My Casey

Not anymore.

He wasn’t going to let her go.

Because, even after all this time apart, he knew he was in love with her, had always been, and he’d be a fool to let that go.

Chapter Seven

Casey was aware of the many stares she was receiving. Her eating lunch in the diner with her parents seemed to be the most interesting thing to a lot of people. It had been a week since she had shared a bed with Rusty, and even as every day she told herself she’d go back home, each night, she found herself driving home with him.

They’d have the most amazing sex, fall asleep, and in the mornings, they’d eat breakfast. Pancakes and waffles were her favorite, with lots of syrup.

Sipping at her coffee, she glanced over the menu. Abby kept on pointing out where there was meat.

Her being a vegetarian seemed to have unnerved her mother, but it was fine. She could live with it.

Ordering a large salad and a basket of fries, she waited for her parents to order, sitting, drinking her coffee.

“Well, this is nice,” Rome said. Her father looked less than impressed.

“What is it, Daddy?” she asked.

“You’ve been in town for a couple of weeks now, and I feel like I haven’t seen you. In fact, I’ve learned more about my daughter’s whereabouts by other people. Tell me what is going on?”

“Rome, we said we’d be supportive,” Abby said.

“I am being supportive. I want to make sure Casey knows what she is doing.”

She smiled. Her mother loved that she had started a relationship with Rusty. Casey didn’t know herself if she’d call it a relationship yet. It was hard to tell because … so far, they had sex. They shared a shower, and they slept together. Breakfast was also shared. Lunch wasn’t always. Like today, she was spending it with her parents. They did also share a meal. Rusty often made them sandwiches as they were normally too tired to cook anything.

“I’m right here, Dad. What is it you want to know?”

“Go easy,” Abby said.

“Do you love Rusty?”

“Dad, please, this is all new. You know I haven’t been home long enough to know if I even love the guy.”

“So you’re just sleeping with him?”

She winced. This was one of those reasons why she hated small towns. “Don’t.” She glanced around the diner, and with everyone watching her, she felt closed in. “I’ve got to go.” Her stomach growled at her in protest, but there was no way she could stay here, not now, not after what her father said.

“Casey, you don’t need to go,” Abby said, but she was already on her feet.

“I really do.” She grabbed her bag and headed out of the diner.

She felt like eyes were following her, something creepy out of a horror film.

When she was a good few feet away, she picked up her pace and started to run. She didn’t know where she was running to, just that she had to get away. To be free. To be away from everything and everyone.

With her bag on her shoulder, she didn’t stop running until she made it to the lane where growing up, every kid used to go to make out. Not in cars. There were benches, and they’d sit kissing and hugging. She hadn’t ever been here before, but she didn’t know what it was used for anymore. There was no sign of kids, and she sat down on one of the benches. Again, it looked new, and she didn’t know what that meant.

Running her hands down her thighs, she leaned back, closing her eyes, trying to gain her composure.

This was one of the many reasons why she’d left.

Her parents being the lovebirds they were, people talked. The town expected her to find her Mr. Right, and it wasn’t going to happen. Not to her.

She wasn’t being a bitch or mean. She just wasn’t going to find it because she didn’t know if she believed in true love.

Was that why she was having difficulty with her story? The romance she was writing was flowing great. The chemistry between her characters was everything she wanted to write. The sex was inspired by her time with Rusty, no doubt about it.

He was the best sex she ever had.

Only, if it was just about fucking, what relationship was there?

What need was there?

Had everything just gone?

Was her story a complete waste of time?

Nothing made sense to her.

“I thought I’d find you up here,” Rusty said, startling her.

She opened her eyes, and sure enough, there he was.

“How?”

“Well, I was told you ran out of the diner looking like a crazy woman, scared and terrified. From where people said you were, this is the only place I could think of where you could hide.” Rusty took a seat on the bench. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” she said, the lie falling easily from her. “Why is this place abandoned?”