Page 131 of Tangled with the Tight End

I smile and then I look at Cass again. She looks like a chipmunk with a big bite of burrito filling her mouth.

“I’m scared, Cass.”

“Brfcruzz?”

“What?”

She chews and swallows. “Because? Why? Why are you scared?”

“I like him … a lot.”

She nods.

“His life is so big,” I say. “Right now, when we’re alone, we can be goofy or serious. We can sit in silence or have a long talk. But what happens when his life is back in session? I’m not Snow. I don’t know how to handle that kind of public exposure.”

“Who names their child Snow? It’s so confusing,” Cass practically whines, ignoring my reasons for questioning everything between me and Declan.

“Another woman who never got past the gates a few weeks ago was named Diamond,” I tell her.

“Diamond?”

“Yeah. And there was Chantal.”

Cass lets out a low whistle. “Fancy names, that’s for sure.”

“They are all supermodels or actresses, heiresses … so out of my league.”

Cass’s expression grows serious. “And yet … he kissed you, not some woman named after a gemstone or a weather formation.” She pauses to let her words sink in. “Let yourself enjoy this.”

I nod. Easier said than done.

“Do you think our kiss meant anything to him?” I ask.

I think back to how he looked at me—how he was looking at me this morning before Snow showed up.

“It means he likes you,” Cass says plainly.

“Doesn’t this all feel unrealistic?”

“What’s so unrealistic?”

“I'm Cinderella … and he's definitely a prince.”

She chuckles. Then she points at me, swallowing another bite of burrito in her mouth.

“Well, as far as I remember that story, the prince marries Cinderella.”

I sigh. “Well then, I'm the chamber maid that doesn't marry the prince. This isn’t a fairy tale. I’m up against these gorgeous and elegant women. And they don't bring their own goat when they come to visit.”

Cass drops her burrito into her lap. “You brought a goat to Declan’s?”

“I couldn’t leave her alone,” I say with a shrug. “And anyway, I think he liked her.”

Cass shakes her head. Then she looks me in the eyes. “I’ve been watching you since you started working with Declan.”

“And?” I pick up my burrito like I’m going to take a bite, but my stomach still feels wobbly, so I set it back down.

“And you’re happy. I hear the way you talk about him. He wants you around. He takes you to the practice facility. He could have anyone drive him. But he picks you. And you watch the games with him when you’re not required to be there … I’ve been taking notes.”