He barks out a laugh, and I feel better having taken the load off his shoulders.
Billy looks toward the hallway, but Casey and Charlotte are gone. “I should see if there’s anything I can do to help.”
Recalling Casey’s glare, I pat Billy’s shoulder. “I’ll go and report back. He’ll feel a lot better once he’s in cleaner clothes. Then you can apologize again if you’d like. But I don’t think it’s necessary. I’m sure he’s already over it.”
“Thanks, Sage. I owe you one.”
I walk past some inquisitive glances on my way to Charlotte and Caleb’s bedroom. As I approach the door, I’m still a little nervous about speaking to Casey, but feel comforted that I’m doing this for Billy and not myself.
Charlotte walks through the bedroom door and sees me. “Hey, everything all right?”
“Yeah. Just came to check in on Casey. I thought it best that Billy hangs back until Casey is in a better mood.”
“Good idea. He’s just changing right now, so maybe wait a few minutes.”
“Of course. I’ll wait until he’s done.”
“Do you want me to wait here with you?” She looks over my shoulder and her forehead wrinkles at something she sees.
“No. I’m fine. I’ll be back out in a minute.”
“Okay. I’ll be by the bar, making sure everyone is okay. I’ll see you soon.”
She scurries off and I smile, knowing she may have married Caleb but she’s still the same Type A Charlotte I know and love.
As I wait for Casey to walk out of the bedroom, I lean back against the door.What should I say when he comes out?Hey, how’s your shirt? No. That’s stupid. Are you okay? No. He isn’t hurt. Um, maybe just ask if he needs anything.That could work. But imagining him smiling up at me as I ask him that question makes me think of all sorts of things I could help him with, and it would have nothing to do with cleaning his shirt.
A loud crash resonates inside the bedroom, followed by Casey’s harsh curse. I wait a second, but there’s no other sound.What if something happened? What if he is hurt now?
I knock on the door, and when there’s no answer, I open it and find Casey, shirtless, on the bathroom floor, one leg out in front of him and the other bent in front of his chiseled bare chest.
My mouth hangs open but I shut it as soon as I realize I’m gawking. I wasn’t ready for a shirtless Casey. Not in real life, at least.
“Are you all right?” I ask.
“Just peachy,” he says with a frown. “Slipped on some water and landed flat on my ass. It’s been a hell of a party, and I’m not even drunk, yet.”
Normally, I would laugh at his remark, but I can’t help the uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach. He’s right. It’s been one instance of bad luck after another from the moment he walked into the penthouse. Correction. From the momentwelocked eyes.
What if I’m not silly? What if the jinx is real?
“What’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
I blink at him, and he extends his hand. “Can you help me up?”
I want to say no, afraid I might hurt him, but I’m afraid of how irrational that would sound. He reads my hesitation and lifts himself using the bathtub, instead. He groans and grabs his back, and I hold my breath, worried about what I may have caused now.
“I’m sorry. This is all my fault,” I say, warning him to stay away from me.
His brow creases and he shakes his head. “What are you talking about? It’s Billy’s fault, the idiot.”
I bristle at his harsh tone. He could have said worse but, his tone was like a whip over a wound.
“He didn’t mean to spill wine on you. It was just an accident.”
“You don’t know Billy.”
“And you do?” I ask, a little annoyed that he insists on putting my friend down.
