Page 92 of The Perfect Melody

My shoulders slump as I release an emotionally exhausted sigh. “Of course I do, but there’s a whole side to Cassie that I didn’t know existed.”

That’s not entirely true, is it? I chew on the inside of my cheek in thought. The first time she stepped on stage at Bowman’s, I knew she was a star—I was just unaware the rest of the world already knew that too. Cassie’s love of music, how she comes to life when she performs, the original song that had my heart breaking for her even before I could admit how much I cared—they’re all reasons I fell for her. Music is part of who she is. By sharing that part of herself with me, in a way she’d already shown me Melody, hadn’t she?

“We don’t get to pick and choose when it comes to the people we love,” Francis tells me.

I’ve not told anyone, not even Cassie, how I feel yet. I was waiting for the right time. “How did you?—”

“It’s been written all over your face for weeks,” Reggie says. Francis nods sagely in agreement.

“I don’t know if love is enough.” We might not have been living a complete lie, but there’s no denying things will change if Cassie stays. She said it herself—we’ll be in the press, some of her fans will come to Pine Grove hoping to catch sight of her. My life will be put under a microscope, and it’s likely Mum and Aria’s lives will too. Can I handle that? Can they? The only timemy name’s been in a newspaper was when Pine Grove’s local one did an article on the reopening of Bowman’s.

“May I offer some advice?” Francis asks.

“Please do.” I wave a hand as if giving him the floor.

“Love is more than a feeling. Love is people knowing each other for everything they are—the good and the bad—and still choosing to walk through life together. Cassie chose to share her secret with you. That means she’s offering you more than her trust. She’s giving you the opportunity to love her.” He takes a sip of his coffee before pinning me with a stern look. “Now you have a decision to make. Is Cassie someone you can choose to love every day, even when it’s hard, even when you’re not at your best?”

My time with Cassie flashes through my mind. She may not have been in Pine Grove for long, but Cassie’s become an integral part of my life without even trying. Even if a future with her may not be as peaceful as I imagined, it’s worth it.Sheis worth it.

“You look like a man who’s made a decision,” Reggie tells me.

“I have to go.” I’m up and out of my seat in the blink of an eye. “Thank you,” I call over my shoulder, already striding from their kitchen.

* * *

After leaving Francis and Reggie’s place, I made a quick stop at Quill and Dagger to grab what I needed from Jeremy, then texted Cassie asking her to come over tonight after she finishes her shift at Bowman’s at five. Now I sit at my kitchen table, facing the window, watching for any sign of her arrival like an eager puppy.

I force my leg to stop bouncing as I look down at the small piece of plastic in my hand. Earlier, when I raided the cupboardin Jeremy’s office where he stores all the games for our Sunday evening game nights, the gesture seemed like a good idea. Now that it’s almost five-thirty and Cassie will be here any moment, I’m worried it won’t come across the way I intend it to.

I glance up just in time to see a flash of long brown hair pass by my kitchen window, shortly followed by a light, almost hesitant knock on the front door. It appears I’m not the only one nervous for this discussion. Tucking the small lump of plastic into the front pocket of my jeans, I go to let Cassie in.

“Hi. Thanks for inviting me over.” Her voice is soft. Tentative. There’s almost no sign of the confident woman I’ve got to know over the past couple of months. It’s like she’s already decided that I’m going to end things. Even though I know taking time to get my head on straight was the right thing to do, I hate that I’m the reason for her uncertainty.

“Come here.” I open my arms wide and, after a split-second of hesitation, Cassie steps into them, resting her head against my chest.

“Does this mean?” As if afraid to say the words out loud, she doesn’t finish the sentence, but I know what she’s asking.

“Yeah. You’re stuck with me, Trouble.”

Her relief is palpable, and her body relaxes against mine even further now she knows I’m not choosing to end things.

After a few minutes of simply enjoying holding her in my arms, I step back. “Let’s go sit down. We still need to talk.”

“OK.” Cassie nods, tension creeping back into her shoulders now that we’re not touching, but there’s also a spark of determination in her eyes that wasn’t there before.

I lead her through to the kitchen where I pour us both a glass of water. “Do you want to sit here or in the living room?”

“Here, I think. At least while we talk things out.” She pulls out a chair, choosing to fold up her small frame to sit on it cross-legged instead of with her feet on the ground.

A smile plays at the corners of my lips over how, even now when she’s full of nerves, Cassie is still doing the unexpected. Setting the glasses on the round table, I slide one towards her waiting hands, then take my seat opposite her.

“I have a lot of questions.”

“I’ll tell you anything you want to know,” Cassie replies earnestly.

“Thank you, but first there’s something I need to say.” Clearing my throat uncomfortably, I shift in my seat to pull the small piece of plastic from my jeans pocket, keeping it hidden in my hand for the moment. “I’ve not always been the best with words, but that’s something I’m working on. I want to be better at telling the people in my life how important they are to me.”

With my free hand, I reach for my glass and take a gulp of water to settle my nerves. “When you told me your secret, I felt like I’d fallen for a lie.”