"Because you're supposed to be smiling, not worrying. Now, c'mon, it's your birthday." She leaned forward. "I made you a cake."
"Really?" Cassie made thebestcakes. She sold them, too, at her little cookie shop. Ifthiscake tasted anything like the last few I'd sampled, I'd be in serious danger of eating the whole thing.
She grabbed my wrist. "Now c'mon." She gave me a tug, only to pause in mid-motion. She was staring at something near the back of the bar.
I followed her gaze and spotted Joel, talking with one of the bouncers – a big, blond guy in a black T-shirt emblazoned with the bar's logo.
Cassie dropped my wrist. "Oh, crap."
"What?" I asked.
She frowned. "I sure hope Derek doesn't show."
"Why not?"
She pointed toward Joel. "You see that guy?"
Hoping for the best, I said, "The blond?"
She shook her head. "Not the bouncer. Theotherguy. Youdosee him, right?"
Oh yeah. I saw him.
Even if I didn't know him, he'd be a hard person to miss. He looked lean and muscular, with a killer body and a perfect face. I glanced around. The way it looked, Cassie and I weren't the only girls staring.
But unlike Cassie, I wasn't surprised to see him. With me running so terribly late, he'd insisted on dropping me off at the front entrance and parking the car on his own. The offer had been so sweet, I couldn't refuse, especially with everyone waiting.
Reluctantly, I said, "Yeah. What about him?"
Cassie lowered her voice. "He's the guy who beat up Derek."
Chapter 17
In my mind, the background noise faded to nothing. My gaze darted from Cassie to Joel and back again. "What?"
"Yeah," she said. "And youknowI saw the whole thing."
I shook my head. "No. Ididn'tknow. How come you never told me?"
"I did. Last week. Remember?"
"Sorry, but you didn't. Trust me. That'snotsomething I'd forget."
"Oh come on," she said. "You'vegotto remember. It was that thing at the beach."
I still wasn't following. "So that's where they fought?"
"Right," she said. "But Itoldyou about it at the cookie shop."
I searched my memories, and finally recalled which conversation she must be talking about. We'd been boxing up cookies when she'd mentioned something about Derek starting a fight with someone, and being totally outmatched.
But for some reason, I'd just assumed it was a verbal fight, not a physical one.
Even now, it made no sense. I saw Derek all the time. If he'd been assaulted, I surely would've noticed. And yet, itwouldexplain Derek's hostility toward Joel earlier.
In front of me, Cassie brightened. "See? Youdoremember."
"Yeah. But you never mentioned it was a fight-fight."
