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“That’s about the way to take it. Never let an opportunity pass, little brother.”
I take stock of the other people at the saloon. As expected, most of them are people I’ve known all my life, including that one girl who I dated three years ago. She’s here with a guy and they both have rings. Damn, she got hitched before I did?
I can’t be bothered to obsess over them too much, but I keep my eyes rolling over the crowd. There’s a few strangers, but no one that jumps out at me.
Until I see her.
She’s in a booth. Far away from the bar. She’s got a beer in front of her, but she’s barely touched it.
She’s absolutely beautiful.
Not in a way that’s announcing it to the world, mind you. On a scale of cute to hot, she’s firmly on the cute side of the fence, but I always liked those sorts of girls better. She’s got her hair in a ponytail, a few strands dropping around her face, and she’s avoiding eye contact with everyone around her. She looks like a fish out of water, to be quite frank. Dressed in a t-shirt and jeans, she doesn’t look like she belongs out on the line dancing floor.
But I think I want her out there with me.
My heart hesitates when I see a man sit down across from her.
And then I get confused because that man is familiar. “Hey Jennings, isn’t that your friend Danny?”
“Hmm?” He perks up and looks over to where my line of sight is resting. “Oh yeah, that is Danny.”
“Who’s the girl with him?”
“That’s Cassidy, I think.”
“Cassidy, huh?” I sigh. “Hell of a catch for Danny.”
Jennings shakes his head. “You’re a forgetful one, aren’t ya? Danny’s gay, Cash.”
I raise an eyebrow, and never before has a man’s sexuality made my heart come alive before. “Well then, that changes things.”
“Are you about to come out of the closet on me, man? Danny’s a good guy, but don’t think I’d ever see him with a guy like you...”
I shoot Jennings a death glare. “Why don’t we go over and pay them a visit? And you can learn the hallowed art of being a wingman, Jennings. Maybe you could talk to Danny, have a sit-down and catch up on things for a bit as I have a word, and perhaps a dance, with his lovely friend.”
Jennings laughs and nods along. “Oh, you want Cassidy, huh? I guess I can play along, big brother. I’ll go talk to one of my best friends. I make such huge sacrifices for you, I know.”
“Stop being dramatic and let’s go.”
I glance into the mirror behind the bar and try to make sure my hair’s straight, doing what little maintenance I can do on the fly.
I just saw this girl two minutes ago and she’s making me preen myself?
Goddamn, she must be something special.
2
CASSIDY
This isn’t where a girl like me belongs.
I grew up in a pretty sizable city. It wasn’t New York or anything, but the population at least had six digits.
Burly has four digits at best.
There’s loud country music pounding through the saloon. It’s not what I’m used to, but it’s not like I hate it or anything. In fact, it’s kind of nice and I’m getting into it, in between bouts of my anxiety.
“You look like you’re having some sort of panic attack, Cass. Just chill. Calm down. Everything will be okay,” Danny says from the other side of the booth.
