Page 64 of Hometown Hottie

The smell of coffee and bacon drew me there, and when I saw Nova and Cassidy standing around the island, I decided I’d help them instead. Still walking around like a creeper who didn’t want to be seen, I stayed light on my feet and stuck close to the wall, wondering how I was going to pretend like I’d only just gotten here when I was still wearing yesterday’s clothes.

A low murmur of voices came from the kitchen. I could hear Cassidy and Nova talking. “So, you and Ryan, huh? How did that go?”

“So good,” Cassidy replied softly but dreamily. “He really isn’t such a bad guy, you know. In fact, there are a lot of things he’s not bad at at all.”

Nova’s giggle turned into a groan. “I’d rather not hear about those things. Thanks, but no thanks.”

“Who am I supposed to rave to, then?” Cassidy asked playfully. “You’re my best friend. One of your primary duties is listening to me talk about boys and sex.”

My eyebrows shot up as immense relief coursed through me. On the one hand, I was surprised to hear that Cassidy and Ryan had spent the night together, and on the other, I was very fucking relieved that he’d been so wrapped in her that he probably didn’t know I’d disappeared with his sister.

I really hadn’t been sure he was going to go for it with Cassidy, but I was glad he did. What puzzled me more was that she was talking about it to Nova so openly. He was her brother.

Don’t girls have the same rules we do about that kind of thing?

Evidently, however, they didn’t. Nova let out a long, disappointed sigh. “How about a compromise? We can talk about it, but you don’t give me any details about the sex. I don’t need to hear any of that, as long as he made you happy.”

“Oh, he made me happy, alright. He made me happy soooo many times all night long.” Cassidy’s laughter rang out until it abruptly cut off after a soft thwack. “Ouch. What was that for?”

“The details,” Nova said with amused exasperation in her tone.

I reached the kitchen. The girls finally realized I was there and shut up. Cassidy beamed at me, immediately pushing herself away from the stove and handing over the spatula she’d been using to cook the bacon to Nova.

“I’m sure you guys can handle this. I’m going to go… somewhere else.” She laughed and gave me a sassy wink when she passed me on her way out.

I chuckled, waiting until we were alone again before turning to face my girl “How are you feeling this morning?”

She gave me a shy smile, her face clear of any makeup and those eyes so soft and vulnerable that I wanted to pull her into my arms and never let go. This can’t have been a one-time thing.

“I’m good,” she said quietly, glancing over my shoulder. “We probably won’t be alone for long, so we can’t really talk about it, but how are you?”

“Better than ever,” I said, moving a little closer and checking that we were still alone before I glanced back at her. “Listen, I just want you to know that⁠—”

“Nova, how’s that bacon coming?” Ryan asked and his voice sounded like it was coming from right outside the kitchen.

Fuck.

“It’s almost done,” she called back. “Just a minute.”

I sighed. “We’ll talk later.”

She nodded, giving me one last smile before she turned her gaze back down to the pan in front of her. Everything in my being begged to go over there, but instead, I filled a mug with coffee and tried to make it look like I’d just arrived.

I grinned at Ryan when he walked in. “Hey, man. What happened to you guys last night?” I asked. “I had the whole cabin to myself. It was weird. What would’ve happened if I’d gotten scared?”