“What are you having?” She raises her tall glass at me. “Something exotic like me?”
“That looks pretty,” I say eyeing the blue and white concoction. “What is it?”
“Blue Lady.” She waves at the bartender who approaches with a big grin. Cassie always had men in her pocket.
Which makes me wonder why she went after the one man who clearly wasn’t interested. Was it some sort of challenge? A bet?
The bartender leans in, and she whispers something in his ear that makes him grin wider. “Coming right away,” he says and wanders off.
“What did you tell the man?” I drag a stool over to hers, shrug off my jean jacket, drape it over the seat and sit on it. “He looks way too pleased for someone asked to make an alcoholic drink for someone who’s underage. And he didn’t even ask for my ID. Has he seen yours?”
She just sips at her drink, smirking.
I shake my head and sigh.
“So that was it? Now we’re back to sunshine and roses again?”
She drops the straw back in the tall glass and narrows her blue eyes at me. “Jesus, Manon. Don’t I have the right to even smile anymore? Should I drag myself around on my knees and weep?”
“That could be a start,” I mutter, irritated at the world. At the dance school.
At Seth.
“Want me to be honest with you?” She swirls her straw in the blue drink, lashes lowered. “I feel like a leper. This is messed-up, how all of you are treating me. It was just a kiss for chrissakes.”
“A kiss Jesse didn’t want.”
“Then he should have shoved me off. Punched me.”
“Know what? Maybe he should have. Too bad he acted like a gentleman instead and just pushed you away.”
She slams the glass on the bar and gapes at me. “Why are you being such a bitch?”
“Come on, Cassie. You act like nothing happened. Like it wasn’t your fault. What do you expect, huh?”
The bartender chooses that moment to return with my drink, and we both back down until he’s gone—before which he takes the time to wink at Cassie and lick his lips.
Ugh. “That’s disgusting.”
“Oh, get off your high horse. Just because Fred is a pussy and won’t even kiss you doesn’t mean sexual men are disgusting.”
“Sexual men?” I glare at my drink. “You know what? I think this was a mistake.” I fish in my purse for money to pay the drink and go.
“Wait. Wait, okay?” She grabs my wrist, eyes wide. “I’m sorry.”
“Are you?”
“Yes, I am.” She squeezes my wrist, swallows hard. “I screwed up. I know it. And yes, I wish I could turn back time and undo my mistake. But it’s done. Can’t undo it, okay?”
“You could apologize to the people you hurt.”
“I tried.” She releases my wrist. “Tried talking to Evangeline, but she won’t talk to me. Tried contacting Jesse and Amber. They won’t answer my calls. Zane and his gang told me not to even think about approaching them.”
“Give it time.”
“I am.” She shakes her head, shakes out her long blond hair. “What do you think? It’s been over two months. And you barely talked to me until now.” She puts her hands palms-down on the bar. “I got the message, loud and clear. My presence is not wanted.”
“Cassie…” It’s my turn to reach out, cover her hand. “You were out of town for those two months. Only texted to tell me you were visiting family. What was I supposed to do?”