Cassie squeaked. “Oh, my God,” she whispered. “I totally forgot he was there.”
Viper laughed. “Guess that says something about how sexy you find me, huh?”
“Ugh, you gonna let him say that shit to you, Cas?” Sarge said. “Fucking gross.”
She giggled which he silenced with another make-out session. When the need for air finally broke them apart, he found himself staring into the gorgeous green pools of her eyes.
“What if they find us, Viper?” she whispered. “What if they come for us?”
He pushed a few wayward hairs off her face. “Then we’ll handle it, baby. We’ll handle anything hell sends our way.”
CHAPTER TWELVE
PRESENT DAY - TENNESSEE
Cassie scanned the boxes of pasta as she rolled the cart down the aisle at a snail’s pace. Last time she’d cooked dinner for Shell and her family, she’d wanted to try a spinach and ricotta manicotti recipe she’d seen on television, but the local market had been out of the correct type of pasta.
“Score!” she muttered as she pulled a blue box off the shelf.
Small victory.
Shell had tried to talk Cassie out of their weekly dinner, but Cassie had refused. Then she’d tried to hijack cooking duty, claiming Cassie didn’t need to be bustling around the kitchen preparing food for anyone while grieving and still recovering from chemotherapy. What Shell didn’t understand was that the normalcy of a routine she cherished was exactly what Cassie needed to help occupy her mind. Over the past few months, as her strength had fled, Viper had taken over cooking duties. Now, feeling physically stronger than she had in ages, Cassie wanted the responsibility back. She needed tasks. Something to focus on besides berating herself for not being ready to begin sorting through Viper’s possessions. Hell, even his deodorant still sat out on the bathroom counter as though he was going to use it in the morning. She couldn’t bring herself to throw it away.
Though her brain realized he was gone, wouldn’t ever use that deodorant again, her heart wouldn’t let her touch any of his things. There was something so final about removing his possessions. It almost seemed as though she’d be removing him from her life even though she logically knew nothing in the world could ever remove him from her mind, heart, or soul.
“Oh, ow!” A young woman in jeans and a T-shirt hopped on one foot at the end of Cassie’s cart, hissing in obvious discomfort. In her arms, a little girl who couldn’t be more than two shrieked and grabbed for the woman so as not to slip from her grasp. Her chubby fingers fisted the woman’s shoulder-length hair, giving what had to be a painful yank. “Ouch!” Now she hopped on one foot while trying to pry the baby’s hands away.
Cassie gasped as her hand flew to her mouth. She’d been so lost in her head, she rammed her shopping cart into an unsuspecting woman. “Oh, my God. I am so sorry.” She rushed around the cart, going straight for the little angel with a death grip. “Well aren’t you a pretty princess,” she said in an exaggerated sugary tone.
As hoped, the cutie went wide-eyed and released the hair, before burying her face in her young mother’s neck.
“Oh, thank you,” said the woman who’d set her injured foot back on the floor. “I thought I’d need to head over to the haircare aisle and buy some Rogaine before I left.” As she chuckled, she rocked back and forth in that mindless way mothers did when soothing their children. The hair she spoke of was inky-black and hung around her shoulders in the kind of tousled waves that indicated she’d let the hair air dry instead of styling it.
“Please do not thank me for anything,” Cassie said with a shake of her head. “I cannot believe I rammed into you like that. I was totally lost in my head. Is your ankle okay?” As she spoke, she bent forward to inspect the woman’s leg.
With a wave of her hand, the young woman said, “Yes, it’s fine. Just had to shake it off for a minute there.”
“Well, I’m truly sorry.” Cassie placed a hand over her heart. “Your daughter is absolutely adorable.” By now the little girl had popped her head up once again and stared at Cassie with wide curious blue eyes to complement her fine golden hair. “Hey, sweet pea, I’m Cassie. What’s your name?”
The girl looked to her mother who nodded. “Who’s this?” She gently poked her daughter’s round baby belly.
“I Emem.”
The woman beamed at the little girl then let out a soft laugh before turning her attention to Cassie. “This is Emelia, who we call Emmie. And she’s actually my sister not my daughter.” She stuck out her free hand. “I’m Makenna.”
“Oh, I’m sorry for assuming.” Wow, there had to be a near twenty-year age gap between two siblings. Cassie couldn’t help but wonder where the child’s parents were. Well, the young woman’s too.