affection for rent

Nova: Are you really gonna?

Nova: Well damn. That doesn't really help, does it?

Nova: Um, yes. let's do it. This weekend, since it is Halloween and all?

Cassie: yeah? why wouldnt i?

He merely rolled his eyes at her. He wasn’t here to hang out or drink an drink she knew it. Holden just wanted an explanation, and the fact that she didn’t seem to take this seriously only annoyed him even more. If she thought she’d get away with the backstabbing she’d been doing, she clearly didn’t know him. “Keep your drink. You know what I’m here for so let’s just get to it”. He wasn’t going to let her beat around the bush and wanted to make that clear. The faster they got this out of the way, the faster he’d get out of here and away from her. “I know it was you, Cassie. Why do you keep lying?”

Cassie gave him a look, then shrugged her shoulders. “FIne, you’d probably just throw it in my face anyway.” She commented, blasely. “Alright, alright!” She sighed, holding her hands up to him. “Although to be fair, I only lied once.” She defended, and before he could complain about that, continued. “I may have mentioned it to someone before I spoke to you and you said it wasn’t here. I watched you for ages before we talked, acting like a brooding daddy-to-be, and I texted some people that I thought might know more than me. It spiraled. I’m sorry.” She was sorry, but she also didn’t think having a rumour spread about you was that big a deal. 

Holden looked up at the sign then back down at his phone. There was no mistake; it was the address Cassie had texted him earlier. Unless it was one of her games… if he did get inside only to be told that no one named Cassie worked there, she would certainly hear from him. Didn’t she say she worked at a bar or a casino? He couldn’t remember what she’d said but it definitely wasn’t strip club. He walked in, hoping no one he’d knew would see him there. The last thing he needed was for Ruby to find out he went to a strip club. Even if he wasn’t there to do what men usually went there for, he’d sure have some explaining to do. 

Anyway, he was here to have a serious conversation with Cassie. He looked around her, trying to locate her behind the bar or paying close attention to the waitresses who passed by him. If he remembered correctly, she’d told him she was a waitress… maybe… he wasn’t really paying attention. It definitely wasn’t his scene, although some people thought the contrary. He just didn’t see the appeal. It was only when he spotted her approaching a group of men that Holden realized that he’d been wide off the mark all long. “Why did you want to meet up here?” he asked, more than a little annoyed.

It hadn’t entirely worked because despite the fact that she invited him, she was still surprised when he actually arrived. She held her arms out with jazz hands, “Ta dah!” She grinned, mostly fake, but she was good at faking. “You wanted to know why I never invited you to hang at my work and now you know. I mean, a lot of guys would kill for this but whatever.” She shrugged, ignoring the question. Surely it was obvious, he was angry and this was safe for her. Security plus a bunch of drunk guys that would be keen to step in and ‘defend her honour’, nowhere would ever be more perfect for her. “Let me get you that drink I promised. Beer? Whiskey? Sea Breeze?” Was it smart to poke the bear? No, but Cassie couldn’t help herself. 

at the strip club

Cassie hadn’t exactly been thrilled to receive that text from Holden. She’d brushed it off like nothing but clearly those pregnancy rumours had made their way around to him properly, and they’d led right back to her. He was annoyed at her at the best of times, and sure she didn’t expect him to actually try anything, but she’d invited him to the club with the hopes that the whole scene would throw him off. Plus if he did kick off at least she had security there to step in.

Cass shoved her phone in her locker and locked it, then went to the mirror and dusted some highlighter over her cheekbones and lightly over her cupids bow before swiping on some lipgloss and heading out onto the floor. It was busy but not bustling and she immediately turned on the charm, heading over to a group of guys that looked like they’d come in straight after they got out of work in a bank.

Nova: I mean, I know, but she's pretty by the book.

Nova: I'm down for a group hangout. Even if I doubt it will get him to bring it up. Still could be fun.

Nova: You mean like I am?

Nova: 😟😟😟

Cassie: ehh maybe! ill ask her next time i see her

Cassie: def like how you are !

Nova: True, but don't you think she'd be freaking out?

Nova: I mean, I don't know. We haven't really hung out or anything since. Let alone talk about it. That's not really a good sign, is it?

Nova: Nah, but thanks girl. I don't wanna be like that. I'm just thinking that maybe he didn't feel what I did?

Nova: and I'm scared as hell to bring it up.

Cassie: she works with kids i cant imagine that its not in her five year plan

Cassie: its not great, maybe we should set up a group hang and then maybe he'll pluck up the courage to talk to you???

Cassie: you two have a history hes probs overthinking

Holden: 😒

Cassie: dont be moody

Cassie: im at work but you can come in if you want to

Cassie: ill even get you that free drink you wanted!

Holden: I doubt it.

Holden: You not a gossip? Are you seriously expecting me to believe that?

Cassie: I do! you think so terribly of me

Nova: Same, but I'd think she would have told us.

Nova: Well I mean, I guess so, when you put it like that. this is just a huge milestone. I'd think she would share it with us if she was. But who knows.

Nova: Same girl, same. What about this weekend? I think I need to drown in my sorrows.

Nova: Starting to think the whole Wes thing in the Hamptons was just... that.

Cassie: i guess but people keep it to themselves most the time until theyre further along

Cassie: whaaaaat youre kidding!!!!

Cassie: do we need to freeze him out? you know i will if you ask!!!!

Holden: Shut up.

Holden: You’re the last person I’d go to for advice.

Holden: I can’t believe you’ve been spreading those rumors.

Cassie: hey im good at advice!

Nova: I mean, maybe so, but I feel like we'd be able to tell right now.

Nova: She's not a liar, you know?

Nova: I mean, I'd think she could trust us?

Nova: Also, we need a girls night. Like asap.

Cassie: Well i've not seen her for a while, so that helps

Cassie: shes not but this isnt really lying is it, like how me not telling people im a stripper isnt lying its just i havent specified what i do

Holden: We need to talk.

Cassie: Yeah?

Cassie: do you need help in the bedroom department?

Nova: Lol! Are you sure he wasn't really though?

Nova: I mean, i'd think Ruby would be totally flipping out on us if she was pregnant. Don't you??

Cassie: it sounds like such bullshit

Cassie: she might not want to say before the whatever amount of time it is that they say to wait?

The jewelry talk was quickly forgotten as Cassie went on to explain what she meant. He looked down at the shopping bag and to be fair, it could be an explanation. But still. He was not happy. Who could be spreading rumors about Ruby and him? How would that benefit anyone. For a moment, he wondered if had talked to Nova or Cassie about something like that but Holden was convinced that if she were pregnant, she would have told him first.

He took a deep breath and shook his head. “Well no. I was just taking a look for a cousin and then I saw that”. He pulled the teddy bear out of the bag and showed it to Cassie. As far as he was concerned, he didn’t owe her an explanation but he was too angry to let it go. Shoving the teddy bear back into the bag, he let out a frustrated sigh. It was ridiculous.

“I gotta go”.

Cassie could practically see the steam coming out of his nostrils, which would be amusing if it wasn’t putting her on the spot like this. Perhaps she should have waited longer than five seconds before texting it out to multiple people. Fuck it, she’d been in bigger scrapes than this. She cocked her head to the side when he pulled out the teddy, giving him a confused look. “You bought a teddy for your girlfriend from a baby shop? Random.” 

Cassie sighed and raised her hands slightly, “Oh come on, we we’re going to get cinnamon rolls! It was just a rumour, things like this go around all the time especially at school. There was a rumour last semester that I was fucking the engaged TA.” Granted, she had been, but it was still a rumour. “It’ll blow over.”

Nova: That's kind of sweet.

Nova: Did you talk to him and ask why he was there??

Nova: I'd think he would cover his tracks better if he was hiding something, maybe??

Cassie: he said he was just getting off work and that it was for his "cousin"

“Maybe” he shrugged “I haven’t decided yet. I still have a few weeks before Ruby’s birthday so there’s still time to think about what I’m gonna give her”. He wanted something special to mark their first time celebrating her birthday as a couple and would certainly go for jewelry; he just didn’t want to tell Cassie.

Holden hesitated for a second. He just really wanted to go home but since she was offering so nicely then why not? After all, he’d been thinking about making efforts to be nicer to her for a while. She seemed to get along with Ruby so he could at least try, right? And the fact that she hadn’t gotten on his nerves for a while now was a bonus.

He was about to accept when she added something he definitely didn’t expect to hear. What the hell did she mean and how did she know about his cousin? He narrowed his eyes at her. It took him a few seconds but Holden eventually put two and two together. She was not talking about his cousin. “What do you mean so it’s true?” he asked curtly, actually annoyed at thought of people gossiping about Ruby and him “She’s not pregnant, I meant my baby as Ruby, not an actual baby”.

“Everyone loves diamonds.” Cassie told him, “But I really like the coloured gemstones, like sapphires or emeralds, or hey! You could even get her something with rubies! A bit on the nose, but she’d look great in a pair of red earrings.” She offered him the idea, and she doubted he’d say thank you but she thought it was a good one anyway. 

Cassie pulled her head back slightly when he seemed put out, and figured that it was supposed to still be a secret and she’d just stomped in and figured it out when she wasn’t supposed to. Then he clarified and Cassie pursed her lips. Shit shit shit. She needed to backpedal and fast, because they were on edge with each other at the best of times but if he found out that she was spreading rumours about them - which she thought was true, to be fair to herself - he’d cut her out of his life full stop, and with that would follow the rest of the group. 

“It’s just something that’s been going round, and then I saw you...” She pounted down at the baby shop bag he held, “And then you said that, and I was like oh! It’s actually true, not just some rubbish someone’s spreading. You know what I mean?”

“I see that” he mumbled, taking a quick look at what was inside the glass window. Jewelry… he was not surprised at all. Cassie always striked him as the kind of person who liked fancy stuff. Sometimes, it felt like they could barely tolerate each other but they somehow belonged to the same group of friends. Anyway, he was kind of happy to meet her there because thanks to this particular shop, he remember that there was only a few weeks left before Ruby’s birthday. He might as well start looking.

“I just got off work and I’m heading home” he said nonchalantly. He was looking forward to taking a shower and putting his feet up for the rest of the afternoon, maybe play some video games and surprise Mrs. Mills with her brand new iPad. Working there had its perk so Holden was actually sad that he might have to consider quitting if the Los Angeles offer was the only one on the table.

“I guess I’ve kind of been shopping too” he shrugged, casually mentioning his purchase. If only he knew what Cassie had been up to… “Saw it in the window and had to get it for my baby”.

“Yeah,” The corners of her lips twitched up as he glanced at the jewellry behind her. “Was there something you were planning on getting...?” Cass trailed off, thinking that perhaps she’d been right, and he was planning of proposing. Of course, he’d want to do the right thing and give her a shotgun wedding. 

“Nice, long day?” She’d hate to work in a shop and face people like that all day. Sure her own job was client facing, but the expectations were simpler. “You wanna make it longer? I’d die for a cinnamon roll right now. I’m buying.” 

Cass almost choked at the revelation, of course she knew, but she was still surprised that he’d come out and admit it so quickly. “So it’s true?! She’s really pregnant? Woah.” She pursed her lips together, almost disappointed, but then forced a smile. “How far along?”