I paid attention. Acute attention. Cassie sauntered casually across the stage, her guitar strapped across her shoulders. She wore what I’d seen her wearing about a thousand times. Cowboy boots, denim skirt, a white, tight T-shirt. Her hair was down in its usual wavy way. Nothing had changed about her.
And everything had changed.
Chicks would call it charisma. I’d definitely call it sex-appeal. My jaw dropped like a fucking cartoon character. I was falling for my girl all over again.
I listened to the few words she huskily muttered to the crowd, but I didn’t really hear them. It was too much to ask my other senses to start working when my sight was already in overdrive. Just the way she leaned gently over to whisper into the microphone pushed me over the edge. It was something about the angle of her body. From where I stood, I had to look up at her, at the shape of her legs illuminated by the lights from the back of the stage and at the shadows the lights created around the strands of her hair.
When she launched into the song, my hearing switched up several gears. I’d listened to enough of her songs to recognize how she articulated her thoughts, how she rhymed and how she played.
And it didn’t take long to determine this one was about us.
The second time around
It’s the same sweet sound
Just more of you, more of me
To finally be free
I didn’t like it that she was up there with Shawn, but Cassie seemed so happy, so in her element, I pushed that small disappointment aside. After the song ended, I finally made it backstage. It was officially my first time there and I was clearly outside my comfort zone.
There was a squeal. “Josh!”
I spun round and stumbled backward because Cassie had thrown herself on me. Along with her guitar that was now sticking up against my chest. I forgot about it when her mouth landed on mine.
When we broke the kiss, she wriggled away from me, removed her guitar and set it down against the wall. “Did you hear the song? The whole song?” She was out of breath. I’d never seen her on such a high.
“I got here just before you started it. I’m sorry I missed the first act. My flight was delayed and I had to wait ages for a cab, and—”
Cassie’s mouth was back on mine. I wasn’t used to this level of PDA from her. Not that I complained. She looped her arms around my neck. She had to go on tip-toes, so I grabbed her thighs and lifted her up and around my body. People were hurrying along us and I heard a few whistles. The Neanderthal in me banged his chest.
She nudged her face slightly backwards and I swear I saw stars sparkling in her eyes.
“You smell so good,” she whispered in my ear.
“Eau de Plane, I’m afraid.”
“Come on, I thought you’d buy yourself some fancy cologne in Paris.” The stars were still there in her eyes but, for a split second, they didn’t sparkle as brightly.
We’d have to talk about Lenor.
But not now. Later tonight.
“You shouldn’t have spent so much money on a plane ticket.” Her hand was on my chest. “We need to save up for a flight back to Kansas City.”
She had a point. “I got some air miles with this European trip. Senator Estevez decided to take an earlier plane back to D.C, but it was already Friday morning. It was too late to arrange something with Lucas.”
Trisha, Lucas’s case worker, had asked we lodged any requests to see him at least ten days in advance.
“Anyway, I’d have missed the amazing show you just gave out there.” I nodded toward the stage. “Last time I checked, your name wasn’t even on the flyers. And now you’re closing the gig with the main act and getting cozy with the lead singer.”
She giggled. Damn, Cassie didn’t giggle or squeal. She’d done both within the last five minutes. Her gaze shifted to over my shoulder.
“I want you to meet someone.”
“Really? Because what I want to do right now is head straight for your hotel room.”
She gave me a sly smile and dragged me towards a space hidden in a corner behind the stage. A space full of guys lounging around, drinking beers, and a couple of girls who didn’t look to have been invited for their witty conversation.
Shawn was talking to one of those girls and she was hanging on his every word. His gaze shot to Cassie as soon as we turned the corner and my arm shot around her shoulders in a split second.
“Hey, Cass! Have you recovered?”
“That was pretty special.” Her eyes ping-ponged between Shawn and me. “I know you’ve met Josh before but I want to introduce him properly.”
I extended my arm and we shook hands. We didn’t let it linger too long.
“Is that the first time the two of you have performed it?”
“Cassie came to me with the lyrics a couple of weeks ago.” He took a swig of his beer. The girl gave up and moved onto her next target. “Then we collaborated on the melody. The crowd loved it, don’t you think?”
Cassie rolled on her toes. She buzzed with excitement and it finally got to me. I deserved a kick in the ass. She was happy. Whether I had something to do with that happiness or not, it didn’t matter. I was happy for her. With her. The way she then looked up at me all expectantly was my undoing.
“Well done, Cass.” My hand slid along the nape of her neck and I pulled her towards me. I simply kissed her forehead.
“And that’s just the beginning.” Shawn leaned closer to us as if he was about to share a secret. “Hopefully I can use it for my first album. I’d love Cassie to sing it with me but I’m not the one making the decision.” Another swig at his beer. “I’m not yet the master of the universe.”
Cassie’s gaze was glued to me like a kid praised by her teacher at parents night. Lucas’s face flashed through my mind. The first time we played football together, the first time I’d met him back in the Sorensons’ house. He’d been all proud of himself after a good throw and he’d looked just like Cassie now.
“Well done,” I repeated. Words failed me.
My cell vibrated in the back pocket of my jeans. It’d been doing that ever since I’d landed and I knew I couldn’t keep ignoring the new voicemail. I checked the screen but didn’t recognize the cell number. It was a Kansas City number though.
“Sorry, guys. Give me a minute.”
I stepped back and left Cassie chatting with Mr. Rock-God. I felt slightly less edgy about him. Maybe the guy was less of a player than I thought. I brought the phone to my ear and tried to ignore the noise surrounding me. I thought it might be Curtis clocking some extra hours on a Saturday night. But it wasn’t. It was Trisha.
By the time the message finished my stomach weighed a ton and so did my heart. Cassie was still chatting with Shawn. Shawn was staring at me now with a frown. He’d guessed correctly that whatever the call was about, it wasn’t good news.
I walked back over to them. Cassie kept chatting away about how it’d felt on stage minutes before. For once I didn’t listen to what she was saying. Shawn answered her but he wasn’t focused either. He kept throwing sideways glances at me.
I hadn’t let myself digest the pain the news had caused inside me. My brain was playing catch-up and whirled around in search of the best way to express itself.
Finally, silence froze the space between the three of us. Cassie’s gaze zeroed in on me. I hated how my words would kill the light in her eyes.
“What’s up?” she asked in one word.
The words stalled inside my mouth.
“What’s up, Josh?” She didn’t give me the choice.