Free Finding Cait by Sarah White

“You really should
consider coffee.”
        
Rolling my eyes at him I put the Coke back on the counter and try to clean up
what I can of the explosion.  When I am finished, I turn and head back
into the hallway towards the bathroom so I can wash the sticky soda off and
take a shower. “Thanks for the delightful experience, “ I say sarcastically
over my shoulder and Matt nods and stifles a laugh.
      I feel
like a teenager again as I walk towards the bathroom.  Somehow the weight
of the situation feels lighter and a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth.
 I stop at Court’s room and peek in.  She is still sleeping so I pull
her door closed and then make my way to the shower.  It feels amazing to
rinse my hair and I stand in the shower once again letting the water run over
my head and down my face.
        
Wrapped in my towel, I leave the bathroom and make my way back into the kitchen
to get my unfinished Coke .  Matt and Court are
both sitting at the table talking when I reach the counter.  I can feel
Matt watching me as I retrieve my Coke and sit down at the table with
them.  Logically I know that his attention does not equal love and will do
very little to fill the space that Court’s death is creating.  I can’t
help but to let myself fall back into the playful banter of our childhood as we
sit around the table catching up.
        
 “How are you feeling this morning?” I ask Court when there is a lull in
the conversation.
        
“Great, it was so nice to get out last night and be normal for a little
while.  I probably can’t do it again but it was a great night and I am
glad you were both there for the last time.  So Matt, find your way into
some lady’s bed last night?  I heard the door early this morning and
figured you were on your way in.” 
        
Matt quickly makes eye contact with me and then looks to his sister, “I did
actually.  She was a little feisty but her hair smelt like flowers so I
overlooked it.” I can’t help but to smile at his compliment.  I look at
him with an overly interested look and nod.  I know Court won’t notice
because she is staring at him with a curious look.
        
“That’s it? That is all the juice Cait and I are going to get?” she asks
sounding like a teenager after prom.
        
“What else do you want to know?  She was beautiful, funny and incredibly
sexy.  I hope I get the pleasure of going home with her again,” he says as
he glances back in my direction.
        
“I’m sure you charmed her just like all the others,” Court says dryly and
returns to her coffee.  “I am taking my shower can you two please play
nice and let Candy in when she gets here.”

 
    Chapter 16
    *Court
        
This is it, the last chance.  I am not sure what happened between the two
of them when we were younger, both denying anything
had ever taken place.  Some things just can’t be undone and since the
night they rode down to the beach together they had never acted the same. 
My suspicion was confirmed a few months later when Cait told me about her first
kiss with Elliot.  It should have been exciting and I had waited up late
to hear all about it. 
        
When Cait told me the details her voice was flat and distant.  I couldn’t
understand why she had not been excited and when I asked how it was she had
answered me, “Different.” I knew right away whose kiss she was comparing it
to.  All of the pieces fell into place, the sudden tensions between them,
the lingering stares and the way they orchestrated everything so that they were
never alone together again.  I could have just killed both of them for not
telling me about it, but I let her finish the story and keep up the rouse that
nothing had happened between her and Matt.
        
My heart was being selfish.  Convincing myself that if there was anything
between them, Matt would mess it up and I would lose Cait.  Letting it go
and not addressing it seemed like the