KazAlkemi

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery grinned and picked up two of the heavier axes. He turned around to find his mark. Avery rotated the axes in his hands effortlessly. He took a deep breath in, flipped both axes in the air before grabbing the handles and flung them at the wooden board. They landed evenly on either side of the bullseye, but that was fine because Avery wasn’t aiming for the bullseye. He simply wanted to frame it. The impressive part was that the axes were in line with each other.

Avery turned around and picked up a third axe. He winked at Kimiko before throwing the third and it hit the bullseye, right in between the two axes already in the target.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Of course Cassi’s face pinks when Jane started to laugh. Nic doesn’t tease Cassi, thankfully. He usually leaves that for when they are in private, instead, he explains more about why he’s going to Montana.

”Oh,” Cassi said, nodding over and over again. That made more sense. But how long was it, and what about her cats, or her plants? What about her shop and Nic’s plants? What if she was in the middle of a case? Cassi had never really, ‘gone away’ or had a vacation.

In the past, when she wanted to go somewhere new, she packed everything up and moved on. She had never just ‘gone away’ for the weekend. She supposed she could ask Kimiko to stay at her place if the girl was still around at that time. Maybe one of Caden’s employees would enjoy the change of scenery?

Her and Caden were still barely talking. They’d had a few conversations but brief and always in the presence of others. Cassiopeia still hadn’t moved past his involvement with Nero, and with the two of them going to New York for the weekend, it was almost like the last nail in the coffin for Cassiopeia. Caden was very obviously in love with Nero despite their past, and although it was admirable, Cassi struggled with the idea severely.

Stuck in a spiral of thoughts and anxiety, Cassi hadn’t realized she still hadn’t answered Nic or that she was staring at the floor, still nodding her head, and fiddling with her hair.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden smiled on their lips, kissing Nero back softly. ”Good, because I am excited to spoil you, and to show you off,” Caden said. He ran both his hands further up Nero’s legs, pushing their short dress up now.

Caden’s lips fell back onto Nero’s, and he kissed them more deeply.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery wanted to take Kimiko’s hands to stop her from fidgeting, but she runs off quickly, leaving Avery alone to smile at himself. He turned around, watching her retrieve her axe.

He didn’t mind hearing that Kimiko hadn’t been on many dates. It made sense to him, and it didn’t even bother him if she didn’t date but participated in the other aspects of a relationship. It was a hard world to go through it without anyone. Sometimes energy needed to be released to feel normal again.

”Would you mind terribly if I showed off a little?” Avery asked her.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia was setting the last box she had on the counter when Nic asked her to go to Montana. The box dropped on the counter, and she stared across the room at Nic in alarm.

”What? Why?” She looked from Jane to Kat, and then Ren, looking for help.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden ran his hands down Nero’s side until he feels the skin of their thighs under his hands. He squeezes their legs just as they bite his bottom lip and giggle. Caden chuckles and nips Nero back.

”You are a giggly little thing today, aren’t you? Does that mean you’re excited for our adventure?” Caden asked while running one of his hands up Nero’s leg.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery sat his axe down and leaned against the wooden ledge, shrugging. ”My talents lie in other areas,” Avery said, smirking sideways at Kimiko. She makes another easy bullseye and Avery turns to face Kimiko better.

”Anything really. For example, what kind of dates have you been on if not a first date?” Avery asked.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Shortly after Ren gets to the right floor, Kat and Cassi do as well. They had a rather similar conversation that Nic and Jane were having, except Cassi’s was more forward in wanting Nic to have sex with her. Anywhere at this point. Of course, she said that, but she wanted something special with Nic as well. The slow burn was great but if the moment in the back of the moving van was any indication, she was loosing her resolve on holding back.

Cassiopeia wheeled the trolley over and started unloading boxes that said kitchen onto the counters with Kat’s help.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden’s eyes flashed when Nero bit down on his thumb. He smirked and stepped closer to Nero. ”Then by all means. Bite me as many times as you want,” he said before he snaked his arm around Nero’s waist and hauled them back into the bedroom.

He laid Nero down on the bed and kissed their jaw, distracting Nero from his thumb enough to pull it back and capture their lips with his.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”At the very least,” Avery said and picked up his axe. He flipped it over in his hand and tossed it with both hands. It landed just shy of the bullseye, but Avery doesn’t mind. ”So, should we have typical first date conversations?” Avery asked, going to get his axe out of the wood.

He pulled down and lifted up on the axe to get it to easily release his hold. In the back of his mind, something told him to throw his last axe of the night as hard as he could and then watch the trainer struggle to get it back out.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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With Nic gone, Cassi can breathe a little easier. She turns around and gets out of the van to see Kat standing there smirking. Jason and Todd get into the back of the van and haul the other heavier pieces out before heading back in.

“So,” she said, giving me a knowing look.

Cassi blushes and grabs the trolley. ”The shorts worked,” she said shyly.

Kat laughed and grabbed a box to carry. “You thought they wouldn’t?”

”No… I just didn’t think they would work that well. I wore them for you and Jane to enjoy as well,” Cassi reminded Kat and gently elbowed Kat’s side.

“It’s been enjoyment for all,” Kat assured her.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden grinned, chuckling softly, and looked around the small bathroom. ”Yes. There aren’t many places to hide in an airplane,” he informed them.

His eyes fell back on Nero, becoming distracted by the way Nero was biting their thumb. Caden lifted his hand to rest on Nero’s and gently pulled their thumb away. He held their wrist, and examined their thumb. ”I thought you preferred when I bit you,” Caden said, and looked at Nero with a raised eyebrow.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery pulled his attention from the idiot instructor when Kimiko takes an axe to go line up. She makes the bullseye easily, and Avery smirked at her response. He took the remaining axes from the instructor and set them out on the wooden ledge.

”Beginner’s luck for sure,” Avery agrees, and waits for Kimiko to retrieve their axe.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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The press of Nic’s hand on Cassiopeia’s hip burned in the best way. The heat worked it’s way lower as she fell more deeply into the kiss, and her hold in Nic’s hair tightened until he pulled away. Her arms dropped right away, but her eyes remained drawn in by Nic’s.

His thumb on her lip had her seconds away from biting it or pulling him back, but Nic had the good sense to grab the discarded box and walk away. Cassiopeia turned away and busied herself with pulling boxes forward to regain control of her faculties.

Okay, maybe she couldn’t handle the teasing. Her stomach still rolled, and she had to actively breath in and out evenly to get the clenching of her body to ease off.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden watched Kimiko dart into the bathroom, and stopped himself from running across the room to grab them and throw them back onto the bed. He took a deep breath in before staring up at the ceiling, and shook his head. A smile forms on his face, and Caden walks calmly over to the bathroom door.

”Mhmm, the bathroom, is nice.” Caden’s frame took up the doorway, and he just stood there and watched Nero.

The bathroom had a little shower, only big enough for one, a sink and a toilet. It was rather nice for an air bus.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery grinned at Kimiko and squeezed her hand. ”Because your trainer wants you to be able to do more than just throw an axe,” Avery said, nudging Kimiko with his elbow.

The instructor for the axe throwing appraised Kimiko, and Avery nearly punched the guy. Avery’s fingers twitched at his side, playing a melody in his head to keep himself distracted while he told the instructor just to teach them both and not worry about what Kimiko might or might not be able to do. Avery understood the person was just doing their job, but it didn’t make Avery any less territorial.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia’s stomach fluttered when she watched Nic throw a look in the direction of the apartment before he easily hopped into the van. Her eyes tracked him while her blood pounded in her ears, and goosebumps formed on her skin.

She had backed herself up until she touched the side of the van. Her box was soon gone and Nic’s lips were on hers. Cassi didn’t hesitate to wrap a hand around the back of his neck and the other slipped into his hair, feeling the impossible softness of his pitch black hair.

They hadn’t been intimate like this for several days, and even though Cassi knew this was a tease that would leave her craving more, she happily fell into it.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Not nearly as good as that dress or my jacket looks on you,” Caden said. He doesn’t miss how they layer themselves or seem to inch away from him. It’s all part of a game that Caden has come to enjoy playing.

His eyes drift down to Nero’s legs, mesmerized by the look of them as Nero lays there and watches him. Caden’s eyes drift slowly back up Nero’s body until his eyes lock with theirs. ”Do you still want me to read to you?”

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery smiled at Kimiko when he looked at him. ”They are, but they teach you how to throw them properly here. I don’t think the weight should be a problem for you. You were already strong,” Avery said honestly.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Ah, maybe for tomorrow? I think I can manage for the rest of today,” Cassiopeia said. The moving day was nearly over anyways.

Cassi handed Nic a box before she went to grab another. Her face flamed from Nic’s comment but it didn’t stop her from squatting with her back to him and picked up a box more slowly than usual.

”Like that?” she asked, standing back up and turned to look at Nic with a sly smile.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden watched Nero jump onto the bed with mild amusement. He tipped back his glass and finished the rest of the champagne. He set the empty glass down on a table before closing the bedroom door and smiled at Nero crookedly.

”Lots of things, but if I tell you, it’ll give it away,” Caden announced. He stripped off his jacket and tossed it onto the bed. He was actually wearing a black t-shirt under the black suit jacket just to prove Nero wrong. He did own t-shirts.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery stopped to watch a couple of people throw axes and hit the wooden bullseye at the end of the lane. He grinned at Kimiko’s joy. ”Do you want to give it a go?”

When Avery had been looking at places to take Kimiko, the axe throwing had been a big selling factor for him.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia’s body tenses when Nic turns her face to look back at him. Her stomach plummeted, and she relaxed when he kissed her. It’s over far too soon, but Cassi is left feeling the lingering effects of the kiss. She fights off a giggle from his attentiveness. When he hooks her hair back behind her ear, she sighs.

Cassiopeia lets Nic pull her along while she talks. ”My hair has been finding ways out of the bun all day,” she informs Nic. They reach the van, and Cassi starts off-loading more boxes so they can get to the couch and little side tables.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden sipped his champagne and ducked his head to walk into the bedroom. ”Our secret door bookcase will be much better,” Caden assured.

Caden had hoped work would start and be completed this weekend but they were finishing a job, and Caden would have to wait until the following week. The work this contractor did was superior, making the wait easier to bear.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery looked down when Kimiko reclaimed his hand, and his pounding heart settled, turning into a flutter instead. ”We can look around,” Avery assured her. First, they needed passes for the games.

Avery walked over to the front desk and bought him and Kimiko wristbands that had these little pieces you could scan at the games to play. He handed Kimiko hers and slipped it over his wrist. It was a little snug on Avery, but not uncomfortably so.

”Let's go this way,” Avery suggested and reclaimed Kimiko's hand. He pulled her to the side with the little bowling alley and axe throwing.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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”Jane called you a celebrity with how everyone just stops to greet you in the hallways,” Cassi said with a grin.

Cassiopeia kept her arms at her sides, with one hand on the trolley while she looked up at Nic. She was even shorter than her usual 5’6” because she was leaning back, and Nic seemed taller as he leaned next and towered over her. She had the sudden urge to run her hand through his mess of hair.

It was chaotic and wind swept, despite the helmet he always wore. And Cassi could picture Nic running his hand through it a hundred times a day while at work. The elevator doors opened and Cassi looked away.

”Nope! Being a perfect girlfriend is a full time job,” she informed Nic. The words girlfriend and boyfriend still sounded so unique and foreign to Cassi's ears. She just liked the way the words sounded when Nic spoke them, because she knew he was talking about them.

Chicago After Hours -- Paused (indefinitely)

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Caden

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Location: Travelling – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Caden briefly turned the airplane mode off on Nero’s phone so he could pull up photos of a Boeing 737, one of the larger planes more common in America. There would be lots of them at the airport once they landed. Caden turned airplane mode back on but Nero would still be able to look at the pictures.

Nero’s exclamation pulled Caden’s attention, and he laughed, handing Nero back their phone. ”Yes, a secret bookcase leading to the bedroom,” Caden said, and opened the door the rest of the way for Nero to see.

The bedroom contained same colour scheme as the rest of the plane. There was a king sized bed, and a private bathroom in addition to the other one near the cockpit of the plane.

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Avery Zain

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Location: Emporium Arcade and Bar – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Avery held Kimiko’s leathers in a bundle, watching her while she stammered. He smiled gently, finding her bashful attitude to be quite endearing. He added her leathers to the bag before zipping it up, and pocked the keys to the bike.

”Well, I’ll make sure to be more fair in the future, and won’t kiss you until you decide to kiss me,” Avery countered. He hated the idea, but he didn’t want to push Kimiko faster than what she wanted.

Avery led Kimiko into the arcade, unable to take her hand with his being full. After they walked in, Avery was able to hand off the helmets and his bag to coat check. Once he had the ticket, he looked at Kimiko.

”Do you want to have something to eat or drink first? Or do you want to take a walk around the building to see what they have?” Avery already knew since had been before, but it was Kimiko’s first time.

There were a bunch of old arcade games, pinball, shooting games, racing games, silly games to win prizes, and a lot more. There were also pool, a bowling alley with a handful of lanes, and a place for axe throwing on top of the bar that had a bunch of seating for dinning.

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Cassiopeia Claire Alistair

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Location: Nic’s New Apartment – Chicago, IL
Skills:
Fit

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Cassiopeia unloaded the trolly, and made her way back to the elevator with Nic. ”He’s good. I keep telling him once you and your dad are settled he can come spend a couple of nights with you. He seemed thrilled by the idea, but well, you can’t really tell. But I do know he misses you,” Cassi said as they stepped back into the elevator.

She leaned against the back of the elevator and smiled up at Nic. ”How was work today?”

One of Cassi’s highlights of her day now was getting to talk to Nic about how work had been. The conversation happened mainly over the phone, or while Cassi had been helping Nic pack.