Mixed Connection (Cypress Lake Reunion #1)

22. Chapter 22

22

“Alexa, play ‘Another Sad Love Song’ by Toni Braxton.”

I stick my hand in my back pocket on instinct, reaching for the broken phone that isn’t there. Maybe I should have bought a new one. I know I asked for space, but damn do I miss him. How do I know if he’s tried to call without having it? I don’t have time to get wrapped up in what-ifs and questions that I don’t have answers for right now.

The bachelorette party is tonight and there are so many little things I need to get done. Paloma and I brought in temp staff to help with the night. We want to focus on the girls having an amazing night and don’t want our regular customers to feel forgotten about. We announced this night on our social media platforms, letting our followers know that tonight would be about Dancing in the Library. I really wanted all our patrons to feel comfortable and that meant letting everyone know that it may not be their cup of tea if they want a relaxing night of reading.

Pulling out the outfit I picked out for the festivities, a grin blooms on my face. I’m so excited to be branching out in this way and it makes me think about how badly I want to turn this apartment into an event space. We would be able to do so much up here. With how large it is, we could totally break this up into three different spaces that could be used all together or individually for different parties. I may need to seriously consider looking for my forever home sooner than later. I could totally see Dancing in the Library being a thing. Clapping my excitement, I cannot wait to share this with Paloma. I grab a notebook and jot the idea down, not wanting to forget it.

Sliding on the black distressed jeans that are shredded right above my ankle, I button them before I slide my arms through my soft satin blouse, the color of bloomed thistles. I gather the material in the front and wrap each side around, tying it at the back. I smooth my hands down my sides as I take my reflection in; I love a good wrap top or dress and purple is just my thing. I slip the gold grouping of dainty necklaces around my neck, clasping it at the back. Lastly I slide on a thin gold band on my fore finger. The ring is something I always wear. I saw it in my gran’s jewelry box and she gifted it to me when she realized I couldn’t take my eyes off of it.

My chunky black sandals are waiting at the door leading down to the bar, I slide them on and make my way downstairs. I want to help Paloma get everything set up but as I close the door and turn around, my eyes take in the space.

I blink rapidly, staring at the already decorated bar. The library looks vibrant with new couches and tables. The area is blocked off a bit to make it feel a bit more VIP for those who either want to sit and read during the afternoon hours or dance the night away in the evenings. There are also a few chaise lounge chairs set up in a circle with a couple small round tables for the bachelorette party. It gives them a private space to sit down and catch their breaths from dancing or to enjoy a cocktail. This is insane, it looks incredible. There is a buzz of excitement that I can feel; I cannot wait to welcome everyone in.

Rounding the bar, I laugh at the ice cube trays that Paloma ordered for tonight. Some are wings for “Big Wing Span” and others are tiny dicks. She created a new drink for the bride called Up All Night and made cream and espresso dickcubes, mimicking the real deal. Popping one out of the silicone mold, I hold it up to give it a good look before popping it in my mouth. Hmm, they got girth.

“Tonight is going to be amazing,” I breathe out to no one but myself.

The bar is quiet aside from the door swishing open. The citrus and bourbon scent I’ve missed so much wafts towards me and I don’t need to open my eyes or lift my head to know who is standing in front of me right now. I do anyway, needing to see him.

“What are you doing here?” My mouth drops open in a gape. How can someone get better looking after only a weekend? It takes great effort from me not to combust from the joy I feel now that he’s back so soon and here, with me.

“Hey, Babygirl. I missed that beautiful face of yours.” He sits at the bar but keeps his hands and lips to himself.

At the thought of kissing him my eyes dip to his mouth and quickly shoot back up. Before I deep-dive into any of those wants I need to know this is a good visit, an I’m-moving-to-Cypress-Lake-and-never-leaving visit.

“I tried getting a hold of you a couple times this weekend but decided to let you be, to give you space,” he says the last word as if there will never be space between us again. “And I may have heard about your phone from an oversized birdy.”

A grin slowly curves my lips before I impishly respond, “Oh, did you?”

“Mm, I did. So I made sure to make a pit stop before I came here.” I’m not sure where he was storing it, but he pulls a medium-sized white gift bag from behind his back and sets it on the bar in front of me. He nods his head for me to grab the bag, and I do, needing to know what he’s got inside of it. A rectangular box with a picture of a smart phone is on the front. Pulling it out, there’s a heavy-duty, light-purple phone case as well. “Can’t have you breaking your phone again,” he jokes, and my eyes are still wide as I hold this gift, a very expensive gift.

“This is—It’s too much!” Though I can’t let it go because it’s perfect. The phone is my favorite color as well.

“Don’t even think about giving it back. This is for you and you need it. Plus, it’s already registered to your number and you can’t pull a fast one on me and give me the wrong number again.” His eyes are wide as he looks at me, almost daring me to put the phone in the bag.

“First you thrust yourself into my life and now you buy me a new phone? Next you’ll expect me to text you all the time,” I jest.

“That’s been my master plan all along, Cassidy. You’ll never be rid of me.” He places his arms on the bar leaning into me and I do the same. I want to be closer to him.

“Oh, and one more thing. I’ve missed you so damn much, beautiful, and I want to introduce you to someone really important to me.”

My grin grows into a full megawatt smile at hearing that—knowing he has missed me as much as I have him. I lean over, looking around his frame to see who he brought with him. Maybe I missed them, but there doesn’t seem to be anyone else here. “I’ve really missed you too, Bulldozer. But there’s no one else here.”

“I want to introduce you to my Alma,” he says her name with so much love, with the same softness I use when I speak to my grandma.

He still has not fully let me in on his decision but with the small moment we just shared this feels like he’s back for good. The bar is quiet aside from the soft music playing in the background. Staff hustle around us, all in their own worlds as they wrap up last minute preparations.

“Can we talk somewhere more private?” Jamesone asks.

Fuck. This can’t be good. He wants to let me down easy and doesn’t want me to make a scene by bursting into tears in my own bar. Maybe he bought me the phone so we could try long distance. Fuck. I take in a small breath not wanting to get myself worked up before he says it himself and I roll my eyes at my own thoughts.

“Yeah, we can go to the office,” I say, as I open the counter and walk around.

He follows close behind me. Once we are in the office I close the door and offer him a chair at my desk. I take the seat next to him rather than behind my desk, not wanting this to feel like a business transaction.

“So, um, how is Alma?”

His lip quirks up at one side. “She’s doing well,” he says as he pulls out his phone, tapping on the screen before I hear a video call chime.

“Hey, Honey.” A soft voice comes through the line. “Have you made it back to your lovely girl yet? I was starting to think you got preoccupied and wouldn’t call.”

“Yeah, Alma, I got her right here.” He talks to her in a gentle voice, the same voice I would use with my own grandma, one I need to call. He hands me the phone.

The old woman smiles warmly at me, her deep-brown eyes are soft and her voice is a quiet whisper as she speaks, still talking with Jameson as if it was him looking at her and not me. “She’s stunning Jameson. She’s everything you said and more.”

Taking in the space around her, it seems like she’s in her hospital room still. My eyes note the collar of the hospital gown and monitors near the back of her bed. I wouldn’t be able to tell though, her jet black hair is straightened in a braided top knot pillowed at the top of her head, not a single hair out of place. Her lipstick, a crimson red, enhances her golden tawny skin. She looks like royalty and I say a little prayer that I’ll look as good as she does when I’m her age.

“Cassidy, meet Alma. The love of my life.” His voice is mocking me now, “My eighty-seven year old girlfriend who likes Criminal Minds and bowling on Saturdays.”

“Don’t you start boy, you’re supposed to be making up. Ignore him, lovely. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.” My lips fold in as I try to hold back my laugh.

“It’s really nice to meet you, Alma, though I wish it were a better circumstance. How are you feeling?” I ask her.

“I’m feeling good, better the moment I get to lie in my own bed away from the looky-loos in here.”

“I’m sure you will be home in no time!”

“And I can’t wait for it. I’m ready to scrub the floor with Helen.” She puffs her chest out best she can and continues. “She is my, um, bowling buddy. Nevermind Helen… Listen dear, he’s a foolish man who is head over heels for you, suga’. Now that I know he has made it back safely and I’ve met you, I think I’m going to get some rest,” she releases a yawn before saying goodbye along with asking me to hear him out. Jameson ends the call, setting the phone down on my desk and looks at me.

“I don’t want to be anywhere else, Babygirl.’’ His voice is light, welcoming me into a conversation. “After visiting Alma I realized how foolish I was to leave without telling you fully how I feel. After talking with Alma she made me see I was missing something, and that something was telling you I’m not going anywhere. The house I’m renovating may be temporary but this, what we have, is not.

“Remodeling, nomading myself around, those places aren’t my home, you are . Wherever you are is where I’m going to be, I need you to hear me in that. I need you to know that I am not leaving you. I want it all. I want the anger, the jokes, the dancing in the middle of the market like no one is there. I’m so sorry I didn’t make that more clear to you, that was never my intention.” He grabs both sides of my face, looking into my very soul before he continues, “I love you Cassidy Heart. You’re the blueprint… always have been, always will be. Every curve. Every dip. Every smirk. You’re it for me.”

“I’m so sorry I didn’t give you the chance to speak. That I didn’t listen to you. I just—” His words stop me, realizing he just told me he loved me, and he doesn’t give me another second to think and say it back before he pulls me onto his lap .

“I’m so sorry.” My apology is muffled now that my face is mushed into his chest. I breathe in his scent, willing it to fill me and be a balm to my foolishness. “I can grovel, if that’s what you want.”

His chest rumbles with laughter as his hand slides up the nape of my neck and into my hair, pulling my head back in a sharp angle so I can look at him eye to eye.

“I want you on your knees, but not to grovel.” His voice dips low, so low that it hits my panties. Like he never left. I’m weak for this man and now that I know what a fool I was, I need to make up for the lost time even if it was a short couple of days.

“We don’t have much time before your party starts but I need to take you upstairs. Show you just how much I missed you.” My body trembles at his words. I know we don’t have enough time to do much of anything, but having his hands on me is all I can think about at this point.