Night shifts black

Wednesday & Thursday.

 

 

I wake up beside Casey in the guest room several hours later. Slivers of light are peeking around the seams of the curtains on the window, so I know it’s well into the morning. He’s still asleep, and I study his peaceful face for a while.

I can’t believe last night happened. Even more unbelievable is the fact that I don’t have to lie here regretting it, aching over a euphoric anomaly. Last night could be tonight or tomorrow night or the next night, or all of those nights. We’re Casey and Callie now, however, whenever, whatever, we want. It almost doesn’t seem fair to the rest of the world.

I trace his hand resting by my pillow, part of me wishing he’d sleep for hours so we could stay like this. The other part missing his smile, his laughter, and counting the seconds until he wakes.

Apparently, he’s a light sleeper because a second later I’m staring into those dark, playful eyes.

“Morning,” he mutters.

“Morning,” I return with a smile.

His own smile breaks through his sleepy expression, and he turns to his back, stretching.

“What time is it?” he asks, and I realize I have no idea.

“I don’t know. Does it matter?”

“I guess not.” He glances back at me. “How long have you been awake?”

“Not long.”

He nods. “Hungry?”

“A little. I should shower first, though. I’m sure Eli and Sweeny will be up here any minute, if they aren’t already.”

Casey grunts. “Good point. I forgot about them.” He gives me a sly look. “Like I said, you can be very distracting.”

I laugh and take a swing, but he catches my arm against his chest. I try to pull away as he holds firm, but quickly realize I like this position a lot better and settle against him.

“We could just tell them we’re sick and stay here all day,” he suggests with a glint.

“Nice plan, genius. They’d be right outside the door!”

“We could be quiet!”

“Ha! Yeah right. Nice try,” I smirk, although I know if I don’t move soon, I will be the one constructing conspiracies to stay. I will never understand how someone can look so good first thing in the morning. I’m sure I don’t. I force myself to pull away, and he finally lets me go. It almost hurts to separate from him, and I have to fight the urge to climb back into his arms. There’s no way I’d be able to leave then.

Shower. That was it. I was going to take a shower. Maybe a very cold one.

“Shower’s big enough for two…” he says as if reading my mind.

I roll my eyes and laugh when I see he’s not serious.

“The shower’s big enough for five. We could all fit,” I return, sliding off the bed.

He makes a face and tosses a pillow at me.

 

∞∞∞

 

Eli and Sweeny are in the kitchen, along with Luke, when I emerge from the guest room, but Casey’s missing. They must notice my confused search and tell me he went to get us breakfast. I force a smile, hating that a ridiculous part of me is actually disappointed, that I can’t be apart from him for twenty minutes without missing him. Of course, they didn’t spend last night with him.

I can feel Luke’s gaze and wonder what he’s thinking. Can he tell I’m falling in love with his best friend? Can Casey? I wonder if Casey feels the same way. If not, I’m going to have to get control of this train before it crashes head-on into a wall. I had promised Casey he couldn’t break me and I intend to keep that promise.

“So are you guys working on the song today?” I ask, mostly to make conversation as I move to the stove to start a pot of water.

“That’s the plan,” Sweeny responds. “Our trailer is supposed to get here by 3PM so we can get really serious after that.”

I nod. “Does anyone else want tea?”

I can feel Luke’s amusement and cast him a quick glance.

“You and your tea,” he teases.

“What? Don’t even pretend you didn’t like it,” I warn.

He smiles and leans back in his stool. “Actually, it wasn’t bad. I’m man enough to admit that.”

“What, you’re a tea-drinker now? What happened to you, bro?” Eli asks.

Luke shrugs. “Yeah, it’s true. You’ve got to watch this girl. She may be small, but she will uproot your world before you even know what’s happening.”

“She certainly got to Casey,” Sweeny smirks, and I shake my head in disbelief.

“Yeah, because a shy poet from Shelteron, PA is going to be able to boss you superstars around. Please,” I mutter. I can feel their humor behind me as I set to work on my tea.

“Ha! You’ve done nothing but boss us around since the day we met,” Luke counters.

I spin around with a mock glare. “Oh, like you didn’t need a good kick in the ass,” I quip, and the others laugh. Even Luke grins and shakes his head.

“I didn’t say I didn’t. Just that you excel at it,” Luke defends.

Eli laughs. “Man, Baby Casey’s got his hands full…”

“You know our boy. He’d have it no other way,” Sweeny returns, and I roll my eyes at all of them.

“So was that a no or a yes to the tea?” I ask.

They smirk, and we all turn toward the door when it crashes open. I rush to help Casey as he shuffles inside, hands and arms full of bags and drink carriers.

I almost choke when I catch a glimpse of the logo.

“Jemma’s?” I ask.

He grins, and as usual his sweet gesture threatens to unravel me.

“Thought we could all use some French toast, and since you two are ba

Luke laughs while Casey drops the rest of his load on the counter and begins distribution.

“Coffee. Coffee. Coffee. And…tea.” He kisses my cheek as he hands me my cup, and my heart just about bursts in my chest. There’s just no way he’s real.

“I’m assuming there’s a story here,” Sweeny interrupts, eyeing his container of French toast with suspicion.

“Breakfast club was at Jemma’s Café,” Luke explains. “It’s how we all met.”

“This is so sweet, Case, really,” I say, not wanting to embarrass him, but unable to hold it in any longer. His grin is priceless, and I can’t stop my arm from wrapping around his waist. He gives me a quick squeeze back, and I let go.

“Aww, you want a kiss from me, too, Case?” Sweeny teases, leaning forward with puckered lips.

“Shut up,” Casey snaps, shoving him away. “Eat your food.”

I laugh, just as my teapot starts to whistle. “I was going to force them all to drink tea,” I explain, removing the pot from the burner. “They owe you for rescuing them.”

“This actually isn’t bad,” Eli comments through a mouthful of bread.

“It’s the powdered sugar,” I explain, and I can see Luke and Casey trying not to laugh.

“Huh?”

I can feel their amused looks, and it’s too much.

“I’m kidding,” I say to Eli when my smile breaks. “We talked about the powdered sugar for a good five minutes the first time we had it. Long story.”

“Oh, hey! I was thinking about the intro to ‘Greetings,’ and I think Sweeny should do that lick after the piano,” Casey a

“The bridge lick?” Sweeny asks, and Casey nods.

I can see their minds working. “Before the rest of the band comes in?” Eli asks.

Casey shakes his head and cuts into his French toast. “No, no, at the same time. With the drums, bass, and rhythm.”

Their eyes change, and I can tell they like it.

“Yeah, ok. Maybe. What do you think?” Sweeny asks Luke.

Luke shrugs. “I think it would work. It’s a pretty in-your-face song so why not hit them early.”

“You said the trailer is here at 3:00?” Casey asks, and Eli grunts.