Page 24 of Fractured Rhythm

Jax:That hurts, Cas. Like a dagger right through the heart. Ooh, that’s a good song title. I’ll let the moody wolf know.

Cassie:So dramatic. What if I had plans?

Jax:Break them. What’s better than hanging out with us? The answer is NOTHING.

Cassie:I’m not sure I want to subject any of my friends to your insanity.

Jax:I feel attacked. Best behavior, remember.

Holly might actually give Jax a run for his money. The idea of witnessing that meeting was enough to overshadow some of my apprehension in spending more time with Bash.

Not a lot. But some. I was setting myself up for heartache, but I couldn’t find it in me to say no. Jax would hound the shit out of me if I tried to get out of it, and I wanted to see him and Tristan. It’d been way too long.

I opened the text chain from Griff and quickly sent my apologies about making plans with old friends for Friday. He responded that we could try to grab dinner sometime next week, and I said I’d get back to him.

My phone chimed again.

Jax:Don’t ignore me, Cassiopeia. We’ll see you at Hideaway at ten on Friday. If you don’t show up, I’ll hunt your ass down.

Cassie:So demanding. Don’t worry, I’ll be there. But you better play nice with anyone I bring.

Jax:Ooh, you bringing a boy toy? Is it that Griff guy? He sounded boring as hell.

Cassie:No, I think that’s over. No spark.

Jax:Good. You deserve a spark. See you on Friday. With friends.

I laughed. Jax didn’t have a subtle bone in his body.

I closed out his message and opened my text chain with Holly.

Cassie:Want to hang out with a bunch of rock stars on Friday?

Holly:What? WHAT?

Cassie:Jax wants to go out Friday night, and he said to bring friends.

Holly:Jax. Ooh, he’s superhot. I can’t promise not to hook up with him.

Cassie:You and the whole freaking world. I take it you don’t have plans?

She sent a string of emojis including a guitar, a woman dancing, and a tongue. I guess that answered that question.

Cassie:You need serious help.

Holly:I can’t wait to hang out with them. And not just because I’m a big fan. Okay, maybe because I’m a big fan.

I’d become friends with Holly about six months before Jamie died. She’d come to the funeral to support me and I vaguely remember introducing her to Jax and Tristan, but that day was still foggy. At least most of it was.

Cassie:Try to keep it together, woman.

Holly:Wait. Will Bash be there, too? Am I still kicking his ass?

Cassie:Umm. Actually, we ran into each other this weekend.

Holly:What? You didn’t tell me that. He’s totally stalking you. You keep “running” into him. Why am I just hearing about this now? You are totally the worst friend ever.

Cassie:Umm. I was busy and I forgot.

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