionate smile grows on Cassie’s face, finding it incredibly cute how clingy you’re being. But then a pang of longing hits her heart as she stares down at you, remembering this won’t last. If Cassie was stronger and smart enough to do the right thing, she would shut it down before it could even happen. Cassie’s weak when it comes to you, however, craving the closeness as much as you.
Cassie crawls back onto the bed, rolling onto her stomach like you. She tucks some hair behind your ear, then playing with the loose strands. Cassie stays relaxed like that for a minute or two before leaning forward to press kisses on your upper arm, trailing all the way up to your shoulder.
“Mm,” you groan, stretching your body under the sheets as Cassie kisses your skin.
“Do you need help waking up, ma doux?”
“Mhm.”
“Mkay,” Cassie hums.
Cassie lies flat on her back, her reddish brown hair spread across two pillows. She reaches over to you and grabs your sides, smoothly maneuvering you on top of her. As if you’re a ragdoll, Cassie moves you so you’re resting on her chest, positioning your crotch onto her left thigh. You let your legs fall to either side of Cassie’s thigh, a low hum escaping as she purposefully jolts her leg up, your clit brushing against her.
You bury your head in Cassie’s neck, inhaling her natural scent. Your arms fly around Cassie’s shoulders while her hands find your hips, holding on securely. Cassie slowly moves you over her thigh, making you moan right into her skin.
She does this a few more times, going slow to ease you into it. Your hips roll as Cassie continues to grind you against her, the building pleasure beginning to help you fully wake up. Cassie starts to move you faster, but still slow enough, trying to make you restless.
After a couple minutes, your body starts to move on its own, taking what you need. Cassie happily lets you, her hands sliding down to your ass now that you’re rolling your hips all on your own. With each grind, you become more awake. You start to kiss and nip at Cassie’s neck, your panties and sleep shorts soaked through by now as you keep chasing your high.
Cassie tilts her head, giving you better access. A whiny moan falls from her lips when your tongue brushes over the most sensitive part of her neck. Wanting to hear more sounds from Cassie, you suckle her skin there while you trail a hand down her stomach. When you reach her pelvis, your hand slips underneath her boxers, palming her drenched core right away.
“Fuck,” Cassie mutters, her hips bucking up to meet your hand.
“You’re so wet, Cass.”
“All ‘cause of you, sweet girl.”
You moan, your hips moving even faster than before. You press the base of your palm against Cassie’s clit while you part her sticky folds, her delicate hair tickling your fingers. When you reach her hole, you push your middle finger inside, Cassie’s cunt swallowing your digit immediately.
“You’re real lucky I don’t have nails anymore,” you tease, smirking as you kiss Cassie’s neck.
“Yeah,” Cassie moans, the pleasure inside her already rapidly building. “Give me more, baby.”
You listen, inserting a second digit. Your hips keep moving, although they slow as you shift your focus more onto Cassie. You curl your fingers, twisting them around Cassie’s gummy walls. She groans when you graze a sweet spot, her hips jutting up to meet your hand.
“Oh! Right there,” Cassie exclaims, whining as her body starts to writhe beneath you.
You pump your fingers in and out of Cassie, hooking them to hit her g-spot. Once you establish a steady pace, you begin to grind relentlessly on Cassie’s thigh, the rhythm of your hips in sync with your hand working on Cassie’s swollen cunt. Her lower half repeatedly bucks up to you, sending a wave of pleasure to your pussy every time as her thigh jolts up to your throbbing clit.
“Oh, fuck, baby,” Cassie moans roughly.
“I’m gonna cum soon, Cass.”
“Make a mess f’me,” she replies, squeezing your clothed ass. “And let me hear you.”
“Fuck,” you whine.
Your hips bang against Cassie erratically, rolling deep into her thigh to get the perfect amount of pressure on your clit. Your middle and ring finger continue to plunge in and out of Cassie’s cunt, making sure to keep the heel of your hand pressed hard against her heated bundle of nerves.
“Cass, I’m— I’m—”
You let out a series of whiny moans, your pussy leaking as you cum. While your hips stutter, the pace of your hand doesn’t let up, continuing to finger fuck Cassie with determination. You curl your two digits inside of her, pressing down on her g-spot.
Cassie finishes loudly, letting you hear everything as her pussy clenched around your soaked fingers. You attack Cassie’s neck in kisses, your body slowly rocking against Cassie’s thigh as your peak starts to fizzle out. Cassie grinds against your hand, seeing stars right now.
Once you’re both spent, your body goes limp on top of Cassie, tired but fully awake now. As you pull your fingers out of Cassie’s cunt, there’s a squelching sound that makes your hips involuntarily twitch against Cassie’s meaty leg.
You bring your hand up, lazily putting your fingers in front of Cassie’s mouth. Without a word, she takes them in her mouth, her own slick coating her taste buds as she licks your fingers clean. Cassie sucks on them a bit longer than necessary, enjoying suckling and swirling her tongue around your nimble digits.
When Cassie releases them, there’s a pop sound, your hand then falling onto Cassie’s chest. Her saliva on your fingers sticks onto her shoulder, your hand resting there. Your breathing is in sync with Cassie’s, the two of you recovering together. Cassie dances her fingernails across your back, the simple action soothing and comforting.
“We’re gonna have to shower before breakfast,” Cassie mumbles, burying her face in your hair.
“Yup,” you reply, unable to form full sentences at the moment.
A huff of laughter escapes Cassie. “And I thought you would be awake after that.”
“I am,” you mutter. “But brain empty. Too much work.”
“It’s too much work to think?”
“Mhm. Your fault.”
Cassie cackles, the familiar sound making you smile. You stay like that for a few more minutes, your sweaty body on top of hers. Before you sit up, you press a kiss to her cheek, then her lips. With ease, you climb off the bed, Cassie lying down still.
You place your hips on your lower back, and then lean backwards, popping your back. Feeling awake and ready for the day, you gather the clothes you’re going to wear today. Cassie watches you as you shift around the room, her neck awkwardly against the headboard to see without having to actually sit up.
“Should I go first?” you ask, pointing to the bathroom behind you, your clothes bundled in your other hand.
“Yeah,” Cassie says, waving you off. “I’m old, I need to lay here for another minute.”
You laugh, and then walk off to the bathroom. You leave the door halfway opened, but you’re out of view from Cassie’s line of sight. Neatly, you fold and place your clean clothes on the counter. Then you turn the water on in the shower, letting it warm up before you get it.
As the water runs, you brush out your hair, the strands tangled from sleep and sex. Then you brush your teeth, grateful that Cassie doesn’t mind your morning breath. After that, you get undressed and get into the shower, the warm water cascading over your shoulders and down your body.
You wash your hair, humming a tune to yourself. As you’re rinsing out the shampoo, you hear the shower door open. Once the suds are washed out, you open your eyes, spotting a wet Cassie. She looks like a puppy when her hair is soaked, her blue adorable eyes looking even bigger as she blinks at you, damp strands clinging to her forehead and cheeks.
“Look at you. You’re standing,” you tease, the corners of your lips curling up unevenly into a small smirk.
“I probably wouldn’t be if I was on top.”
You chuckle, your amusement only growing when Cassie smiles fondly at you. “Tiring out so easily?”
“Apparently. I guess it’s good that the summer’s almost over,” Cassie attempts to joke. “I’m too old to keep up with you.”
Your smile fades, your gaze locked onto Cassie’s. Your expression is tender, something sad behind your soft features. You’ve been trying your best to take your mind off of the little time you have left with Cassie, the days slipping through your fingers. At the start of the summer, you were dreading the end of the trip because you didn’t want to return to the real world and your responsibilities, but now you only care about parting ways with Cassie.
“Turn around,” Cassie murmurs softly.
You do as she asks, your back now to her. The warm water soothes your muscles as you stand beneath the steady stream, the gentle heat comforting. From behind you, you hear the sound of a pump, shower gel squirting onto Cassie’s palms. She rubs the soap together, and then puts her hands on your body, spreading the suds across your smooth skin.
Cassie gives your shoulders a brief massage, easing any tension. Once she’s finished washing your body, you do the same to her, being just as thorough. After you’re both clean, you get out of the shower and dry off side by side.
You and Cassie get ready together but separate. While you do your makeup, Cassie blow dries her hair. You catch her smiling every now and then, admiring you through the mirror.
About half an hour later, you’re both dressed and ready. You head downstairs together, making your way outside for breakfast. Cassie’s family likes to have meals together, but it’s not an obligation. Usually with breakfast, her older family members eat earlier than you and Cassie, but they’re still at the table chatting by the time you guys come down.
Today, everyone is outside sitting at the table besides Tessa’s family. An assortment of homemade breakfast foods are scattered across the table, coffee and orange juice in the center. You grab a plate and sit beside Cassie, scooping what you’re in the mood for this morning.
Everyone says good morning, and you exchange polite greetings. Neil, Cassie’s dad, mentions that Tessa, her husband, and kid are at a park and plan to go to a local farm with a petting zoo after. The rest of Cassie’s family doesn’t have any set plans today, although they talked about potentially walking through the vineyard beside their house this afternoon.
“Are you guys hitting any tourist destinations today?” Louise, Cassie’s aunt, asks you and Cassie.
“Um…” Cassie glances at you. “I think we’re just going to take it easy today.”
“Yeah,” you confirm. “The last week we’ve been pretty touristy.”
“Have you gone swimming yet?” Cassie’s grandma asks.
“We went to that creek over the hills in the woods two days ago,” Cassie answers.
“Chiquita, you should use the pool,” Cassie’s grandma says, nodding in the direction of the pool.
“Yeah,” Cassie replies, looking over to you as she finishes chewing her bite of eggs. “We could do that.”
“I’d enjoy that,” you say.
“Oh, before I forget, Papè is going to be serving the wine he made at dinner tonight. I know you won’t have any, Chiquita,” Cassie’s Mamè says, then glancing at you. “But Y/N can have some if she wants.”
“Sure. I’d love to try it. I bet it good,” you reply, giving Cassie’s grandpa a smile before looking down at your plate.
“It’s finally ready after almost a year,” the older man states. “There’s enough for everyone to have at least two glasses.”
“Ooo, well I look forward to trying it,” you tell him, genuinely excited.
“Good. Bon vin ne peut mentir.”
“C’mon, the water’s nice,” you call out to Cassie as she stands beside the pool, you wading in the shallow end.
“Fine,” Cassie grumbles, trying not to smile.
The pool in her grandparents’ backyard is simple and rectangular, though beautiful. It has weathered pale stone edges, adding sort of a rustic charm. The turquoise water glows beneath the afternoon sun, gentle ripples shimmering across the surface. There’s dozens of trees around you, providing natural shade while letting sunlight slip through.
Cassie steps into the pool, waiting a moment on the first step before going deeper. She’s right in front of you in the matter of seconds, clearly not bothered by the temperature. She’s wearing the same swimsuit she wore to the beach in Normandy, the wet spandex clinging tightly to her skin.
“See? Doesn’t it feel nice?” you ask as you begin to swim backwards, migrating further into the pool.
“Yes. But now I have chlorine on me. I’m going to have to shower again.”
“You’re such a baby.”
“Me?” Cassie says with a feigned offended scoff, fighting back a smile. “You’re the one who refused to go swimming at first since you didn’t want to get your hair wet.”
“Hey, hey, hey, that was when I first got to Paris. Clearly I’ve grown,” you tell Cassie, motioning to the glistening water around you. “People can change.”
“Fine,” Cassie replies, putting her hands up in defeat as she starts walking over to you. “Maybe I need to relax. Are you going to help me with that?”
You giggle and quickly glance around the empty backyard. “Cassie!”
“What?” she asks innocently, a sly grin hanging from her lips. “You don’t think I need to relax?”
“I think you’re bullshitting to get in my pants.”
“Bikini,” Cassie corrects, her hands coming to rest on your hips under the water.
“Bikini,” you echo, rolling your eyes as you wrap your arms around Cassie’s middle.
“Stop giving me attitude,” Cassie attempts to scold, the giddy smile plastered across her face making it ineffective.
“Or what?”
“I’ll shut you up.”
“How?”
Cassie stares at you a moment longer before tugging you closer, her lips slamming against yours. You hum into her mouth her tongue darts into yours. As you kiss, you adjust your arms so they’re wrapped around Cassie’s shoulders, your legs coming to wrap around her waist too.
The kiss grows heated quick. A moan spills out as your hips twitch into Cassie, your legs tightening around her torso. Cassie’s hands are on your bottom, holding you flush against her, your body weightless under the blueish green water.
Suddenly, you hear the sound of a door crashing shut. You and Cassie jump apart instinctively, putting distance between the two of you. Both of are breathless, and your lips are puffy and swollen from making out.
A few seconds after the back door closes, Oliver appears wearing nothing but swim trunks and sunglasses. He stops in his tracks as he spots you and Cassie, his hazel eyes widening a bit. There are noticeable ripples in the space between you two.
“Oh, hey,” Oliver says awkwardly.
“Hey, man,” Cassie greets her cousin, looking at him for a split second before staring at the shimmering water.
“Am I interrupting anything?”
“No,” you reply immediately. “We’re just swimming. And chilling. Swimming and chilling.”
Cassie bites the inside of her cheek, holding back a smile as you try and provide a nonchalant answer. Her gaze is glued onto her blurry feet beneath the surface, scared she’ll break if she looks up.
“Is it okay if I join then?”
“Yeah, of course,” you tell Oliver.
He walks into the pool, eyeing you and Cassie back and forth. You tread water in the center of the pool, only five feet deep there. Cassie’s closer to the steps, Oliver walking past his cousin as he makes his way to the deep end. He swims to the seven foot side, pausing when he can no longer stand, his shoulders submerged.
“Are you guys doing anything today?” Oliver asks, trying to make small talk.
“We don’t have any plans. Just… lounging.”
“I bet you need a lazy day after all of that activity. I don’t know how you do it.”
“Act-activity?” Cassie asks, her eyes shooting to her cousin as she crosses her toned arms.
“You know,” he starts to say, a small smirk growing on his face, “I assume you would be tired after all that exercise. Being a tourist and traveling and walking around is a lot. My ass would sleep until noon if I was doing what you guys have been doing.”
A sigh of relief escapes Cassie, her shoulders relaxing. “Traveling you mean?”
“Yes, traveling,” Oliver confirms. “You’ve been bouncing around place to place these last few weeks.” A pause. “And by the way, you might want to cover that up, Cass,” Oliver says, pointing to her neck.
Cassie looks down, puzzled as to what her cousin’s talking about. You squint and your brows knit together, also confused. But then your eyes widen like a deer caught in headlights as you spot what Oliver pointed out. A very small purple love bite peeks out through Cassie’s hair, clearly fresh.
Oliver looks like he’s holding onto a thread, about to burst into laughter. Cassie on the other hand, looks mortified as she realizes what it is that Oliver saw—a tiny but visible hickey, barely tucked away. You purse your lips together, warmth flushing your cheeks as you hold back a laugh, both entertained and embarrassed.
“Chill out, I’m not gonna tell,” Oliver says to Cassie, noticing the panic in her features.
“Tell-tell what?” she stammers.
“That… ya know.” Oliver gestures to you and then Cassie. “That.”
“We’re just friends,” Cassie replies right away, her whole face turning bright red.
“Oh, yeah? Who’s that from then?”
“It’s just a bruise, Oli.”
“Okay, explain this then,” Oliver says with a subtle yet smug smirk on his face.
He gives you a quick look before speaking, his mischievous expression telling you to that whatever he’s about to say probably isn’t innocent. Your lips curl into a downwards smile, knowing Cassie’s going to get more tongue-tied.
“A couple days ago, mom sent me to see if you guys were going to come down for breakfast. It was almost 11:00, and they wanted to put everything away.”
“That was the day after we climbed Brunelleschi's Dome,” Cassie notes.
“Oh my god, the gelato we had after was the best,” you exclaim, recalling your activities that day.
“Anyways,” Oliver begins, “I was sent upstairs to go see if you guys were even up yet. I was literally about to knock on your door— and I mean my fist was in the motherfucking air when I suddenly hear something…”
“Oh, god,” Cassie cringes.
“Do you want to know what I heard?”
“Probably not,” Cassie winces.
“Well I didn’t want to hear it either. Your little girlfriend over here,” Oliver waves his fingers at you, then continues, “yelled out ‘daddy.’”
You press your lips into a thin line, your face heating up, humiliated. At the same time, you want to laugh, knowing Oliver enough to know that he’s not disturbed or uncomfortable by it.
“I mean, whatever floats your boat, I’ve done the same thing,” Oliver says, flashing you a wink. “But damn, you’re in a house full of family.”
“Well-well,” Cassie stammers, “well you tell aunt Louise that I’m a grown adult, and I don’t need her to send her kid up to check on me. There, prob-problem solved. And we are quiet, thank you very much. You only heard because you were right outside our fucking door.”
“Oh, honey, you are not quiet,” Oliver tells his cousin. He then shifts his gaze to you. “And you’re especially not.”
“What?!” you exclaim, waving a hand to Cassie. “She’s the one who likes to hear me! Take it up with her.”
Cassie closes her eyes, her face redder than a tomato. “Oh, god,” she mumbles under her breath. When she speaks at a normal volume again, her voice is higher pitched than usual. “Well, I-I… I’m not— arghhh,” Cassie groans. “I’m not going to discuss my sex life, and certainly not with my cousin.”
“That’s fine,” Oliver says, holding his hands up in defense. “Just make sure I don’t hear it. Problem solved,” he says in a mocking tone, repeating Cassie’s words.
“This is a you problem,” Cassie starts to sputter, her embarrassed state cute. “Don’t stand outside of my bedroom door.”
“This isn’t the first time this has happened,” you chime in, a smirk beginning to form on your face.
“Oh, do tell,” Oliver replies enthusiastically, turning his whole body towards you.
“What are you talking about?” Cassie asks, genuinely confused.
“Trinity.”
Cassie squints her eyes at you and gives her a head a little shake, still clueless. You sigh, glancing at Oliver for a split second before looking back to Cassie.
“When she came to stay with us,” you add.
You pause, seeing if Cassie will fill in the gaps on her own. She doesn’t, however, so you expel another breath before spelling it out for her.
“Trinity heard us. Actually, she kind of heard the same thing Oliver heard.”
“Oh my god,” Cassie says, bringing her hands to the sides of her head. “My coworker knows that I—” Cassie glances around the backyard, then lowers her voice. “Knows that I get called, you know, in-in bed?”
You finally start to giggle, finding the whole situation humorous. As you laugh, you take a couple steps towards Cassie, the water gently swishing around you.
“She’s not going to tell anyone,” you reassure Cassie as you place a hand on her upper arm.
At first, Cassie instinctively flinches, but a second later, she relaxes under your touch as her blue eyes meet yours. Your soft expression melts away Cassie’s anxieties. The way you look at her—that look reserved only for her—makes her heart flutter in a way no one else has ever been able to do before.
“Okay,” Cassie whispers, believing you without hesitation. She then looks to her cousin, an annoyed look on her face. “You called her my girlfriend earlier, and just so you know, she’s not. We’re not dating. This is only for this summer.”
Skeptically, Oliver looks away from Cassie and to you. Your hand slides down Cassie’s arm underneath the water and to your side as you offer Oliver a nod and smile that doesn’t meet your eyes.
“If you say so,” Oliver mutters, unconvinced that you and Cassie aren’t dating. “Moving on, how would you like to get a pedicure with me today?” Oliver asks you, smiling.
“I’m so down with that.”
“Ahem,” Cassie exaggeratedly huffs. “Am I not included in this?”
“You would want to go?” Oliver questions, arching a brow. “You, Cassie McKay want to go get a pedicure?”
“Yeah? So?”
“I thought you hated getting your nails done. I thought it was ‘boring’ and ‘weird.’”
“It can be nice every once in a while,” Cassie replies, looking at the side of the house instead of at you or Oliver.
“If you’re just going to keep me company, I’m totally okay going with Oliver,” you inform Cassie, not wanting her to feel obligated to do something she hates.
“No, I want to go.”
“Are you sure? You could catch up with the rest of your family without me being an awkward thorn in your side,” you suggest.
“No,” Cassie states firmly. “I’m going to go. I-I want to go.”
“Girl, you better not complain,” Oliver playfully warns.
“I won’t. I want—”
“To go,” Oliver finishes, “yeah, yeah, we know. Do you guys want to go in an hour?”
“Yeah,” you answer on behalf of you and Cassie. “Can we stop for gelato on the way back? Ugh, what I would do for a scoop of fior di latte right now.”
“Hell yeah,” Oliver beams.
“Of course, honey,” Cassie murmurs as she leans in closer to you. “You can have anything you want.”
Except this summer being endless, you think.
Except for being with Cassie.
The rest of your day, while slow and rather uneventful, has been amazing. Getting your toenails done with Oliver and Cassie was actually fun, the three of you chatting and bantering like you’ve known each other for years—well, Cassie and Oliver have known each other since Oliver was born, but it’s like you’ve known those two longer than you actually have, fitting right in.
After getting a pedicure, you guys got gelato as promised. You ate the tasty icy cream under the warm afternoon sun, feeling as if you were in a dream. Around you the city buzzed with life, but you didn’t feel like you had to rush anywhere as you enjoyed your gelato with Cassie and Oliver.
Before heading back, you stopped at a bookstore. It was Cassie’s idea, and you’re grateful she suggested it because you liked it just as much as Shakespeare and Company in Paris—if not more.
The place you went to is called Libreria Giorni. It’s a family owned shop that opened in 1937, and one that Cassie frequents when she’s in Florence. She bought you an older copy of Alice In Wonderland, one of your favorite stories.
On your way back to the villa, you unexpectedly got an email from an old coworker, informing you that there’s an opening at a Title I elementary school. With Cassie covering your rent for the past two months and the summer coming to an end, you decided to send in your resume, needing to secure a job. The future has been on your mind more lately, the pull of the real word tugging you back in.
And not only did you get a email regarding your life in Pittsburgh, you got a text too. A text from your ex Sloane.
Technically it was a DM, blocking Sloane’s number over a month ago with Cassie’s encouragement. While you unfollowed Sloane after you broke up, you didn’t block her. You probably should’ve though because she’s contacting you through Instagram now.
You didn’t open her message then, and you still haven’t opened it now. You haven’t told anyone about it either, not even Trinity. It would probably be best to delete the DM altogether and block Sloane, but you can’t bring yourself to. Instead, you’re ignoring it. Hopefully, Sloane’s message gets buried, both on Instagram and mentally. For now, it’s off your mind, your focus on the present in Italy surrounded by Cassie and her sweet family.
Now, as the sun sets, you’re back home—your temporary home—and you and Cassie are eating dinner with her family. Her aunt and grandma prepared pesto pasta with a side of roasted tomatoes. To no one’s surprise, it’s absolutely delicious. You savor each bite, enjoying both the food and the wonderful company.
Cassie’s grandpa served the wine he made to everyone besides Cassie and her kid niece. Ordinarily, you’re not a huge fan of wine—to be fair, you’re not really a drinker in the first place—but you genuinely don’t mind the wine that Cassie’s grandpa made.
The grapes were sourced from the vineyard right beside the villa, providing a more authentic and fruity taste. It’s sweeter, thinner, and earthier than the wines you’ve previously tasted. There’s still a distinct tang to it, your throat warming with each swallow. You’re already almost done with your second glass, starting to get buzzed.
By the time dinner’s over, you’re more than tipsy, but not quite drunk. It’s clear you’re not sober though, giggles spilling out much more than usual. You offer to help clean up the table or to wash dishes, but you’re brushed off, everyone insisting your only job is to relax since you’re the guest.
You and Cassie are about to go back inside to turn in for the night when her dad stops her. Neil hands his daughter a letter, informing her that a letter from her son Harrison has arrived. Cassie makes sure you’re okay first before excusing herself to read the letter, trying her best to contain her excitement. You assure her that you’re fine and tell her to take her time.
While Cassie and Neil go to the parlor together to open the mail they received from Harrison, you grab your now empty glass of wine to bring inside and rinse. You’re going to go back upstairs after and wait for Cassie, but Oliver appears, striking up a conversation with you.
The two of you stand under the porch, talking and joking around. Somehow, sometime as you guys are goofing around, another full glass of wine ends up in your hand, carelessly downing the red, rich liquid. By the time Cassie re-emerges, you’re sure you’re going to be drunk.
“So what’s really going on with Cassie?” Oliver asks you, a sly grin spreading across his face. “Give me all the tea.”
“Um… well, we first met at a bar.” you recall, starting at the beginning. “That night was uh… it was something…”
Meanwhile, as you and Oliver are chatting and drinking, Cassie opens and reads the letter from Harrison. Since she’s out of the country, it takes longer for Harrison’s mail to arrive. The letter details some of his experiences at camp, the friends he’s made and the activities he’s done. Cassie’s heart pangs as she reads Harrison’s handwriting, missing her son.
Before finding you, however, Neil asks Cassie to have a talk with him. Although confused, she obliges, the father daughter duo going outside to the opposite side of the house from you. There, Neil continues to sip on his first glass of wine, him and Cassie sitting at a two person table.
“So what do you want to talk about?” Cassie awkwardly asks her dad, anxious to hear the answer.
“How’s your social life been going back home?”
Cassie scoffs and crosses her arms, leaning back in her seat. “Fine.”
“Hm,” Neil hums, then taking a sip of wine.
“Dad, you literally live half an hour away from me. You’re kept up to date, and you know I’m fine.”
“I thought you were.”
“Because I am.”
“But then I saw how animated you get when you’re with her. You don’t have a lot of friends back home, so it’s nice to see.”
“Gee, thanks.”
“It’s an observation, honey.”
“Unfortunately a true one,” Cassie mutters as she turns her head to look at the yard, the darkness flowing into the distance.
“So why are we never going to see Y/N again?”
“Because she’s my friend. Why would she hang around my family?”
“She’s hanging around us now.”
“That’s different,” Cassie says defensively, sitting up straighter. “I’m not going to take her to Europe again. It’s a one-time thing. I’ll have Harrison with me next summer.”
“So you’re just never going to hang around us with your friends?”
“I thought you said I don’t have friends.”
Neil chuckles, swirling the two inches of wine left in his glass around. “That’s why I think it’s important you stay in touch. She’s a sweet girl, and I think you could benefit from having a life outside of your family and work.”
“I guess,” Cassie says with a skeptical sigh. “But my life is good how it is, why rock the boat? I’ve found my path, and I’m set in my ways. That old, divorced 43 third year resident who’s in bed solo by 8:00PM every night? That’s me.”
“You shouldn’t give up and settle though.”
Cassie sucks in a sharp breath, pursuing her lips together before speaking. “You mean in regards to my love life?”
“Well, yes. Yes, that’s a big aspect.”
“I am certainly not the kind of girl who someone would marry. We saw how that went downhill with Chad.”
“That’s because Chad’s a douchebag.”
Cassie chuckles and shakes her head. “Very true, Dad, but that doesn’t change the fact that I’m not marriage material. Hell, I’m not even dating material. I’m unavailable in every way possible.”
“Don’t say that.”
“It’s true!”
“Honey,” Neil starts, his tone becoming more serious as he leans onto his elbows on the table. “I just want to see you happy. It’s clear to me that you’re happy when you’re around her. I know you, Cass. I know that you’re fine with the life you’re living, but I want you to be enthusiastic about it.”
“I am,” Cassie states, rubbing her forehead with her palm. “I’m proud of my son. I’m proud of my career. I’m proud of my sobriety. I don’t know what else you want.”
“I want you to be happy. And that includes welcoming love.”
“Love?” Cassie scoffs. “Jesus, why are we having a talk like we’re in some cheesy movie? Can’t we just shit talk Chad?”
“As much as I hate that dickhead,” Neil begins, pulling a laugh out of Cassie, “I want to get it through your thick skull before the summer’s over that it’s okay to hold onto good things as they come your way. You don’t need to push things, and people, away because you can’t control whether or not they stay.”
“Dad, I love you so much, and I appreciate you, but I’m done with this conversation,” Cassie says, scooting her chair back to stand. “It’s not really your place. I have a lot of good things in my life already, and I—”
“Do you love her?”
Cassie stills, nearly falling over onto the table. Her gaze falls to Neil, a flicker of fear behind her enchanting blue eyes. Speechless, Cassie’s mouth hangs open.
“Uh… what?” Cassie squeaks.
“Do you lo—”
“Y/N?”
“Yes.”
“She’s my friend, and I care about her.”
Neil taps his knuckles against the table. “Okay, then,” he says, starting to rise out of his seat. “Hold onto her, honey. I can tell she ‘cares’ about you too.”
Cassie continues to stand there, trying to wrap her head around what her dad just said. Neil shoots her a small, comforting smile before walking away, leaving Cassie alone in her thoughts, pondering what she was just confronted with.
She genuinely doesn’t know if her dad is aware that you and Cassie are more than friends. Either way, he can tell that you’re important to her. There are rules in place, however—rules that Cassie and you both agreed to. The last thing Cassie needs is a girlfriend almost half her age, she refuses to even entertain that thought.
It doesn’t stop the idea from invading her mind though, Cassie trying to crush it.
With a weary sigh, Cassie takes a few steps to the side door, ready to head inside. Whether or not she’s ready to face you is a different question entirely. But Cassie stops as she hears faint laughter from the other side of the house.
She can tell it’s coming from you, able to distinguish your laughter from the other person’s. Cassie walks around the yard, curious what you’re doing out here still. As she grows closer, she realizes you’re with Oliver. It worries Cassie that you and Oliver are talking and laughing, hoping she’s not the topic. It already makes her uneasy that Oliver knows about you and Cassie.
As you start to come into sight, Cassie approaches you and Oliver. She doesn’t even know what to say or what she’s walking into, but she hopes you’re going to want to go to bed. Cassie sure wants to turn in, and as pathetic as it is, she finds it easier when you’re at her side—technically curled up at her side.
“I can’t believe you snuck out of a third story window in high school,” you say to Oliver in disbelief.
After dishing everything out about Cassie, you were ready for a different topic. Thankfully, Oliver happily sparked up a new conversation, sharing bits and pieces of his life with you.
“I learned from the best.” Oliver leans forward, lowering his uneven, drunk voice. “It was your girlfriend.”
“Oh, shut up,” you giggle, gently smacking his arm. “And she’s not my girlfriend.”
“But why not? You guys are so cute.” A sly grin grows on Oliver’s face. “You could be my cousin-in-law,” he entices.
“I do think I love her,” you confess, whispering to Oliver with a wasted grin plastered across your face.
“What?! You’re serious?”
Giggling, you nod. “This summer has been the best. Cassie’s the best.”
“That’s debatable,” Oliver jokes.
“No debate.”
“So why don’t you tell her?”
“Because we’re not looking for anything. This summer is casual. No attachments. I’ve made peace with that.”
“So you’re ready to go home?”
“I don’t wanna go home,” you whine.
“Why not?” a familiar voice booms from behind you.
You jump and whip around, seeing Cassie creep up to your side. She has a smile on her face, although it doesn’t meet her eyes.
“You’re loving Europe too much?” Cassie asks with a chuckle, elbowing your arm.
You look at Cassie then, the goofy smile on your face melting into something softer. There’s a sparkle in your eye, one reserved for only Cassie. It makes her heart flutter, feeling like a kid in high school at the ripe age of 43. She finds herself leaning closer, waiting for your answer with more anticipation than she should.
“Because you’re not going to be there,” you state plainly, not even thinking twice about your response.
Cassie’s breath hitches. It fills her with so much to relief to know that you’re going to miss her too, but it makes it that much harder to say goodbye. If Cassie was offered a million dollars—which to be fair, she doesn’t need—she couldn’t decide if knowing you want to stay with her is better or worse.
Cassie watches as you lean your forearms over the porch railing, mirroring you. Oliver remains standing where he is, quietly sipping on his wine as he stares at you and Cassie. You lace your fingers together, then turning to Cassie.
“Plus, I have to work again,” you grumble. “I was looking at jobs earlier.”
“You were?” Cassie asks, glad the conversation is shifting to something else.
“Yeah. There’s a Title I school 20 minutes from my apartment that I applied to.”
“I hope you get it.”
You nod, staring down at your clasped hands. “There’s a shortage of teachers, so there isn’t much competition. Although, other fine arts teaches got cut at my last job and in our distract, so maybe there will be a lot of applicants.”
“I could see if Harrison’s school has an opening,” Cassie suggests, her mouth moving faster than her brain.
“He goes to a nicer school, right? I doubt they’re in need of an art teacher.”
“I’ll check anyways.”
“Okay. Well, thanks.”
“Of course,” Cassie says with a smile.
She wants you to get a job, but the thought of your life intertwining with Cassie’s scares her. In order to live her life how she was, she needs you to become a memory. It’ll be impossible for Cassie to be around you when she can’t have you like that. The thought of you dating someone else makes her feel like she has to vomit.
And that’s why Cassie can’t have you hanging in the shadows of her life. She’ll never be able to get over you, and having you around but out of reach will make her miserable. It’s not healthy, and she knows it. Cassie has to allow herself and you to move on, especially when she originally told you that what you guys have is casual.
But Cassie unnecessarily offered to check to see if there’s a job opening at Harrison’s school because she still wants you around.
She silently curses herself, hating that she isn’t stronger when it comes to you.
“Okay, well, I’m gonna dip,” Oliver awkwardly announces, walking backwards.
You raise your eyebrows and give him an annoyed look. “What? You’re just gonna steal all that wine?”
“Hey, I’m not stealing it. Papè’s going to be so happy knowing I liked his wine so much I drank the rest. Also, you’ve had way too much to drink, you lightweight.”
You gasp, feigning offense. “Me? You’ve had more than me.”
“I’m not a lightweight.”
You roll your eyes and flip Oliver off. While it may be true that you don’t hold your liquor as well as him, he’s definitely wasted too.
“I’ll see you lovebirds tomorrow!”
“Shut the fuck up,” you shout back, wine drunk and giggling.
“You’re wasted,” Cassie snorts.
You turn to Cassie, a dramatically straight expression painted across your face. But it only lasts a few seconds before you burst out laughing, unable to be serious right now. Plus, Cassie staring at you like this is making you all flustered.
“Stop,” you drunkenly giggle, swatting Cassie’s shoulder.
“Stop what?” Cassie questions, a genuine smile tugging at her lips, finding your giddy state incredibly cute.
“Looking at me! If you keep looking at me like that I’m gonna fall even more in love.”
Cassie’s heart stops.
“Even more?” she whispers.
“Oops,” you say, bringing a hand up to cover your mouth before erupting in giggles. “I love every part of you,” you confess with a big grin as you playfully poke Cassie’s shoulder.
“You’re drunk,” Cassie whispers, her hands balling to fists at her sides.
“Why can’t you believe it when someone says they like you? Or love you?”
“I’m not doing this. You’re drunk.”
You swat a hand at Cassie. “So what if I’m drunk? I still see you.”
“You don’t know what you’re saying, baby.”
“Yes, I do,” you reply immediately, standing up straighter. “I didn’t want anything serious. I was happy to have a fling with you this summer and go back to our lives after,” you explain clearly, despite your inebriated state. “But how could I not fall in love with you?”
“Y/N—”
“Na-uh,” you scold. “Let me finish.”
“Fine.”
“Obviously you’re beautiful and smart and funny and caring,” you list. “And good in bed,” you add with a giggle. “But you make me feel like no one ever has before. And it’s because you love me.”
“I… can I speak now?”
“Yesss,” you slur, bouncing on your heels.
“I love spending time with you, and I love the person you are, but I’m not in love with you. We’re friends.”
You stare blankly at Cassie. Her stomach starts to turn, worried that she broke your heart. Cassie opens her mouth to apologize when you abruptly burst out in laughter.
“That’s not true! I know you love me.”
“No, I—”
Cassie closes her mouth as quick as she opened it. How can she deny something and convince you it’s not true when it so clearly is—she can’t even convince her family or herself. Cassie’s barely doing a good job convincing herself of her feelings for you, this conversation making it even harder to suppress now that she knows her feelings for you are reciprocated.
“See?” You grin and point at Cassie, taking an unstable step forward. “You love me.”
“I love… your presence. Hanging out with you and stuff.”
You shake your head and take another step closer to Cassie. “You can’t even say it.”
“Just please stop,” Cassie mutters firmly.
“But— woah!”
You stumble forward, Cassie instinctively catching you in her arms. She helps you stand up straight, keeping her arms tight around you for support. Your eyes flutter up to hers, Cassie’s heart aching. She tries her hardest not to look away, conflicted between mesmerizing your expression and needing to look elsewhere to keep from hurting you both.
“But I’m right,” you whisper, gently grabbing Cassie’s chin.
She looks up at the night sky, taking a breath before meeting your gaze once more. You brush your thumb over Cassie’s bottom lip, and then cup her cheek with that same hand. Cassie closes her eyes and nuzzles into your touch. When she opens her marbled blue eyes back up, there’s a battle reflecting in them, the outcome uncertain to the both of you.
“I’m right,” you whisper again, your voice barely audible.
Cassie stares at you for another second. She then nods, holding onto you tighter. You don’t say anything, you just lean into Cassie’s touch, your head coming to rest on her chest below her chin.
“Let’s get you to bed,” Cassie whispers, her voice cracking as her resolve finally begins to unravel.
“Not yet,” you murmur. “I wanna stay here a little longer.” You wrap your arms around Cassie, staring off into the distance, the Italian night stretching endlessly, quiet and peaceful. “Please,” you sigh.
“Okay,” Cassie says, resting her chin on top of your head. “Just a minute longer.”
A minute goes by. That minute soon turns into another and another. It isn’t until your eyelids begin to get heavy that you go inside. Cassie keeps an arm around your waist, helping your sluggish body through the house and up the stairs.
When you reach your room, you head straight towards the bed, but Cassie, stronger and sober, redirects you to the bathroom. You walk in, sleepy but still giggly. Cassie lifts you up by the hips, setting you down on the counter. She then squirts some mint toothpaste on your toothbrush and hands it to you, insisting that you have to brush your wine-stained teeth before going to bed.
After that, Cassie grabs a warm washcloth and uses it to take your makeup off. You’re laughing too much to get out words, Cassie unaware that you have a makeup remover oil that works better than water. Cassie’s frustrated by your giggly state, making it much harder to help you.
“Please stop laughing,” she says softly yet firmly, meeting your eyes to give you a glare before focusing back on your face.
“But I—” High pitched giggles spill out. “I just—” Another round of laughter. “You—” You snort, the sound making you laugh even harder.
“Y/N,” Cassie says sharply.
Your eyes flicker to hers then, a smile still present, although your laughter subsides. “Yes, love?”
Cassie closes her eyes and expels an exhausted breath. “Please stop laughing,” she tells you, opening her eyes back up to get the last traces of makeup off of your face. “Just please stop.”
“I thought you liked my laugh.”
“Yeah,” Cassie sighs.
She doesn’t elaborate further, and you don’t ask or tease. Instead, you listen to Cassie. You may be drunk, but you can still sense that Cassie’s torn up about something—likely you, you think—and you’re aware she needs quiet right now.
Once your makeup is off, Cassie helps you down from the sink and walks you to the bed. You collapse onto your back, wiggling your way up to the head of the bed. You bite the inside of your cheek to keep from laughing as your mind drifts to earlier today in the pool when Oliver shared that he knows about you and Cassie.
In silence, Cassie removes your clothes until you’re left in nothing but your underwear. She then walks over to the dresser that’s opposite to the bed. Cassie opens a drawer, a creek filling the quiet.
“I can sleep in my underwear,” you tell Cassie as you roll onto your side.
“Okay,” Cassie breaths out, setting the shirt she pulled out back in the drawer.
You catch a glimpse of the t-shirt before it’s tucked away again. Your eyes light up, and a small giggle escapes you, making Cassie look at you.
“Yes?”
“Actually I want a shirt.”
Annoyed, but more than willing to help, Cassie pulls the shirt back out. She walks over to you, motioning with her hand to sit up as she gets closer. You listen, sitting up in bed despite your head spinning.
“Arms up,” Cassie instructs.
You raise your arms, allowing Cassie to put on the t-shirt. Then you plop back down onto the mattress, curling up on your side. Smiling, you fist the fabric of the oversized shirt, inhaling it. It smells just like Cassie, her natural scent lingering on her shirt she just dressed you in.
You start to drift off right away, all the activities of the day combined with the wine flowing through your system catching up with you. You’re almost all the way asleep when you feel the bed dip on the opposite side. Cassie turns off the lamp on the bedside table, and pulls the sheets up. She then starts to get comfortable on her side, her back facing yours.
If you stay still, you could be asleep in 30 seconds or less. However, you don’t want to sleep like this. Without Cassie.
Cassie’s breath catches in her throat as she feels your arm wrap around her, your hand resting against her stomach. She’s tense, and you feel it. In hopes to help her relax, you hold onto her tighter, your touch gentle and comforting. Your forehead comes to rest on Cassie’s back, your eyes glued shut. Her warm body heat radiates onto you, making you more cozy.
Cassie lets out a long breath, allowing her body to relax into your touch. Still, there’s a hesitancy that’s not usually there. You’re too tired to really notice though, already falling asleep. You’re barely conscious as Cassie grabs your hand that’s over her tummy, holding her palm over the back of your hand.
You’re already sound asleep when a single tear escapes Cassie.
You’re already deep in slumber when Cassie kisses the back of your hand.
You’re already dreaming, your unconscious mind fantasizing about being able to fly when you hear a faint “I love you.”
Only, you’re not sure if those three words were a dream.
for your birthday you can send in an ask and i’ll write an under 1k word blurb! ⊹ ࣪ ˖ ᢉ𐭩ㅤ
rules:
಄ you cannot be anonymous. this is to ensure that the same people can’t request a blurb multiple times in the same year. the only anons that are allowed are my anons with a claimed emoji.
಄ send in your request at least two weeks before your birthday to give me time to write it. if you specify the specific date of your birthday, i’ll queue it to come out at midnight. if not, i’ll post it once it’s done.
಄ my standard rules apply. read them here.
಄ all finished projects will be under the tag #🎂 birthday blurbs
characters:
಄ baran al-hashimi
಄ cassie mckay
಄ dana evans
಄ emery walsh
಄ emma nolan
಄ jack abbot
಄ joy kwon
಄ mel king
಄ parker ellis
಄ samira mohan
಄ trinity santos
಄ victoria javadi
಄ yolanda garcia
genre (choose up to two):
಄ fluff
಄ smut
a. mild/moderate
b. heavy descriptiveness
please note that more detailed smut will take away from the length of the plot. if you solely want smut or are okay with smut being ≈ half of or more of the fic, choose option b.
಄ angst
a. happy ending
b. sad ending
relationship:
಄ platonic
಄ mutual crush
a. ends with feelings being confessed
b. ends ambiguous/room for potential relationship
಄ established relationship
಄ casual relationship
಄ ex
location:
಄ birthday party
you may choose specifically where (ex: house, club, pool, etc) or i can decide
಄ birthday dinner
಄ home
಄ work
personality & physical traits (optional):
you can choose up to five characteristics.
ex: fem presenting, short, wavy hair brunette, shy, sweet
ex 2: brown skin, sub top, clingy, affectionate, sarcastic
piece of dialogue (optional):
಄ “you remembered?”
಄ “why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?”
಄ “you planned a surprise party for me?”
಄ “you're not used to someone making a big deal out of your birthday, are you?”
಄ “make a wish.” “it’s already standing in front of me.”
಄ “what did you wish for?” “something i already have. you.”
಄ “it’s y/n’s birthday! everyone say happy birthday to them!”
಄ “this is too much, you really didn’t have to.” “i wanted to.”
಄ “my credit card is yours for the day.”
಄ “since it’s your birthday, i’ll do anything you ask.”
It baffles me that Emily is canonically a polyglot and despite all those languages in her pretty brain, she can't find the right words to say "I'm in love with you, I have been for years" to her bestfriend.
trinity who accepted to get lunch at amy’s farm on a random sunday ‘why do you suddenly want me to meet farm girl after 10 months ? finally making things official are we ?’
dennis just shrugs ‘she told me it wasn’t fair i basically met her whole family but she never met any of mine and i agreed’
trinity’s unusual silence and lack of snarky retort can be explained by the fact her brain glitched after dennis casually implied he saw her as family
last movie: the evil dead (& the odyssey was the last film i saw in theaters)
last song: fix me now by garbage
sweet or salty: both ໒꒰ྀི ˃ ᵕ ˂ ꒱ྀི১
coffee or tea: depends on my mood
working on: writing voulez-vous & snap crackle pop <3 in my person life, pretty much work (lame) + managing my health!!
no pressure tags: @mwah-w4ddingh4m @popecodysgirl @mxmmyprentiss @cherxwine @sonnysideao3 @mckqys + anyone else who wants to participate!♡ i always feel awkward tagging people >.<
hehehehhehe thank you for the tag @mrsmckay. mwah! XX
last series: Hacks (def recommend)
last movie: Ready or Not: Here I Come (the Danforth siblings 🤤🫠 I wanna go to Paris)
last song: Material Lover by SIENNA SPIRO
sweet or salty: sweet but both if it's salted caramels
coffee or tea: uhh neither l'm a water addict
working on: writing ‘I like your big sister', a fic with Soccer Player!Yolanda Garcia, a few other wips and my F1 SMAU with McKay In in my person life, pretty much just settling into my new job (boring, yawning) and learning work like balance
just seen someone make a tiktok of fiona talking about micro bangs being a mistake, then showing pictures of her recent appearances with her almost micro bangs 😭😭 leave her ALONE
hi omg I just came up with an AU where Cassie is a fashion designer who goes to retirement/hiatus after her rumored impending split from her wife (reader) and reader, a small time model who rocketed to fame after Cassie named her her muse.
anyways might be a one shot im still working on it.
tangentwithtanner
gummygunk
gamechangershow
2087
gracieabrams
dailybridgerton
vaporwave
