Chapter 9
Chapter Nine
Cassie
Safe behind the closed door of my room at The Dragonfly, I flop backwards onto the bed with a groan.
I need to give Liam a heads-up that Austin might call him for a reference.
Shit, Liam. I was supposed to text him when I arrived so he and Bailey would know I got here OK.
Damn it—I need to tell him about his poor car too.
Hastily, I pull my phone from my jeans pocket and dial.
“Finally. Did you get lost?”
“I wish.”
We switch over to a video call once I start explaining what happened. Bailey joins us, crowding into the frame at Liam’s side.
“Oh my God, are you OK?” she asks, grey eyes scanning what little she can see of me on the phone screen, which isn’t much. I rolled onto my side to get more comfortable, and I can see from the little box in the bottom of my screen that they’re being treated to an unflattering close-up of my face.
“I’m fine. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Liam’s car.” I grimace. “I won’t know how bad the damage is until I can stop by the garage to check on it tomorrow morning.”
“The most important this is that you’re alright and nobody was hurt,” he assures me.
“Thanks. I promise I’ll get it fixed as soon as I can.”
Liam’s brows knit together. “I appreciate that, but how are you going to pay for it? I didn’t think you had that much extra cash. Do you need me to send you some mon—”
“No,” I rush to reassure him. He and Bailey have done so much for me already.
Besides, I already owe him for the plane tickets and my room.
It doesn’t matter that we both know I’m good for the money, it still feels like taking advantage.
I got myself into this mess, I’ll get myself out of it. “Actually, I got a job.”
“A job? You? Doing what?”
“Hey, be nice,” Bailey scolds, elbowing him in the ribs.
“What? I’m surprised that’s all. Cass isn’t like us—she’s never had a normal job.”
“Really?” Bailey asks.
“Teen superstar, remember?” Liam reminds her.
“Sorry. I know you’re famous—I hear your songs played all the time and I’ve seen you on magazine covers—but I still struggle to wrap my head around it. You’re just Liam’s friend, Cassie, to me.”
“Your friend too, I hope.”
“Of course,” she quickly agrees. “But you know what I mean.”
“I do—and thanks.” Liam really is lucky to have her. Bailey loves him for who he is, not for what he does or what she can gain from his celebrity.
“So, what’s the job?”
“The owner of the bar I crashed into is letting me work off what I owe as a server. He said I could stay on for the summer season too if I decide to stick around. He hates me—understandably—but his mum seems nice and it’ll be a good way to save up whatever I need for the car repairs.”
“Not to be rude, but um… does he know you don’t have any work experience?” Bailey asks, concern making her muscles tense.
“Oh, that reminds me. Liam, I put you down as a reference. If Austin calls, you were my supervisor when I worked as a waitress in Nashville, OK?”
He barks out a laugh. “Really?”
“I had to give him something, right?” I reply sheepishly.
“What am I missing?” Bailey looks between me on screen and Liam at her side.
“You know we met when Cassie guest-starred on Country Hearts?”
Bailey nods.
“Her character was a waitress.”
“You listed your character’s job as work experience?” She looks torn between being shocked and impressed by my audacity.
“I had to give him something,” I repeat sounding more confident than I feel. “It’ll be fine.”
“Bloody hell. OK, obviously you need some pointers, or it’s going to be obvious you’ve never worked as a server before.”
“That’s what’s so great about this,” I reply excitedly.
“There’s staff training for everyone on Tuesday because the bar’s having a soft reopening next weekend before the big reopening event the week after.
Everyone needs to learn the new till system and familiarise themselves with the updated menus.
I’m not the only one who won’t know what’s going on. ”
Bailey doesn’t seem convinced. “That’s good, I guess, but there are still some basics you need to know to fit in.”
“Like what?”
“Always have two pens, paper, hand sanitiser, and a spare hair elastic in your apron.”
“Why two pens?”
“In case one runs out or someone less prepared ‘borrows’ your pen and ‘forgets’ to give it back.”
Seems unlikely, but whatever, that’s easy enough. “Got it.”
“Oh, and make sure you have comfortable shoes.”
“I have my trainers and boots with me. I’ll be fine.”
“Do you know how to carry more than two plates at once?”
Liam snorts, and I glare at him through the screen. I had to learn how for Country Hearts but wasn’t very good at it—the most I ever managed was three. “I can do three. Most of the time.”
Liam’s shoulders shake with silent laughter, and I just know he’s remembering all the plates I dropped while we were filming. Traitor. He’s supposed to be on my side here.
Bailey shrugs. “That’ll have to do. Just remember, the customer is not always right. Obviously, do your best to accommodate people, but if someone’s being rude or unreasonable, you can absolutely tell them where to shove it.”
“I’m sure Austin would love that.”
“From what you’ve said, he doesn’t sound like the type to take any shit, so he can’t get pissed off at you for acting the same way,” Liam replies.
“Good point,” Bailey agrees.
We’re getting off track. “So if he calls, you’ll tell him I used to work for you?”
Liam grins. “Best server I ever worked with. He’s lucky to have you.”
It’s my turn to scoff. “Maybe don’t lay it on so thick. Bailey’s advice and training aside, this is still going to be a learning curve for me. Just tell him I’m competent, a team player, and good with customers.”
“Oh, is that all?”
“Yes, thank you,” I reply primly, pretending to be oblivious to his sarcasm. My stomach growls. “I need to figure out where I’m going to find something for dinner.”
“OK. I’ll let you know if Austin calls. Be safe and keep us updated.”
“Will do. Thank you again—both of you—for helping me.”
“Anytime,” Liam chirps, eyes sparkling with amusement. “Bye, superstar. Have fun with your reverse Hannah Montana moment.”
He hangs up, and I’m left rolling my eyes at his joke alone in my silent hotel room. My stomach growls again but, now my friends are gone, the idea of moving from this spot feels like too much work.
Mum had me going non-stop since the last night of my tour.
Between all the public appearances, interviews, and photo shoots, as well as preparing for this trip in secret, I haven’t had a moment to just be.
Bailey filled my rucksack with snacks for the drive here that remain untouched.
They won’t make for the healthiest dinner, but if it means I can stay in my room instead of going out and being around any more people, then I think it’s a fair trade-off.
Decision made, I roll off the bed. I’ll shower, change into my pyjamas, then have a snack picnic on my bed. Maybe I’ll even start one of the new cross-stitch kits I packed. Most importantly, I won’t have to speak to another human being until tomorrow morning.
* * *
Austin
“Are you finally going to tell us all what happened earlier?” Reggie asks before taking a sip of his beer. As is our Sunday night tradition, we’re once again gathered around our usual table at Quill and Dagger.
“What?” Jer asks, looking between the three of us in confusion.
Dev shrugs at him. “Don’t look at me.”
I scowl at Reggie, but he’s unaffected. The mess at Bowman’s is the last thing I want to talk about during our game night when I’ve already been dealing with the fallout all afternoon.
Still, now he’s put it out there, I know I won’t get a moment’s peace until I tell the others what happened.
You wouldn’t think it to look at them, but these three live for good gossip.
While I hardly think this qualifies, Reggie clearly does.
When I’m done explaining where things stand, the three of them look at each other before dissolving into a round of guffaws.
“Let me get this straight. Some tourist crashed into your bar and you, one of the grouchiest people I have ever met, ended up giving her a job?” Dev asks incredulously, his broad swimmer’s shoulders still shaking in the wake of his laughter.
I sigh. “Mum wanted to help her out. Besides, I don’t think she has car insurance—she asked to work off the cost of repairs instead of going that route.”
“Is that not a little strange?” Reggie asks.
“Yes, but Mum insisted on hiring her. She’s already given me enough to cover the cost of the heater she wrecked, so—strange or not—at least she’s taking responsibility.
” I shrug, pretending to be less bothered than I am.
The sooner I convince them everything’s fine, the sooner we can change the subject to literally anything else.
“I’ll call her reference tomorrow morning to make sure she won’t be a complete nightmare, then she’s joining everyone for the training session on Tuesday. ”
“Fair enough,” Jeremy replies. “You were hoping to find someone else for over the summer, anyway. Do you think she’ll stick around that long?”
“I don’t know. Cassie said she might. We’re going to talk about it after her first full week of shifts. She’ll have worked off what she owes by then. Her car took some damage—it won’t surprise me if she stays on to earn enough to cover the repairs.”
“Can’t she just use a credit card?” Dev asks.
“Maybe she’s worried about paying off the bill?” Reg replies.
“I’m not sure she has one or a UK bank account. The reference she gave was for a job in the US, and she said she’s only using cash for this trip.”
“She’s American? Can she even work for you without a work visa?” Jer asks.
“She has a British passport, so we’re good there. Honestly, I don’t know what her deal is, and I don’t care. As long as she’s a decent worker, I don’t need or want to know anything else about her.”
“OK then,” Reg drawls, onyx brows raised. He reaches for the pack of cards in the middle of the table, and I let out a sigh of relief as his nimble fingers start shuffling the deck, putting an end to the conversation.
“You’re going down this time, Jer,” Dev says, cracking his fingers and rolling his shoulders like he’s limbering up.
“It’s good to aim high. I hope you’re fostering that kind of positive attitude in the kids you coach,” Jer replies with a shit-eating grin. While he’s hopeless at Monopoly, Jer’s been our group’s undefeated Uno champion for months.
“Keep talking a big game, man. The higher you fly, the harder you fall,” Reg quips, already dealing out the colourful cards.
“Please, I’m flying so high none of you fuckers are gonna catch me.”
“You’re quiet, Austin. Think tonight’s the night you’re going to beat Jeremy?” Dev asks.
“Nah, he’s already accepted defeat,” Jer teases.
“In your dreams,” I reply, shaking off my negative mood. The bar will still be there tomorrow. Tonight I want to be present with my friends. Who knows, maybe one of us will finally trounce Jeremy at Uno—now that would really lift my spirits. “Let’s play.”