Chapter 20:

Chapter 20:
"I must be a glutton for punishment, because I’m certain I am going to want more than pretend."-Cassidy

Cassidy

What is SHE doing here? I mean, I know she lives in Howling Pines. But the farmer’s market isn’t her scene, not normally. However, Shana is just the kind of girl to go hanging around the ranked wolves at The Packhouse, maybe hoping for gossip, or perhaps looking to snag herself a husband.

The thought sends shivers up my spine. I wish whoever ends up with her good luck, they’ll need it. She is interested in little but gossip, status and fashion.

“I don’t like the lie, Cassidy,” Remi says to me quietly as we approach my car.

I stay silent for a long moment. 

“What if it wasn’t a lie?” I ask after getting into the car.

“But it is a lie,” Remi replies. “We might be close friends, but we aren’t a couple.”

Ouch. True, but still…ouch.

“Remi, you rarely go out anywhere fun because of crowds and because I am always going off with women. So unless it is for work, you won’t go. How about, this month, I stay by your side, you and I act like a couple and it will make my aunts and grandma stop trying to set me up with women,” I propose.

Remi groans and runs his hand down his face then whispers, “ the shit I do for you, Cass…”

“So you are in?” I ask.

“Fine. whatever. Half your family already thinks we are together anyway.” Remi groans.

I must be a glutton for punishment, because I’m certain I am going to want more than pretend. But at least I will get a small taste of what it could be like to be in a romantic relationship with Remington.

I know by his reaction that he doesn’t want to be with me that way, but it will probably be the closest I get to a romantic relationship with the person I love.

“We should go on some date, but don’t worry, I won’t expect any more affection than is normal for one of our movies and cuddling sessions,” I say, glancing out of the side of my eye at Remi who stiffens and then turns to me.

“No kissing, unless it is absolutely necessary,” he breathes, barely audibly.

“Correct. Nothing we can’t and haven’t done comfortably before,” I agree. 

“I don’t like  faking stuff,” Remi groans. “ But if it helps you, you know I have your back.”

“I love you, man,” I say, only this time it has far more meaning than it usually holds.

“Yeah, me too,” Remi sighs. “You know you are my bestie, forever.”

I sure hope we are always best friends and I don’t fuck this up by confessing or pushing it too far. I’m not going to call him out for having kissed me while he was drunk. He probably didn’t realize who he was with and I know he doesn’t remember it. Still, the memory of his lips on mine, leaves me craving another taste, a deeper, longer, more impassioned kiss. I will probably be left wanting and craving that for the rest of my days.

We pull up outside of the front door and I grab all the bags, except for the bag with the bouquet Remi insisted we get for mom. Remi carries the bouquet in and mom gives him a hug and kisses his cheek. 

“Thank you, Sweetheart! You are such a thoughtful young man,” Mom beams. 

Even if Remi were not the most perfect, sweet gentleman and always being thoughtful, mom would adore him. It’s just how awesome he is. I’m lucky he is even friends with me with all the mess I make. Remi says he has a hard time in social situations, and he does, in crowds, but one on one, or with a few people he is comfortable with, he is far better than most people I know at being social.

“So are you guys ready for a nice afternoon at the spa?” Uncle Morgan asks as he and Oren join us in the kitchen, with the kids in tow. 

“I wanna go to the spa, Daddy!” Fern says. 

“Maybe when you are older, Fern. The spa is a grown up thing and your older cousin and his friend work very hard. They need to relax, like Dadda and I do,” Morgan says.

“I miss you, cousin, Cass!” The adorable eleven year old says as she wraps her arms around my waist and looks up at me with big green eyes as mesmerizing as Remi’s. 

That is her Fae side. She might be more werewolf than Fae, but both father’s genetics are apparent in her looks, which makes me even more curious about how they produced the kids.  

“I miss you too, Little Fiddle Head,” I tease. 

“I’m almost grown now. I’ll be a teenager soon, not a sprout anymore,” she says, firmly. “Your fae friend is pretty. Is he your boyfriend? Even better, is he your mate? Oooh! I hope he is your mate! Then I could have cousins who are like me!”

“They would be second cousins,” I reply and then blushing at what I said and how easily it slipped, let alone how warm and fuzzy the entire thought of having children with Remi makes me feel, even if I don’t understand how that could happen.

I turn to Remi whose eyes are blown wide and whose ears and cheeks are stained bright red by a furious blush. His hair has turned a deep green, just noticeable in the sunlight.

“Sorry, Remi. If it’s a bit forward, or…I dunno…” I mutter. 

“Ahh…wow! I don’t even know what to say…” Remi gasps.

“Sweetie, how about you don’t ask such forward questions of Cassidy and Remington, they are not used to having to answer things like that,” Oren says and winks at Remi who smirks and blushes even more, but allows me to reach out and take his hand.

“I’m just excited, I am sorry, Cass and Remington,” Fern says in that sweet voice that always wraps me around her little pinky finger.

This kid is so stinking adorable, and it definitely helps that she has those eyes! 

“Come on, Fern. Let’s help grandma make that salad you love for lunch!” Finley says, leading his younger sister over to the counter next to where mom was preparing to slice the roasted chicken and plate it up for us. 

“I’m sorry, she can be quite precocious,” Uncle Morgan says to Remi. “It’s great to meet you, finally. I’m glad you could make it. I had heard you weren’t coming, but Oren and I have looking forward to meeting you for years.”

“It’s a pleasure,” Remi says with rosy cheeks as he shakes my uncle’s hand. 

“Here, I’ll help Dotty with these. You two sit,” Oren says, grabbing the bags and bringing them to the counter then helping my mother put things away. 

“Come on, Remi. Let’s get our butts to the table and stay out of everyone’s way,” I say, pulling Remington over to the kitchen table, where we ate breakfast this morning. 

“That’s what I usually do. I get yelled at for being in the way all the time,” Uncle Morgan chuckles.

“I’m used to doing most of the cooking myself, except for when I order out or travel for business,” Remi says. 

“Oh yeah, you two just got back from that big business trip down in Luna! How was that?” Morgan asks.