Page 56 of The Perfect Melody

“Reg,” Jeremy censors him. “That’s a bit harsh, mate.”

He’s not swayed. “No, it’s time he stops dancing around the truth and admits how he feels.” Reggie gives me a stern look. “You know I’m right.”

Rubbing a hand over my beard, I reply, “It’s not that simple.”

“No offence, but I don’t think it’s as complicated as you’re making it,” Dev chimes in.

“You too?”

He shrugs again. “Just calling it how I see it. You’re tangled up in knots over this girl, but you’re so busy worrying about being appropriate that you can’t get out of your own way long enough to be happy.”

“I’m nearly a decade older than her, and I’m her boss. Itisinappropriate.”

“Says who?”

I scoff. He’s being ridiculous.

“No, I’m dead serious. I’m not saying the age gap is nothing, but if she were immature, you wouldn’t be attracted to her. She’s an adult. You don’t get to act like you’re doing her a favourby denying your feelings. All you’re doing is denying yourself a chance at being happy.”

“I’m still her boss.”

“Listen, you know we all think Bowman’s is great, but there’s no way waiting tables there is Cassie’s dream job. If you two get together and it doesn’t work out, she won’t have any trouble finding something else if she doesn’t want to keep working for you,” Reggie says.

“She’s still going to leave,” I argue weakly.

“Maybe.” Reggie takes a sip of beer. “All the more reason to tell her you’re interested while you still have the chance.”

“I’m trying to do the right thing here. It’s obvious there’s something going on in her life that she’s avoiding.”

“Have you talked to her since last Friday? Really talked?” Reggie asks.

“A little, but not about that. She seems fine, and I don’t want to pry.”

“What happened last Friday?” Jeremy asks, leaning forward.

“Some drunk idiot grabbed her and she…” I trail off, not wanting to spread news of her panic attack if, by some miracle, word hasn’t already got around town.

“Ah, that’s why she ran out?” Dev asks.

“You heard about that?”

Dev grimaces. “Most people have. I’m surprised Jer hasn’t overheard people talking about it here. On the bright side, after her awesome performance at the reopening, people switched from talking about the incident to how great she was almost right away.”

“Wait, are you saying she had a panic attack?” Jeremy asks.

“Yeah.”

He nods in understanding. “I wish I could say I’m surprised, but…”

“But what?” I ask.

“The first time I met her, she kind of… freaked out.”

“No she didn’t,” Dev replies with a frown. “We all saw you meet her here when you went to take her order.”

Jer shakes his head, his long hair brushing against his neck. “That was the second time we met. The first time was when she left her purse at Beans & Bakes. Daphne asked me to run it out to her, and she almost ran away from me before realising I wasn’t some weirdo. It was weird, like she expected someone to be chasing her for a different reason.”

“Maybe that’s why she’s so secretive. Do you think she’s in some kind of trouble?” Reggie asks, voice laden with concern.