The Sweetest Rose-LokixOC

Chapter 60

Cassandra took the elevator to the floor below the penthouse, the cool air nipping at the bare skin exposed by her bikini. She wheeled into pool area and over to the jacuzzi. She needed to soak at think.

Loki trailed after her and lifted her into the bubbling water. "Do you need anything else?"

The water-proof spell kept her cast dry as she sank into the water up to her shoulders and leaned into the jets. Closing her eyes, she groaned as the jet hit the knotted muscles in her shoulders and back. "No. I'll be alright."

"Call me when you're ready." Loki's smile looked soft as he exited the pool area leaving her to her thoughts.

Tony had kept his promise to leave her be. After nearly a month, she was no closer to deciding how to respond to his revelation. However, she could not leave things in limbo forever. She had to decide soon.

Once she had time to cool down and realize Tony was as much at a loss how to proceed as she was, Cassandra chose to avoid him. Anger and hurt still swirled within her. She did not think he lied when he said he never knew about her existence.

Which meant her birth mother had arbitrarily decided to throw Cassandra way into a dumpster on her own. Tony played no part in that. Yet, she couldn't free him from blame entirely. He used to live a reckless carefree life with no thought of the consequences of his actions.

Now, the past was coming to bite him in the ass in the form of a pissed off adult daughter who also happened to be a wizard who was dating an alien who once tried to murder him.

Complicated didn't begin to describe their relationship.

Cassandra tilted her head back and gazed up at the ceiling. The cast was coming off tomorrow. Physical therapy had kept her muscles limber. She could now hobble around on crutches and barely used the wheelchair except for when she came down here to relax in the jacuzzi.

Once the cast was off, she'd still have to take it easy and use a cane until the physical therapist decided otherwise.

Raising her arm, Cassandra watched the water stream off her skin in a soft cascade. Alright. Enough waffling.

What she needed was some sage advice.

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The next morning, Cassandra limped through the gates of the Laurels Assisted Living Community, leaning heavily on her cane. Loki hovered by her side, prepared to catch her the instant she lost her balance.

Warm air suffused her cold cheeks and melted the snowflakes speckled in her hair. A light January snow fell outside, the sun a distant misty orb in the pale gray sky. Cassandra scuffed her boots on the welcome mat to avoid tracking snow inside.

Happy to be walking around freely, for once Cassandra didn't care about the cold. The folds of her scarf spilled out of the collar of her coat as she stabbed her cane determinedly in the direction of the lobby.

The place was bright, airy, and welcoming.

Potted plants and overstuffed furniture in the lobby created a pleasant hotel-like atmosphere. A great improvement over her mom's last home. Her shoulders relaxed a smidgen when she saw a group of laughing elderly people playing cards with a cluster of beer bottles on the table next to a pizza box.

They looked like they were having fun.

Cassandra felt a wave of gratitude for Tony's generosity. He didn't owe her anything. Not really.

Maybe he did care about her a little.

A smiling receptionist greeted Cassandra and Loki warmly. "Welcome to Laurels Assisted Living Community. My name is Terry. Are you here as a visitor?"