Page 23 of Palm South University: Season 2

She just shakes her head. “This is unreal.”

“Are you okay?”

Skyler nods, hard, for longer than necessary, her eyes still trained on the commotion outside. “Yeah. I just, I need a minute.”

“Sky?” Clinton walks briskly toward us, engulfing Skyler in a crushing hug as soon as he reaches her. Her tiny hands grip his massive, dark arms and it’s then that I see her shaking slightly. “Come on, follow me.” He pulls her in closer. “Adam, can you go check on Cassie? She was freaking out waiting for Skyler to get here but I don’t think she’s going to calm anyone down like this.”

I give him a curt nod, leaning in to kiss Skyler on the forehead. “Do you want me to come with you?”

She shakes her head slightly. “I’ll be fine. Go help my Little. Please. I just need…” she trails off, trembling more. Clinton curses.

“Go, Brooks. I got her.”

And I know he does, no one loves Skyler the way Clinton does. Still, I feel uneasy not being the one taking care of her right now. “Okay. I’ll find you two in a minute.”

Clinton tugs Skyler through the already packed bar and once they’ve disappeared, I make my way toward the stage where the KKB girls are setting up. Luckily, I run into Erin first, and she ushers me backstage to where Cassie is waiting after I tell her what happened with Skyler.

“Just don’t be back here long. My Big doesn’t like anyone seeing the girls before they go on stage.”

“Sounds like a strip club.”

Erin smacks my arm with a smile, though her face is pale, eyes watery. She doesn’t look like the normal Erin Xander I’m used to seeing.

Cassie is pacing in a small space back near the bathroom, chewing her thumbnail with a contemplative look on her face. I can’t help but take her in as I make my way toward her. She’s not in a dress, but rather a tight, white pencil skirt and hot pink tank top with heels to match. Her bright red hair is pinned up, a few stray tendrils falling to frame her face, and her usually soft green eyes are glowing fierce against the dramatic makeup she’s applied. Stuffing my hands in my pockets, I clear my throat when I reach her.

“I feel like I should save that freshly manicured nail from the wrath of your teeth.”

Cassie chews for a second longer before stopping, her wide eyes finding me. She looks absolutely petrified.

And it’s fucking adorable.

When she realizes it’s me, I notice her face fall a bit, and I can’t deny that it stings.

“Is Skyler here?”

“Yeah, but she needs a minute. We kind of got attacked by paparazzi on our way inside.”

Cassie’s mouth drops. “Oh my gosh. Is she okay?”

“A little shaken, but she’ll be okay. Bear took her to get water and calm down.”

She nods, but her eyes gloss over a bit and she goes back to chewing her thumb.

“Talk to me,” I say softly, nudging her with my shoulder as I lean casually against the wall. She drops her hand from her mouth, her green irises roaming over me. I can’t tell how I feel about it. She’s either checking me out or questioning whether she can trust me.

Maybe both.

Sighing like I’m her last option, she leans back against the wall next to me, blowing air through her lips.

“I don’t know why I let them talk me into this. I am literally the worst person for the job. I hate being the center of attention, I blush pretty much anytime someone looks at me, and on a scale of one to sexy I’m at a solid awkward turtle ninety percent of the time.”

I chuckle, crossing one arm over my lower chest and bringing my opposite hand to cover my smile. Cassie glares at me, and I know she aims to intimidate me but it only breaks my resolve and makes me laugh. So, naturally, she smacks me across the chest.

“I’m serious, Adam.”

“I know, I know,” I say through my laughter. “It’s just that all of those things are exactly why any guy out there would be lucky to win a date with you tonight.”

Cassie’s arms are crossed, a frown firmly in place, but she softens a bit at my words. “I beg to differ.”