by Amy Waeschle
“Where do they live?”
“Rebecca’s in Reno. Reeve is, well . . . ” Cassidy hesitated, unwilling to spend her evening talking about him. “He moves around a lot.”
Pete nodded. “What was it like growing up in a blended family?”
Cassidy thought carefully before answering. “Busy,” she replied simply to steer him away. Who wanted to hear about how a family fell apart? “Are you still close with your folks?” she asked.
“Yeah,” he said, “the farm keeps them busy so they can’t get over here very often, but I try to go out there a few times a year. Christmas most years, and I was just there for the crush in October.” He smiled. “They still read all my stories.”
Cassidy smiled back. She knew her father would have followed her research too and been capable of deep conversation about her projects and ideas.
Their bowls and beer bottles empty, Cassidy cleared the table, and the two of them washed the dishes. Standing side by side, the energy between them fizzed like a live wire. In the reflection from the window above the sink, Cassidy snuck a peek at Pete’s profile: the slender nose, serene eyes, and soft lips. Her stomach did a little flip.
“Would you like to go for a walk?” Pete asked once they finished.
“Sure,” Cassidy said, realizing that she would have said yes to cartwheels through the living room.
They walked to the porch to pull on their raincoats, hats, and boots before stepping outside.
Eight
Casa de Rocas, Seattle
November 29, 2014
Cassidy led Pete through the neighborhood of established homes, the sidewalks cracked and buckled in sections from the roots of the towering maples and evergreen trees. Casually, Pete took her hand, and they swung between them, the heat from his skin spreading into her whole body. A fine mist fell all around them, the air smelling like iron and wet earth. Cassidy heard the water running into the sewer grates and the shush of passing cars on the busier thoroughfares a block away.
They passed several roundabouts. “I read your profile of that homeless family today,” Cassidy said. Juno received the Seattle Times every Sunday and graciously left it out for the others to read when he finished. Today’s featured Pete’s story of a family that slowly, through bad luck and a few poor choices, had lost their home, and then everything else. “I can’t believe they endured all of that,” she added, shuddering. “How did you find out all that stuff?”
Pete’s eyes sparkled. “I have a contact at County Health.”
“I would think people would be too scared—or ashamed even—to talk to you.”
“They are, at first,” he said, giving her a look. “The key is being willing to listen.”
“But how are you going to link this to government corruption?” she asked.
Pete laughed. “Stay tuned,” he said. “The sequel comes out next Sunday.”
“C’mon,” she begged as they passed under a streetlight.
“No way. I would hate to ruin your reading experience.” Then he stopped. “Wait, are you one of those people who skips to the back of a book to find out the ending?”
Cassidy bit her lip.
“No!” Pete said, his eyes dancing.
“Not all the time!” Cassidy protested. “Just . . . sometimes I need to know.” Hopefully he wouldn’t ask why.
“You need serious help,” Pete said in mock seriousness. “Good thing I’m here to show you the way.”
Cassidy laughed, her mind abuzz with what might be happening. They were standing under the streetlight while the mist fell like tiny bits of silver all around them. Pete’s hood and shoulders were beaded with droplets. He stepped close and their lips touched, his smooth and wet from the rain. The hum of the bulb above them and car noises from the street faded away as the kiss continued. A tingle of electricity traveled over her skin, and she shivered.
“Are you cold?” Pete said, looking at her with concern.
“A little,” she lied.
She kissed him back, and their bodies moved closer together, drawn as if by a magnet.
“Should we go back?” Pete asked. The intense look on his face was hard to read. Excited? Scared?
“Sure,” she said.
They walked hand in hand again, but there seemed to be an urgency about their pace. Cassidy felt breathless even though the walk wasn’t taxing. Pete squeezed her hand and she squeezed his back. By the time they arrived at her back door, she was practically quivering with anticipation. It seemed their bodies were communicating their desire, and Cassidy didn’t fight it or try to question it. She used her key to open the door, and they slipped inside, still hand in hand.
They stood in the dark, kissing in their wet raincoats until Pete finally unzipped his and then it was like a mad dash to shed the rest of their layers and shoes. Cassidy almost fell over when her boot got stuck on her heel, but Pete caught her, and they both busted up with laughter, followed by more kisses. Her thinking brain was operating minimally in the background, but it was easy to ignore because Pete’s hands slid under the hem of her sweater. His fingers were cold on her skin, but she pulled him near and his closeness sent sparks of warmth through her body. They kissed some more, their bodies pressing together.
Cassidy felt time slip away, like she could kiss him like this for hours, days even, high on the fluttery pull of longing heating her body. She remembered his endurance and strength and his deep questions during their full day on St. Helens, and then to the attentive way he had looked at her in the Blue Star Café, like she was the only person in the room. How could this be happening to her? A part of her didn’t feel worthy of this, and the other part worried that she was mistaken about Pete. But the shivery feeling inside her overruled these thoughts.
She untucked his shirt and pulled it up. He helped by yanking the shirt forward and over his head. Pete lifted off her sweater, and their eyes met in the darkness. “Cassidy,” he said, caressing her bare arm. “I’m just . . . ” He leaned in to kiss her softly again, as if afraid she was fragile. “Tell me if this is too much, okay? I just want you to . . . ” He paused, and they kissed again. She stroked his shoulders, and he came up breathless.
“I’m okay,” she breathed as another rush of desire washed over her. Actually, she wanted to add, I’m a lot more than okay.
They kissed for a long time, caressing, their bodies touching. Her bare skin against his felt so good. Pete kissed behind her ear and down her neck, making her shiver. His fingers found the bra clasp and he fiddled with it, but after several tries, it still hadn’t budged. Cassidy suppressed a giggle.
“Sorry, I’m a little out of practice,” he said, his shy grin lighting up the darkness. He came back up to kiss her lips.
“Let me help,” she said, and with a quick twist from her fingers, the clasp released.
“Any other hazards I should know about?” he teased as the bra slid from her shoulders.
“Nope,” she said, pulling him to her.
His deep, guttural groan filled her ears. “This feels so incredible,” he said, holding her close. “You feel so incredible.”
Cassidy met his lips and they kissed.
“I’ve been thinking about you all day,” he whispered. “I tried not to, but it was impossible.”
Cassidy squirmed. “I’ve been thinking about you too.”
His fingers brushed over her bare skin, and she pressed into him. They kissed longer, his lips so soft. She tucked her fingers beneath the waistband of his jeans to where his skin was warm and soft, and he hissed in a breath. She worked the top button, but it got stuck. She tried harder, using both hands.
“Sorry,” Pete said as it finally came loose. He undid the other buttons and his jeans slid to the floor.
“Any other hazards I should know about?” she teased, her fingers stroking over his collarbone and chest.
“Other than the fact that you’re driving me crazy and I might explode any second? No,” he said with a soft chuckle.
&
nbsp; “Do you want me to stop?” she asked.
“Hell, no,” he answered, then looked sharply at her. “Why, do you?”
“No,” she laughed, and kissed his lips. He stroked her shoulders and along her arms, sending shivers over her skin.
“Maybe we should,” he said with a concerned look in his eyes.
“Maybe,” she replied, though her hand continued to stroke down his chest, then just beneath the waistband of his boxers.
“That’s not helping,” he said. He kissed her, and their bodies pressed close.
She arched into him, wanting more. “That’s not, either,” she replied.
“If we do this,” he said as they kissed again, “Can we agree,” he continued, “I mean, it’s not like I have a set of rules or anything, but, I’m kind of a one-girl guy,” he finished.
“So you mean I have to break up with all of my other boyfriends if we sleep together?” she said, and the look he flashed her before realizing that she was kidding was priceless, as was his hearty laugh. “Because as you can tell they’re just beating down my door,” she added.
He kissed her again, and the mood shifted. “You are so gorgeous, do you know that?” he said, his eyes bright with desire.
Cassidy bit her lip. It was such an unexpected thing to hear from this man she hardly knew, yet somehow did know. Maybe this feeling stemmed from their intense time in the mountains—both on St. Helens and Baker, or maybe it was that they seemed to fit together so easily. She remembered descending Pan Face and the countless other runs they had skied yesterday, their turns like long ribbons through the snow, their energy matched stride for stride. She so badly wanted to give in to this.
They lay down on the bed, kissing, their bodies entwining as he stroked her hip, her arm. They kissed again and her desire rose up from deep inside. Time seemed to extend and contract, one minute she was urging him on and the next she wanted it to last. When finally she felt like she might combust, she urged him close and their bodies connected. Cassidy took a gulp of air, her hips quivering. She closed her eyes and held him. Pete kissed her neck. “Is it okay?” he asked as they paused there, his body filling hers perfectly. “I’m not hurting you, am I?” he asked, stroking her forehead.
“No,” she said, looking into his eyes.
“God, you feel so good,” he groaned.
She reached up to kiss him and let her body take control.
They lay in the darkness together, Pete holding her for a long time, their bodies warm and relaxed. She could feel his heartbeat thumping against her breast.
Cassidy blinked away the sudden tears welling in her eyes. Pete’s enthusiasm for making her feel good was overwhelming. Was this how it was supposed to be?
“When can we do that again?” he said.
Cassidy laughed, and the conflicting emotions faded.
He laughed along with her. “I’m serious.” He kissed her. “I mean, did I just have beginner’s luck, or are you always this sexy?” he added.
“Me? Sexy?” she said. “I’m a nerd. Nerds aren’t sexy.”
“Nerds are incredibly sexy,” he said, and kissed her again.
“You’re no slouch yourself,” she said, stroking his side. “I thought maybe I was going to fly into outer space.”
Pete raised an eyebrow. “Maybe we should make that our goal next time,” he said.
Next time, Cassidy thought with a shiver, and kissed him.
Nine
Johnson Hall annex, University of Washington
February 3, 2015
Cassidy pumped the keg and waited for the beer to fill her plastic cup. Half of the geology department staff, plus undergraduate and graduate students, had turned out for the monthly Wednesday social hour. They milled about on the grass beneath an overcast winter sky, talking in groups. Five students standing in a ring played hacky sack. Bluegrass music played from a small portable speaker.
“Nice job on the article,” William said, his tall, lanky frame looming over her. “Everyone’s talking about it.”
“What article?” Cassidy replied.
“National Geographic Adventure,” William said, “About iMUSH?”
Cassidy blinked—iMUSH stood for Imaging Magma Under St. Helens. Of course she remembered the story’s impending release; she had simply lost track of the date. Pete had likely forgotten too. With so many stories to keep track of, after completing an assignment, it quickly slipped into the background. But he would be thrilled to get his hands on the final version—she imagined him shouting it from the rooftops. “Oh, right,” she said, but William was now talking to someone else.
“I met him once, at a party,” a female voice to her left said.
Cassidy turned to see Analeise Jewel, a fellow graduate student. One arm hugged her willowy frame while the other cradled a beer against her chest. Her reddish hair had been twisted off her neck and pinned in place with decorative chopsticks.
Analeise raised an eyebrow. “He’s very . . . charismatic.”
Cassidy felt a sinking sensation. Analeise had a certain reputation in the department. A rumor floated around that she had slept with her advisor, a fifty-year-old with two high school-aged daughters.
“Er, yeah,” Cassidy said. After attending several parties with Pete over the past two months, she understood Analeise’s comment. Pete loved talking to people and learning from them, a fascination that often led to long and lively conversations that could easily be misunderstood as flirting. Cassidy sometimes felt like an outsider.
“Nice photo of you, by the way,” Analeise added. Cassidy wondered which one had made it into the story and recalled the one of her squatting at one of her seismic stations with the looming glow of Mt. St. Helens in the background.
“Are you shagging him?” Analeise asked.
Cassidy blinked. “Excuse me?”
Analeise’s face changed to one of shock. “Did you shag him in the department rig, or did you invite him back to your motel room?”
Cassidy felt the air leave her lungs. “Why would you say something like that?” she managed.
Analeise grinned but her narrowed eyes gave it a cruel edge. “Have fun while it lasts.”
Cassidy arrived home to an empty house, the lights off, and the heat set so low that she could see her breath. She made a piece of toast and got out her laptop to eat and work at the picnic table, but her thoughts kept straying to the conversation with Analeise Jewel. Given the low numbers of female graduate students, she and Analeise should be natural allies. After all, Emily and Cassidy had bonded on the first day. Not so with Analeise, who was aloof and always seemed overly critical. Normally, Cassidy had no patience for drama, but Analeise’s words wouldn’t leave her alone. Did you shag him in the department rig, or did you invite him back to your motel room?
Cassidy sighed and checked the clock on her laptop. Pete would be arriving soon after an intense editorial meeting for the Sunday edition. She wondered if his copy of the National Geographic story had arrived and imagined the two of them reading it together on the couch, his excitement frizzling like a firecracker. Cassidy smiled secretly, knowing that this energy would spill into his passion once he got her alone.
Cassidy rejected the idea of Analeise and Pete dating. But her “Have fun while it lasts” rang in her head. Finally, she closed her laptop and went out for a run.
The fresh air revived her, and when she was almost home, her phone pinged with a message from Pete saying he was on his way. With a grin she upped her pace and got home just in time to watch Pete pull into her driveway.
“Hey,” he said as she met him at his car door.
“Hi,” she replied, and dove into his embrace. “Careful, I need a shower.”
“Mmm,” he said, his face brightening. “Is that an invitation?” He kissed her.
Cassidy smiled. “Maybe.” A tingling warmth spread through her belly. She wondered how much longer until her roommates returned.
Pete gave her a look, and she took his hand and led
him inside.
Later that night while they were making pizza, the conversation from the beer social returned to her mind. “Do you remember meeting Analeise Jewel from the department?” Cassidy asked. “She says she knows you.”
Pete’s face turned pensive as he searched his memory. “Maybe?” he said, squinting. “Reddish, long hair? Working on clear-cut land. Soils, or something?”
Cassidy nodded. “Yep.”
“Huh, that was a year ago, maybe. She was at this party I went to with Aaron at his climbing gym. Some kind of anniversary party or something.”
“Does she climb?” Cassidy asked, surprised.
Pete shrugged. “There was a bunch of climbing videos looping on the TV and we all stood around drinking beer, so I have no idea.”
“She made it sound like you two had dated.”
Pete frowned. “We went to coffee,” he said.
Cassidy’s heart hiccupped.
Pete must have interpreted her look because he quickly added. “But it wasn’t anything. I mean, I wanted to find out more about her project, that’s all. It was right after that huge landslide.”
Cassidy managed a feeble, “Oh.”
“Cass, seriously, I was never interested in her like that.”
“Right, no, it’s okay.” She knew better than to give Analeise any more of her energy. Easier said than done, she thought. “She was just kind of nasty, that’s all.”
Pete’s eyes clouded. “To tell you the truth, she came off as kind of arrogant. I thought her project was cool, you know, reducing landslide hazards to protect fish habitat and all that, but she rubbed me the wrong way, you know?”
Cassidy gaped at him.
“I mean,” Pete stammered, and he began to laugh.
Cassidy laughed too. “Please tell me she did not actually rub you.”
“No, no,” Pete said, laughing harder. “I would never let someone like that rub me. The wrong way or the right way,” he added.