Page 29 of Fractured Rhythm

“I know. And I really can’t wait to hear your new music. It’ll just be a little weird.”

“What’s going on over here? You okay, Cas?” Bash asked, his voice cutting through my sadness. I’d tried not to look for him. I didn’t want to see some girl on his lap. And I didn’t trust myself not to end up being the girl on his lap.

“Yeah. I’m good. Just talking about the new music. I’m sure it’ll be great,” I said, finally meeting his gaze. Even in the dim light of the club, his eyes pierced me. “Hi.”

“Hi, Cassie,” he said, stopping in front of me, with question in his eyes.

I itched to hug him like I had with Jax and Tristan, but he wasn’t just like them. There was too strong of a history, and I couldn’t reach for him, so I took a step back.

“It’s good to see you, Bash. It’s been a while.”

I wasn’t sure what he’d told the guys about running into me. Hell, he’d probably said nothing, so I played along.

“Yeah. It has. You look great. Glad you could come out tonight.”

His fingers grazed mine, and I swear I stopped breathing. It was becoming an unwelcome habit around him.

“Come on, Cassiopeia. Dance with your big brother, Jackie,” Jax said, cutting through the thick tension. He took my hand and tugged me down the stairs into the swirling bodies on the dance floor before I knew what was happening.

“What was that for?” I asked as he spun and shook his ass before pulling me close.

“You looked like you needed a rescue.”

“From Bash?” I couldn’t stop myself from asking.

“You guys never fooled me. I don’t know what happened to end it. Bash never said anything, but I knew you guys were hooking up.”

I gasped. “Oh my god, did my brother know?”

“I have no idea,” Jax said. “But whatever the fucker did—Bash, not your brother—I hope you gave him hell.”

But I hadn’t. I’d been crushed by his betrayal, and then he’d ended it. I pushed the pain aside and let Jax drag me under his spell. I was going to enjoy my night out, dammit. And not think about piercing eyes and broken promises.

BASH

I couldn’t takemy eyes off her all night. I’d walked to the railing more than once and watched her dance with Holly or Jax or Tristan. I wanted to be down there, but she’d barely spoken more than a few sentences to me all night. I thought we were going to try the friend thing, but she was avoiding me, and it was pissing me off.

Now she was up here, sandwiched between Jax and Tristan.

Cassie laughed at something Jax said. The man was waving his hands around, typical for a Jax story, and I could only imagine what he was saying to her. Her laugh was different with him, more boisterous than the soft and sparing chuckles she’d given me when we’d been at the café. I wanted that huge laugh again, the one that would brighten any crap mood I was in. I missed that so fucking much.

I knocked back the rest of my whiskey, and the waitress dropped off a new glass before the empty one hit the table. I nodded my thanks and took a sip from the fresh drink. They had excellent liquor at Hideaway, and I was on my third glass. I glanced up and met Tristan’s eyes. He raised a brow at me, and I set my glass down, like I was guilty or something.

While Cassie had barely looked in my direction, both Jax and Tristan had glanced at me a few times. I heard the silent what the fuck, dude coming from both of them, and I hated that it had come to this. I hated that seven years ago, I would’ve been in the middle of that group and Cassie would’ve been completely at ease with me.

I didn’t want to ruin her night by making her uncomfortable, but I should’ve pressed her at the café. Hell, I should’ve told her the truth. There were so many things I should’ve done, but I hadn’t, and that was on me. And now, here she was, looking amazing in a dress that was way too short for my good intentions.

I scoffed. I’d never had good intentions when it came to Cassie, except once, and that had destroyed everything. So, instead, I sprawled out on a couch at one end of the room, staring at her, sending daggers Jax’s way every time he teased her, instead of growing a set and talking to her.

I was so damned pleased that she’d only brought Holly. Damn Jax for hinting that she was seeing someone. Not that I didn’t want Cassie to be happy with someone. Not that she didn’t deserve that. But I would be lying to myself if the thought of her with another guy didn’t fuck me up a little—okay, a lot. I’d loved that girl since we were kids, and I’d never stopped, no matter what she thought. Sure, I hadn’t been an angel since we’d broken up, but that’d been seven years ago and I wasn’t a damn saint. Besides, I thought I was doing the right thing by letting her go.

I didn’t expect it to hurt this much. Then and now. After we’d broken up, Cassie and I rarely saw each other, and I thought I was okay with that. But seeing her here, with our friends, and with me on the outside, stung. I was tired of fighting it, tired of being on the outside looking in.

Cassie and I were going to have a long overdue conversation, I just had to figure out what exactly to say. I knocked back the rest of my whiskey and stood up, heading toward the group.

“Look who finally decided to join us,” Jax said, shooting me a grin before I lightly thwapped him in the back of the head and sat down across from Cassie.

“Responding to an email from Josh,” I lied, as a way of an explanation for keeping to myself.

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