When Franklin finally pulled back from the kiss, Cassie felt like her face was on fire.
Her cheeks burned, heat crawling all the way up to her ears, and for a split second she forgot how to breathe. The first time they'd kissed, she'd been drunk, nerves drowned in alcohol, thoughts blurry, consequences muted. This time, though, her mind was painfully clear. Too clear.
And that clarity scared her.
Something had shifted. Something warm and unsettling had stirred in her chest, spreading in quiet, dangerous ripples. She didn't want to acknowledge it, didn't dare name it. So she grabbed onto the only excuse that felt safe.
He only did it for his mother.
That had to be it. A performance. Proof. Nothing more.
She shouldn't feel anything. She didn't want to feel anything.
Ye
