i appreciated her kindness and concern , but right now my head was spinning and i needed rest before i could make my next move , whatever that move turned out to be . to hide her embarrassment , cassie tore the cellophane off her cookies and gobbled them both down . james sits across from me wearing a dark green t-shirt and a smirk . well , she had good reason to be . i put my hand up in a gesture for him to relax . soon , but never soon enough , he sprung free , hard and ready . 