Page 103 of Racing Heat

I nod, clearing my throat. “Can I have a sip of liquid courage first?”

She’s brought a bottle of whiskey, and not the wine I requested. “I thought liquor might be better,” she says with a shrug.

“Thanks,” I mumble.

Hendrix pours the drinks and hands me a much fuller glass than they have. “You look like you could use it.”

I nod. “Thanks. But I think you all might need some more too after I tell you about what happened tonight.” Both girls look at me and nod. I take a deep breath and dive in. “I’ve been sleeping with Jase Ford. It started a few weeks ago. We’ve been going out to dinner together and having sex at his place. It felt very relationship-like to me. But tonight, August Cromwell caught us having dinner. He’s pissed. So, he’ll probably fire me, and I’m not sure what he’ll do to Jase.”

I look at both of their shocked expressions. I knew telling them was going to be like dropping a bomb. “I’m so sorry, Hendrix. I know you really like Jase, and I may have just ruined that for you too.”

Amelia places her arms around me and pulls me into a tight hug. “It’s going to okay,” she coos. She keeps repeating the sentiment, rocking me back and forth. I sink into her and let her comfort wash over me. It makes me feel the smallest bit better.

My phone ringing from my bag on the coffee table makes me sit me up and stare.

“Who do you think that is? Think it’s Jase? We were told not to go home together,” I sob.

Hendrix picks up my bag. “May I?” she asks, and I nod. She opens it and pulls out my phone. “It’s Mac.” She accepts the call. “Yeah, she’s here with us at Amelia’s. Sounds good. We’ll see you then.” She hangs up. “Mac is on her way.”

My phone is placed on the coffee table. I can see there are a few texts from Jase. I turn the phone over so that I don’t have to see it and I’m not tempted to read them.

“Did Mac know?” Amelia asks.

“Yes, but I didn’t tell her. Danny figured it out that night at the club. I guess he told her, or she figured it out too.”

“What happened at the club that caused Danny to figure it out?” Hendrix lowers herself to the floor across from us.

“We were dancing and ended up going outside and having sex in his car,” I admit.

“Was that the first time?” Hendrix asks.

“Yeah, it was.” I almost wish she wasn’t here, because I know this is hurting her too. Just in a different way. “I’m sorry, Hen. I didn’t mean to do this to you. Or hurt you.”

Hendrix shakes her head. “The last person you should be apologizing to is me. We don’t know what’s going to happen next. But either way, the only person I’m worried about is you. The rest can be figured out later.”

I nod. Leaning back into the couch, I cover my eyes. “How in the hell did I get here?”

“You started thinking with your vagina,” Amelia teases. “I mean, he’s cute and all, so who can really blame you. I always thought he was all broody and closed off. He had that strong, silent thing going on.”

“He’s like that until you get to know him.” I sigh and look over at her. “I really liked him. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not stupid. It’s not like I didn’t know that this could happen. But we got happy in our little bubble, and I convinced myself that somehow I would be okay. That we would figure it out. I was so stupid and very, very wrong!”

The door to Amelia’s bursts open and Mac rushes in. “Cassie, honey, are you okay?” She rushes over and wraps me into a hug.

Feeling her embrace wrapped around is enough to do me in. I sob all over again. The girls all wrap their arms around me, and the four of us stay like that until my tears and sobs slow.

“So, you knew?” I ask Mac when we all separate.

“Yeah, I knew. Danny let it slip. I was waiting for you to tell me when you were ready.”

“You’re not mad at me?” I ask her.

She shakes her head. “No, I’m not. I can’t believe you fell into the same trap that I did. Didn’t Danny and I teach you anything? You don’t fuck someone from work. It never ends well.” She reaches out and rubs my shoulder. “But I’m sure you already know that.”

I nod. “I’m not sure what’s going to happen now. Did Jase call Danny? Is that why you’re here?”

“Yep,” she confirms.

“How was he?”