Leaving Normal, Stef Holm [ebook reader screen .TXT] 📗

first boy she'd ever really made out with. She'd never had a steady boyfriend before and she liked it.

Austin in her life was almost crazy-reckless when she let herself go.

And she knew where this was going if she didn't stop him.

But sometimes it was hard to stop.

Her cell phone rang and its chirp immediately sobered her. She sat upright, grabbed the phone and punched the answer button.

"Hello?" she said, breathless.

"Cassie?"

"Mom. Hi."

"Were you running?"

"Urn, no."

Austin kept his hand on her hip, slid his fingers down her arm and he did those little motions with his thumb around her navel. She jerked back, frowned at him.

"I was calling to see how you're doing." Her mom's voice was clear and warm, genuinely interested. It would have been easy to fib about not having time to talk if her mom didn't sound so nice.

"Good. Been busy." Cassie got off the bed so Austin couldn't touch her anymore. "There's a trip to the museum next week and I signed up to go. It should be fun."

"I'm glad to hear that. And your grades? You're studying hard?"

"Yes. That's what I was doing when you called." She slid her gaze to Austin, who snapped his textbook closed, got up and waved goodbye while walking toward the door.

She waved him back, urged him to stay. "Um, Mom…I really need to get back to the books. I don't mean to cut you short but, you know…"

"All right, honey. Send me an e-mail when you get a chance."

"I will. Okay, Mom. I gotta go. Love you."

"I love you, too, Cassie."

Cassie finished the call, went to Austin. "Don't leave!"

"You were on the phone."

"I got off." She put her arms around him, kissed him.

"But I really do have to study," she murmured against his soft lips, liking how they felt on her mouth.

"You can study me."

He kissed her back and the next thing she knew, they were on her bed again.

She wished she had more willpower, but the way he made her feel, it was like fighting nature.

In those few minutes, he had her bra hiked up and he was unzipping her jeans.

Cassie gained enough composure to put her hand on his. "Austin, no. I'm not ready. I told you…no."

He jerked way without argument, sat up and ran his hands through his hair. "Cassie, sometimes you really make me nuts. You know you want to."

Panic filled her, along with a thread of fear. She'd pushed him away again. Maybe one too many times now—he'd find another girl to be with. There were plenty of them on campus and he was so cute.

Sitting up, Cassie put her arms around him. "Austin, I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you nuts. I feel the same things for you, but I'm just not ready to take things further. It's a big step for me. I'm a virgin, you know that. I'm not like the other girls you've been with…"

He took her face in his hands. "I know. That's what I love about you, Cass. You're so sweet. You're just too cute."

She smiled, pleased. Happy. Very happy.

"I'm hungry," she announced, in the mood for a sub. "Let's take a break and go to Chicago Carryout."

"I don't have any money."

"I do. My treat."

She rearranged her clothing, got her coat and hat, and the two of them left the dorm building.

Chicago Cany out was at Harrison Street and Wabash Avenue, and the cafe was always packed with students.

"Did you ask your mom about Easter?" Cassie asked while reading the signboard menu as they waited their turn in the sandwich line.

"I forgot."

Disappointment hit her. "I thought you were going to ask her when you talked to her yesterday."

"I told you, I forgot. I'll ask her. I'm sure she's cool with you coming home for Easter with me."

"I need to know so I can tell my parents. My mom's already bought me a ticket for Boise. I can change it, but I think I should let her know soon."

Austin moved up in the line. "Can you change it to Minneapolis?"

"I think so, if the airline flies there. That's why you have to ask your mom as soon as you can. I can't keep letting my mom think I'm coming home if I'm not."

A part of Cassie regretted ditching a family get-together, but how often did she have the opportunity to go to her boyfriend's house for Easter? Never. She'd always been with her parents. She was eighteen. It was her turn to choose where she wanted to go. She just really needed to let her mother know as soon as possible.

Cassie was a planner, like her mom. And Austin's inability to remind himself to ask his mom bothered her. She wished he could be more on top of things.

"What do you want?" Austin asked, glancing toward . her, then at the pretty cashier. "Hey," he said to the girl, giving her a grin.

Cassie held off the stab of jealousy that pricked her. He was always doing this. He was a hopeless flirt, and in front of her, too.

"Hi," the clerk replied, her lip gloss shiny and sexy. "I know you. We have the same poetry workshop class."

"Oh, yeah. I've seen you. What's your name?"

But the clerk didn't have to reply. Austin stared at her name badge that just happened to be right over her breast.

"Candi," he said with a smile. "You'll have to say hi to me."

"Okay." She giggled and Cassie wanted to smack her. She encircled her hand around Austin's upper arm, keeping him close.

They placed their orders, Cassie suddenly not so hungry for a turkey sandwich anymore.

"Do you want this for here or to go?" the clerk asked, looking only at Austin and not her.

"For here," Austin replied.

"To go," Cassie said, gazing into Austin's eyes. "I want to go back to my dorm room and we can be alone."

He shrugged and she paid for their lunch.

While they waited for the sandwiches to be made, Cassie grew quiet and thoughtful. There were times when she wasn't sure about Austin,