I could tell Grant’s question had caught Jace’s attention because he sat up straighter now, eyeing him. A few seconds later, a shoe hit mine under the table. I widened my eyes at Jace. He smiled sweetly at me, just like I had earlier in the night.
I was tempted to kick him somewhere other than his leg. Somewhere that would have him rolling on the floor. But the angel on my shoulder reminded me tonight was about Colt and Ellie, not Jace and me. Making a scene would be rude, and I’d look like a bad friend. But the devil on my other shoulder whisperedan eye for an eye.
My heart for his balls.
I was leaning more toward the devil as the seconds ticked by. Frustrated that I’d probably take the high road, I excused myself from the table, needing a minute away from Jace and his stupidly hot cowboy face.
I headed toward the back of the venue, remembering there was a small area off the main ballroom with large floor-to-ceiling windows where I could get some fresh air. I really wanted a cigarette and I wasn’t even a smoker.
Rounding the corner, I found the small private area easily and plopped down on the bench. I sat and drew in a deep breath. It was the first moment all night that I didn’t feel like I’d been holding in the anticipation of what was to come.
Leaning back against the wall, I noticed how heavy my arms and legs were starting to feel. I closed my eyes, but the world felt like it was spinning faster than normal, so I sat up straight, hoping it would stop.
My phone buzzed in my hand.
Mom.
A call from her this late at night was almost never good. I glanced at the clock on the wall—nine thirty.
“Hello?” I answered hesitantly.
“Cassie? I need your help. I was getting a ride from a guy from work, but he got mad and kicked me out halfway to my house. Can you give me a ride back to my place? I really don’t want to walk that far in the cold,” she pleaded.
This was code, meaning they were probably arguing over drugs when he kicked her out of the car. At this point in my life, I could read between the lines.
“Where are you?” I asked, pinching the bridge of my nose, releasing a deep breath.
“Great Falls,” she said. “Downtown near the railroad tracks.”
She was at least a thirty-minute drive away and in a terrible part of Great Falls.
“Yes, but I can’t be there for about a half hour. Can you find a bus stop to sit at or something until I get there?”
“I’ll try, but please hurry, honey. Its dark and sketchy out here.”
Exactly why you shouldn’t be driving around with random men this late at night, Mom.
I stood up, trying to mentally prepare myself for the night ahead with my mom—picking her up, getting her home, seeing her disaster of an apartment. There was no telling what I’d find lying around her place. Probably drugs, the occasional needle, and guaranteed filth.
As I walked down the narrow corridor back to the main wedding hall, Jace rounded the corner, a look of relief on his face when he spotted me. Weird, because the look on my face was annoyance.
I rolled my eyes. “Not now, Jace. I don’t have time for more of your bullshit. I have to go pick up my mom,” I said, almost begging him to leave me alone.
“I just wanted to come check on you. I noticed you’d been gone for a bit.”
“I’m fine, not that I’m yours to worry about,” I said, my tone sharp. “What makes you think I’m not okay?”
“You were on your seventh glass of wine before you walked away,” he said, calling me out. “And you almost stumbled over your own feet at least three times.”
“Is a girl not allowed to have a good time?”
“Sure you are, but is a guy not allowed to check on someone he cares about?” he shot back.
“Oh, spare me the dramatics. After what you did, you’re lucky I didn’t kick you in the balls under that table. I wanted to, but I was afraid I’d hit your broken foot. I’m not sure why I give a shit anyway. It’s not like you give a damn about what you break of mine.”
Like my heart, I thought.
“My foot is broken because of you, remember?”
