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I laugh, only a touch hurt that she would just hang up on me like that. I wish I could peek inside her mind to know what she could possibly think tomorrow had in store for her. ”I just hope she enjoys herself.” I say to myself.

I get up and grab my tiny watering can and spray, realizing I hadn’t watered my plants yet today. I remember what Cass had said the other night about specific plants and pets, so after watering, I lay back down on the couch and start googling what plants are not good around pets, making sure all of mine would be cat-friendly.

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Wayland and Calypso run around the shop like they haven't seen the place in a fortnight rather than two nights. I hear something crash in the back before the two of them coming ripping up to the front. "Enough!!" I yell at them. The two of the freeze and stare at me before they slink off. I huff a sigh and shake my head. Children.

A few moments later, the door dings and I welcome the first patron of the day. I warn them of the cats and thankfully they don't have a problem with felines. I've lost customers because of it but I also gained a lot, as well. The universe always had a way of balancing itself out.

I work all morning, making a order for some good I can't find local or grow myself. I help a few patrons and tell them I'll be closed early. And I get excited that I have new growth in a couple of pots. It really is a full morning.

After I finish cleaning up the mess the cats left behind I look at them both. "Best behaviours, alright? I don't need to come back tonight or tomorrow to find the place in ruins." They blink innocently up at me and I sigh before I give them a handful of treats and leave.

From where I am, the bus ride is about half an hour to where Nic wanted to meet up. As we travel, I search on my phone all the different places that around that bus stop, trying to deduce what he might have us doing at ten o'clock in the morning.

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The morning is uneventful for me - my dad makes breakfast for us again and I let him know of the plans made with Cass. He looks so excited for me to be interested in Cass - which given my track record with relationships in the past, I can understand it. Jane ends up asking if she and Kat can come along when I mention it to her, saying she wants to have a double date. I try to fight it off but I eventually concede to let them join. I arrive at the place where Cass and I agreed to meet a hour early, so I try killing time by grabbing a couple drinks from a coffee shop nearby, hoping I got something Cass would like.

I still have to kill some time, but I brought a recent medical textbook that’s caught my interest. I get comfortable on a nearby bench that’s not the bus stop and set the drinks down beside me before I crack open the book, using a pencil to write down some of the more interesting things I find.

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About ten minutes before I’m supposed to meet Nic, I arrive at the bus stop. I glance around, but I don’t see him in the immediate area. According to my phone, there are a few stores, a coffee shop, an escape room place, tramp park, and a tattoo shop. Nic wants a tattoo from me, so I automatically rule that out. Aside from that, I’m not really sure, but I have narrowed it down to the escape room and trampoline park. I head in the direction of those two shops on a hunch.

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I glance up every time I hear approaching steps, which is silly since I’m literally in downtown Chicago, but I don’t want to miss Cass accidentally. The next time I look up, I happen to be lucky and it’s her this time. Despite wanting to do something cute like covering her eyes to surprise her, I quickly stuff the textbook into my backpack, grab the drinks with one hand, and wave to get Cass’ attention with my free hand.

“Cass! Over here!” I say with a grin, bending down to give her a kiss on the cheek real quick. “I wasn’t sure which you’d like, so I got a chai latte and a matcha latte - I’ll take whatever you don’t want.” Hopefully she would like one of them at least.

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I hear my name and turn until I see Nic waving frantically at me. I feel my heart stutter and curse it mentally as I wave back. I walk over and am startled when he kisses my cheek. My cheeks heat, but I’m quickly distracted by drinks — my weakness.

”Ah, chai, please.” I took the correct cup from him and sipped it. Perfect. I glance over at the nearby coffee shop and commit it to memory. I take another sip before speaking.

”So, I have it narrowed down to the escape room and the trampoline park. Due to the clothing attire I was instructed to wear, I’m leaning towards the trampoline park.” I eye Nic’s shirt and smirk. We’re matching.

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I give her a once over before I look her in the eyes. ”You look very cute.” I tell her with a big smile before taking a sip of the matcha. “But you’re correct - we’re going jumping. I’ve been wanting to check out one of these for awhile. Have you ever been?” I start walking in the direction of the trampoline park with her, stopping myself from putting my arm around her shoulders.

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I blush again and push him gently. ”Stop flirting with me,” I said. I started following Nic down the sidewalk towards the jump park. I sip my tea as we walk and talk.

”Never,” I confess. ”I’m excited to try though,” I tell him quickly. I don’t think it’ll be heart-hurting happiness, but it’ll still be fun.

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Flirting? Well, I do find her attractive… and amazing… and gorgeous… adorable… powerful. I physically shake my head before I start listing every single thing I like about her. “Good! I’m glad.” I say. Ignoring her flirting comment entirely seemed like the best idea for now.

”I’m hoping this will be fun for both of us.” I’m a sucker for a tasty cold drink, so my matcha is already almost half gone by the time we make it to the front doors. I pull one open for Cass to walk through, but instead a gaggle of teens comes out first. Only one of them says thanks and I nod in acknowledgement, not dropping my smile. I peer inside to make sure the coast is clear before I motion for Cass to enter.

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I walk into the trampoline park after the teens pile out and look around. I’m greeted by the smell of food and the sound of loud music and shouting. It’s an assault on life and energy. I’m glad Nic picked this place. I take another sip of my drink and wait for Nic before walking up to the front desk to pay the admission fee.

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I stop Cass from going to the front desk by wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her back to me. I did it to let her know we were going to use a Groupon, so she didn’t need to pay for admission today, but I get sucked in by those blue eyes. Plus her nose looks so kissable. I stop myself with a blush. “Oops, sorry, I just wanted to tell you that you don’t need to pay admission.” I tuck a stay hair behind her ear - it’s funny how that always seems to happen with her.

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One minute, I’m walking towards the front desk; the next, I’m moving backwards. Nic’s surprisingly strong arm wraps around my waist and pulls me back towards him. I shift in his arms, facing his chest, and I have to look up to see his face. My entire face turns red with how close we are. He tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, and I look away, embarrassed.

I put my hand on his chest and tried to push myself away. ”Nic…this isn’t right,” I say, embarrassed.

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I raise an eyebrow, bemused in why she’s saying that. Is it our age gap? Or that I’m a human? ”Huh? What do-“ I hear someone call my name and I look over to see Jane walking in, Kat not far behind her. Not letting go of Cass, I wave to them.

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I hear someone calling for Nic, and I look over. He still hasn’t let me go as he waves at the girl who was at the funeral. The colour drains from my face as I look at Nic’s girlfriend, and I shove myself away from him.

”I’m so sorry! We were just hugging,” I said, wishing I could crawl into a dark hold and go back to the 1700s. Burning alive would be so much easier than this.

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I’m caught off guard by the shove and concerned why Cass was apologizing. Jane looks just as confused for a moment before she grins. Oh no, that’s never a good sign.

“Hi! I’m Jane Venezuela, I work with Nic” She says to Cass before giving me a side hug. “I hope it’s okay, he mentioned he was coming here and we wanted to join in.”

Kat gives me a hug as well before peeking over at Jane and Cass, her confusion aligned with mine still. “I’m Kat - I don’t work with Nic.”

“This is why I was stopping you - we have a Groupon we can use.” I tell Cass, still a bit concerned at her reaction.

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I look down at the floor. Please, please, someone get me out of here. Nic brought his harem here, didn’t he? What the hell was I getting myself into. Triple goddess, save me from this fate, I prayed.

”Hi, um, nice to officially meet you two.” I say and wave awkwardly. I toss my half-drunk chai latte into the nearby garbage. I can’t even finish it.

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I tell the girls to wait while I go to the front desk to get everything started. Stealing glances at Cass, I get our admission taken care of and a couple of lockers. When I rejoin the others, I can hear the tail end of Jane talking about how we were in med school together. Cass looks like she wants to be swallowed up by the ground. I give Jane and Kat their admission and one of the lockers.

When the two walk away, I bend down a little so I can quietly ask Cass, “Hey, is everything okay?” I ask, concerned. “I thought you might enjoy some extra company, but I should have asked you first, I’m sorry.”

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I smile and nod politely as the other two talk, and Jane explains how she met and works with Nic. Honestly, they’re pretty perfect for each other. I go to turn and follow them when Nic stops me. I fidget and play with my hair.

”It’s fine I just… why didn’t you tell me you have a girlfriend? I mean, if it's an open relationship thing, that’s fine. No judgement here, but I’m not really into that. I did that once, and there was so much drama. It was exhausting. I don’t want anyone to hate me because you held me like that and kissed me the other day, but maybe it was just a thank you… I don’t know. I’m okay if you want to be friends. I just don’t get why you didn’t say anything…” I ramble on.

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“Wait what? I don’t have a girlfriend.” Cass starts on a ramble that I know required a kiss last time, but I spot something that should do the trick just as well. I grab Cass by the shoulders and make her turn to face where Jane and Kat are. They’re flirting with each other as usual and Jane leans in to whisper something in Kat’s ear that makes her blush, losing her cool demeanor for a second before she grabs Jane and kisses her on the lips.

I can’t help but start to laugh a little. “Neither Jane or Kat bat for my team, Cass.” I rub the back of my neck awkwardly. ”Plus they’ve been in a relationship for the past five years.”

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Nic puts his hands on me again, and I’m seconds away from hitting him when he turns me around so I can see Jane and Kat kissing. At first, it doesn’t register. Maybe they’re a throuple. But Nic said he doesn’t have a girlfriend. Nic said they don’t bat for his team. Oh. I drop my face and stare at the ground. I slowly turn around, looking at Nic once before looking away.

”Okay, well. I’m just going to go home and die of embarrassment now.” Yup. Burning alive was better than this.