Cassie
Brett walking away should not have bothered me.
That was the ridiculous part.
He had brought the notes, made one joke, offered to help, then seemed to catch himself before turning the afternoon into another excuse to stay. No interrogation about Derek. No strange questions. No sulking. He simply told me goodbye and left with Ollie.
It was exactly what I’d wanted.
So why had I watched him until he disappeared across the lawn?
“Cassie?”
I blinked.
Derek stood in the doorway holding a box against his chest.
“Sorry. What?”
“I asked where you want these.”
“Oh. Dining room.”
His gaze drifted toward the sidewalk Brett had disappeared down before returning to me.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.”
Derek didn’t move.
I sighed. “I’m doing that thing again, aren’t I?”
“What thing?”
“Saying
