Cassie:Sure. I think I will choose my favorite Italian not far from my apartment. The food is amazing and it’s a quiet, comfortable place. I’m guessing you still like Italian food too.
Smiling, she knows I love Italian food as much as she does. Some things don’t seem to have changed and the familiarity feels good.
Luke:Absolutely, you know you had me at Italian.
Cassie:Thought I would. It’s getting late I probably should go.
Luke:Can I text you again tomorrow?
Cassie:Goodnight, Luke, and yes, you can text me anytime.
Luke:Goodnight to you too, Cass. Sweet dreams.
Chapter 14
Cassie
I'mwinningthismorning.I’ve had a good night’s sleep with some of those sweet dreams that Luke wished me.
Best of all, I remembered to pull the blinds down. It’s so nice to lie in bed under my comfy duvet in a dimly lit room on a Sunday morning. Only one thing is missing, a gorgeous man to snuggle with. Thoughts of Luke sharing my bed spring to mind.
What the heck? I don’t want him in my bed. Just because we shared some texts last night doesn’t mean he'll be jumping in my bed anytime soon. I need to get used to the idea of knowing Luke again.
I pick up my cell and scroll back through our texting from late last night. It was nice he needed to know I was okay. He sounded like he was genuinely worried about me. I also liked how he shared a little about himself too.
I guess I'm okay with a redo of drinks or maybe not a redo, rather something more like a date, but I plan to keep it casual and tread cautiously.
Today I feel so invigorated. It’s amazing the difference twenty-four hours can make. I’m feeling so hyped I need to work some of my excess energy off at the gym. Last week was so hectic my exercise routine was a bit hit and miss.
I fire off a quick text to Jas and Lil to see if they want to join me. They are only down the hallway, but I don’t want to wake them if they're enjoying a Sunday sleep in. I think Jas may well have been out partying late last night, so she might have company.
By the time I’m in my gym gear and ready to go, Lily has responded and is ready and waiting too. Of course, Lily is up for a gym session. I suspect she has her eye on a particular new personal trainer, as she never used to be this keen on exercise. Jas and I were always the gym junkies. Though this morning Jas appears to be a no show.
Lily sees me coming up the hallway. “Morning, hey, you definitely seem happier. What’s put the spring in your step today?”
“Hey, nothing other than a good night’s sleep and maybe no excess alcohol. Are you ready to sweat out last night’s takeout?”
Last night Lily and I ordered in a pizza, and she joined me on the sofa in my Netflix marathon.
“Absolutely, let’s go.”
On the way to the gym, which is a couple of blocks from our apartment, I fill Lily in on my texting with Luke last night. She listens without comment till I finish.
Raising her eyebrows suggestively. “So, you're going to meet him on Wednesday, how exciting.”
“Yes, I’m not sure yet if it’s a good idea, given how much of a disaster the last meeting was. I probably should give it some more time, but the texting last night was nice. It felt comfortable and easy”.
“Seriously, he texted to see you were okay. I think that’s sweet. He obviously still cares about you. Also, from what you’ve said I think he sounds genuinely keen to see you again.”
I’m glad Lily seems to be confirming the same thing I was thinking.
“But maybe it’s like he said last time, we need to see each other again, talk about the past so we can move on. This could be because I ran off last time, and he doesn’t feel like we resolved anything.”
“No way,” Lily stops in the middle of the sidewalk in front of me, “You are a beautiful, clever, fun woman. I’m sure he wants to see you again because you are you.”
Once Lily has said her piece, she continues walking, and I follow. I hope Lily is right. While I’m not sure if there will ever be anything between Luke and me, I want to see him again to clear up some more unanswered questions. I think it will be good for both of us.
At the gym, I jump straight onto the treadmill for a solid twenty-minute run while Lily heads over to the bikes. Hot and sweaty from my run, I search for Lily on the bikes, but it looks like she may have been a bit distracted by the hot new personal trainer.
