7. Cassidy
Chapter 7
Cassidy
“ W ell, look who the cat dragged in?” Ryker says, pulling the door open to his house.
House is the choice word here. It’s a mansion. All of these players live in homes five times the size of the house I grew up in.
My phone goes off in my hand, and I look to see Lillian’s name lighting up the screen. I silence it. Telling myself I’ll call her back. She’s probably checking in about girl’s night tonight.
Keelan grabs Ryker’s neck and pulls him into a hug. “Ry… this is my friend, Cassidy.” The man is massive in person. I've seen him play plenty of times on TV but standing in front of him, I notice just how big he is.
Keelan may be tall, but Ryker is built.
I give him a small wave, hoping he doesn't notice how awkward I feel to be showing up here. And dressed like this. It's just not me.
Ryker gives Keelan a look before turning to me with an outstretched hand. “Hi, Cassidy. Nice to meet you. You're helping Hicks with the kids this summer, right?”
I nod. “That’s me.”
Another silent exchange between Ryker and Keelan.
“You going to let us in?” Keelan asks.
“Oh,” Ryker steps aside and motions for me to enter. He leans in to Keelan as he walks by, and I hear him whisper, “What are you doing?”
Keelan replies with a coy, “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Before taking my hand and leading me through the house to the outdoor area.
The party is decorated with giant palms and colorful tropical flowers. There’s a balloon arch that weaves around the entire backyard area. I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many balloons in one place and… omg is that an actual parrot?
One of the Heatwave players, Zane O’Connor, is chatting with someone, a beautiful grey parrot is perched on his shoulder like he’s some kind of hockey-playing Captain Morgan.
I catch a glimpse of a woman with long dark hair wearing a bright pink tropical dress and sporting the cutest belly.
“Iz!” Keelan waves to her and she looks around at the sound of his voice. She smiles and waddles to us, discreetly looking at me briefly as she approaches.
“What’s up, Kee! What do you think? Rina did pretty great, didn’t she?”
Keelan’s smile doesn’t waver. “She did. Only the best for my little sis.” He squeezes her and her eyes glide over to me.
“And you must be…”
“Cassidy,” I reach to shake her hand and she pulls me into an unexpected hug. “Oh!”
“We Landry’s aren’t handshakers,” Keelan explains.
She lets me go and looks me over. “Gosh, you are just so gorgeous.”
“Oh… thank you,” I say, brushing my hair behind my ear nervously.
“Isn’t she?” Keelan looks at me beaming. And I can’t tell if he means it or if he’s just playing along.
“Well, you two make yourselves at home. There’s drinks poolside. Food on the patio. And Muppet.”
I look around looking for muppets.
“Zane’s parrot," Keelan says. "Don’t get too attached. I tried being his friend, he’s kind of an asshole."
“A cute asshole,” Izzy adds.
"Zane… or the parrot?" I genuinely ask.
They both burst out laughing and I catch a few heads lifting to look at us. I chuckle but decide I shouldn't open my mouth anymore. Apparently I'm funny when I'm not even trying to be.
“I like her,” Izzy says, patting my shoulder softly and looking at her brother.
Michael Ferguson and Libby O’Connor make their way into the outdoor space and Izzy quickly dismisses herself to go welcome them.
“I’m going to grab us some drinks,” Keelan whispers before heading off to the drink table.
I admit, I'm embarrassed having to be around Michael. Considering not long ago–I took my shot with him only to end up being shot down.
And I wonder what he’s told his girlfriend about me?
I’m sure she thinks I’m the queen of puck bunnies. First interested in Michael, working for Hicks, but showing up here with Keelan. I’ve heard what girls say about those who hang around the hockey players a little too much.
Ugh. The optics aren’t great, I gotta admit.
“Well, hello.” A female’s voice purrs, breaking my train of thought. “She’s dressed in all white, with short bouncy brown hair and bright hazel eyes.
Rina Lopez. I looked her up earlier to see what I would be dealing with tonight. Of course, she's imitating and gorgeous.
“Hi,” I say with a smile.
“So you’re Cassidy Jones?”
“Uh… yeah. That’s me.”
Why am I so nervous around her? God, she’s even more intense in person.
From the dark lipstick down to her perfect manicure, everything about her screams femme fatale.
Keelan walks over to us and hands me a drink. “Rina,” he says by way of greeting.
She looks over at Keelan. “Nice shirt, Landry.”
I take the drink from him and he pulls me to his side with his now empty hand, “Thanks.” He beams.
A man approaches Rina from behind and he slowly wraps his arms around her waist, startling her. “Oh, hey!”
“And this is…?” Keelan asks.
The man extends his hand after giving Rina a quick peck on the cheek. “Redmond.”
Keelan takes his hand and gives him a stern shake. And I do the same, introducing myself.
Keelan’s deep in thought for a moment. “Don’t you play…”
“Soccer? Yeah.” Redmond says in a clear British accent.
“In Austin?”
“Also, yes,” Redmond says with a smile.
“So, what brings you all the way to Houston?”
Redmond pulls Rina to him and looks down at her like she’s the sun itself. “This beauty, of course.”
I swallow hard–instantly regretting saying yes to helping Keelan tonight.
I hate that I’m in the middle of what seems to be a very obvious pissing match between two athletes and the woman they both clearly like.
I’d much rather be home with Joshua and the kids. Cuddling up in the movie theater and watching… Initial…Z? Whatever the heck movie he was talking about earlier. At this point, I'd watch anything.
“You from England?” Keelan asks, before downing his drink in one go. I take a note from him and sip my own. Definitely alcohol. And I welcome the warmth as it travels down into my stomach to help calm my nerves.
“Wales,” the man says.
Keelan nods like that makes all the sense in the world.
“We should go greet the other guests,” Rina says, turning to Redmond. He nods and smiles at us. “Nice to meet you two.”
“Enjoy the party,” Rina says, mostly to me. She shoots Keelan a quick, knowing glance before turning away.
When they’re out of earshot, Keelan mutters. “I hate him. And his stupidly hot accent.”
I watch Keelan as he looks at the back of Redmond's head. He guides Rina around the room with his hand on her lower back. It reminds me of the way Joshua had his hand on my back showing me around the house when I arrived. It felt nice. Intimate.
And I have to shake the thought from my mind that he might've done it because he liked me. Obviously, he doesn't like me enough or he would’ve made a bigger fuss of me coming here with his teammate while he stayed home with the kids.
He did admit he was jealous. But then he had insisted I should come out with Keelan tonight. The signals I'm getting from him are too mixed to make any kind of sense. So, I focus my attention back on Keelan.
“I’m guessing you like Rina?” I say quietly.
He looks over at me and shrugs. “She deserves better, that's all.” But he doesn’t confirm or deny it.
A few of the guys make their way over to us. Zane–the guy with the parrot and his young son, Liam, talk to us briefly.
Liam is super cute, and I get the feeling that he and Maddie would hit it off. Zane’s wife, Kesley, walks in a little later, and she’s super nice to me.
Libby, Michael’s girlfriend, even comes and says hi. She’s all spunk and fiery red hair to match her personality.
I can tell everyone is making looks at us as they walk by. Like my standing next to Keelan at a team event is the world’s biggest no-no.
“How do you feel about shower games?” Keelan leans over and asks me.
“Considering I’ve had to sit through several of my moms and now my older siblings. I hate them,” I admit.
He smiles. “Me too. Wanna bounce?”
“Isn’t this your sister’s shower?”
“She’ll understand. Besides, I got her the best present.”
“What’s that?”
“Me, as an uncle to her child. Baby Stella will be extra spoiled for the rest of her life.”
“I think that statement deserves a cringe jar payment.”
He looks over at me and smirks. “Seriously?”
I nod and say with a grin. “You’re kinda cringe, team captain.”
“Dammit,” he mutters to himself. “And here I thought I was pretty cool.”
I take another sip of my drink. “Well then, that was your first mistake,” I say over the rim of my glass.
He taps the bottom of my glass, playfully, making some of the contents spill out. “Hey!”
“Come out with me. Let’s go dancing.”
As if Lillian heard his suggestion through invisible radio waves, my phone rings again.
How is it possible that in a matter of days, I go from barely being noticed to having multiple people fight for my time in just one night?
“I should answer this,” I say, handing him my drink and slinking into a corner.
“Hey, Lillian,” I try to cover my ears to hear her above the music.
She gasps, “You’re out without me, aren’t you?”
“Not exactly.”
“Not exactly? You ignore me all day. You don’t answer my calls. I can hear the sound of people having a good time. Are you with a guy?”
Keelan’s boisterous laugh breaks through the barrier I’m trying to form with my hands over the speaker.
“Not exactly,” I say again.
“Cassidy Jones… who even are you right now?”
I look down at my dress and heels and run my fingers over the lovebird necklace Joshua bought for me. “Honestly, I don’t even know.”
“Well, where are you? I’m coming.”
“I’m at a baby shower. For one of the Heatwave players and his fiancee.”
She pauses. “Seriously?”
“Yes, seriously.”
“Oh,” she says. “Well, meet me when it’s over. I need you, Sid. You’re bailing on girl’s night again and I’m beginning to think you’re making it a habit on purpose.”
My heart breaks for her. I know she’s lonely. But I really don’t feel comfortable going anywhere else tonight. There’s a seat in the media room with my name on it—and it's calling out to me.
“Another time, Lillian. I promise. It’s just been a long week.”
She huffs. “Fine, rain check. But no more ignoring me! Or I'll revoke your BFF card.”
We assure her we're still friends and hang up. Keelan walks up to me.
“Ready to go?”
I put a hand up. “Actually," I sigh. "I think I’ll just head back to the house.”
“But… you have the night off. Might as well take advantage.”
“I really just want to get out of these heels.”
He looks down at my feet and then back at me. “Okay. Well, I’ll drive you back.”
“No need. I think I’d rather just walk.”
He points to my heels. “In those? I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
But I feel the need for fresh air. And immediately.
“I’m good, Keelan. I’ll see you back at the house?”
He nods, reluctantly. “Ok, Cassidy.” I turn to leave without saying bye to anybody. I don’t feel like drawing in anymore attention than I already have.
The sound of my new heels against the pavement echo through the darkening sky. I can already feel a blister forming on the back of my foot and I realize I’m not a heel girl for a reason.
When I can’t take it anymore I slip them off and decide to walk the rest of the way to Keelan’s house barefoot. When I’m just a few hundred feet away I see the figure of a young man walking toward me.
I squint trying to make out who it might be at the end of the driveway. As I get closer, I see the hoodie and baggy jeans.
“Cole?”
He turns to face me and then looks down at my bare feet. “Uh… what happened to you?”
I shrug. “Left the party early. Are… you okay?”
He stuffs his hands into his pocket. “I don’t know.”
“Wanna talk about it?” I say, walking in step with him back toward the house.
“Joshua… I get that he didn’t know Dad like we did. But sometimes the things he says about him are just…” he hesitates but then decides to just say it. “Fucked up.”
“I’m sorry, Cole. You’re right. And you have to understand that Joshua’s hurting too. His hurt is just different from yours. You got to know your dad. You grew up with him. You got to see the good and the bad and all the in between. Joshua… well, he’ll always have a hole where your father would have been. I think he's probably trying to work through that.”
“Well. It’s not right for him to take it out on me. And it’s not right that Maddie and Parker don’t know he’s gone, gone. That's not fair for them."
I shake my head, “It’s not.”
He lowers his head. “Sometimes it just feels like I’m the only one who misses him. You know? Maddie and Parker are too little to understand. And Joshua seems to be just fine with my dad being gone.”
“He’s not… trust me.”
“Well, he acts like it anyway.”
“I guarantee you. It’s most likely a defense mechanism. Humans are complicated creatures, Cole. Sometimes what could be hurt comes across as anger or hate. Give him time.” We walk for a bit in silence.“Where are your siblings?”
“Passed out in the media room watching Ice Age.”
I give him a look that says, Seriously?
He laughs. “Yeah… because of the–”
“Giant sloth named Sid. That’s nice. Let’s pop some popcorn and watch something way more fun.”
He looks at me. Still solemn but he doesn’t say no. Instead, he opens the front door and let’s me in.