Page 19 of Just Between Us

My Favorite Person

Thought maybe you could use some company tonight after all this. You should come by.

I stare at the text longer than necessary, my heart kicking upin the startling way it does when it comes to Liam. He thought to check in on me, not out of obligation, but simply because he wanted to. Should I go to the bar when my brother might need me? If history has taught me anything, it’s that Austin pushes me out when he’s spiraling. But he asked me to leave him alone, and I need to respect that. Hovering over him will only make things worse.

You think your bar is the cure for my stress today?

Liam replies with one single text that manages to light up every frayed nerve in my body.

My Favorite Person

No. I’M the cure for your stress. Old Town Tavern just happens to be where I’m standing. I’d love to see a gorgeous brunette walk through those doors.

hmmm…if I see one I’ll send her your way. lmao

The next text is one of Liam with his lower lip jutted out, and a smile drifts onto my face, despite the stress of the last hour. He warned me he’d still flirt.

Be there soon.

My Favorite Person

Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.

I’m not going anywhere. I don’t know what it is about those four innocuous words. I know he means he’s working and he’ll be there all night, and still, butterflies do a little jig in my stomach anyway. I’ve noticed throughout our conversations this week, Liam manages to hit this place somewhere betweenplayful and sincere. I’m not sure I’ve ever met anyone quite like him.

Glancing down at the same athletic shorts and oversized concert tee I’ve been cleaning in, I briefly consider choosing something different to wear. But I just can’t find it in myself to care. It’s not like I’m trying to impress Liam, or anyone else at the bar. Cleaning clothes it is.

I’m grabbing my purse when I receive another text from Liam containing a photo of a stool at the bar, a handwritten sign taped to it that reads:Reserved for a hot brunette.

My Favorite Person

Saved you a seat.

I grin at the text, but my mind is still on my brother. Once outside, guilt hits me again. I cross the driveway to the kitchen window and peek inside. Austin still sits right where I left him at the kitchen table, head in his hands. His phone is lying face up on the table, so I go to our text thread and shoot him a text.

You sure you’re good? I’m really worried about you.

Austin picks up the phone, one corner of his mouth lifting and the tension in my shoulders loosens a fraction.

Austin

I’m okay, Cass. Please don’t worry about me. Tyler and Kate are working on it.

I let out a shaky breath. Standing here, peeking in on him like a stalker, isn’t helping him or me. If I don’t go to the bar all I’ll do is sit up in the apartment reading comments on the photo, getting more and more pissed with each one. With my mind made up, I decide to take this offered distraction.

Even if that distraction is six-foot-three inches of charm named Liam Davis.

“Sheila,are we out of those muscadine seltzers? Someone just ordered the last one in the fridge.”

Despite her bad back, and me telling her I had things covered, Sheila is still in the storage room, lifting boxes she has no damn business lifting.

“Woman!” I say, snatching the box from her hands. “You’re doing too much. Now, sit”—I point to the rolling desk chair—“and boss me around from there. I’m here to help.”

Chuckling, Sheila shakes her head and points to a box with the seltzer logo on the side. I grab it and head to restock the fridge, eyes flicking toward the door every few seconds. I’ve lost count of how many times this week I’ve talked myself out of seeing Cassie again. She’s in my head even when I’m not texting her, and this is not like me. If I’m not recording at the studio, I usually dip out of Singing River and all the memories it contains. My escape is Nashville, barhopping on Broadway, flirting too much, and warming beds I have no business being in. Not that any of that ever fixes the problem for long anyway.

But not this weekend.

No, this weekend I’ve had other plans. Plans I didn’t mention to my brother, Ryan, when I texted to let him know I’d bestaying in town. This weekend I’ve been dead set on seeing exactly one woman, come hell or high water.