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Cassie nodded. She had some experience with less-than-ideal upbringings. But she only had one parent to deal with. It seemed like Zac and Tori had two.
“It’s not my place to tell you what Zac went through. I hope he’ll talk to you when he’s ready. But I can tell you that our dad is a very”—she paused, searching for the word—“unhappyman. He has been for as long as I can remember. What you heard today, well, it isn’t the first time Zac’s heard that. Or me. But Zac bore the brunt of Dad’s bitterness growing up. He did his best to protect me from the worst of Dad’s moods.” Her gaze turned inward. “Hearing that kind of thing day in and day out. There’s no way it doesn’t affect you.”
Cassie’s heart ached for Zac. And Tori too. She pictured Zac as a little boy, being told he’d ruined his dad’s life, and all she wanted was to wrap her arms around him and hold him tight. She shifted uncomfortably on the seat. Should she even be listening to this? Would Zac see it as an invasion of his privacy? Even if it was his sister telling her these things?
Tori must have sensed Cassie’s unease because her gaze focused back on her. She reached out and clasped her hand. “I’m telling you this because it was Zac who kept me smiling when things got rough. Because of him, I came out of everything, not exactly unscathed, but much better off. Even when he left for Fractured’s first tour, he checked up on me constantly. I’m not sure he would’ve even gone if I hadn’t convinced him I was okay with it. And I was, because I had a good group of friends, and I knew I’d be out of there as soon as I turned eighteen.”
Cassie squeezed Tori’s hand. It sounded a little like her experience. As soon as she’d been able to, she’d left home too. Not long after that, she’d followed Bryan across the country.
“Zac showed me what having someone really care about you and look out for you feels like,” Tori continued. “But he didn’t grow up with the same experience.Iloved him of course, but I was younger, so I relied on him. He didn’t have anyone that he could rely on. And our parents didn’t set a great example of a healthy, mutually supportive relationship.”
Tori sighed. “I worry about him, Cassie. He hides a lot of scars under the surface. He’s this famous rock star who acts like he’s got it all together. But it’s hard for him to really let people in. He’s convinced himself that being needed, or needing someone else, will only drag him down. The way it dragged our parents down. And then they dragged us down with them. I’m pretty sure it’s why he’s never been interested in a serious relationship before. As far as I’m aware, he’s never spent more than a few weeks with any woman. Even then, I’d put my money on the fact that it was probably just a temporary physical thing. He’s never brought anyone home. Never talks about the women he’s with. I’ve never even seen him hold a woman’s hand before.”
She smiled at Cassie, her eyes turning glossy again. “But now there’s you, and I can’t tell you how happy I am that he has someone to care about him. Someone to show him it’s okay to let himself be needed.” She reached out to squeeze Cassie’s hand. “And to let himself need in return.”
Cassie had grown more and more uncomfortable as Zac’s sister spoke. But at Tori’s last words, her stomach flipped. Zac hadn’t told his sister the truth about them. Tori had shared all this thinking she and Zac were actually a couple. She wrapped her arms around her waist. “I’m so sorry, Tori. I thought Zac had told you. He and I aren’t together. This”—she took a breath—“this thing between us, it’s not real.” She fought a sudden urge to cry. “It’s hard to explain.”
Tori’s brows shot up, then she let out a sad laugh. “No, he didn’t tell me that.” She exhaled. “I love my brother, and I know he loves me, but he rarely lets me know the details of his life.” She studied Cassie carefully. “But honestly, that makes more sense to me than you two being in an actual relationship.”
“It does?” Although, after everything Tori had just told her, that kind of made sense.
Tori let out a long, slow breath. “I told you that Zac doesn’t really let himself get too emotionally involved with anyone. Even with his friends, he keeps a little distance between them. He holds himself aloof, and that’s particularly true with women. I already mentioned that he’s never brought a woman home; it’s not how he works. But if you and he aren’t really in a relationship, I can see why he would think he could bring you.”
Cassie shook her head in confusion. “I don’t understand.”
“As crazy as it sounds, I think the fact he can tell himself it isn’t real is why he allowed himself to be vulnerable in front of you. Kind of like, um”—she squinted up at the ceiling for a second—“plausible deniability. That’s it.” She gave Cassie a little smile. “What you have may not be real now, but it doesn’t mean that will always be the case.”
She hated having to douse Tori’s hope. “I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
Tori cocked her head. “Why not? I can see you care about him.”
“You said he doesn’t want to be needed, and apparently…” The words caught in Cassie’s throat. “Apparently, I need too much.”
Tori held her gaze. “Zac might not admit it, but he needs someone who can show him that deep emotional connections make you stronger, not weaker. Maybe you can be that person, maybe you can’t. But the fact you’re sitting here next to me tells me you’ve got a better chance than any other woman he’s ever spent time with.”
Cassie was about to protest when the door opened, and Zac walked in. He stopped in front of her. “The jet’s ready to leave as soon as we get there.”
Tori and Cassie both stood. His sister’s expression had saddened again. “Iamsorry, Zac. I really thought things might be different—”
“It’s okay,” he cut her off, his smile softening his words. “You always did believe in miracles.”
Tori hugged him again, then Zac held his hand out to Cassie. “If we get to the airfield quickly, we might get back in time to make the show tonight.”
Cassie interlaced her fingers with his, a movement that was becoming far too comfortable. But she wasn’t going to stop.
Not now.
“I’ll call you soon, T,” Zac said.
Tori nodded, gave Cassie a smile, then headed back toward their father’s room.
Zac’s eyes met hers. “Let’s go.”
ChapterTwenty-Five
The bright white Hazard Records jet waiting for them on the tarmac stood out against the overcast sky. The weather matched Zac’s mood.
When they boarded, Zac sank onto one of the cream leather seats, signaling to the flight attendant for a drink. Cassie sat in the chair opposite him. He was grateful that the ride to the airfield had been quiet. He didn’t feel like answering questions right now. And he was sure Cassie would have them. How could she not?
