Page 32 of Fractured Rhythm

Chapter 8

Jamie:Buy a kick-ass dress and be my Grammy date.

Cassie:I just saw that. So damn proud of you and the guys.

Jamie:So you’ll come?

Cassie:I’m not sure I can get away from school, but I’ll try.

Jamie:You better. Miss you, Cas.

Cassie:Miss you, too.

CASSIE

The breath leftmy body when he pulled me in close, and I sank into him. I’d snuck glances at him all night, but until a few minutes ago, he’d stayed in his spot on the couch a few tables down from us, nursing a continuous stream of whiskey and glowering. I couldn’t think of a better explanation for his expression, and I couldn’t figure out what took him so long to join us.

Yes, I’d spent the better part of the night ignoring him, but I didn’t know what to say or how to act around him. I certainly didn’t plan on dancing with him.

We were trying to work on this friend thing, and I knew I wasn’t doing my part. I wasn’t sure if we could be friends. No matter how much history we had, how could I forgive the man I’d loved more than anything for cheating on me and walking away?

But I needed to be able to act normal around him if I was going to spend more time with the guys. Yet I couldn’t figure out why he was back now and so determined to be in my life again.

“I’ve missed this. You,” he muttered into my hair as he tightened his arms around me.

“You keep saying that, but I’m not the one who walked away after Jamie. No. You wrecked us well before that.” I couldn’t stop myself, and he stiffened against me.

“It was too hard, Cas,” he whispered, and I pulled out of his arms and looked up at him.

The music pulsed around us and we still swayed, but we no longer touched, a direct contrast to the heart-thumping bass.

“Of course, it was hard. Everything about us at that point was, Bash. But after he died, I needed you. I needed my friend.” I paused and took in a sharp breath. “What are we even doing? Can we be friends after everything that has happened?”

“Yes. That’s why I wanted to talk to you. There are so many things I should’ve said. I never should’ve walked away from you all those years ago.”

I didn’t want to talk, not in the middle of the dance floor, not ever. He’d destroyed my heart, and I was still trying to put the pieces back together. But we would keep circling back if we didn’t lay everything out and move on. And that’s what I wanted, to move on, with or without Bash in my life.

“You cheated on me, Bash. If you hadn’t walked away after I confronted you, I’d planned to do the same. How could I trust you after that? You destroyed what we had by hooking up with some random groupie.” The words were low and harsh, and I wanted to walk out of the club and never look back, but he’d started it tonight, and I was going to fucking end it.

“I never kissed anyone else when we were together,” he said.

I almost stumbled, but he anchored his hands at my hips, the heat searing me almost as much as his declaration had.

“What?” I asked. I must have heard wrong. He’d all but admitted to kissing some groupie right before he’d broken up with me.

“I never cheated on you. Fuck, Cas. You were everything to me,” he said, his voice clear over the music as he leaned close to my ear.

“Are you fucking kidding me right now? Explain yourself,” I said, my voice raised.

“What’s going on over here? What did you do, Bash?” Jax asked, cutting in.

“Do I get to punch him yet?” Holly asked, and my laughter was strained.

“No, Bash and I just need to have a little conversation. Carry on with your flirting,” I all but growled at both of them before I tugged Bash off the dance floor and walked up the VIP stairs.

“Cassie,” Bash started as he walked behind me.

“No. I think I need to be sitting for this,” I said, walking toward a low table in the corner of the section. It was pretty empty up here now, which was perfect, in case I need to kill him. Fewer witnesses.

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