The Other Game (The Perfect Game 4)

“You’re okay. It’s okay.” Melissa reached across the table to grab Cassie’s hand, and Cassie’s eyes became glassy as she fought back tears.

I slid next to her and put my arm around her shoulders to comfort her. Pulling her against me, I told her in a low voice that it would all be okay as she worked on breathing normally.

A curvy blonde at the next table motioned toward us with a snide smile. “I guess if Jack dumped me, I’d date his brother too.”

“Shut up, you stupid tramp,” Melissa shouted, her face reddening. “All of you just shut the hell up and leave her alone!”

Brett and Cole had been sitting several tables away, but when they saw what was happening, they grabbed their trays and headed toward our table. A few girls tried to follow, but the guys told them to back off and announced loudly enough for everyone in the vicinity to hear that they weren’t welcome.

Cole sat down on the other side of Cassie, his eyes holding a different kind of pain. “We’re all really sorry about you and Jack, Cassie. If there’s anything we can do, just let us know. You’re still our family.”

Brett dropped his tray opposite Cole with a clatter, and his unopened can of soda fell over and rolled around. “Girls are such bitches!” he said loudly before plopping down, causing the whole table to vibrate.

“Hey!” Melissa smacked his shoulder.

“Present company excluded, of course,” he said sweetly with a wink in her direction, and the hairs on the back of my neck stood up at the attention he was giving her.

Then Brett focused on Cassie. “Good to see you, Cass.” He grinned and then bit off a monster-sized bite from his club sandwich, deliberately ignoring the bits of lettuce and tomato that fell out of his mouth as he tried to chew the ridiculous mouthful.

Brett’s antics were so comical that Cassie started laughing. It was a sound we hadn’t heard in forever, but once she started, she couldn’t stop.

“There’s the smile I love.” I nudged her shoulder with mine.

“Are you still working at that magazine?” Cole asked, flicking an unopened bag of chips across the table to Brett.

“Yeah,” she said with a wan smile. “They extended my internship another semester.”

It pained me to realize that even I hadn’t known that. With all the drama going on lately, I hadn’t even asked about it.

“And they’re sending her on an assignment!” Melissa squealed.

“They’re what? You didn’t tell me that.” I frowned, frustrated at how out of the loop I was.

“She just found out, Dean. Don’t get all pouty about it,” Melissa said, and I chucked a grape at her head.

Cassie nudged me, bringing my attention back to her. “I think it’s a test. They said they want to see what kind of emotions I can evoke in readers with my pictures.”

“What kind of what?” Brett’s face twisted in confusion.

Cole shook his head with mock dismay. “You’re such an idiot.”

“They said they wanted to see how I viewed the world.” Cassie shrugged. “So they’re giving me a chance to show them.”

Cole turned toward her, seeming genuinely interested. “That’s so cool. Do you think they’ll hire you?”

“I don’t know. I guess if they like what they see, but I still have a lot to learn. The photographers they have on staff are mind-blowingly talented. I only hope I’ll be that good someday. Plus, their main offices are in New York. The only people they have in LA are the head of sales, a research-and-development exec, some freelancers, and me.”

“Would you move to New York?” Brett asked.

Melissa seemed surprised, and Cassie met her gaze as she said, “Why not? You only live once, right?”

“Because it snows there, that’s why not!” Melissa exclaimed, and pushed out her bottom lip in a pout.

Those damn lips of hers are going to be the death of me.

“New York seems pretty cool.” Brett shrugged before finishing off his drink, and tossed the empty toward the trash can a few feet away. When it hit the edge and fell to the floor, we all burst into laughter and teased Brett about how much he sucked.

I was thankful it wasn’t me. I always fucking missed.