Page 20 of Who The Hell Are You?

Laughing, I give him a reassuring squeeze on his thick bicep–his other hand is still around my wrist. “Don't ever apologise, ask me anything. I don't go out much, but I've been here before. Never to an open mic night! I'm excited. Also, are you wine and dining me, Cassie?”

His blush deepens, but I see the way it brings him alive and he doesn't retreat. “Does it count if I buy you a bag of crisps too?”

“Yes. Yes it does. I'll have a red wine.” The smile he gives me is the reason birds sing; it's sweet and warm.

Jemmy the bartender notices Cass and moves down the bar to take our order. She gives him a fist bump, her straight black hair swaying with the movement. Like him she's covered head to toe in tattoos, but hers are colourful and give her edge.

“Reaper. What will it be?”

“House red, two of whatever's on tap and two strawberry ciders. Two packets of crisps too.” He smirks at me and my insides melt.

Whilst she starts to pour our drinks, I raise my eyebrows at him and lean closer. “Reaper?”

“My nickname in rugby.” Well that's ominous, maybe I should watch his next game. It is fitting however that he'd call his online naked persona Inkedreaper.

Jemmy wastes no time placing our drinks and snacks on the bar, to which he pays. Handing me my wine first like the perfect gentleman, he gifts me with the crisps before skillfully grabbing the leftover drinks and nods towards his table. He lets me go first and I purposely avoid Teddy’s watchful gaze, but I know there's more than just his eyes on me. You snooze, you lose Grace. Emery is the first to see me approach and he beams, patting Harris on the arm like he's excited to see me, which is odd. His silver pixie of a sister turns around and her smile is just as big, causing my feet to stall for a second, meaning Cass brushes against my back before I move again.

Giving them all an awkward wave, I aim my smile at Lilia. “Hello.”

She waves back even bigger, making my shoulders drop in relief. “Hi, I'm Lil! I'm so happy to meet you.”

He leans around me to place all the drinks on the table, and like each time we've been next to each other, his hand finds my hip and he pulls me closer. I know he unconsciously does it and that alone is wild to me, because it means he's comfortable with whatever this is in public. His body naturally wants to connect with mine and that turns me the fuck on.

“This is Miles. Miley, this is Lil–Em’s sister. We've all been brought up together since we met at pre-school.”

“Cassie!” I scold him for that horrid nickname, but both guys bark out laughter.

“Oh that's just too fucking sweet. It's nice to see you again man.”

Nodding whilst I fight back my own blush, I put down my wine glass and snacks, realising there's only one chair. I don't see a free one either, but before I can find an alternative, Cass sits down and pats his thick thigh. “You can just sit here.”

“W-what?”

The table must hear my stupor because Emery starts to stand up. “Or you can have my seat and I'll sit on Harris.”

“What?” I squeak, but Cass is scoffing, pulling me down by the wrist into his warm lap. As he does I hear someone close choke on their drink, and I know before meeting her shocked eyes that it's Grace.

Lilia laughs. “You get used to them I swear. They're like a pack of pups. They'd all pile in one bed and sleep on one another if they could.”

“You say that like we don't.” Harris gives her a pointed look and she pretends to gag.

Something in her seems to ease me, and I think Lil is definitely my people. Adjusting my frame against his solid body, I try to not put my entire weight on his thigh, but he pulls me further into him so I can’t help but fold.

“You won't crush me. I'm a strong boy.” He teases in my ear and I think I'm in deep shit, because the low tone of his voice is doing things to me. I bet he is a strong boy…

Picking up my wine, I take a large mouthful and try not to crack at the look Lil and Emery give each other. Just like when I turned up with the ghostface mask, this is going beyond what I expected.

We chat and drink for a few minutes before one of the male bar staff announces that open mic is starting, and the first act I suppose gets on stage to get ready. Lil tells me about herself; that she lives in Manchester and that her K-pop inspired dance troop has entered a talent camp in Europe. She's bubbly, fun and fucking adorable. I want to make her pint sized and keep her in my pocket as a support-pixie. That gives me an idea for a story and I laugh, freely and lighter than I have in a while. It dawns on me that I laugh like this whenever I'm with Cass, who I really think doesn't realise the way he nuzzles into my shoulder and even takes my jacket off because he's worried I'm getting too hot. I ignore how firm and perfect his body is against my back, especially because I don't know what I'd do if I felt something else firm. I worry a little if he cares that some of his team mates are in the bar, seeing me on him, but none of them, other than his friends who look at us with smug smiles, are paying us a lick of attention.

“Do you go up to Scotland much?” I ask her, but I see I've hit a nerve because she suddenly looks really sad. Mournful.

Clearing his throat, Cass rests his chin on my shoulder and quietly tells me. “Em’s parents kicked him out when he came out. Lil left too, they disowned them both. My parents took them in and theirs left town. Bought a place somewhere in Scotland and no one's spoken to them since.”

My heart breaks. “That’s so sad. I'm sorry you guys went through that.”

Both siblings shrug, but Lilia answers after taking a sip of her cider. “We’re better for it and we don't need anyone else. Here is my family.” The love I see between all four of them. “Plus, it means I get to request song requests whenever we do this.”

The guys groan in sync, but the beaming smile Emery gives Harris shows they all truly love it. We watch a few guys set up and play a cover of Riptide, which has the crowd joining in. Another group just about get through a cover of The Larks new release. We all clap as they finish, but the entire time I feel Grace’s eyes on me. As I take a sip of my wine, I look to the side and Cass’s dark eyes are looking up at me too, a lazy smile on his lips. He really couldn't care less that I'm perched in his lap. With anyone else I'd probably feel weird about this, but with him I feel…cared for.