All the Right Moves(48)
Now, all she wanted to do was leave. The lack of sleep combined with her disappointment in Tommy was really getting to her. Five minutes ago she’d decided she was done calling him. She’d already left four messages, and continuing the nonsense was only hurting her. Each time she’d hit speed dial her stomach cramped. At this point, her precious study time wasn’t the only thing slipping away. So was her relationship with her brother.
Before, when they were kids, and even in later years, up to and including his tour in Iraq, Tommy would’ve done anything for her. Anything.
She mourned that closeness they’d once shared. She hated that she couldn’t count on him for even simple things. And she very much hated that John knew Tommy had failed her.
Straightening her shoulders, she went back to her post and filled the hell out of Lisa’s order. Thank goodness she wouldn’t have to use the blender again, but there were far too many people ordering cocktails instead of beer.
“Cassie?”
At the sound of John’s voice she met his worried gaze. He motioned for her to join him.
Grabbing a damp rag, she stopped to wipe the bar between him and the other two customers because it was needed, and not as an excuse to go to John. Screw that.
“Hey.” She glanced at his mug. He’d barely touched his beer.
“What’s going on? You look like you’re in a daze.”
“I am.” She tried to shrug it off with a laugh that fell flat. What was nice, though, was that she felt better being this close to him. Being able to see the details of his handsome face, seeing the concern that lingered in his eyes. Uh, maybe that she could do without. She focused on wiping the counter.
“You get a lot of studying done?” He moved his hand across the bar as if he wanted to touch her, but caught himself.
“I fell asleep. Did a face-plant in my book.”
“Oh, Cassie.”
She shrugged. “Last night...” Keeping her voice low and throwing a quick glance over her right shoulder, she said, “I wouldn’t change anything.”
His gaze stayed on her face. “I was selfish. I’m sorry.”
“Hey, I just said I wouldn’t change a thing.”
He smiled a little. “You look beat.”
“Yeah, well, I’ll probably take a nap when I get home. Just an hour, and I’ll be good to go. I’ll do a quick review of the material.”
“What time is the exam?”
“Nine.”
John sighed, then frowned at his watch. “When can you get off?”
Hell, this is what she’d dreaded. “Soon.”
“Is Tommy in the back?”
Shaking her head, she looked toward the pool tables. It was crowded back there, too. She knew there were a lot of quarters lined up as folks waited their turns. When she glanced at the group in the front room, she caught Gordon and his cohorts staring at her and John. Her shoulders slumped. She didn’t even have the energy to volley a glare.
“Where is he?” John’s features had tightened, the tic at his jaw pronounced.
“Don’t, okay?” She heard Lisa call for her. “Just don’t.” She locked gazes with him for a second, hoping he received the message that she really needed him to back off, then she left to fill the latest order.
“What did you say to him? He looks mad.” Lisa had come around to wash glasses while Cassie got to work pouring four gin and tonics.
“It’s nothing. He just—” She sighed, pausing to sort out how much she wanted to admit. “He knows about my exam tomorrow.”
“Tommy still hasn’t called?”
Cassie knew better than to attempt constructing a whole sentence. It wasn’t so much that she feared every cuss word she knew would likely come out, but that she might burst into tears. Instead she kept her head down, knowing Lisa would get it.
“I wish I could handle the place by myself,” Lisa said, the sympathy in her voice not helping Cassie remain stoic. “Sometimes I can, but not tonight.”
“It’s okay, really.”
“I should pull Lou or Spider from the back. They drink enough, they should know how to bartend.”
“No.”
“Use me.”
Cassie and Lisa looked up at the same instant.
John stood directly in front of them on the other side of the bar. “Let me cover for you, Cassie,” he said, the softly spoken words affecting her in startling slow motion.