Roll For Initiative

4. Lucian

S omething is definitely up with Cassie.

When I pulled away from our hug, she acted awkwardly, as if she didn’t know me.

I’ve been gone less than a year, and I don’t think I have changed that much.

I have a bit more muscle and longer hair, but I’m still me.

Maybe she has changed since I’ve been gone.

She seems a little different; I can’t put my finger on it.

She still looks the same, the same old clothes she’s had since we were in school.

I don’t know why, but it feels like her personality is different.

Her brown hair blows slightly in the wind from the open window.

I grip my thigh to resist reaching over and brushing the hair out of her face.

Ah, her piece of shit car.

It’s a 2007 Ford focus.

Do you know what Ford stands for? Fix Or Repair Daily.

Ha! I’ve missed this thing, though.

The heat and AC don’t work.

The back driver-side door can only open from the outside.

And if you try to recline in the passenger seat, you fly back so fast you get whiplash.

Looking back, I see there were so many good times in this car.

Going for fast food at midnight, then sitting in a parking lot talking for hours and hours.

I recall my favorite memory, though, when we decided spontaneously to go upstate for the weekend and camp.

We got lost and decided to pull over on some random back road.

There was no signal, and our phones were dying.

We were freezing, so we huddled in the back seat together for warmth.

She snuggled up to me, resting her head on my chest as she slept.

I stayed up all night just listening to her cute snores.

I thought about ignoring the boundaries of our friendship that night.

I know we tried it back in high school, and it felt wrong, but we were in our 20s by then.

I sometimes wonder what would have happened had I let curiosity get the best of me.

I brush the thoughts away as we pull into the parking lot of my apartment.

Ahh, home sweet home.

The sounds of tires screeching, horns honking, and dogs barking.

Yeah, California had the same sounds but wasn’t the same.

As she shuts off the car, I reach across the center console and grab her hand.

"I’ve missed you, Cassie.

It wasn’t the same without my best friend by my side.

Now that I am back, we can return to how things were.

Just you and me.

Lucian and Cassie vs.

the world.

We can start doing weekly D&D at my place again, too.

I even have a new campaign I've been working on." Her eyes light up like I just gave her a check for a million dollars.

She’s a sucker for D&D.

"Thanks, Lucian.

I’ve missed you too.

More than you can imagine.

It’s been so boring without my partner in crime.

Now hurry up and go shower so we can get back on schedule.

You are going to love where we are going to eat.”

She steps out of the car and comes to my side to help me with my bags.

I spin her away from the car, pulling her body flush against mine for another hug.

I forgot how short she is.

I’m able to tuck her right under my chin.

Her body is warm and delicate.

I tilt my head to rest it on top of hers.

Her hair smells like honey and vanilla.

I inhale her intoxicating scent, and a low, feral growl escapes my throat.

I cough to try and cover it up.

Shit, I hope she didn’t hear that.

Why does this feel so different? I’ve hugged her thousands of times, and not once has it made my cock spring to life like a horny teenager.

Her scent is making my mouth water.

Why is this making me desperate to kiss her? To press her against this car and kiss her deeply.

Ok, it's time to break this hug before she feels how much I’ve missed her pressed against her hip.

I pull away and my body already misses the feeling of her against me.

"Let’s get going because the smell of flying coach is all over me.

" I laugh as I sling my bag over my shoulder.

Glancing back at her, she hasn’t moved from where we were hugging.

She smiles up at me as my eyes meet hers.

I am definitely jet lagged because, for a second, I swear I see a look on her face that I am no stranger to.

That heated look of desire.

The one some people get before they rip each other’s clothes off.

But it is just my imagination.

That is a road I could never go down with Cassie anyways.

She’s too innocent and fragile.

I would break her, and I would love it.