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She sat down and quickly restrung the bass, her hands moving gracefully as she did.
“Did you always want to be a guitar tech?” he asked. Backline crew were predominantly men, although as with most things, that was slowly changing for the better.
She kept her focus on what she was doing as she answered. “It made the most sense when we were deciding what I should do after high school.”
Whenwewere deciding?“In what way?” he asked.
“By the time we graduated, Bryan knew he was going to make a go of being a musician. He thought if I was a guitar tech, it meant we could work and travel together.” Her voice wobbled on the last word, but she kept going. “So, I went to vocational college and did an Associate Degree in guitar repair and worked part time in a guitar shop while I studied. I teched for Bryan at night when he played, and then when he joined Blacklite, I started looking after Toby’s bass as well.”
“Didn’t you ever want to be a musician yourself?”
She looked at him then, a pretty smile on her lips. “Not really. I mean, I love music, I love the industry, but I’m not really anin-the-spotlightkind of person. I prefer being behind the scenes.”
“But you obviously learned to play.”
“Not incredibly well. Definitely nowhere near as well as Bryan. Enough so I can play along for fun and do this job.” She gestured to the rack of bass guitars. “Not well enough to play professionally.”
“So, what I’m hearing is that you chose a career that supported Bryan’s dream.” His voice came out sharper than intended, and her eyes widened. Annoyed at himself, he softened his tone. “What was your dream? Whatisyour dream?”
Cassie’s fingers paused on the tuning pegs. He wasn’t sure why he was asking her all these questions. Maybe to distract her. Or himself.
She was quiet for so long, he thought she wouldn’t answer him. But then she sighed. “It sounds terrible when I say it out loud. But for most of my life, my dreamwasBryan. Now… Now I don’t know what it is.”
Irrational anger prickled up his neck. Why would anyone make being with someone else their goal in life? Why would anyone build their life around what someone else needed and think it would make them happy? “Your life should never revolve around one person. They’re usually not worth it.” She cut her gaze to him, but he met it unflinchingly. “As you found out.”
Cassie’s head dropped, her dark hair falling down and curtaining her face. “Sometimes there’s no one else to revolve around.” It was almost a whisper.
“Friends? Family?” Not that he could talk about family. Well, apart from his sister, anyway.
Cassie just shrugged, her face still shielded by her hair. He had a strange desire to reach out and brush those dark waves away, so he could see her expression.
“Are you saying you don’t have anyone other than Bryan in your life?”
When she finally looked back at him, it was with a flash of fire in her eyes. It sent a jolt up his spine. “I appreciate you helping me out yesterday and today. But I’m not really up for a game of twenty questions right now.”
Amused by the unexpected snap in her voice and the flush in her cheeks, Zac held up his hands. “Sorry.”
She stared at him for a second, then licked her lips and let out a deep breath. “No. I’m sorry. I’m just… on edge.” She gave him a quick smile. “See, not really an in-the-spotlight type of person.”
“Me neither,” he said.
She arched her brows and pointedly glanced around the arena before meeting his gaze again. The corners of her mouth kicked up. “Obviously not.”
He could have made a joke about it, but he didn’t. “That’s different. It’s not about sharing myself with people. It’s about sharing the music.”
She angled her head to the side, considering his words, then nodded. “I get it, I think.”
Thankfully, she didn’t probe further. She just gave him a smile and went back to what she’d been doing.
The silence stretched out between them. But it wasn’t uncomfortable. It was almost peaceful. Zac listened to her play, adjust, then play again. The hustle and noise around them faded, and he rested his elbows on his knees, his head dropping forward. He closed his eyes and let the calm wash over him.
Unfortunately, it only lasted a few minutes before his phone vibrated in the pocket of his jeans. He pulled it out and checked the screen. It was a reminder notification for a phone interview in fifteen minutes.Rolling Stonewas doing an article on successful side-project bands and wanted to talk to him about Crossfire. He needed to get back to the bus to take the call before sound check.
Still, he sat there for a few more minutes, watching her—her graceful movements, the soft curve of her cheek, the gloss of her hair. He had no interest in having a woman share his life, but if Bryanwasthat kind of person, he was an idiot for trading Cassie in for someone like Stella. Blacklite’s lead singer was all attention-seeking surface glitter and no depth. At least, not that she seemed interested in showing anyone, anyway.
Zac checked the time. He needed to go. He looked around and spotted Bryan glaring at him from across the stage. What’s the bet the asshole would rush over here again the second Zac left?
A heavy hand landed on his shoulder, and he looked up to see Dan standing next to him. “Thought I might join young Cassie again. We had a nice chat yesterday. Wouldn’t mind a bit more company while I work.”
