Chapter 18
***Cass***
“Do you need to change?” Hayes looked down at my shorts and t-shirt with doubt in his gaze.
I took a deep breath and held it. I had changed, out of my scrubs and into what I thought would be an acceptable outfit to wear to a party.
It was just a house party. I didn’t exactly have a cheer team making sure I was pretty enough to join the Ford brothers.
Not anymore. It was just me since Aunt Jolene had been gone that morning when I grabbed my extra clothes.
I thought of the entire chapter in PR lady Kate’s folder regarding my wardrobe and felt shame wrap around me. Apparently, a woman worthy of the Ford brothers dressed a certain way. Sighing, I shrugged. “This is what I was going to wear. Is it a fancy party or something?”
He was in really nice chinos with a button-down shirt. The sleeves were rolled up but he looked so much nicer than I did. “No, it’s fine. I didn’t mean-”
“Can you drive me home?” I didn’t want to make a fool of myself more than I already had. I’d be able to pick something better once I was in front of my closet. Surely.
“It really isn’t a big deal, Cassidy.”
“I can just drive myself.” I wouldn’t hate the space and time away from him and his brothers. “I’ll just meet you at the party.”
“No, we’ll drive you. Come on.” He waited for me to grab my bag and then we walked away from my brand new physical therapy office. I’d stayed late making sure everything was right where I wanted it. It felt perfect and I had an extra pep in my step that no amount of hatred could crush.
Cash was sitting in the front seat and Weston was driving again, his cowboy hat on the dashboard.
I climbed into the backseat and held my bag on my lap.
After Cash and Hayes stuck up for me that morning I felt warmth towards them that I didn’t want to feel but it was there.
I knew that they’d probably just done it for looks but they didn’t have to.
Weston sure hadn’t. He’d just stood there, letting his friends say horrible shit about me.
“Head to her house.” Hayes reached up and slapped Weston’s shoulder. “Cash said your aunt threatened to cut off his dick and feed it to us.”
I laughed and felt some of the day’s tension fade. Aunt Jolene had my back. No matter how lonely I felt on campus, I had her. “She probably wasn’t joking.”
“No, I didn’t get the vibe that she was joking. She hates us.” Cash rolled his window down and hung his arm out. He had to raise his voice to be heard over the rushing wind. “By the way, why was attending a party together on your date list? Surely you went to parties at USC.”
I considered pretending that I hadn’t heard him.
I didn’t want to think about my date list or why the simplest things were on it.
It was pathetic. During my entire time at USC I’d never arrived at a party with Cole.
He was always with someone else, or one of the guys.
I’d watched plenty of other girls show up with him.
They’d have their arms linked through his and he’d usher them into the house ahead of himself, like he was showing her off.
He’d been proud of having those girls on his arm.
I’d longed to be that special to him. Pathetic.
“Cassidy?”
I shook my head and pinched my thigh to get my head away from Cole. “I like parties.”
Hayes met my eyes and raised his eyebrows. “You like parties?”
“Yep.” That was all I was going to say. I stopped any other questions by rolling my window down, too. I leaned my head against the door frame and closed my eyes as the wind whipped my hair around. It stung my face and made my eyes water but it was cathartic. I felt free for a few minutes.
When Weston parked in front of Aunt Jolene’s house I jumped out and said I’d be right back before running into the house.
Aunt Jolene still wasn’t home but I would’ve even taken fashion advice from Elvis if he’d been around.
I stood in front of my closet and chewed my thumb nail.
I had a lot of athletic wear and a lot of lounge wear.
The only nice things I had were dresses I’d worn for homecoming in high school.
“Need help?”
I jumped and spun around, shocked to see Hayes in my room. “What are you doing?”
He leaned in my doorway and smirked at me. “You look panicked.”
“Why are you in my room?”
He pushed away from the door and walked closer. “I’m in your room because I thought I’d be helpful and tell you what everyone else will be wearing. Dresses. Short ones. Like the one you wore the night we met.”
I crossed my arms and scowled. “That one was borrowed.”
“Can you borrow another one?”
“Not likely. Everyone hates me now. If they did offer to share a dress with me I’d be terrified it was coated in itching powder.” I turned my back to him and acted like I was unbothered. “Also, fashion isn’t a good enough reason to let yourself into someone’s house.”
“Just wear what you have on then. It’ll be great.” I could feel him backing away as he spoke. I’d clearly crossed what he was comfortable with.
I went to my dresser and grabbed a tank top. “What about this? It’s not a dress but I’ll have skin on display. Does that work?”
“Try it on. Let’s see.”
I held up a white tank top and turned to face him. “You want to leave?”
He shook his head. “I’ve already seen it all, sweetheart.”
Instead of letting him embarrass me I called his bluff.
I yanked my t-shirt over my head and then unhooked my bra.
It was clear he hadn’t expected me to strip by the way his mouth had dropped open.
I didn’t linger; I pulled the tank top on and adjusted my boobs before reaching up to let my hair down.
“Good enough?”
Hayes reached up and scratched his jaw. “Yeah. That definitely works.”
“Alright then. Lead the way.”
He tipped his head forward and when he glanced up at me through his lashes with a devastating smirk twisting his lips, I felt dizzy. “Ladies first.”
I held my breath when I moved past him, doing my best to not let any part of me touch any part of him. He ruined my plans when he lightly gripped my upper arm and tugged me to a stop. I made the mistake of looking up at him without bracing for his blue eyes.
“Today, with those guys, was rough. Are you okay?” He sounded sincere but I couldn’t trust it.
“Come on, Hayes, you don’t have to pretend like you care.
No one’s watching.” I pulled free and hurried to the front door.
Before I could open it Hayes snapped his arm out over my head and braced his hand against it.
He was close enough behind me that I could feel his body heat and it warmed me too much, too well.
I leaned my forehead against the door and sighed.
“You hated me yesterday. Please don’t make this hurt more than it already does. ”