Meanwhile...
"Uh..." Cassandra took small steps toward the kitchen where Kiara was. She squeezed in beside her, gently holding Kiara’s arm to get her attention.
"Yes?" Kiara turned to her.
Hesitation swirled in Cassandra’s eyes as she shifted her gaze toward the living room.
"What’s he doing here?" she asked, looking back at Kiara. "Ki, are you two...?"
"No!" Kiara gasped quietly, glancing toward the living room where Hugo sat watching television. She shook her head and turned back to Cassandra. "Cassy, whatever you’re thinking—it’s not that. No, we’re not together."
"Then why is he still here?"
Kiara paused, pondering the question. Hugo had offered to live with her not long ago, but hadn’t pressed the issue when she refused. Even though living alone in a somewhat dangerous neighborhood was a bit scary, the last thing she wanted was a man living in her place.
Even so, since Hugo had been around since Cassandra’s release and through Grace’s birthday celebration, she’d thought it would be nice to invite him over. After all, it had been days since Hugo started following her around like a quiet shadow, and she’d started to get a feel for his routine.
"He’s not staying over for the night," Kiara whispered. "But honestly? Even if he asked... I might just let him."
"Why?" Cassandra furrowed her brows. "Are you into him?"
"What? No!" Kiara gasped, her voice still low.
Cassandra sighed. "Ki, don’t get me wrong. I mean, I’m staying at your place too, so I’m not one to talk. I’m just asking if you are, you know... into him? It hasn’t even been that long since I was arrested, but it already feels like so much has changed."
"It’s not like that," Kiara sighed. "I’m just... grateful to him. He even drove us home."
Kiara pursed her lips, thinking back to the days before all of this. She couldn’t help but smile as she met Cassandra’s eyes again.
"Knowing you were in there, and there was so little I could do... it wasn’t easy, Cass." Kiara placed a hand gently over Cassandra’s. "I thought I was going to lose my mind. But in a way... thanks to him—and his uncle, who directed him to me—I held it together."
Cassandra’s eyes softened, her smile trembling a little. She placed her other hand over Kiara’s and nodded in understanding.
Maybe she’d underestimated her friend’s struggles while she was in prison. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized Kiara had shared the same desperation she did. Although Kiara wasn’t behind bars, the lack of hope and help had become her own kind of prison.
"Anyway, help me out a bit," Kiara whispered, changing the subject. "We might’ve eaten a lot, but that guy over there has a reserve slot in his stomach for when food gets scarce."
Cassandra chuckled and nodded. "I’ll grab the plates."
With that, the two women served up the takeout they had brought home from the restaurant. Initially, Kiara had only planned to buy takeout for the next day. But the restaurant told them they could take anything from the buffet since it was already paid for and meant for the guests.
In the end, they’d managed to haul home enough food for an entire week. Then again, Kiara didn’t plan to keep it all. She intended to bring the rest to the warehouse and share it with everyone.
Just then, he noticed Cassandra and Kiara approaching with food. freēwebnovel.com
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