Page 6 of Hooking
Cheated on.
I try to get my breathing under control as I pull her into a hug. “I’m so sorry, Cass.”
She releases a strangled sob into my chest as she lets the tears fall. Mumbling how she was so stupid for letting him back into her life. Everything in me wants to make her pain go away. But for now, I keep a tight hold on her and gesture to the bartender to get us another round.
By her fourth tequila slammer, I can tell she’s getting a little buzzed. I knew I was before she walked through the bar door. “So why did you fly all the way to Arizona if you had no plans to attend my wedding?” she says, slurring slightly.
“Figured you might need a friend here for moral support,” I say, sipping my Jack and Coke. “But once I got here, I knew I couldn’t watch you marry that asshat.” Not knowing I ruined every chance I had with her.
“Thank you.” She smiles just as the bar door opens.
“Oh, thank God. There you are.” Hayley says walking toward the bar. “A little text would have been helpful that she was with you, dick wad,” she says, smacking me on the back of the head.
Hayley pulls Cassidy into a hug. “Your parents told us to come find you and keep you company.”
“Are they pissed?”
She releases her hold on Cassidy and relaxes her shoulders. “Not at you. They were giving Vince and his parents a piece of their mind just before we left.”
“Yeah, I got in a good swing on the groom before we came to find you,” Brooks says from beside me. Remind me to thank him for that one later.
The bar grows silent, and I can’t resist the urge to lighten the mood. Tapping the bar twice, I signal for the bartender to get us a round and then angle my body toward Cassidy’s.
“Well, since we’re all here… why don’t we have a celebration of our own?” The bartender places the drinks in front of each of us, and I raise mine to toast. “To Cassidy. For realizing her future husband was a prick and deciding to leave his ass.”
We all clink our glasses together before shooting the cool liquid down. Music fills the once-quiet bar, and I watch as Hayley and Cassidy take to the dance floor. For someone whose had their heartbroken, she seems… almost relieved.
She moves her hips along to the beat of the music. Her glass is raised in the air as she belts out the lyrics to If It Makes You Happy. She’s mesmerizing. It’s one of the reasons I liked her in the first place. She could be having the shittiest day, but she still will make the best out of it.
“You missed a great show at the wedding,” Brooks says from my side as he watches Hayley dance. “So…You gonna make your move and tell her?”
I look at him, my lips thinning. I know what he’s getting at, but why would he ever think now is the right time to confess how I’ve felt about her. “You really think now’s the appropriate time. I’m not what she wants or needs, Brooks.” I’m no better than Burch.
It’s what I want to say to him, but I don’t. I keep it to myself. Not even Brooks knows why I refuse to give it a shot with Cassidy. I’ve told him once before how we’re the same when he was having issues with Hayley, but I never divulged in what happened.
It’s depressing and explains a lot about my life today.
“Just saying. People can change and just because Burch didn’t, doesn’t mean you can’t. Look at me,” he says, gesturing to the stupid smirk glued to his face constantly. “I’m not the player I used to be. Hell, I’m a lovesick puppy.”
“Not how I’d describe you.”
“Whatever. The point is you should tell her. Give yourself the benefit of the doubt,” he says, gesturing to the girls walking back toward us.
“Another shot please,” Hayley says, dancing between Brooks’ legs. “Oh… I love this song,” she says, before quickly tossing back a shot and pulling Brooks to the dance floor with her.
I look at Cassidy as she leans against the bar next to me, watching as Brooks and Hayley sway to some Chris Stapleton song. Gone are the waves that cascaded down her back; she opted to tie them into a loose bun on top of her head. She looks absolutely gorgeous right now, and she doesn’t even know it.
“Would you like to dance?” I say, reaching my hand out for her to take.
She looks as if she wants to hesitate for a moment but ultimately folds. Placing her hand in mine, we walk toward Hayley and Brooks and sway to the music as well. Her head presses against my chest as we move in sync to the smooth lyrics.
Smooth like Tennessee whiskey, sweet like strawberry wine.
That’s exactly how I would describe Cassidy when she’s tucked into my side. Bold. Full-bodied. Smooth as soon as the first sip hits my lips. The flavors of vanilla, honey, and spice exploding across your taste buds before it burns the back of my throat, sending a warmth throughout my body. Yet, she’s delicate. Subtle but lively and elegant.
“So, what are you going to do now that you’re not marrying that asshole?”
She lets out a loud sigh as she contemplates the million thoughts going on inside her brain. “I don’t know. I guess beg for my job back from Mr. Richards. I gave up my entire life in Seattle for Vince…” Her voice drifts off as if she’s about to break down, and it kills me to see her this way.
