Loving Caspar by Rea Winters

Author:Rea Winters
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2020-06-21T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-Five

The rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the room. Amie handed Becker a cup and joined her on the couch.

“To be honest, I’m surprised to hear someone call Cas a friend.”

“Let me guess, some little birdies gave you the Cedamire rundown?”

“Yeah, you could say that.”

Jo took a short breath. “Well, it’s true that Adami and I aren’t as close as we could be if not for the past. We played the same sports growing up. Bonded over keeping each other on our toes. But stigma is its own currency around here and it costs a lot to maintain Becker Excellence. I’d try to defend Cas from the other kids, which just led to both of us getting into fights. After three suspensions, my parents were terrified that a, uh…what did my mother call it? Oh, a “pattern of delinquency” was forming. So, like everybody else, they made me keep my distance and focused fire on grooming me to be the next head of the family empire. I did worry about her after her mom…you know. Tried to reach out, but as you can probably tell by now, she’s not the reach out type.”

Amie hummed. “So, an empire, ey? What’re you, a trust fund kid?”

Jo chuckled, bashfully rubbing her neck. “Something of the sort, yeah. I work hard, but the foundation of everything I work for was laid down decades before I was born, which makes things a lot easier for me than most have it. Grandpa Becker is one of the few who transformed Cedamire from a Podunk hovel at the foot of some mountain to the thriving beacon of small-town innovation it is today. After he retired, my mom and dad kept the engines he built running smoothly. And now that they’re retired, it’s my turn.”

“Impressive.”

“No. I’ll tell you what’s impressive.”

“Please do.”

“You are impressive, Miss Amie Seda.”

“Moi? The coffee’s not that great, is it?” She peered into her cup.

Jo laughed. “No, I’ve just been hearing a lot of exceptional things about you from the workers at Hammer. They say you practically run the place.”

“Oh no. Most of the time, I have no idea what I’m getting into. I learn as I go along, you know? I’m just really good at making the hard stuff look easy. Comes with practice.”

“I like that. You know, word’s also gotten around that you were at Hammer when that break-in happened. A friend of mine who works at the Sheriff’s Department said that you were hurt. I’m so sorry you went through that.”

“I’m fine, really.”

“Have the cops caught the bastards?”

“Not yet. But between you and me, I’ve already moved on. Not like it’s the first time I’ve been knocked down. I mean, don’t get me wrong, I was scared shitless at the time.”

“But now you’re okay?”

“Yes. Now, I’m more than okay.”

“I suppose Adami has a lot to do with that. Taking you in like this.”

“Yeah, I won’t lie.” Her heart fluttered and gaze fell shyly as she grinned. “She has everything to do with it.

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