she squeaked, tears winning the battle and sliding down her cheeks.
“Hey.” My heart pinched as I brushed the first few away. “It’s okay. You’re not letting anyone down. If you’re not ready, you shouldn’t be moving in. It’s an open invitation; you can change your mind at any time.”
“Not if she wants a refund from student housing,” Nicole grumbled.
I threw her a dark look. She caught it this time and made a face at me.
Caity swiped at her tears.
“Nicole, I’m sorry I’m backing out. I just need a little more time in the dorms.”
“Why? That’s insane?”
“Just because you’re ready doesn’t mean I have to be.” Caity’s eyes bunched at the corners, her face crumpling as she took in Nicole’s real expression. I wished I could see it, too. “It’s not you...any of you.” She looked at each of us. “I love you guys and that’s why I didn’t want to say anything before, but I have to be honest with myself. I’m scared that living together will screw up what we have. There’s a big difference between hanging out a lot and actually living together.”
“We’ve been living together for the last year. It’s been fine.” Nicole’s forehead creased and I was starting to see the hurt buried beneath the anger; not the way Caity could, but there was a glimmer. Maybe I saw it because Nicole and I were alike in more ways than I wanted to admit. We were happy to let the anger show, that part was easy, but getting down to the raw bones scared us senseless.
“It wasn’t fine the whole time,” Caity mumbled, another tear breaking free.
Nicole opened her mouth to say more, but I raised my hand before she could. “Ease up, okay? So she’s not ready; big deal. I can cover the extra rent so money’s not an issue, and Caity can move in when she’s ready.”
“That’ll be fine.” Dale gave us a closed-mouth smile and I guessed he was squeezing Nicole’s leg now, telling her to shut up and let it out later when they were alone.
I mouthed, “Thank you” at him and he gave me a quick wink.
Caity sniffed, grabbing the paper napkin off the table and blowing her nose.
I rubbed my hand up her back, gently squeezing her neck and kissing the side of her head.
She gave me a watery smile. “Maybe I can sleep over a few times a week and we can work our way into this.”
“It’s not a problem. No pressure, Caity, honestly.”
She studied me for a moment and I let her peel back as many masks as she needed to. I felt surprisingly calm about it all. Maybe it was seeing her cry that did it. All I knew was I wanted my girl to be happy and if she wasn’t ready, I refused to take it personally. Living together was a big deal, and I actually liked that Caity was taking the decision seriously.
“Thank you for understanding.” She smiled.
Nicole scoffed in disgust, robbing that beautiful look from Caity’s face. I thought more tears were about to form, but then the table of tweens erupted with giggles. We all turned to watch them this time as they snorted and choked on their drinks.
Caity turned back to look at me and sniffed out a chuckle. Her eyes were once again dry and her expression, although still sad, seemed peaceful. Obviously telling us the truth had been a huge burden off her shoulders.
I couldn’t say I wasn’t disappointed with her answer, but like hell would I go and make her feel worse.
Above all else, I wanted Caity to be happy and I’d do anything to make that happen...even if it meant sacrificing what I wanted. If I truly believed we were meant to be together forever, then what was a few months of waiting? She’d come around eventually, I could feel it in her...she just needed a little time.
Chapter 10
Caitlyn
Although it felt good to finally accept my decision to help these girls, it still didn’t take away the sting of letting my friends down. Eric was being really good about it. I could see underneath it all that he was disappointed, but he was
“Hey.” My heart pinched as I brushed the first few away. “It’s okay. You’re not letting anyone down. If you’re not ready, you shouldn’t be moving in. It’s an open invitation; you can change your mind at any time.”
“Not if she wants a refund from student housing,” Nicole grumbled.
I threw her a dark look. She caught it this time and made a face at me.
Caity swiped at her tears.
“Nicole, I’m sorry I’m backing out. I just need a little more time in the dorms.”
“Why? That’s insane?”
“Just because you’re ready doesn’t mean I have to be.” Caity’s eyes bunched at the corners, her face crumpling as she took in Nicole’s real expression. I wished I could see it, too. “It’s not you...any of you.” She looked at each of us. “I love you guys and that’s why I didn’t want to say anything before, but I have to be honest with myself. I’m scared that living together will screw up what we have. There’s a big difference between hanging out a lot and actually living together.”
“We’ve been living together for the last year. It’s been fine.” Nicole’s forehead creased and I was starting to see the hurt buried beneath the anger; not the way Caity could, but there was a glimmer. Maybe I saw it because Nicole and I were alike in more ways than I wanted to admit. We were happy to let the anger show, that part was easy, but getting down to the raw bones scared us senseless.
“It wasn’t fine the whole time,” Caity mumbled, another tear breaking free.
Nicole opened her mouth to say more, but I raised my hand before she could. “Ease up, okay? So she’s not ready; big deal. I can cover the extra rent so money’s not an issue, and Caity can move in when she’s ready.”
“That’ll be fine.” Dale gave us a closed-mouth smile and I guessed he was squeezing Nicole’s leg now, telling her to shut up and let it out later when they were alone.
I mouthed, “Thank you” at him and he gave me a quick wink.
Caity sniffed, grabbing the paper napkin off the table and blowing her nose.
I rubbed my hand up her back, gently squeezing her neck and kissing the side of her head.
She gave me a watery smile. “Maybe I can sleep over a few times a week and we can work our way into this.”
“It’s not a problem. No pressure, Caity, honestly.”
She studied me for a moment and I let her peel back as many masks as she needed to. I felt surprisingly calm about it all. Maybe it was seeing her cry that did it. All I knew was I wanted my girl to be happy and if she wasn’t ready, I refused to take it personally. Living together was a big deal, and I actually liked that Caity was taking the decision seriously.
“Thank you for understanding.” She smiled.
Nicole scoffed in disgust, robbing that beautiful look from Caity’s face. I thought more tears were about to form, but then the table of tweens erupted with giggles. We all turned to watch them this time as they snorted and choked on their drinks.
Caity turned back to look at me and sniffed out a chuckle. Her eyes were once again dry and her expression, although still sad, seemed peaceful. Obviously telling us the truth had been a huge burden off her shoulders.
I couldn’t say I wasn’t disappointed with her answer, but like hell would I go and make her feel worse.
Above all else, I wanted Caity to be happy and I’d do anything to make that happen...even if it meant sacrificing what I wanted. If I truly believed we were meant to be together forever, then what was a few months of waiting? She’d come around eventually, I could feel it in her...she just needed a little time.
Chapter 10
Caitlyn
Although it felt good to finally accept my decision to help these girls, it still didn’t take away the sting of letting my friends down. Eric was being really good about it. I could see underneath it all that he was disappointed, but he was
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