“Let go, man.” I free my hands and wrestle Cole off my back as I watch the dust evaporate in Cassidy’s wake. She’s long gone, and as soon as she left, she took my heart with her.
“I was just doing what Roxy told me, dude.” Cole helps me to my feet. “I’m sorry things worked out this way.”
“Yeah, well”—I sigh into the plume of dirty country air settling in the distance—“things aren’t over yet.” Not by a long shot.
“Are you okay?” Piper pulls me back and flattens her hands over my shirt as if ironing out the wrinkles. The party is in full swing with most of the guests circulating freely throughout the property. Bryson, Holt, and Cole stand on one end of the porch with their arms folded tight with concern. From over Piper’s shoulder, I spot Wyatt and Blake ready to charge.
Crap. I want to be anywhere but here right now.
“I’m fine.” I pull Piper to the side, and Owen follows. “Where do you think she went? Can you call her? I need to speak with her right now.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” Piper pulls out her phone and takes a few steps away.
I look to her guilty other half. “Dude, you knew.” I’m not shitting around the bush with Owen. “That day at my house, you didn’t say a word.”
Owen glances skyward with the slight look of remorse. “I didn’t know what was happening until we were taking off. Cassidy made it clear she didn’t want Rex or me interfering. This is between you and her. I didn’t even tell Piper. I figured it would all come out in the wash.”
“It sure did.” A lungful of air expels from me as Wyatt and Blake descend on us.
“What the hell was that about?” Wyatt isn’t amused by the drama. He seldom is, so I don’t find it surprising.
Piper pops back, “She’s not picking up. But I’ll get ahold of her.”
Wyatt turns his concern to her. “What happened, Piper? Tell me right now.” Wyatt has always been more of a father figure than that of my own—ironic since my father and mother are somewhere on the grounds roaming around. Not that I want them to take part in any of this.
Piper glances my way briefly. “Apparently, Hot Buns here has been luring my best friend to his place and having his way with her—nightly!” She smacks me on the arm. “Pig!”
“I’m not a pig. And it didn’t quite work that way. She’s a grown adult who chose to leave out the tiny detail that she was your roommate, and looking at the way you’re behaving, I can’t blame her.” I just wish to God she had mentioned it at some point. “And what’s going on with Sammy? How did they meet?”
“Beats me! Why don’t you ask her yourself?” She glares at the house as if it was my cake-laden ex.
Blake leans in, and it’s only then I notice he’s holding the baby in his arms. Baby Ben has large, serious eyes, a perfect smile laden with drool, and he’s the spitting image of his daddy. When Blake’s brother died, Blake took on the full responsibility of raising his kid. Ben is just now starting to walk, but he’s still held as much as he ever was.
“Dude”—Blake gives a hard blink—“can I do anything for you? There’s a chick in there with cake all over her hair. Do you want me to give her a ride home or something?”
“No, I got this.” My heart fills with grief over the fact Cassidy is out there somewhere nursing a wounded heart, and that in some unwitting way, I played a part in it. “I just thought if I asked my ex here I could get her to see how much Cassidy meant to me. And then, of course, I didn’t invite Cass… I never meant for her to get hurt, or for Cassidy to get her heart broken over something that’s not even happening.”
“You’re not mad at her, are you?” Piper tips her head to the side, but something about the gesture seems manufactured as if she’s asking for Cassidy.
“No. Please tell her I am not mad. I am in love with her, and I’m only sorry I didn’t get to tell her first in person. Please, Pipe, do not rock the boat any more than it already is.” My hands secure themselves over her shoulders, and I steady my gaze into hers. Sometimes, you need to treat Piper like the kid she is. “Look at me. Do not make this worse. I love that woman, and I do not want her broken-hearted. As soon as you find out where she is, I beg of you to tell me. I have to see her—today. There’s a lot that needs to be said, from both sides.”
“I can’t believe you love Cassidy Clayton—my roommate, my best friend.” Piper’s eyes fill with tears. “This is the best birthday present you could have ever given me.” She wraps her arms around me tight. “Why would she hide this from us?”
“Do you really need to ask?” I pull back and frown at the powder keg of a birthday girl before me. “What would you have done if she said she wanted to date your brother?”