Page 20 of The Perfect Melody

Chapter Nine

Cassie

Safe behind theclosed door of my room at The Dragonfly, I flop backwards onto the bed with a groan. I need to give Liam a heads-up that Austin might call him for a reference.Shit, Liam. I was supposed to text him when I arrived so he and Bailey would know I got here OK.Damn it—I need to tell him about his poor car too.

Hastily, I pull my phone from my jeans pocket and dial.

“Finally. Did you get lost?”

“I wish.”

We switch over to a video call once I start explaining what happened. Bailey joins us, crowding into the frame at Liam’s side.

“Oh my God, are you OK?” she asks, grey eyes scanning what little she can see of me on the phone screen, which isn’t much. I rolled onto my side to get more comfortable, and I can see from the little box in the bottom of my screen that they’re being treated to an unflattering close-up of my face.

“I’m fine. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Liam’s car.” I grimace. “I won’t know how bad the damage is until I can stop by the garage to check on it tomorrow morning.”

“The most important this is that you’re alright and nobody was hurt,” he assures me.

“Thanks. I promise I’ll get it fixed as soon as I can.”

Liam’s brows knit together. “I appreciate that, but how are you going to pay for it? I didn’t think you had that much extra cash. Do you need me to send you some mon?—”

“No,” I rush to reassure him. He and Bailey have done so much for me already. Besides, I already owe him for the plane tickets and my room. It doesn’t matter that we both know I’m good for the money, it still feels like taking advantage. I got myself into this mess, I’ll get myself out of it. “Actually, I got a job.”

“A job? You? Doing what?”

“Hey, be nice,” Bailey scolds, elbowing him in the ribs.

“What? I’m surprised that’s all. Cass isn’t like us—she’s never had a normal job.”

“Really?” Bailey asks.

“Teen superstar, remember?” Liam reminds her.

“Sorry. I know you’re famous—I hear your songs played all the time and I’ve seen you on magazine covers—but I still struggle to wrap my head around it. You’re just Liam’s friend, Cassie, to me.”

“Your friend too, I hope.”

“Of course,” she quickly agrees. “But you know what I mean.”

“I do—and thanks.” Liam really is lucky to have her. Bailey loves him for who he is, not for what he does or what she can gain from his celebrity.

“So, what’s the job?”

“The owner of the bar I crashed into is letting me work off what I owe as a server. He said I could stay on for the summer season too if I decide to stick around. He hates me—understandably—but his mum seems nice and it’ll be a good way to save up whatever I need for the car repairs.”

“Not to be rude, but um… does he know you don’t have any work experience?” Bailey asks, concern making her muscles tense.

“Oh, that reminds me. Liam, I put you down as a reference. If Austin calls, you were my supervisor when I worked as a waitress in Nashville, OK?”

He barks out a laugh. “Really?”

“I had to give him something, right?” I reply sheepishly.

“What am I missing?” Bailey looks between me on screen and Liam at her side.

“You know we met when Cassie guest-starred onCountry Hearts?”