“I don’t see anything wrong with it,” I said, smiling at her as I spoke. “We’re just sharing war stories, and it isn’t like I’m planning to go to the press or anything. I’m a very private person, so I get it. Besides, it’s nice having someone to talk to.”
“I thought you had a sister.”
“I do, but our interests don’t match.” Boy, was that the understatement of the year! “She’s into guys and flashy cars and I’m just… me.”
“Books, books, and more books?”
“Pretty much, though I do enjoy listening to music from time to time.” I gave her a pointed look and laughed when she did the same.
“Thank you for this,” she said, gesturing at the room.
“For what?” Was she referring to the tower, my words, or the company?
“For being normal. It sounds like such a simple thing, but most people act differently around me.”
“And you don’t think I am?” I asked.
“No,” she said without a bit of hesitation. “All this time, you could’ve asked me about my friend, my mom, or work.
Instead, you dropped the subject as soon as it got uncomfortable and happily talked about something else. Being
in my line of work, you learn to read people and their intentions. You’re a good person, Evie, and I’m really glad I ran into you.”
“Well, anytime you need to get away from the world, you can always come here.”
“I might have to take you up on that.” She paused and checked the time on her phone. Her bright smile faded a second later. “Unfortunately, I need to run. Can’t keep the manager waiting. Thank you again. You have no idea how much this meant to me.”
“I have a pretty good idea,” I said, placing a hand on her shoulder as we neared the stairs. “And you’re welcome here anytime.”
Once I saw her out, I did everything I could to relieve the butterflies in my stomach. I’d just spent the last hour with Cassidy Blake, the Cassidy Blake, and as much as I wanted to gush over her, I knew I made the right choice. She was just a person, same as everybody else, so if she needed a place to hide, I promised to do whatever I could to give her that.
Even if it means giving up the tower for a little while.
Chapter Seven
“So, how did your date go?” my sister asked once I finally bothered to answer one of her
calls.
Oh my god… “For the last time, it wasn’t a date.” And I really wished she’d stop calling it that.
“Uh huh.” She wasn’t convinced. “Are you going to see her again?”
“Yes. I thank so. I…” I honestly wasn’t sure. That was completely up to Cassidy and whatever time she had left before going back on tour. She said she’d be back on tour in a few weeks so…
“But you’d like to see her again,” my sister said with a smile in her voice. “First dates are always tough,” she added, likely looking back on personal experience. “You need to feel her out, you know?”
I rolled my eyes even though she couldn’t see me. “Like I said, it wasn’t a date. We hung out in the shop and talked books, that’s it.” That wasn’t entirely true, but if I wanted to keep Cassidy’s identity a secret, a few white lies couldn’t hurt.
“For you, that’s a date. You used to spend hours with…
what was her name?” Bridget released a long breath, then continued. “You spent hours in the bookstore down the way going cover to cover just to see if they had something we didn’t.”
“I wasn’t that bad, was I?” I knew I liked to go with my ex to the other bookstores, but we met over books as well. She never said anything, so I figured it was fine.
“If someone likes you enough, they’ll listen to you ramble over stories and far-off worlds just to enjoy your company.”
“You’re starting to sound like Mom.” It was exactly something she would’ve said if she were still alive.