Page 57 of Fall Into Me

He had no expectations and no assumptions. He knew this meet-up was nothing more than a hangout between two friends—because that was what he and Ash had become over the last however-many months they’d been texting back and forth: friends. Good friends, if he wasn’t being too presumptuous. But even though he really had no expectations, he couldn’t stop himself from feeling an unjustifiable amount of excitement and eagerness.

Along with this buzzing nervousness.

Cass glanced down the street to his left for what felt like the millionth time, scanning for a familiar face among the pedestrians heading his direction. When he still didn’t see anyone who looked like his friend, he frowned and shoved his hands deeper into his pockets, resisting the urge to pull out his phone to check the time. He didn’t need to know what time it was, and he didn’t need to check his messages to see if Ash had canceled.

He just needed something to do to distract himself from his racing thoughts.

He glanced back down the street, his eyes jumping from person to person, and he reminded himself again that he had no expectations. And that it was not a date.

And that—

A man and a small child turned the corner onto 43rd Street about a block down, and Cass’s breath caught as his heart slammed to a stop in his chest.

He hadn’t seen Ash in about nine months, save for the few precious selfies Ash had sent him, and yet Cass immediately recognized his friend. The man was even more gorgeous than Cass remembered—almost as tall as Cass but clean-shaven, with a lean build and dark hair that was sort of half-messy and half-styled. He wore medium-blue shorts and a light-gray V-neck T-shirt that was just well-fitted enough to fuel Cass’s imagination in a way he shouldn’t be letting it right now.

Cass inhaled deeply to reset himself and tried his best to rein in his smile. When their eyes locked a moment later, he casually lifted a hand in greeting. Ash’s grin lit up right away, and he looked down at the energetic toddler who hopped along gleefully next to him, her light-blue dress swishing with every step. Cass couldn’t hear what Ash said, but when Ash pointed ahead toward Cass, the little girl glanced in his direction. She grinned a huge, bright grin and then hopped up and down more, waving one hand while holding tight to Ash’s hand with the other.

He had no chance. None at all.

Settling into a smile, he took a step in their direction, waving to Bri.

“Hi! Hi! Un-ca, Un-ca! Hiiiiiii!” the toddler exclaimed.

Cass could do nothing to hide the pure joy he felt, all that nervousness fading away. He knelt down to meet the child as they got closer. Bri stopped just as Ash did, about a foot away, and she grinned and waved up at him again, her chubby cheeks pink in the late-summer sun. Her dark hair was neatly clipped back with light-blue barrettes on either side of her head, and her blue eyes shone with intelligence and curiosity.

“Hiiiiii!”

“Hi, Bri, it’s so nice to meet you,” he said softly. “I’m Cass.”

“Cass! Hiiiiii!” She waved one more time and then hopped up and down. “Cass, Cass!”

Fully aware that his heart was pounding and his cheeks were probably beet red, Cass straightened back up, lifting his eyes to meet Ash’s. Their deep blue immediately mesmerized him, and he had a hard time getting any thoughts to form beyond how beautiful they were. A flood of warmth spread through him, and he swallowed back all of his feelings and offered his hand.

“Hi, Ash. It’s good to see you again,” Cass managed, though his throat felt dry.

A playful sparkle flickered in Ash’s eyes, and he reached out and grasped Cass’s hand in greeting. “Good to see you, too.”

It felt like the world stopped. Or at least his world stopped—his heart stuttering as a jolt of the most pleasant heat shot up his arm. Everything else around him faded into the background, and all he felt was Ash’s soft hand in his, the grip firm and sure.

“Un-ca! Un-ca Ashhh, mik? Mik?”

Ash’s smile broadened, and he sort of shrugged a little as he let go of Cass’s hand and turned to Bri.

“Yes, you can have milk,” he told her. “And, hmm, what else . . . ?” He seemed to pretend to think, bringing his hand up just under his chin.

Bri giggled. “Stah-beh! Stah-beh!” she declared.

Cass pursed his lips as he watched Ash’s expression light up even more.

“Strawberries, of course! Milk and strawberries for Bri. Coming right up!”

“Da!”

Bri hopped and started toward the entrance to the café, tugging Ash along with her, and he glanced back at Cass over his shoulder and shrugged again. “Coming?”

Cass nodded, now failing miserably at holding back his smile, and he followed Ash and the very enthusiastic toddler into the coffee shop.

Inside was cozy. Even though they were in a busy area near campus, it had a sort of small-town feel. The walls were mostly covered in dark wood paneling, except one side where the smooth surface had been finished with black chalkboard paint. Daily specials and prices were listed on the top half of the wall, and the bottom half was covered with random doodles and scribbles. Several two-seater tables scattered throughout the room were occupied by other customers, and two people waited in line at the counter, where a barista with short-cropped bright-purple hair was taking orders.