Mixed Connection (Cypress Lake Reunion #1)

21. Chapter 21

21

Alma

How am I going to kick Helen’s ass at our bowling league all wrapped up like this?

You’re not! You’ll need rest.

Bowling can wait.

Alma

Bowling waits for no one, youngin’.

This is not how I was expecting our night to end. I wanted to lay myself out and tell her—tell her how much I love her and want to be with her—but it didn’t feel right. Not when she asked for space. When I tell her I love her, I want her to know that it’s the truth and not because I’m trying to convince her.

And she isn’t wrong in how she feels. It’s only been a short time since I started thinking of moving back here and though I’ve pretty much made up my mind, I didn’t consider putting everything behind me. Before her, I would already have a new project lined up, but I don’t want another project that takes me further away from her. The last thing I want to do is jump into this without having all my ducks lined up. Hurting Cassidy is not a part of a decision I plan on ever making and being apart from her, even just for a night, hurts in a way that crumples my heart.

Rubbing my hand in a circle against my chest, I think of how her parents basically ignored her and how they were so dense they couldn’t care to see what their absence was doing to their daughter. It’s not a feeling I want her to ever associate with me. I pull my shoulders up to my ears in a deep inhale and remind myself again: giving her space will allow her to see just how true my feelings are.

I can already feel how tight and stiff my body is going to be in the morning from Anders’ hard-ass couch. I could have gone to a hotel, but after calling Anders and telling him everything that happened tonight, he told me his couch was always open to me no matter how much I hate it.

He blew my mind when I shared about her wanting space, because he agreed with her. Told me that if Cassidy is where my future lies then I need to tie up all the other loose ends and do what needs to be done. He said, “what’s a couple days in the grand scheme of forever” and he has a point.

So I’m going to take this weekend. When I’m done visiting with Alma I’ll come right back to her. Because though I love my work, I love her more. This isn’t a fling and I hope she knows that, she’s meant to be my girlfriend. That title feels so small in comparison to what I want with her. She’s my future and her struggles from her past are getting to her and we are going to fix that, she will always be my first choice.

Turning on my side, I fail in my attempt to get comfortable. I have a flight to catch at six in the morning but I don’t see sleep in my future anytime soon. I shift again, not finding a single spot of softness. Why spend so much damn money on a couch, if you can’t even kick your feet up in comfort?

Huffing a breath, I grab the remote off the coffee table and click on the television. Flipping through the channels, a true crime show fills the screen. Alma has turned me into a crime show junkie.

I didn’t realize I fell asleep until the alarm from my phone blares beneath the lumpy pillow my head rests on. These really are made for looks and not comfort, I think to myself as I stand and stretch, feeling as if I’ve been sleeping on bedrock instead of a gallery sofa. He needs to burn this fucking couch and I plan on bringing the matches.

Opening my text thread with my girl, I ramble off a quick text before pausing over the send arrow. She wants space , the little voice inside my head reminds me. For a moment the thought of deleting the message crosses my mind, but it’s only for a moment before I press send. I know she would rather know I was getting on the plane safely than to give her the space she asked for.

I know you said you wanted space, I wanted to let you know I’m heading to the airport.

See you in a couple days, Babygirl.

It’s too early to hear from her, so I don’t wait for a response and start getting my things together.

I’m heading out! Take good care of my girl.

Anders

I will J. I’m already at the office getting some things loaded in the truck. Safe travels. See you in a few days.

And buy a new couch. I’m going to have a cramp in my back for the next fucking week.

Fuck, I’m a grouch. It feels strange to be in such a nasty mood as opposed to my normal, jovial demeanor, but I can’t help it. Even the drive to the airport does me no good. I know what I need. My hands tangled in chestnut curls and strawberry kisses.

It’s been a few hours and still no text from Cassidy. I know she wanted space and it’s a busy day. But still. When I check our text thread I can see that my message isn’t marked as delivered. I scrunch my forehead up in confusion before I rattle off a text to Anders to make sure everything is alright. He should be at Shaken Tropes by now.

Hey bro, you at Shaken Tropes?

Anders must already be on his phone, putting in a delivery or something when my text comes through, because his bubbles pop up immediately.

Anders

She broke her phone. Get on the plane, she’s not going anywhere.

I really hate when he anticipates what I’m going to say and when he’s right. I slide into my window seat and remind myself that I will give her this weekend, give her the breathing space she thinks she needs so badly, and come hell or high water I will get her to listen to me and then she will never be rid of me.

The flight was smooth and I made it just in time to give Alma my love before she’s wheeled into surgery for her heart stent. If Alma had family this may have gone differently, but since the night I text her phone in error, we hit it off. I wanted to be here for her because I care for her and because she deserves to know that someone is out here waiting for her.

Putting in my headphones, I turn on the audiobook I’ve been listening to. I’ve been eyeing the books on my girl’s bookshelf and listening to the ones I see her pick up often. She goes back to the pages for comfort, no matter if it’s a spicy book or a mystery. This one happens to be a spicy one. Some magic system romance—once I’ve convinced her that she’s lost her mind, I have a few new things I plan on doing to her, inspired by this particular novel. I just have to get her to see she’s not just the first option, she’s the blueprint.

I’ve always been a relationship guy, wanting to settle down with someone rather than skip around. She is smart and quick-witted, open and unapologetically herself. She makes it easy to share details about myself, wanting her to know the deepest parts of me.

Cassidy takes care of those she loves, wanting to see the best in everyone. Watching her run her business, how she truly invests herself in all of her patrons no matter if they’re a one-time customer or a regular. She is simply a wonderful person. I’m not blind either, if she’s in the room I can’t take my eyes off her. I haven’t since the reunion and I don’t plan to.

Alma comes out of her surgery doing well. The surgeon gives me a wave to go back to see her and I follow the blue tiled floor towards her room. Ever since that first night after the reunion, when Cassidy gave me the wrong number, we’ve kept in touch. She doesn’t have any living children and her husband passed away nearly fifteen years ago. She was alone, until she decided I was hers too. I huff a laugh remembering her text message back to me. She’s amazing and has become someone really special to me.

“Hey, Girlfriend.” She laughs at the nickname I’ve called her since texting her instead of the curvy woman of my dreams. “How are you feeling?”

“Oh, I’m gonna be just fine, suga’. I’ll be back to clearing the pins at bowling nights in no time.” Her voice shakes a bit from both the drugs wearing off and her old age. “You tell me what’s got you so heavy?”

It’s amazing how quickly she picks up on things. “Alma, don’t start. I’m here to check on you. Not unload my problems onto your plate.”

“Hush boy and tell me what’s going on with that woman of yours,” she says. Her voice holds an all-knowing quality that I haven’t yet wrapped my mind around.

“Well, it’s your fault really!” I say. She barks a laugh until she looks up at me, though I’m joking, I’m also somewhat serious.

I fill her in about our conversation at the reunion, our date, I even tell her about the break-in. “She’s an incredible woman. Beautiful, smart, and caring. Owns her own bar called Shaken Tropes, it’s all based on her favorite romance books. She’s everything I could have wished for in a woman, more than anything I could have dreamed really.”

“Then what in the hell are you doing here?” she chastises me.

“I wanted to be here for you.”

“I’m not going anywhere. I love you and I am so glad you are here with me. But you’ve got to make her see. If you really want to be with her, she needs to know you’re all in.”

“I don’t ever want to make her feel second best or a non-factor, like her parents did, but she wanted space. So that’s what I’m giving her. Then I’ve got this property that is just south of you I need to check in on,” I say to her, letting my innermost thoughts speak for me.

“That property is clearly running just fine without you considering you’ve only been there once,” she replies matter of factly.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. I’m only popping in tomorrow to sign off on a few things for the realtor. A couple that is expecting their second child was in the area and loves it. I wanted to surprise Cassidy with the news that our personally designed backyard would have some new owners.”

“And you still can.”

“First I’m going to snap a picture with the family. I know she would want to see,” I reply. Almost sad that I couldn’t bring Cassidy with me I add, “She wants space, Alma.”

“She doesn’t want space, boy! She wants you. A woman like her wants to be seen and understood. She doesn’t want to think you’ll fly away like a bird once the weather changes.” She ponders, grabbing the large hospital cup of water and taking a sip before continuing, “She needs to know you’ve got roots growin’, and right now even though you may be workin’ on it, it doesn’t look like you do. You’re so head over heels for her that you could trip over your own two feet. You need to make this right!”

I let Alma poke at me a bit more. We eventually settle into a comfortable silence as Morgan and Penelope’s—from Criminal Minds—flirty banter fills the room. Before I know it, it’s time for Alma to get some rest, visiting hours having been over quite some time.

Leaning over I press a kiss to her grayed hair and say my goodbyes. I promise Alma I will be on a flight back to Cypress Lake tomorrow—I will pick the earliest option—and will stop in to see her before I go.

She shakes me off and tells me to video call her before I board the plane. Her steely gaze stays on me long enough that I agree before I leave to get some rest at my hotel room for the night.

I’ll get some work done in the morning before I check out and make my way to the airport. I’m ready to get back to my Babygirl. It’s time I talk some sense into her. I get busy downloading a few more audiobooks before falling asleep.