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Seth was the most dangerous one of all. I thought I needed to be careful around Justin, but Seth was a hundred times worse.
My mind flashed to the invitation sitting on my desk, reminding me of what was coming this weekend. I let out a breath of air, but didn’t turn to face Seth as he continued to stare at me.
Maybe I should take the plunge? I already knew the event was going to be difficult for me, more difficult than it had been in the past considering what had happened this summer. “What are you all doing Saturday evening?”
He shrugged. “Nothing that I know about.”
“Did they tell you about my job?”
He nodded.
Of course they did. I was sure they couldn’t keep a secret from each other even if threatened with death.
I respected that, but at the same time hated it. I watched them and could see the ease of their conversations. They were impossibly close with each other, sharing everything. And I mean everything. Toby really liked to talk. I seriously didn’t need to know if they preferred boxers over briefs. Or which way they liked to… hang.
Yeah, no. Too much information.
“Saturday, I’m performing at a charity event held by Hope’s Embrace. They hold it every year and like to ask me to come perform every time. Do you guys want to come?”
“Hope’s Embrace?”
“It’s a, uh, foundation that helps with those who have faced sexual assault, domestic violence, or child abuse. This particular event is to help build awareness of child abuse. I play some songs on the piano and then sing for them. They record the event and it plays as a live special on one of the big television channels to reach out to more people. They also stream it online.”
Seth smiled. “So you will become a star.”
I snorted. “Never. I usually get asked for more appearances after the event each year, but I keep my jobs local for the most part. Or at least within the state, which doesn’t say much. I’ve had some performances in New York City, but I stick to small events. I’m not up for becoming any kind of star.” I snapped my mouth shut before I kept rambling. I was nervous and embarrassed and scared. I never asked others to come to events for me, but I felt them coming was right. Some part of me was screaming that I needed them. I’d only known them for a short amount of time, but I was weirdly comfortable with them. I didn’t think of them potentially hurting me. I felt that they would never do that. They were too nice. Too… understanding.
“Cadence.” Seth leaned forward until he was close enough to give me a clear view of those honey brown eyes. They were currently more golden as he tried to get me to understand how sincere he was. “We would love to come. I’ll let them know, and we’ll be there. We will support you. Always. Just like we support each other.”
I flashed him a weak smile, not sure how to take his words. Was he saying they wanted me around more often? I knew I was stiff. I didn’t talk a lot and was more focused on work or homework than on them. I’d even been abrupt with them a few times. And yet they were still around and enjoyed keeping me company.
It hadn’t been a week since I’d met them and yet they were willing to do that for me?
“Thank you.” My words were thick with emotions I couldn’t really put a name to because I never felt them before. Gratitude, maybe?
“You’re welcome. Now let’s enjoy this weather while it lasts.”
I released a laugh, feeling lighter than I had all week.
Maybe having them in my life wasn’t going to be too bad. Support, he said.
They wanted to support me.
I liked the sound of that.
Chapter Sixteen
The rest of the week blew by too quickly. Before I could take in a calming breath, getting used to my routine, it was Saturday, and my nerves were back to running overtime. A good twelve out of ten if anyone bothered to ask where my nerves landed on a scale. The boys were excited about my performance and never stopped talking or texting about it all week.
I had woken up this morning with a whole slew of texts about it, my tired brain too slow to really process what they were asking me. Even Calvin managed to talk Paxon into bringing him, though I saw some hesitation in Paxon’s agreement. But Calvin had his big brother wrapped around his pinky and knew how to get what he wanted.
Apparently, the crowd worried Paxon and also the topic of discussion for the night. Child abuse wasn’t something people could easily stomach, and Paxon didn’t want the event to bring up bad memories for Calvin. I didn’t know what kind of bad memories, and I was too scared to ask. That little guy was so sweet and it ached to think that he had been hurt in his past. I wanted to ask, but at the same time I understood what kept stopping me. Bad memories were personal, something people only talked about because they trusted their confidante. I’d only known these guys for a week. I knew they didn’t trust me like that. Hell, I didn’t trust them like that either.
But I was giving them a peek into my inner demons. All they had to do was listen properly.
I smiled down at the texts as I waited in a makeshift dressing tent put up behind the stage. The entire event was taking place outside. I was impressed that the weather even held, the clouds dark and heavy.
Paxon:Calvin says he can’t wait to watch the most beautiful woman in the whole wide world perform today.
