Page 102 of Racing Heat

“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go explain to my date why I no longer have an appetite and that we’ll have to reschedule.” August walks away in a huff without waiting for us to respond.

Jase motions toward our server to bring us the check.

“I’m going to call an Uber,” I tell him, pulling out my phone.

“I can take you home,” Jase replies quickly.

“No, I think I’ll be taking an Uber.” I request I ride. “I’m going to wait out front.”

“Cassie, wait. Can’t we talk about this?” Jase pleads.

“I’m sorry, we can’t. We’re just so fucked right now.”

He sighs. “I’m sorry.”

“I’m not mad at you. I’m mad at the situation. And right now, the only thing I want is some space. So please give that to me while I wait to see what my fate holds.”

I leave him sitting there. I hear him say my name, but I don’t look back. I have to get home and have the colossal freakout that I’m currently internally having, because I may have just ruined my career and my life.

Chapter Thirty-Five

~CASSIE~

The ride back to the apartment is a blur. The Uber driver thankfully doesn’t talk to me. I just sit there numb, tears streaming down my face. It all blew up tonight. Just when we tried to be a normal couple, we got caught. He got cocky and thought he found the perfect place for us to enjoy a date together. It looked perfect. There shouldn’t haven’t been any issues. But clearly he didn’t think it all the way through.

“Here you go, ma’am,” the driver says, turning around. He shoots me a look of pity as I collect my bag and get out of the car.

“Thank you,” I mumble. I have no idea if he heard me or not. I make sure I hit the button to tip him before closing the door and walking away.

I scan the cars in the lot to see if any of my friends are home. I don’t want to be alone right now. I want to cry and rage to someone who might comfort me. They’ll just have to get over the fact that I lied to them about what was happening first. Mac’s car isn’t here, though I didn’t expect it to be. She’s with Danny. But I spot Amelia’s, so I make my way to her apartment. I knock lightly on the door.

She calls, “Coming” from inside the apartment.

The door swings open. Amelia is in sleep shorts and a tank. “Hey, Cassie. Are you okay?”

I shake my head, and a fresh sob comes out. “No, I’m not. I screwed up so bad.”

“Who’s at the door?” I hear Hendrix call.

“Come on inside.” Amelia puts her arm around my shoulders and leads me into the apartment. I sink into her and let her guide me to the couch.

“Cassie, are you okay?” Hendrix asks when she sees me coming into the living room.

I just shake my head.

“Have a seat here. Let me get you some water.” Amelia moves to head into the kitchen.

“Can I have something stronger, please? Maybe wine?” I ask her.

“Sure.” Amelia hurries off.

“Bring the bottle,” Hendrix calls after her. “Looks like it might be that kind of a night.”

I just nod. I’m glad Hendrix is here, but at the same time, I don’t want to admit to her what I’ve done and that she could be losing a coach that she loves having. Will August fire us both? I have no idea what the ramifications could be. He didn’t really say, either. There’s no way the conversation we just had is the last of it.

Thinking back, he didn’t demand that we do anything. Just that we went home, and not together. The thought of that causes a chill to run down my spine.

Once Amelia is seated beside me with a glass and a bottle, she turns to me. “Can you talk about it?”