Page 15 of Fractured Rhythm

She waved her hand. “He’s always here. There’ll be plenty of time to hook up another night. This is why I’m the best. I give up orgasms for you. And that tongue.” She trailed off with a dirty wink.

I laughed.

“See. And I make you laugh. That’s the most important part,” she said as she guided me out of the bar.

“Don’t even think of looking over your shoulder.”

I huffed. “I wasn’t going to.”

“Sure you weren’t. Now, what do you want on your pizza? And if you say all the veggies, I’ll leave you to your own devices. Zucchini has no business on a pizza. Also, we’re going to your place. You have a better TV.”

I shook my head at my crazy friend and let her lead me down the street to my apartment.

Within fifteen minutes, we were in our pj’s and the pizza had been ordered, without zucchini.

Holly grabbed two glasses and a bottle of wine and headed for my living room. We plopped down on the oversized couch, and I grabbed one of the throw pillows, clutching it to my chest.

“So, talk to me about him.”

“First loves are the worst. We grew up together, dated at the end of high school. We were our first everythings. And then it ended.”

“And you haven’t seen him in years?”

“Nope. Not since Jamie’s funeral,” I said, taking a gulp of wine. I did not want to talk about Bash with anyone, but he’d caused me to rush out of the bar twice now, once with Holly in tow, so I owed her a real explanation.

“I’m sorry, Cassie. So, they knew each other? This guy and your brother.”

“Umm. They were best friends.”

“Oh, wow. That must’ve gone over well, you dating your brother’s best friend.”

“We never told anyone. It was easier that way. Jamie would’ve killed Bash.”

Holly’s eyes widened, and I knew she’d made the connection. I’d never let his name slip until this moment.

“Bash. Wait. Hold up. Like Sebastian Clark? Guitarist and cofounder of Steelwolf? That Bash?”

“Uh. Yeah,” I said before knocking back the rest of my glass of wine.

“Seriously? We’ve been friends for how long and this is the first I’m hearing that your ex—the ex—is Sebastian freaking Clark? And first everythings? Wow. I’m honestly impressed. And really hurt, Cas.”

“I’m sorry. I probably should’ve told you ages ago, but it just hurt so much. I don’t like to talk about it. No one knew we were dating, and we were so young. It started when I was sixteen and he was eighteen. We made it just over two years. We’d known each other for over a decade before anything started up, and it ended right before I left for college. The band was getting noticed; they were doing small tours at that point. The guys were all slipping into that band life of groupies, parties, and drugs. He cheated on me, and that was it.”

“Fucking rock stars,” Holly growled.

“Yep. Now you understand my aversion.”

“I totally get it. I can’t believe he cheated on you. I can’t like him anymore. Want me to go back to the bar and punch him?”

Her expression was completely serious, and I laughed, shaking my head.

“No. We’re getting pizza, and I’m already in my pj’s. I don’t want to have to put my bra back on if I have to bail you out of jail,” I quipped.

“There she is,” Holly said, nudging her shoulder into mine. “But seriously, I’m so sorry, Cas. You deserve much better than him. I promise I won’t push you anymore.”

“Thanks. I’m sorry I ruined our girls’ night. We were having fun, and I freaked.”

“Screw that. It was totally justified. Stretchy pj’s and carbs are much better than tight going-out clothes.”

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