This shouldn’t be any different, but somehow, I just knew that it was. Cass wasn’t turning away or deferring. He stared her straight in the eye, and with her hand still on his chest, a strange look came over his face. He looked sad and hurt at the same time, a pain in his expression that made me want to run forward. But when the woman pushed a strand of his hair behind his ear, he laughed softly and shook his head.
I felt like I was having a heart attack. Pain kicked behind my ribs, and for the second time that evening, the world seemed to grow quiet around me. I told myself that Cass would never cheat on me, but did that even matter? We hadn’t made any sort of commitment to each other, not really. And standing at the bar with a woman like her, Cass looked so much more natural than he did jumping around with me on the dance floor five minutes earlier.
I stumbled backward and almost knocked over a chair. What the hell was wrong with me? I was about to rush ahead and tell him that I loved him like some confused nerd.
But I was the stranger in Cass’s world, and I suddenly had no idea where I belonged.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Cass
I turnedaround from the bar, still grinning about how much fun I’d been having. It had only taken a song or two for Shawn and Audrey to get comfortable throwing their bodies around to the music, and when they did, my old reservations dissolved. I felt like I was a teenager again, hitting up my first shows. Catching Shawn in my arms and pumping my fist with Audrey, I didn’t even give a shit that Twice Shattered’s new music sucked ass. It was just fun to be there with them.
“Holy shit, Cass.”
I turned, startled by the familiar voice. “Monica,” I said. “Nice purple hair.”
She tilted her head to model it. “Thanks. I wanted a makeover after our breakup.” She nodded to the bartender and held a finger in the air to order another drink. “Didn’t think I’d see you here.”
I leaned back, hitching my elbows up on the counter. Unlike when I had talked to her on the phone last, I wasn’t slammed by a wall of emotions. Maybe the weekend with Shawn had something to do with it because I knew I wasn’t having fun like that with Monica when we were still together. Instead, seeing her felt like seeing the band, confirmation that I had made the right choice. “I happened to be in town. Thought I might as well check out the new sound. How about you? What brings you to Atlanta?”
“June broke up with her boyfriend. Asked me to come along and keep her company so she wasn’t stuck with the guys all weekend.” She shook her head slowly, sizing me up a bit. “You going to come backstage, hang out with the gang? There’s supposed to be an afterparty at some mansion.”
I nodded to the guitarist. “I texted Mario. He invited me back to say hi. Guess he didn’t tell June, though.”
“You know how it is when these bands sign a new contract. The label has them both so busy with promotion, I don’t think they have any time to think.” She pulled back her lips slightly in a wince. “Sorry. We don’t need to talk about that.”
I grumbled under my breath, surprised and also not surprised that she still thought I had hurt feelings. Couldn’t she hear the band, blasting their crappy new songs from the stage right that moment?
“It’s fine. I’m happy for the band.”
The bartender slid a shot glass down the bar, which Monica immediately tossed back. “I know they’ll be happy to see you when you come back. And honestly, Cass, I don’t care what anyone in Nashville says. I know that you weren’t kicked out.”
I titled my head to the side. “Excuse me?”
“It’s so stupid, but you know how people talk. Somehow the rumor got going that Twice Shattered kicked you out. I heard from a few different people, first that the label had told them you didn’t have the chops, and then that Mario and June had gotten tired of you going offbeat.”
I stared at Monica, my jaw hanging open. “What?” I shouted into the noise. “That’s not fucking true, Monica.”
“I know it isn’t!” she said quickly, resting her hand on my chest. “After I heard it a few times, I even checked with June, just to make sure there wasn’t more of the story I was missing.”
I snorted. “Thanks,” I replied sarcastically. On the stage, the band finished their set, but the roar of the cheering crowd and crashing cymbals sounded like they were in a different world.
Monica laughed, then pushed a strand of hair behind my ear, an old gesture that was clearly meant to comfort me. “Come on, Cass. I know you’re an amazing drummer. Don’t act like that. And I swear, anytime that nasty rumor comes up, I’ll put it down.”
I shook my head. “Thanks, I guess.” My drumming should speak for itself, but I knew better than that. If rumor was going around town that I had stood between Twice Shattered and success, the other bands were going to see me as toxic. I’d spent years building my reputation, but it had apparently turned to shit overnight. My chances of connecting with a good band back in Nashville were shot, and there was nothing I could do about it.
“Fuck,” I groaned.
Monica pressed her palm against my chest for just a second, then pulled it away. It felt kind, not loaded with meaning or innuendo, just recognition for what I had lost.
“Sorry to tell you the bad news, Cass. I had figured it got to you already.”
“I’ve been keeping my head down.”
“Hey, don’t let it stop you from coming out tonight. Everyone would still love to catch up.” She set her shot glass on the bar. “Me too, of course.”
“We’ll see,” I answered. “I’ve got a long drive in the morning. But hey, if I don’t make it, tell June and Mario that I came through, and congratulations on the album.”
