Page 22 of The Perfect Melody
Mum had me going non-stop since the last night of my tour. Between all the public appearances, interviews, and photo shoots, as well as preparing for this trip in secret, I haven’t had a moment to justbe. Bailey filled my rucksack with snacks for the drive here that remain untouched. They won’t make for the healthiest dinner, but if it means I can stay in my room instead of going out and being around any more people, then I think it’s a fair trade-off.
Decision made, I roll off the bed. I’ll shower, change into my pyjamas, then have a snack picnic on my bed. Maybe I’ll even start one of the new cross-stitch kits I packed. Most importantly, I won’t have to speak to another human being until tomorrow morning.
* * *
Austin
“Are you finally going to tell us all what happened earlier?” Reggie asks before taking a sip of his beer. As is our Sunday night tradition, we’re once again gathered around our usual table at Quill and Dagger.
“What?” Jer asks, looking between the three of us in confusion.
Dev shrugs at him. “Don’t look at me.”
I scowl at Reggie, but he’s unaffected. The mess at Bowman’s is the last thing I want to talk about during our game night when I’ve already been dealing with the fallout all afternoon. Still, now he’s put it out there, I know I won’t get a moment’s peace until I tell the others what happened. You wouldn’t think it to look at them, but these three live for good gossip. While I hardly think this qualifies, Reggie clearly does.
When I’m done explaining where things stand, the three of them look at each other before dissolving into a round of guffaws.
“Let me get this straight. Some tourist crashed into your bar and you, one of the grouchiest people I have ever met, ended up giving her a job?” Dev asks incredulously, his broad swimmer’s shoulders still shaking in the wake of his laughter.
I sigh. “Mum wanted to help her out. Besides, I don’t think she has car insurance—she asked to work off the cost of repairs instead of going that route.”
“Is that not a little strange?” Reggie asks.
“Yes, but Mum insisted on hiring her. She’s already given me enough to cover the cost of the heater she wrecked, so—strange or not—at least she’s taking responsibility.” I shrug, pretending to be less bothered than I am. The sooner I convince them everything’s fine, the sooner we can change the subject to literally anything else. “I’ll call her reference tomorrow morning to make sure she won’t be a complete nightmare, then she’s joining everyone for the training session on Tuesday.”
“Fair enough,” Jeremy replies. “You were hoping to find someone else for over the summer, anyway. Do you think she’ll stick around that long?”
“I don’t know. Cassie said she might. We’re going to talk about it after her first full week of shifts. She’ll have worked off what she owes by then. Her car took some damage—it won’t surprise me if she stays on to earn enough to cover the repairs.”
“Can’t she just use a credit card?” Dev asks.
“Maybe she’s worried about paying off the bill?” Reg replies.
“I’m not sure she has one or a UK bank account. The reference she gave was for a job in the US, and she said she’s only using cash for this trip.”
“She’s American? Can she even work for you without a work visa?” Jer asks.
“She has a British passport, so we’re good there. Honestly, I don’t know what her deal is, and I don’t care. As long as she’s a decent worker, I don’t need orwantto know anything else about her.”
“OKthen,” Reg drawls, onyx brows raised. He reaches for the pack of cards in the middle of the table, and I let out a sigh of relief as his nimble fingers start shuffling the deck, putting an end to the conversation.
“You’re going down this time, Jer,” Dev says, cracking his fingers and rolling his shoulders like he’s limbering up.
“It’s good to aim high. I hope you’re fostering that kind of positive attitude in the kids you coach,” Jer replies with a shit-eating grin. While he’s hopeless at Monopoly, Jer’s been our group’s undefeated Uno champion for months.
“Keep talking a big game, man. The higher you fly, the harder you fall,” Reg quips, already dealing out the colourful cards.
“Please, I’m flying so high none of you fuckers are gonna catch me.”
“You’re quiet, Austin. Think tonight’s the night you’re going to beat Jeremy?” Dev asks.
“Nah, he’s already accepted defeat,” Jer teases.
“In your dreams,” I reply, shaking off my negative mood. The bar will still be there tomorrow. Tonight I want to be present with my friends. Who knows, maybe one of us will finally trounce Jeremy at Uno—now that would really lift my spirits. “Let’s play.”
Chapter Ten
Cassie
