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Lexie smiled back, but Cassie leaned over the table and put her hand over the other woman’s. “I mean that sincerely. I don’t… I haven’t had many people…” She swallowed. “Friends.” It wasn’t easy for her to admit that to someone she’d only just met. But something about Lexie made her want to be honest. “Thank you for helping me.”
Sadness filled Lexie’s eyes, and she clasped Cassie’s hand. “I know what it’s like to feel lost and alone, Cassie. Just know that it won’t always be that way. I’d like to be your friend. And one day, you’ll find someone who’ll be there for you. Always.”
Cassie’s throat tightened. “Thank you,” she whispered.
Lexie squeezed her hand, then let it go. Cassie finished her breakfast, and they made their way back toward Fractured’s bus and the venue. Cassie could see Fractured’s gear being unloaded and wheeled into the arena, so it was time for her to head in and start checking over the instruments and equipment. At least that would hopefully keep her mind off the horrible situation she’d somehow found herself in.
Before they parted ways, Lexie surprised Cassie by giving her a hug. “How about I track you down later. Maybe we can grab lunch together?” she said.
A lump formed in Cassie’s throat, and she blinked back grateful tears. “I’d like that. Thank you.”
If Lexie noticed Cassie’s overly emotional response to her offer, she was gracious enough not to show it. “Great! It’s always nice to have some female company on tour. Apart from when Summer and Eden fly in to spend time with Noah and Tex, I’m usually overwhelmed by the testosterone on the bus.”
Cassie’s laugh was choked but genuine. “I’m sure there are more than a few women who would happily trade places with you.” Her eyes widened, and she slapped a hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I probably shouldn’t say that.”
Lexie laughed. “It’s the truth, though. I’m very lucky.” Her voice was soft and full of affection.
Longing pulsed through Cassie. Longing for the time before yesterday when she’d felt lucky like that. Lucky to have found something special—to have found the one. But apparently, she’d been wrong. Bryan wasn’t the one. Or perhaps he was, and this was just how the world worked. Perhaps she was naïve to think that when you meet the love of your life, he sweeps you up and carries you away from all your problems, and you live happily ever after. Maybe she’d been stupid to believe there was such a thing as a knight in shining armor.
With a wave, Lexie walked off and Cassie made her way into the venue, dodging the crew members lugging cases of equipment.
She dreaded seeing Bryan and Stella, but there was no way to avoid them if they were around when she was doing her checks. She’d had a reprieve last night thanks to Zac, but that wouldn’t last. Probably sooner rather than later, she was going to see the two of them together. Talking, laughing, touching….
Cassie jerked to a halt, all the oxygen in her lungs leaving in a rush. The mass of people that normally comforted her was suddenly making it hard to breathe. She needed to get away for a minute. To be on her own. Turning, she slipped down a corridor and pressed herself into an alcove. It wasn’t much, but she was away from the manic rush of load-in. A moment of solitude before she had to take her broken heart and battered pride out there for everyone to see.
Cassie let her head drop back against the wall. It’s funny how things change. She’d always hated being alone. But it had been a long time since she’d truly felt that way. Not since Bryan had found her—since he’d saved her. But this time, Bryan hadn’t been the person saving her. He was the one she needed to be saved from.
It was Zac who had saved her this time.
His intense hazel eyes flashed through her mind. Even though she’d worked with him every night for the last week and a half, their actual one-on-one contact had been relatively limited. She’d never expected him, and the rest of Fractured, to be so down to earth. She didn’t know what she’d expected, really. For them to be full of themselves or fucked-up on drugs and alcohol like so many of the super successful bands seemed to be.
But they weren’t like that. Not at all.
And Lexie was lovely too.
A tentative smile trembled on Cassie’s lips. Making friends had never been something that came easily to her. It was hard when you were considered an outcast just by association. Being judged before you even had a chance to talk to someone made it difficult to make a good first impression. After a while, she’d given up trying. But things were different after Bryan came into her life. He saw something special in her, and that was enough to convince others she was worth something after all.
A tear slid down her cheek, and she closed her eyes.
She hadn’t been worth his fidelity, though.
Cassie brushed the tear aside. Enough. She had a job to do, at least for now, and she didn’t want Bryan or Stella—particularly Stella—to see her cry.
Cassie gave herself one more minute to push the hurt down as far as it would go. She wished she had her notebook, but it was on Bryan’s bus. There was no way she was going to risk going to get it. She’d have to do without it until she hopefully found somewhere to sleep and could move her stuff.
Straightening, she took a deep breath, stepped out of the alcove, and walked back into the hive of activity with her head held high.
ChapterSeven
“We’re so excited to have you here today, guys!”
Zac pasted a friendly smile on his face. He swore radio show hosts were getting younger every year. The two sitting across the studio’s audio console from him and his bandmates looked like they were barely in their twenties.
Or was it just because he was getting older? He was almost thirty-one now. After thirteen years in the industry, it was more and more exhausting trying to match their level of enthusiasm during on-air interviews.
“We’re excited to be here.” Tex gave the expected response.
Not that Zac didn’t appreciate the fact that their fans were still interested in hearing what they had to say after all this time. But after so many interviews, all the questions seemed to blend into each other. Which was probably why there was an increasing focus on the band members’ relationships—or lack of them—than their music.
