“It’s their Original Content Division,” she added. “I haven’t done any research yet. I’m in shock, you know?”
“Yeah. I know.” So was he.
“Dash, you didn’t answer me. What do you think about it?” she asked.
Oh, no. He wasn’t going to make a decision for her. “More importantly, what do you think about it?”
She bit down on her lower lip. Again. “I don’t know. On the one hand, I’ve committed to Sasha already. On the other, it’s a huge opportunity.”
He nodded, noticing she hadn’t mentioned him. He forced out his next words. “I agree.”
“And maybe I owe it to myself to hear them out?” She sounded tentative yet … Netflix.
Jesus. He ran a hand through his hair and glanced down. Her poor hands were getting a workout, and he placed his palms over her contorted fingers. “I think that’s a smart idea. You don’t want to look back and have any regrets.”
And he didn’t want her to blame him for a missed opportunity, which she might if he asked her to stay. Even if he did want to get down on his knees and beg, he couldn’t hold her back. For once in his life, he needed to be selfless, not selfish.
“I see.” She slid her hands from beneath his. “You don’t want me to stay?”
“Of course I do. We’re good together, but you need to decide after you’ve heard what Netflix has to offer. I want you to be happy, Cass. And to follow your dreams.”
She blinked, nodding at his words, her face a blank mask. “You’re right. I’ll talk to Sasha and let her know what’s going on.” She rose to her feet and he immediately stood. “I’m glad we’re on the same page,” she said softly.
They were so far from being on the same page it wasn’t funny, Dash thought.
She rushed to the door, and he walked her out, standing on the porch as she waved before climbing into her car. And as she drove away, his stomach felt as if it had been scooped out and dumped in the trash. Doing the right thing had never hurt as badly as it did now, and given the last week, that was saying something.
He loved her and he hadn’t told her. He’d encouraged her to go listen to a job offer on the other side of the country, and she’d readily agreed. Was this Karma for his behavior toward women in his past? Was it what he deserved because of what had happened with Billy?
He shook his head hard. He hadn’t even had a chance to tell her about his meeting with Heather. Maybe that was a good thing since he was probably going to have to get used to doing things on his own and coming home to an empty house.
And an even emptier bed.
Chapter Twelve
Dash had let her go. He hadn’t even attempted to ask her to stay.
Cassidy waited until she’d turned the corner and was out of sight of his house before pulling over and letting the tears flow. Although she hadn’t let herself admit it, she’d wanted him to ask her to stay. To put them above everything else because he loved her.
There was a voice in her head that asked why she hadn’t just told him she loved him. But then she thought about his life as a famous rock star who’d never had a relationship, had never wanted one, and she couldn’t help but need for him to put himself out there first.
She’d given him the chance, too. Not just by telling him about the offer but by asking him what his thoughts were about it. He’d thrown the choice back at her, which, of course, made sense. It was her life, her offer. But she couldn’t help but think, maybe this job offer had made it easier for him in the long run. Just like maybe her travel with Sasha had made it simpler for Adam to find the woman he actually was meant to spend his life with. After all, she and Adam had been together almost four years and he hadn’t asked her to marry him. Not that she’d wanted to but that wasn’t the point.
She drew a deep breath and headed to Sasha’s to talk to her and let her know she was going to fly to LA and see what Russell’s offer entailed. She had no doubt her friend would understand.
As for Dash? Cassidy chalked it up to yet another disappointing experience with a man—except this one had broken her heart.
* * *
The next day, the band gathered in the studio, excited to pick up where they’d left off yesterday. Well, Jagger, Mac, and Axel were bouncing and ready to go. Dash was in a crappy mood from lack of sleep and losing the woman he loved. No, she hadn’t definitely taken the job, but from the way yesterday’s conversation had gone, he had no idea if, should she decide to stay in New York, she’d be coming back to him.