Forbidden Desire

Chapter 4 – The Clear But Not Clear Mind

Cassie lifted the physics books she was reviewing and glanced at Nathan, browsing his emails while lying on the couch at the Orange Café, his head on her lap. Her eyes flickered on the wall clock, and then she returned her gaze to her best friend, aka brother.

“Aren’t you supposed to be at your bachelor party?” Cassie asked.

“Yep!” He said, reaching for the chocolate cookie and putting it gently in Cassie’s mouth.

After she took a bite, she held it, taking her turn to put the flat, round cake in Nathan’s mouth.

“Later,” Nathan added, opening his mouth for the cookie.

Since the day he arrived, Nathan religiously did his task, picking up Cassie from school and bringing her to the Orange Café. They would stay there for an hour or two and go home when she and Selena finished their homework.

Cassie returned her eyes to the book.

Nathan snatched the book and placed it at his side. “When you become a physician, I’ll build a hospital for you,” he said, grinning at her.

“Promising,” she scoffed, taking the book and opening it again, not minding it was a different page. “Don’t bother. I’m not going to be a physician.”

“What?” He lifted a brow and smirked. “You said you wanted to be a physician.”

Cassie put the book on the table and gazed at Nathan. “Physicist. Not a physician.”

Nathan laughed at himself, getting up and draping his arm on her shoulders. “I’m going to miss you,” he said, pulling her closer.

She turned her head to him, hoping he would not see the sadness and pain in her eyes. “Suffer!”

“Ugh! You’re the worst best friend in the world,” he chuckled, cupping her face and kissing the tip of her nose.

“Eww!” Cassie eased back, covering her nose with her hand and shifting her seat to hide her blushing cheeks.

“Tissue,” offered Selena, giving her several tissue paper sheets when she returned to their table. “This isn’t a lovers' lane, Nathan.”

Nathan continued to laugh despite her stern reminder. “The good news is we’re not lovers, Selena. I love you and Cassie, but you’re more than a lover to me. You’re family.”

“Yeah! Yeah! I know.” Selena forced a grin, flickering her eyes on her cousin and gritting her teeth as she said, “Aren’t we lucky?”

Cassie picked up her glass of blueberry milkshake, sipping her drink like she had been thirsty since birth.

She and Selena turned their gaze at his smartphone when it rang. They didn’t need to know who called. The happy smile on his lips told them it was Chloe. Nathan excused himself, leaving the two while he stepped toward the door.

“Whew!” Cassie breathed in relief, placing her palm on top of her head and briefly closing her eyes. “God, I thought I’d die of brain freeze.”

Selena chuckled, glancing over her shoulder to ensure he had left the coffee shop. She leaned forward.

“Today’s Nathan’s last day as single.”

“So?” Cassie closed her book and placed it in her backpack.

“Tell him how you truly feel about him.” Selena propped her elbows on the table, rested her chin on her clasped hands, and briefly closed her eyes.

“I’d die before it happens, Selena,” she muttered, leaning forward to get closer to her. “He’d rather not know anything. Say I will tell him I am in love with him? What good will it do?”

Selena shrugged her shoulders, opening her mouth, her lips locking the straw of her strawberry shake. She looked at her cousin with pity, hating seeing her brokenhearted, but as Cassie said, there would never be Nathan and her.

“Is everything okay?” Nathan asked worriedly, finding Selena and Cassie quiet when he returned to their table.

“Yeah,” lied Cassie and forced a smile. “Who’s that? Chloe?”

Nathan nodded. “She’ll be with her friends tonight. Hen night,” he said, winking at her. “And also…” He took his car key on the table. “My friends are looking for me. I’ll call the driver to pick you up. Okay?”

“Yeah.” Cassie shook her head, changing her mind. “No need. Mom’s coming here to see Aunt Allie. I’ll just wait for her.”

Selena lifted a brow, but Cassie avoided her gaze.

“O…kay,” Nathan said, raising his brows.

“Enjoy your party, Uncle Nathan,” Cassie joked.

“I will,” Nathan chuckled, lowering his head at the same time Cassie raised hers, almost kissing her on the lips. A nervous chuckle escaped his mouth, pressing his lips on her forehead. “I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, turning to Selena immediately, tousling her hair before walking away.

Selena pouted, following Nathan with her eyes. “I should have pushed him.” She turned her head to her cousin when Cassie stood up, taking her backpack. “Hey, what happened to Aunt Olivia coming to see my mom?”

“You know it’s not happening,” Cassie said, rolling her eyes. “I’m taking the bus. Need to clear my head, Sel.”

Not waiting for Selena to answer, Cassie walked toward the door, determined to take the bus. When she reached the bus station, she got on the bus without checking where it was going. At this point, she didn’t care where it would take her. She was not running away. As she said to Selena, she only needed to clear her mind.

Cassie leaned her head against the cool window, her eyes fixed on the charming shops and buildings. Then, the bus slowed down, stopping at a red light.

“Chloe?” Cassie pressed her forehead on the window to be sure, squinting at the familiar physique of a woman kissing a good-looking man in front of a restaurant.

She took her phone and pressed her sister’s number, her heart racing, praying she was wrong. She went away to clear her head, but it turned murky when the woman eased back from her boyfriend.

“Yes, Cassie?”