##Chapter 4: CassidyBook One: StayA low groan rumbles its way from deep within the mountain of pillows and blankets."I don't feel good," the voice croaks. "I think I have the flu."I snort with about as much derision as I can muster. "What you technically have is called the twenty-four-hour booze flu," I singsong gleefully before yanking open the thick, ugly blue curtains covering our dorm room window and allowing bright sunlight to filter in.It's impossible to summon one ounce of pity for someone who knowingly inflicts this kind of pain onto themselves.Brooklyn whimpers before attempting to burrow further into the abyss of blankets and pillows piled high on her dorm-issued twin bed."Come on, up and at 'em, sunshine. You've got class in forty." I pretend to wince as I add with false pity, "Oh, and don't you have Calculus this bright and fine Friday morning with Professor Ling? Yeah...that's going to suck for you.""No," she moans. "No class. Can't go. Not today. Too sick. Head p
##Chapter 5: CassidyBook One: Stay"Oh, you've got to be kidding me," I mutter, feeling off kilter.One of his dark brows lifts at my disgruntled greeting. "Let me guess," he says, "now you think I'm stalking you."My eyes widen before narrowing in consideration.Hmmm. I suppose that's a possibility."Are you?"He snorts before shaking his head. He shifts his weight, looking as if he might be settling in for a long conversation. "I don't even know your name, remember? You wouldn't give it to me last night.""It's a good thing I didn't, because apparently, there's an excellent chance you might be stalking me," I quip while trying to think of a hasty exit strategy.He runs his tongue across the front of his teeth.I feel the effect of it straight down to my traitorous core.Somehow, this guy has triggered more responses within me in the past twelve hours than any other guy has in the previous nine months. "I'm not saying this to sound like a conceited jack-""But that's exactly what yo
##Chapter 6: CassidyBook One: Stay"Did you really think you could ditch me that easily?" His whispered words send a shiver skating down my spine as something hot unfurls in the pit of my belly.Or possibly lower.Crap."It was more of a hope on my part," I reply lightly, searching for an empty seat in the already crowded room.One empty seat is all I need.Bingo.As I scan the lecture hall, I find a girl with long blonde hair waving erratically at Cole. Just in case he doesn't notice her wild gesturing, I point out the frantic female. These girls are seriously ridiculous. Not to mention, desperate. But hey, I can totally help a sister out. Especially when it benefits me in return."You seem to have a fan over there who'd very much enjoy the pleasure of your company."He flicks a casual wave in her direction as I start down the thinly carpeted steps. I like sitting front and center in all my classes. It feels as if the students buried in the back of the lecture halls are too busy talk
##Chapter 7: CassidyBook One: Stay"Cassidy, your four o'clock is here."With my nose buried deep in a calculus book, I murmur, "Great Lisa, send him back."Lisa, our sort-of-receptionist, hovers in the doorway for a few moments until I'm forced to glance up and meet her wide gaze.Only then does she mouth, "He's soooo hot." As if to add emphasis, she rolls her eyes.I roll mine in response before shaking my head. Also for emphasis. Lisa thinks most guys are soooo hot. I'll admit, sometimes she's right. And sometimes she's wrong.Very, very wrong.But I suppose beauty is in the beer goggles of the beholder...or something like that. Not that Lisa usually drinks on the job. Although, sometimes I seriously have to wonder.I plaster a smile across my lips and wait for my next appointment, interested to see how far off base she is today. A few seconds later, the smile falls off my face as Cole strolls into the room. As soon as he sees me, he stops, obviously just as surprised as I am. But
##Chapter 8: CassidyBook One: StayA heartbeat ticks by before he reaches out, his larger hand covering mine.My attention drops to our clasped fingers. Normally, I don't like being touched. When he'd grabbed my arm at the party, everything in me had seized up. But his hand lying gently over mine doesn't trigger a response. Actually, that's a lie. It does do something to me...something I'm unwilling to acknowledge. "You don't know me." And I don't want him to know me either. Not the real me. Not the one who made such a mess out of her life last year.I hold my breath and wait for the familiar knives of panic to slice me up inside.It's a surprise when they don't.He squeezes my hand, and my gaze bounces up to his. "Is it so difficult to believe that what I already know makes me want to find out more?"I gulp, breaking eye contact before carefully slipping my hand from his. "I don't date."That's non-negotiable. There are rules I've set in place for myself this year. And from what I'v
##Chapter 9: CassidyBook One: Stay"Okay, Cassidy, you can go back now. Dr. Thompson is ready to see you." The receptionist smiles as she shuffles around a few papers on her perfectly tidy desk.I give her a brief smile in return before walking through the door and into the office of the psychologist I've been meeting with. After I'd received my acceptance at Western this summer, I'd realized I would need to continue with my sessions. Dr. Thompson has turned out to be a perfect fit. Her office is decorated in soothing tans and whites, with splashes of blues and oranges that catch the eye. There's actually a couch, but there are also comfy chairs. Since I'm a creature of habit, I always gravitate to the same chair. I'm sure that says something about my personality. Dr. Thompson usually sits directly across from me with a notebook close at hand in case she wants to jot down a few notes. In the beginning, I found it disconcerting and wanted to take a quick peek to see what she'd written
##Chapter 10: CassidyBook One: Stay"This is going to be so much fun! Thanks again for coming with me tonight." Snuggling into her jacket, Brooklyn bounces excitedly on the bleacher seat as her gaze tracks the hockey players skating by the Plexiglas that surrounds the ice. "That's him, number fifty-five."A dreamy look fills her large green eyes. As she sighs, her warm breath escapes into the frigid air of the rink. I roll my eyes even though she isn't paying me the slightest bit of attention.Nope.Her focus is trained on her brand-new crush.Number fifty-five.I shift in my seat and watch the players skate past. Not that I would admit this to Brooklyn, but this is surprisingly more painful than I'd imagined it would be. I haven't skated in more than nine months. At this very moment, my fingers are almost itching to wrap themselves around my old fiberglass hockey stick. As I stare at the ice, my mind tumbles back, trying to recall a time when I've been off skates for more than four o
##Chapter 11: CassidyBook One: Stay"Sorry, I'm still trying to get the hang of it. Remind me to ask you for some helpful tips. You seem to be a real pro at it."My belly dips as he grins at me. I almost wince, realizing that this banter is totally counterproductive to what I need to happen.He shifts his stance. "For one, you're supposed to stay out of sight. You know, hide in the bushes, peek around corners, wear disguises, follow discreetly from a distance. That kind of thing. Maybe we can get together later and I can give you a stalker one-oh-one crash course. Stalking for dummies or something like that. Totally free of charge, of course."Dimples.Again with those damn dimples.If he's trying to wear me down, those dimples are doing an excellent job. He must realize it because he flashes them at me every chance he gets.I blink, attempting to shake myself free of the thick fog that always seems to descend when he's near. "No, I don't think that'll be necessary. You've given me qu