Page 10 of Just Between Us

Witness something beautiful

Get to know my mom

That last one will be the hardest. When I typed it, Liam didn’t question me, but I could feel him studying my profile. I never looked up. I’m not about to tell a guy I just met about what my mom goes through. Or that I haven’t spoken to her in years because shame is a terrible monster she can’t overcome. But Icling to a ribbon of hope that a day will come when she’s back in my life.

We sit staring at the stars for another thirty or so minutes, conversation winding around a little of everything. I notice that when I talk, he listens with a kind of rapt attention I’ve rarely felt the glow of.

But after several stifled yawns, Liam offers to take me home. He doesn’t go nearly as fast as earlier, but I still have to yell directions over the drone of the engine. We arrive at the end of Penny’s driveway and he lets the bike idle, head cocking to the left, a puzzled expression crossing his face.

“You know Penny?”

I glance at Penny’s craftsman bungalow and then back to him. “Yep. My brother Austin is dating her.”

“I’ll be damned,” he says under his breath.

I climb from his bike, and move to head up the driveway when Liam calls after me.

“I didn’t get your number.” His voice stops me in my tracks and I turn back to him. “If we plan on tackling that list together, seems like something I’ll need.”

Liam unlocks his phone and scrolls to his contact, handing it over to me. I tap out my number, and he takes the phone. Seconds later my own phone vibrates with a text.

Unknown

Your new favorite person.

I immediately make this his contact name, slip my phone in my pocket and look up. Liam grins like the Cheshire cat, and I’m Alice who just got dropped down the rabbit hole. I turn on my heel and head up the drive, unable to stop smiling the whole way.

My new life awaits.

Liam,Liam, Liam.

I went to sleep thinking about him, and here I am still thinking of him. Stupid. Ridiculous, honestly. I feel like a silly girl with a silly little crush that came out of nowhere.

But in the light of day, I can’t believe I hopped on that bike with a total stranger. That’s a great way to get your own documentary. I can see the title now:The Last Ride of Cassandra James: What really happened?They’d be sure to get my worst angle, too. RIP to my common sense, I guess.

But the thing is, Liam didn’t feel like a stranger. Liam felt like someone I’d known for years. I could have talked to him for hours longer up on that bluff.

Do I need to learn from my past with Alan? Yes. Of course I do. But every man is not like Alan. He may have done a number on my confidence, but I know for a fact plenty of good men exist. And I want to be able to trust my gut, which currently says Liam is one of the good ones.

I’m still lying in bed, half recounting the previous evening in my head and half doom-scrolling social media when a notification pops up.

Liam_Davis started following you.

I tap the Follow Back button and go as quickly as my fingers will take me to his profile, but a series of text messages interrupts my cyber stalking.

Penny

Austin is making breakfast. Join us?

Completely out of oat milk, yesterday I ate a bowl of dry Froot Loops, so breakfast with Austin and Penny sounds amazing. Scrolling, I read the next text and the good mood I awoke with diminishes.

Alan

You’ve had your fun, Cassie. Now change the website.

Before I can deal with him, I shoot a quick text to Penny.

Sure. Be right down.