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“Cassie.” Jules’ tone was serious. “Did you hear the song playing in the background?”
“No.” She had been a little preoccupied with everything else. “What was it?”
“Go back and listen.” Jules flapped her hands. “Hurry.”
Cassie hit play again and held the phone up to her ear. She forced herself to ignore Jason’s silken voice, to hear past Kiki and Ty’s antics, and tune into the song in the background. She could just barely pick out the lyrics.
“‘Piano Man’?” Cassie turned to Jules. “Kind of on the nose, don’t you think?”
The video ended, and Jules pointed at the speaker above their heads. “Listen.”
Cassie tilted her ear to the speaker. It wasn’t hard to hear the music above the din of the restaurant, but it was difficult to pick out the individual words. Slowly, she recognized the melody, heard the harmonies, and finally—finally—realized what Jules was trying to tell her.
Unless the universe was playing a cruel joke on her, she and Jason were in the exact same bar, listening to the exact same song.
7
Jules pushed Cassie out of her seat and toward the door to the bar. With an encouraging nod, she returned to their table, leaning close to Ford, and undoubtedly sharing what had just happened.
For a split second, Cassie wondered if Jules really was psychic.
But as she pulled open the door, the heat of the room snapped Cassie back to reality. Clusters of people huddled around tiny tables and lined the walls. She tried to picture where he’d been sitting when his cousins tossed the phone between themselves and realized he must be at a booth in the back. She’d have to wade through a sea of people to get within reach of him. Then what? Pull him away from his family? She wasn’t sure she could do that.
Then again, what were the chances they’d end up at the same bar in the same city, miles away from home?
Cassie wound her way through the crowd, trying not to jostle anyone’s drinks. If slipping between dozens of drunk people gesticulating wildly was an Olympic sport, she’d have a gold medal. Somehow, she managed not to step on anyone’s toes or start any fights.
As she made her way to the other end of the bar, she spotted Kiki’s cloud of curls. Her heart dropped into her stomach and then shot up into her throat. It was pounding so hard she felt lightheaded. She knew it was Kiki, and yet, she wouldn’t believe it until—
Two men sat side by side, their backs to Cassie. One had broad shoulders, while the other was taller and leaner. The smaller one had an arm slung over his cousin’s back, and with his other hand, he lifted a drink in celebration. Cassie didn’t need to see his face.
She would know him anywhere.
She tucked herself against the wall at the end of the bar, hoping she wouldn’t be in the way of the servers as they left to deliver drinks. But nobody paid her any attention, and even when Kiki scanned the room from across the table, she didn’t recognize Cassie. Jason had obviously told them about her, but had they seen her picture? What did they know about her?
It took Cassie a moment to figure out what to do. Approach the table and hope they’d invite her to sit down? Have a drink delivered along with a message to meet her at the bar? Cassie decided she’d have a little fun with it first, so she pulled out her phone.
I think someone’s checking you out.
Jason immediately leaned forward to check his messages. Kiki snatched for his phone, but he was too fast. The response came seconds later.
Doubt it. She’s probably looking at Ty.
No, she’s definitely looking at you.
Oh yeah? How do you know that?
She told me. Cassie was grinning like a maniac. The two men at the pianos across the room ended one song and started another. Do you like David Bowie?
Jason looked over at the pianos, then back down at his phone. Kiki saw the change in his demeanor and said something, but he didn’t answer. He just kept staring at his phone.
Cassie let him off the hook. Turn around.
Very funny.
I’m not joking.
Jason pushed his chair back and stood up. His table went quiet as he turned around and scanned the bar. Cassie stepped out from against the wall. When their eyes connected, it was like everything else faded away—the music, the people, the bar itself. Her heart stopped and didn’t start again until Jason’s face lit up in his trademark smile.
