17. Harle
HARLE
W ell, this was nice. Just two friends, hanging out at the local bar on a Friday night. It was also a terrible idea. Squished into two tiny stools, people crowded around, so I couldn’t avoid inhaling Cassidy’s intoxicating scent, or feeling her thigh pressed against mine.
I leaned back, savoring the last bite of my buffalo wing. The tangy sauce lingered on my tongue, a perfect match for the cold beer in my hand. Cassidy wiped her fingers on a napkin, her cheeks flushed from the spice and alcohol.
“These wings are addictive,” she said, licking her lips and making my pulse leap. “I can see why you come here.”
“Told ya. Best wings in Plymouth.”
The door swung open, and a gust of laughter swept in. A group of women stumbled inside, their voices rising above the low hum of the bar. They tottered towards us, clearly having started their night elsewhere.
“Oh my God, Harle!” one of them squealed, spotting me. “What are you doing here?”
I recognized her as one of the servers from the local coffee shop. “Hey, Jen. Just grabbing some wings.”
The women crowded around, their perfume mingling with the scent of beer and hot sauce. Cassidy shifted on her stool, her leg pressing harder against mine.
“Who’s your friend?” another woman, Nikki, who also worked at the cafe, asked. She was eyeing Cassidy with tipsy curiosity.
“This is Cassidy. Cass, this is Jen, that’s Nikki, and I’m sorry, but I don’t know anyone else.”
Jen took over the introductions while Cassidy smiled politely. I could feel her tension as the women’s gazes darted between us, clearly trying to figure out our relationship.
“Are you two on a date?” Jen asked, her words slightly slurred.
I froze, unsure how to answer. Cassidy and I exchanged a quick glance, panic flashing in her green eyes.
“Not a date date,” Cassidy clarified, her voice light. “Just friends hanging out.” She turned to Jen, smoothly changing the subject. “How about you guys? Looks like a big night out.”
Jen’s face lit up. “It’s my birthday!” she announced, swaying slightly. “We’re bar hopping.”
Cassidy raised her mug in toast. “Happy birthday to you!”
“Thank you!” Jen beamed, then focused on Cassidy more closely. “Hey, you should have a drink with us!”
“Oh no, that’s okay. I wouldn’t want to intrude.”
“Come on, it’ll be fun!”
“Just one won’t kill you!” Nikki put in. “It’s for Jen’s birthday!”
They were acting like they’d known Cassidy for years and would be devastated if she said no.
“Pleeeease!”
Cassidy laughed. “You know what? Sure, why not?” She slid off her stool, steadying herself against the bar. “A birthday drink sounds perfect.”
Jen squealed in delight, linking arms with Cassidy as Nikki clapped her hands and the other girls cheered. “Awesome! Let’s do shots!”
As the group of women squeezed in the bar, Cassidy leaned closer to me. “I hope you don’t mind. She reminds me so much of Hannah, I couldn’t say no.”
“Hey, you’re here for a good time, to let loose. And I seriously doubt I could hold a candle to this lot, in that department.”
“Thank you.”
The smile she gave me had my heart squeezing so hard I could barely breathe.
“No problem.”
“Here you go, Cass! Tequila slammer for ya.”
I watched as Nikki lined up the shot glasses, her unsteady hand sloshing tequila onto the bar. Cassidy stood sandwiched between me and another girl, looking both amused and slightly overwhelmed.
Nikki raised her glass. “Alright, ladies! Three... two... one... GO!”
The women tipped their heads back in unison, downing the shots. Cassidy’s face scrunched up as she swallowed, making me chuckle. She caught my eye and grinned, shaking her head slightly.
“Woo!” Jen hollered, slamming her empty glass on the bar. “Another round!”
One of the other girls, I think her name was Amy, waved at the bartender. “Six more tequila shots, please!”
He obliged, lining up a fresh set of glasses. Cassidy leaned in close to me, her breath warm on my ear. “I haven’t done shots since college,” she whispered, giggling.
Before I could respond, Nikki was already counting down again. “Three... two... one... DRINK!”
Once more, the women knocked back their shots in perfect synchronization. Cassidy’s eyes watered as she set her glass down, but she was laughing along with the others.
“Another!” Nikki shouted.
“No!” Cassidy yelled over the din. That had my eyes widening.
Jen frowned. “What the fuck? You’re not giving up already?”
“Absolutely fucking not! But you gotta have a cock sucking cowboy. This one’s on me.”
The girls cheered, making Cassidy laugh. Moments later, the drinks were laid out and knocked back in seconds flat.
Cassidy hiccupped as she slammed the glass back down on the bar. “Fuck, I’m a bit of a lightweight these days.”
I felt her sway against me, her balance clearly affected. Without thinking, I reached out to steady her, my arm wrapping around her waist.
“Whoa there,” I murmured, leaning in close so she could hear me over the din of the bar. “You okay?”
She giggled, her eyes bright with alcohol-induced amusement. “I’m fine, just a little... wobbly.”
“Next round’s on me! Who wants beer?” Amy called out.
“Me!” Cassidy yelled.
Another chorus of cheers went up from the group. Cassidy didn’t join in, instead leaning more heavily against me. The warmth of her body seeped through my shirt, and I fought to keep my breathing steady.
“I think I might need to sit down,” she mumbled, her words slightly slurred.
“You are sitting down, darlin’.”
“Oh. Fuck.” Another giggle. “Okay, well I think I might need to…” She leaned into me, her head resting against my shoulder. “You wanna know something?”
“Mmm?”
“I’m not really a hugger.”
“No?”
“Nope. Don’t really like it. Do you?”
There was a note of uncertainty, of vulnerability, in her tone that made me want to do just that. Wrap my arms around her and hold her close. More than anything. “Yeah, I’m a fan.”
She snuggled a little closer, still without going all the way in for a proper cuddle. “Thanks, Harle.” Her voice was so soft I had to bend my head to hear her. “You’re always looking out for me.”
The simple statement hit me like a punch to the gut. I swallowed hard, acutely aware of every point of contact between us.
“That’s what friends are for, right?” I managed to say, my voice sounding strained even to my own ears.
Cassidy hummed in agreement, her eyes drifting closed for a moment. The bartender arrived with a tray of beers, setting them down in front of the rowdy group of women.
I felt like I was on fire. Cassidy’s warm body pressed against mine, her head still resting on my shoulder as she sipped her beer. The girls around us chattered and laughed, but I could barely focus on anything beyond the woman in my arms.
“This is nice,” she murmured, her breath tickling my neck. “You’re comfy.”
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Glad I could be of service.”
She giggled, the sound vibrating through her body and into mine. “My own personal Harle-chair.”
She settled back against me, seemingly oblivious to the effect she was having. I took a long pull of my beer, desperately trying to cool the heat coursing through my veins. But with every casual touch, every innocent shift of her body, I felt myself falling deeper into a pit I wasn’t sure I could climb out of.
One of the girls stumbled over to the jukebox in the corner. After fumbling with some coins, she managed to select a song. The opening notes of an upbeat pop song filled the bar, and suddenly all the women perked up.
“Oh my God, I love this song!” Jen squealed, grabbing Nikki’s hand. “Come on, let’s dance!”
Before I knew it, the entire group was moving towards the small dance floor near the jukebox, dragging Cassidy with them. She resisted for a moment, swaying slightly as she steadied herself against the bar.
“You coming?” Hiccup.
I’d never expected to find hiccups adorable, but here we were.
I shook my head, chuckling. “Nah, I think I’ll sit this one out. You go have fun.”
She shrugged, smiling hazily at me. “Your loss.” The other girl tugged on her arm and she was off, joining the others on the dance floor.
I couldn’t take my eyes off her as she started to move to the music. Her hips swayed in time with the beat, her arms raised above her head. The other women formed a circle around her, all of them laughing and singing along to the lyrics.
Cassidy’s face was flushed, her hair slightly mussed from the heat and movement. She looked free. Uninhibited in a way I’d never seen her before. It was mesmerizing. Bringing her out tonight was the best idea I’d had all year.
Bringing Cassidy out tonight was the worst idea I’d had all year. The past hour I’d spent watching her dance was absolute fucking torture.
I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her as she swayed to the music, her blonde hair catching the light. Every move she made was hypnotic, and I found myself gripping my beer bottle tighter with each passing minute.
After what felt like an eternity, Cassidy broke away from the group and made her way back to the bar. Her cheeks were flushed, and a few strands of hair clung to her forehead. She sidled up next to me, her body pressing against mine as she flagged down the bartender.
“Having fun?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
She grinned at me, her green eyes sparkling. “So much fun! Thank you for bringing me here.”
With one arm wrapped around my shoulders, she leaned into me as she waited for her drink. The scent of her perfume mixed with the faint smell of sweat from dancing filled my sense, making my head spin.
Her fingers traced patterns on my arm. “You’re the best, Harle. You know that?”
I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to wrap my arm around her waist and pull her closer. “Appreciate it, darlin’.”
“It’s nice when you call me darlin’. No one ever called me darlin’ before. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t know that, no.”
“Well that’s fucking weird. I thought you were a smart guy.”
“Sorry to disappoint.”
She giggled, tapping her finger to my nose. “You’re a funny guy. A fun guy. You’re a mushroom!”
“You’re hilarious.”
“I know!”
The bartender set Cassidy’s drink in front of her, but she made no move to take it. Instead, she nuzzled closer, her breath warm against my neck.
“Cass—”
Cassidy’s eyes lit up at the opening notes of a familiar song. “I love Olivia Rodrigo!”
“Cass! This is our jam! Get over here!”
Without a word, Cassidy snatched up her drink and bounced away from me. I felt the loss of her warmth immediately, suddenly cold where she’d been pressed against me.
On the dance floor, Cassidy moved like she didn’t have a single care in the world, her arms in the air, her hips swaying with the rhythm. She was still laughing with her new friends, spinning in lazy circles as the music thumped around her. I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
Then the song changed.
At first, I didn’t notice a shift. She kept dancing, her movements loose and carefree, but something about her expression started to falter. It was subtle, like a light dimming behind her eyes. Her smile softened, then faded entirely, replaced by something else.
The music built, the singer’s voice raw and biting, and Cassidy’s steps became jerky. She stopped spinning and stood still, staring at the floor as the crowd swirled around her. I straightened in my seat, my hand tightening around the neck of my beer bottle.
“Cassidy,” I murmured under my breath, like she could hear me over the music.
Her new friends didn’t seem to notice. They danced on, bumping into her with playful nudges, but Cassidy wasn’t moving anymore. She pressed a hand to her stomach, the other gripping her beer bottle so tightly I thought it might shatter.
The lyrics were venomous now, the singer practically spitting out words that hit like daggers, and Cassidy’s face twisted into something raw. Pain. Anger. Something deeper and uglier than anything I’d seen in her before.
I set my beer down and stood, my heart hammering as I took a step toward her.
She suddenly moved, tilting her head back to drain the last of her drink in one long swallow. Then she lowered the bottle and stared at it, her chest heaving as the music reached its crescendo.
I froze mid-step, watching helplessly as Cassidy’s shoulders rose and fell with each labored breath. The lyrics were something about a blood sucker, a dream crusher.
And then it happened.
With a guttural sound that barely registered over the pounding music, she raised her arm and hurled the bottle against the wall. It exploded on impact, sending a spray of glass in all directions. The whole bar seemed to freeze, heads snapping toward the commotion. My breath caught as I took in Cassidy, standing in the center of the floor, chest heaving, her face pale except for the vivid flush of her cheeks.
“Cass!” I called, pushing through the frozen crowd toward her, my pulse roaring in my ears.
The crowd parted for me as I moved toward her, whispers buzzing like flies around me. The girls had formed a misshapen circle around her, unsure what to do. People were staring, but I didn’t care. My focus was on Cassidy, standing there trembling, her arms wrapped around herself like she was trying to stop herself from falling to pieces.
When she saw me, her face crumpled. Before I could say a word, she grabbed fistfuls of my shirt and gave me a weak shove, her eyes anguished.
“Why did he do that?” she demanded, her voice cracking. “Why did he do that to me?”
My chest ached like she’d driven her fist straight into it. I covered her hands with mine, steadying her trembling fingers as she buried her face against me. Her whole body shook, and I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her close.
“I don’t know, darlin’,” I murmured into her hair. “I don’t know.”
She sobbed into my chest, her breath hitching as I held her. The music still thumped in the background, but it was distant, like it belonged to another world. Here, it was just me and Cassidy, and the pieces of her that felt like they were breaking apart in my arms.
I rested my chin lightly on top of her head, cradling her as the crowd around us watched in silence.
After a few moments, her breathing began to steady. I loosened my hold just enough to tip her chin up, but her eyes wouldn’t meet mine. She looked drained, like every bit of energy she had had been wrung out of her.
“C’mon,” I said softly, brushing a stray strand of hair from her damp cheek. “Let’s get outta here.”
She nodded wordlessly, and I tucked her against my side, keeping a protective arm around her as we made our way to the bar. People looked away as we passed, their gazes sharp with curiosity or pity, but no one said a word.
At the bar, I grabbed my jacket and Cassidy’s purse, slinging it over my shoulder.
“She okay?” Pete asked.
“I don’t know. Sorry for the mess.” I pulled a hundred dollar bill from my back pocket and dropped it on the bar.
“Fuck off with that,” Pete said, pushing it back to me.
“Just take it.”
Cassidy didn’t even glance up, her head still ducked low as she clung to my side. I shot Pete a quick nod before guiding her toward the exit, feeling the weight of every eye in the room on us.
The cool night air hit us as soon as we stepped outside, and Cassidy sucked in a shaky breath. I held her closer, steering her toward the truck. We’d deal with the broken pieces later. Right now, all that mattered was getting her home.
The drive was heavy with silence, the only sound the low hum of the engine and the occasional sniffle from Cassidy. I glanced over at her a few times, but she kept her face turned toward the window, her arms folded tightly.
When we pulled into my driveway, I killed the engine and got out, coming around to her side and dragging the door open. She climbed down on unsteady legs, wobbling slightly as her boots hit the ground.
“Whoa there,” I murmured, steadying her with a hand on her arm.
“I’m fine.”
Clearly, she wasn’t, the way she was slurring her words. Or when she took a step, she stumbled. Fuck it. I scooped her up in my arms. She let out a soft noise of protest, but I ignored it, holding her close as I carried her inside.
The living room was dark, save for the soft glow of a lamp I’d left on earlier. I kicked the door shut behind me and made my way to the couch, easing Cassidy down onto the cushions.
She groaned softly, draping an arm over her eyes. “I hate everything.”
“I know, darlin’.” I crouched down to tug off her boots. “Let’s get you sorted out.”
She didn’t fight me, just lay there motionless as I pulled off her second boot and set it aside. Her hair was a tangled mess, her cheeks streaked with the remnants of tears.
“I’ll be right back.”
In the kitchen, I filled a glass with water, grabbed a bottle of aspirin, and returned to find her still lying there, one arm slung over her face.
I sat down on the edge of the couch. “Cass. Take this.”
She peeked out from under her arm, her green eyes glassy. “You’re bossy,” she mumbled but sat up enough to take the water and pills from me.
“Yeah, well, I’ll deal with the fallout later.”
Eyeing me blearily, she swallowed the aspirin and chased it down with the water. Then she handed the glass back to me and flopped back down, curling on her side to face the back of the couch. She let out a shaky breath, her fingers digging into the fabric of the cushion.
I heaved a sigh, grabbed the throw blanket from the back of the couch, and draped it over her, tucking it around her shoulders. “Get some rest.”
Cassidy didn’t respond, just shifted slightly, her breathing evening out as she sank further into the couch.
With a final glance at her, I stood and headed toward the bedroom. Sleep didn’t feel like it’d come easy tonight, but I figured I’d try anyway. She needed space, and I needed to figure out where we were going to go from here.