Page 34 of The Perfect Melody

Rude. I mean, he’s got a fair point, but still. I’m not used to people being so blunt with me. Usually everyone around me is tripping over themselves to make me happy. This is kind of fun.

“What are you smiling about?”

I wipe the stupid grin off my face. “Nothing. So, are you driving me back to the B&B, or are we going to sit here bonding all night?”

Predictably, he scowls, then starts the engine and pulls out onto the road without another word. Yep, no kind of about it, this isdefinitelyfun.

Chapter Fifteen

Cassie

My backand feet still ache when I wake up the morning after the soft opening. I allow myself to languish in bed for longer than usual—something I can do now the only schedule I have to adhere to is the Bowman’s work rota. Speaking of the bar, my first shift went surprisingly well, even if it took me a minute to get into the swing of things.

Once I made it through the first wave of customers without any major incidents or anyone seeing through my Clark Kent-style disguise, my confidence grew. I even felt a spark of enjoyment. It shouldn’t have taken me so long to place the emotion, but it took me by surprise. How strange that back in Nashville, as the girl who had everything I felt so empty, but working in a bar in a town most people have never heard of, the heavy blanket muffling all my emotions is gradually lifting.

The only dark clouds over the night—aside from the literal rain clouds that rolled in at some point later in the evening—were Molly’s continued snotty attitude towards me and when I dropped that plate of food. Luckily you don’t get anywhere in the entertainment industry without learning how to handle bitchy behaviour, and Mei assured me that my dropping a plate of food wasn’t the end of the world. At first, I thought she was onlysaying that to make me feel better. If I’d fumbled a prop that badly during one of my shows, Miranda would have read me the riot act, but even Austin didn’t give me a hard time about it.

I still can’t believe he offered me a ride. Though I hate to admit it, the more I get to know Austin, the more tolerable, maybe even…likeablehe gets. My thoughts drift back to how good he looked holding the passenger side door of his SUV open for me. Droplets of rain clung to the ends of his softly curling copper hair, and his Bowman’s t-shirt stretched tightly over his broad chest…What the fuck? No. Hellno.I refuse to do something as idiotic and embarrassing as developing a crush on my new boss. Hard pass.

My phone buzzes with an incoming text, and my heart lightens when I see Bailey’s name on the screen.

Bailey:

How did your first shift go? Can you feel your feet yet?

Touched that she thought to check in on me, I’m quick to reply.

Me:

I survived!

I did drop a plate though. Don’t tell Liam. Also, you were totally right about the pen thing btw.

Molly ‘borrowed’ mine early in the shift and never returned it. Luckily I’d done as Bailey advised and had a spare, otherwise I’d have been left with nothing to take down orders with. What’s even more irritating is that later I saw her using a pen with my fucking Melody Night branding on it, so I can only imagine her taking mine was a pathetic attempt at sabotage.

Bailey:

your secret’s safe with me. Ffs there’s always a pen thief.

Me:

I’ll take your word for it. In this case I think it was less about the pen and more about annoying me.

Ooh spill the tea. Who do we hate?

Her name’s Molly and I don’t hate her. Intense dislike is more accurate. Literally everyone but Austin can see she has a thing for him. She didn’t like that he spoke to me in private on the training day, so now she’s being petty.

My mood darkens as I remember Molly saw me get into Austin’s car last night.Ugh, she’s going to be even worse now.

Bailey:

Did he now?

Me:

Don’t even. He wanted to know what size shirt I needed for my uniform.

OK. So… is he hot then?