I walked out of his room.
The girl had finished eating and was waiting.
I had no idea what was happening.
“I’d like to ask you to go home,” I told the girl politely.
“I’m leaving soon, and I don’t like strangers in my apartment.”
“Don’t worry, we’re leaving,” Cas said.
He threw his arm around the girl and walked out the door.
Marco arrived for me and took me to the gym, then sat in a corner.
Over the last few weeks, they’d gotten used to his presence.
I changed and started practicing with Bob.
He had me working on my evasion moves.
“Ginger,” Bob said.
“Is Cas still at his grandma’s?”
“No,” I replied reluctantly.
“He’s back, but he’s not himself anymore.”
“What do you mean?” Bob asked, but then he glanced toward the door.
“Never mind.”
I looked over, too.
Cas was standing there with the girl from this morning.
They flirted for a bit, and then the girl headed out to the street.
Bob and I continued the workout undisturbed.
“Your elbow is wrong,” Cas called out from the edge of the ring.
“Doesn’t matter,” I said.
“It does matter, because you’ll strain it,” he replied.
Bob just smiled.
I glared at him and started to climb out of the ring, but he easily circled around and stood in my way.
“Is that it?” he asked.
“You’re done for the day?”
“Yes,” I replied.
“I don’t know what your problem is, and I don’t care.”
“If you don’t care, you can stay,” he said mockingly.
“If you’re so busy ‘opening up to the world,’ you shouldn’t be running away.”
Without a word, I turned around and nodded to Bob to continue.
Cas stepped up behind me and adjusted my elbow.
“Hold it like this,” he said.
I nodded.
He stayed behind me, holding my arm in place.
I didn’t pull away.
His touch felt good, and my technique improved, though I had no idea what had made him go crazy.
When I finished the workout, I changed and asked Marco to take me home.
Cas was no longer at the gym.
Dominic was already home, looking noticeably cheerful.
Caspian was nowhere to be found.
“I heard the lunch went well,” Dom smiled.
I nodded.
“I haven’t felt this good in a long time,” I admitted.
“And at the new hospital next week, they’re re-evaluating my brother’s head injury.
He’s being transferred tomorrow.
Thank you, Dom,” I smiled.
“You’re very welcome,” he said.
“Do you know anything about this?” He pulled out a note and handed it to me.
“I moved out.
—Cas.” I read it aloud.
“I know nothing about this,” I said honestly.
“I’ll ask him tomorrow, but at least this way Benjamin can stay over whenever he wants.
Our rooms aren’t adjacent, so it won’t be an issue.” I smiled.
“You don’t look okay,” Dominic said, looking at me closely.
“I don’t know what happened with Cas,” I admitted.
“Ever since he got back, he’s been acting weird, and now he just moves out like this.
Did he take everything?”
“I peeked into his room,” Dom said.
“It’s back to the way Anna left it.”
“I thought he at least considered me a friend,” I said softly.
Dom patted my hand.
“Maybe something happened to him while he was away,” he said.
I just nodded.