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It was stupid, she knew that. But her therapist had told her that trauma was a strange beast. It wasn’t really driving in the rain that she was afraid of. But what it represented. And they’d worked hard to try to stop her from feeling this overwhelming sense of dread at the thought of getting behind the wheel while the streets were flooded with water.
But she couldn’t. She just couldn’t.
“Hey.” Gemma walked in, a smile on her face. “I’m heading home. Thinking that I should buy a boat instead of a car. You ready for me to lock up?”
Cassie forced a smile onto her lips. “I’ve just got a couple of things to do before I’m ready to head out. I can lock up tonight.”
“You sure?” Gemma asked.
“Yep.” She kept her voice as light as possible. She hated lying to her friend, but she just couldn’t admit to this weakness. And that’s what it was. The kind of weakness her mom would hate.
She pushed that thought out of her mind. ‘Be kind to yourself,’ her therapist had told her when she’d expressed her frustration. ‘You got back behind the wheel. That was a huge first step.’
Yes, it was. And it had been hard at first, even driving in the sunshine. Because all she could think of was that damn truck and the shrill screech of brakes before she lost control of her car. She’d avoided the truck, but she’d ended up in a ditch, pain radiating from her broken leg while she waited for rescue.
“You sure you’re okay?” Gemma asked.
“Yes, honestly.”
“That’s good.” Her friend gave her a genuine smile. “Oh, by the way, I saw the latest TikTok from last week’s gig. You guys are sensational. And I need to find a better babysitter. I can’t believe I missed seeing you on stage again.”
Cassie smiled. “Thank you.” It had been a good one. Especially the part in between, when she and Presley had… yeah.
Her cheeks pinked at the memory.
“Let me know when the next one is. I promise to be there.”
“I know you have the kids to look after. The TikTok views count.” Cassie winked. She just wanted Gemma to leave now. Before she got an inkling about the rain and put two and two together. “Go on, head home before it gets any worse.”
“Well don’t stay too long,” Gemma told her.
“I won’t.” Just until the rain stops. Whenever that might be. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Gemma blew her a kiss and left, the door to the studio swinging closed behind her. Cassie slowly walked over to the piano and sat down on the stool. She felt like an idiot. A failure.
What kind of person was afraid of a little rain?
Ugh. She stood up again, deciding to make herself a coffee and see if there was any chocolate in the snack stash Gemma kept in the staff room, striding across the studio and pushing the door open.
And walked straight into a hard, wet torso blocking her way.
“Oof.” The breath escaped from her lips. She looked up to see Presley standing there, soaked to the bone. He was wearing a pair of sodden jeans and a thin black t-shirt that stuck to his skin. “I didn’t see you.”
He gave her a half smile. “Clearly.”
“What are you doing here? Delilah doesn’t dance today.”
He was still smiling at her. She felt her body clenched at his warm eyes. “I came to give you a ride home.”
“My car’s outside.”
“I know,” he said softly. “And I also know it’s raining so you won’t be using it. I saw Gemma on my way in. She said you were planning on staying for a while.”
Cassie swallowed. “Did you tell her why?”
“No.” He shook his head. “It isn’t my place. I just didn’t understand why you didn’t.”
“I don’t like showing weakness.”
