It comes out as an accusation more than a comment, standard Cassie. “What did Eli say to you?” She plants her hands on her hips, giving Mia a look that makes her glad not to be Eli right now.
“Nothing, it’s nothing, Cass. It’s just today…it’s always hard.” Mia waves vaguely hoping that her best friend will just let it drop, but she knows her better than to expect that.
“I know, honey. I didn’t want to say anything in case you didn’t want to talk about it.” Cassie reaches out and squeezes Mia’s hand, looking at her with worry in her eyes.
“That’s never stopped you before,” Mia grumbles good-naturedly.
Cassie had made it her business to be Mia’s friend in college and, for Cassie, that meant knowing absolutely everything there was to know about her. Cassie had pretty much quizzed Mia on her life story the first time they’d met and that had been that; they’d been pretty much inseparable ever since. Cassie was a law major but she needed some voluntary work to make her more attractive to the big law firms, so Mia had suggested she spend some time at the shelter. Now she does all her pro bono work here and although she grumbles about it, saying she only does it because she has to, Mia knows differently. Cassie really cares about these women and the work she does with them; she just doesn’t like anyone to see past her hard exterior.
“You love me and you know you do.” Cassie blows her a kiss and pulls on her suit jacket.
“What are you doing here so early anyway?” Mia narrows her eyes at her friend, knowing she is anything but a morning person.
“Court this afternoon, but I wanted to check that our girl signed her restraining order ASAP. The sooner I get this filed, the safer she’ll be.” Cassie waved a file in Mia’s direction, ignoring her satisfied smile. “What? I’m efficient, okay?” Cassie huffs a frustrated sound as she gathers her bag and pointedly doesn’t look at Mia.
“Don’t worry, Cass. I know you’re just a big softie.” Mia holds her hands up. “But your secret’s safe with me.”
“You know that I could take you, right?” Cassie has about a foot on Mia and the woman is all lean muscle.
“You could try.” Mia winks at her, following the little routine they always go through. They’d gone to self-defense classes together after a mutual friend had almost been raped by one of the frat guys on campus. Both girls were seriously competitive to the point that they decided they should start going to separate classes to keep their friendship intact. Cassie was tall and skinny whereas Mia was petite and curvy, practiced in wearing skyscraper heels to make her feel like less of a midget. Mia knows she doesn’t look like much, but she wouldn’t be afraid to put money on herself if it came down to a fight.
Cassie’s digital watch beeps insistently and she swears as she looks at it. The watch is completely out of sync with her otherwise very polished look, but Mia knows that she’d been using it since college because, without it, she would be late for everything. Cassie has a serious case of terminal tardiness and the watch is the only thing that makes sure she’s anywhere on time.
“I’ve got to go. There’s a message for you behind the desk, delivered by a seriously hot guy, who, by the way, you need to tell me about tonight over a margarita.” Cassie is almost out the door before Mia has processed what her friend has said – that was another element of Cassie’s personality, everything happens at speed with her, even talking.
“What are you talking about? What guy?” Mia frowns at her friend’s rapidly disappearing back.
“Talk later. I’m seriously late, honey.” Cassie waves behind her as she virtually sprints outside and Mia is left staring at a closed door for the second time that morning.
She snaps herself out of it, wondering if the rest of the day would be any better
“Nothing, it’s nothing, Cass. It’s just today…it’s always hard.” Mia waves vaguely hoping that her best friend will just let it drop, but she knows her better than to expect that.
“I know, honey. I didn’t want to say anything in case you didn’t want to talk about it.” Cassie reaches out and squeezes Mia’s hand, looking at her with worry in her eyes.
“That’s never stopped you before,” Mia grumbles good-naturedly.
Cassie had made it her business to be Mia’s friend in college and, for Cassie, that meant knowing absolutely everything there was to know about her. Cassie had pretty much quizzed Mia on her life story the first time they’d met and that had been that; they’d been pretty much inseparable ever since. Cassie was a law major but she needed some voluntary work to make her more attractive to the big law firms, so Mia had suggested she spend some time at the shelter. Now she does all her pro bono work here and although she grumbles about it, saying she only does it because she has to, Mia knows differently. Cassie really cares about these women and the work she does with them; she just doesn’t like anyone to see past her hard exterior.
“You love me and you know you do.” Cassie blows her a kiss and pulls on her suit jacket.
“What are you doing here so early anyway?” Mia narrows her eyes at her friend, knowing she is anything but a morning person.
“Court this afternoon, but I wanted to check that our girl signed her restraining order ASAP. The sooner I get this filed, the safer she’ll be.” Cassie waved a file in Mia’s direction, ignoring her satisfied smile. “What? I’m efficient, okay?” Cassie huffs a frustrated sound as she gathers her bag and pointedly doesn’t look at Mia.
“Don’t worry, Cass. I know you’re just a big softie.” Mia holds her hands up. “But your secret’s safe with me.”
“You know that I could take you, right?” Cassie has about a foot on Mia and the woman is all lean muscle.
“You could try.” Mia winks at her, following the little routine they always go through. They’d gone to self-defense classes together after a mutual friend had almost been raped by one of the frat guys on campus. Both girls were seriously competitive to the point that they decided they should start going to separate classes to keep their friendship intact. Cassie was tall and skinny whereas Mia was petite and curvy, practiced in wearing skyscraper heels to make her feel like less of a midget. Mia knows she doesn’t look like much, but she wouldn’t be afraid to put money on herself if it came down to a fight.
Cassie’s digital watch beeps insistently and she swears as she looks at it. The watch is completely out of sync with her otherwise very polished look, but Mia knows that she’d been using it since college because, without it, she would be late for everything. Cassie has a serious case of terminal tardiness and the watch is the only thing that makes sure she’s anywhere on time.
“I’ve got to go. There’s a message for you behind the desk, delivered by a seriously hot guy, who, by the way, you need to tell me about tonight over a margarita.” Cassie is almost out the door before Mia has processed what her friend has said – that was another element of Cassie’s personality, everything happens at speed with her, even talking.
“What are you talking about? What guy?” Mia frowns at her friend’s rapidly disappearing back.
“Talk later. I’m seriously late, honey.” Cassie waves behind her as she virtually sprints outside and Mia is left staring at a closed door for the second time that morning.
She snaps herself out of it, wondering if the rest of the day would be any better
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