⎯⎯ 𝐣𝐮𝐥𝐲 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟑

𝕬 loud clatter greets Cassie as she steps inside the house, her brows immediately knitting together.

She creeps closer to the kitchen, slow and tentative in her footsteps — growing up in an unstable household does that to you — and clutches the glass of mimosa to her chest, hearing the commotion inside.

"I told you, Ana. We didn't need so many salads! Now who's gonna finish these up? Lucas isn't even home yet and Cassie barely eats anything".

She hears her mother sigh in an exasperated manner.

"I'll take them to the food bank. Why does everything have to be such a chore with you?".

"Chore? With me? You're the one wasting food!".

"Which you do all the time! And it won't be wasted because I'll donate it! Now, keep your voice down we have guests over!".

"You're the one fucking shouting!".

"Oh my god, I can't deal with this right now".

Several utensils bang loudly against each other, sounds of feet shifting around and she hears her father curse repeatedly about how "controlling" her mother is.

She can just about imagine her mom trying to busy herself in putting the dishes away to avoid blowing up at her husband.

Four days in and she already has to put up with this, this is exactly why she moved to the other side of the country.

And what was her mother doing then? Scowling and arguing with her for moving so far away from her family.

But how could she ever voice out that escaping this house was the exact thing she needed back then? And even now?

She thinks about how she comes home every year for the fourth but ends up finding a way to leave quickly afterwards because it's always just too much.

In college, she hid behind internships and research programs.

And since graduating two years ago, she decided she'd take up some random backpacking every summer.

But this year, she thought she'd just go with the flow. Maybe go see some of her college friends currently vacationing in Paris.

That takes time though, time which she doesn't have.

She needs to get out of here tomorrow morning or she'll screech in her parents' faces or end up putting her dad in a headlock.

Something . . . . something comes to the forefront of her mind.

The Hughes Lake House.

They're only two hours away and they've invited her.

It's been some time since she spent full days with Quinn because ever since they graduated high school, they've only ever met up when they're in the same area.

He's been busy with his life and she has been too but mostly she's been trying not to be a bother.

They're still 'best friends', it's just that she doesn't want him to feel like she's forcing her way into his new life.

This is all he's ever wanted and the last thing she wants to do is be a burden on him.

So, spending some time at the lake house will be new for both of them.

But god, does she need it.

( 𝖼𝖺𝗌𝗌𝗂𝖾 🤍 , 𝗊𝗎𝗂𝗇𝗇𝗒 💕 )

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
hi pookie bear

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
did u text june before this

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
i've been texting a little with
her, do u not like the name

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
i thought we were better
than her and luke.

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
pookie bear is cute wdym

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
cassie. please.

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
GET ON UR KNEES 🔫

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
🧎‍♂️

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
better?

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
yes sunshine

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
i'll take it

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
soooo

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
so

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
planning to come over to the
lake house tomorrow, is that ok?

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
yes of course! the more the
merrier

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
and i mean that literally,
we're packed here

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
oh is there not enough space?

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
i don't wanna inconvenience
anyone

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
we have space! i'll just put
some people together in a
room and it'll be fine

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
ur presence will be like a
breath of fresh air

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
ur so poetic

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
i'm touched

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
shakespeare has nothing on
me

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
oh iktr

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
so i'll leave early morning
tomorrow and be there
around 9-10ish, that good?

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
absolutely

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
great, thank you so much

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
ur a life saver

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
i thought u would be getting
drunk with mrs. wilson rn
and singing copa cabana, is
everything okay?

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
yeah lol just trying to be an
adult this year

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
drunk karaoke with mrs.
wilson is an adult-y thing

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
wasn't in the mood much

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
u sure ur okay?

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
yes <3

𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 💕
alright, see u tomorrow

𝗰𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗲 🤍
xxxx

***
i have so much planned for this book 🤭