I Hate Nothing About You

Chapter 3 - Cassie (Two Years Ago)

When I finally made my way outside, I was glad to find it was much quieter. I did a quick scan of the backyard and saw there were only a few people sitting in small groups, having hushed conversations. I shivered a little as the night air hit me. The short blue dress I had on didn't offer much in the way of warmth. I took a few steps away from the house looking for a place to ditch my drink. The heels of my strappy, silver sandals sunk into the grass. "Fucking grass," I muttered as I tried to pull the heel of my right foot out, only to have the heel of my left foot sink. The night really was taking the one-way bus to shit town.

"Those don't look like the best shoes for walking in the grass," said a husky voice from somewhere in the shadows next to the house.

"Well, thanks for that, Captain Obvious," I snapped back.

A deep, throaty laugh came from in the shadows. "Are you always this warm and fuzzy with people you've just met?"

I looked up from trying to hold on to my cup and get my heels out of the grass towards the shadows where the voice was coming from. I could see a figure standing there smoking a cigarette but couldn't make out any features. "Only when it is warranted and with you, creeper in the shadows, it is absolutely warranted." I finally got my heels unstuck and managed to make my way to the cement walkway. I dumped my drink out in the grass and looked for a place to ditch my cup.

"Did you get one of those horrible drinks from the overly excited girl in the red shirt?" The voice in the shadows asked as a cloud of cigarette smoke came wafting out.

I tried to keep a grin from popping up on my face. "It tasted like she wrung a bar rag out into a cup. I don't think I have ever met a drink I didn't like, until tonight."

The voice in the shadows laughed again. "I think I like you."

"Well, I can't even see you, so the jury is still out. Not that looks matter as to if I would like you or not, but hiding in the shadows you kind of have that whole creepy serial killer vibe going on."

"You don't find it mysterious and brooding?" Another cloud of smoke wafted out and I almost laughed out loud at the guy's ridiculous theatrics.

"Not into the whole vampire, werewolf, or whatever the hell else is 'mysterious and brooding' thing." I was cold and starting to get incredibly annoyed by the guy. "Listen this has been a real blast, totally going to write home about it, but all good things must come to an end. I'm outta here. Enjoy the rest of the night lurking in shadows and being a giant creep, or whatever the fuck it is you are doing."

I leaned down to slide off my heels so I could dash across the yard in my bare feet back into the party. At least there was booze in there. When I stood up I saw a cigarette butt flick out of the shadows and the mysterious man finally walked out. "Shame you have to take off. Feels like we were just starting a great conversation."

I had to blink my eyes to make sure the moonlight and shadows were not playing a trick on me. The shadow guy was hot. Like way, seriously fucking hot. Like a tight t-shirt that could barely contain his muscular arms, jeans that hugged every single part of his body leaving nothing to the imagination, and motorcycle boots wearing hot. He had dark brown hair, and the cocky smirk he was wearing on his stupidly handsome face probably got him everything he ever wanted in life delivered on a silver platter. He looked like a fucking model standing there. Without even thinking about it, I licked my lips as my eyes raked over him from top to bottom.

The guy looked at me and chuckled. "This party really fucking blows. Want to get out of here and go somewhere we can get a drink that doesn't taste like ass?"

I laughed. My sensible side knew that leaving the party with a guy I had met less than fifteen minutes before, who's name I didn't even know, was a bad idea. The other side of me, which let's be real . . . was the side that usually won out. . . was shouting 'go for it, girl!' as my lady bits also started cheering and giving out high fives.

I decided to compromise and listen to both sides. "What is your name?" I asked.

"Finn."

"Ok, Finn, now that I know your name, let's get the fuck out of here. I am way too sober for this late at night."

"I knew I liked you," Finn smiled as he held his hand out to me. "It only seems fair that I know your name now."

"Cassie," I answered.

"You fine riding on a motorcycle, Cassie?"

I raised my eyebrows at him. "Do I look like the kind of girl that is fine riding on a motorcycle?"

"You look like the kind of girl that is going to do whatever the fuck she wants, whenever the fuck she wants, and not really give a shit about what anyone else has to say about it."

I walked over in my bare feet until I was standing just a few inches away from Finn. I could feel his body heat radiating off him. Up close, he was even sexier, with bright blue eyes and a dimple on his left cheek when he smiled. I reached out and ran my finger down his chest. God damn, he was rock solid and tall. I hadn't realized how tall he was from a distance, but standing here in my bare feet I barely came up to his shoulders which put him over six feet.

When my finger reached the top of his jeans, I stopped and looked up at him. "That may just be one of the nicest things anyone has said to me in a long time, Finn." My voice was deep and breathy. Holy shit he was smokin' hot and there was something about him that just seemed to send every part of me screaming into overdrive.

Finn let out a low groan. "Goddamn, Cassie. You are trouble with a capital T aren't you?"

"You probably better capitalize the whole word, Finn because I'm just getting started." I gave Finn a wink as I started to walk through the yard toward the front of the house. I heard him chuckle and start to follow.

Maybe the night wasn't going to be so bad after all.