Cloud Riders(76)

‘One more hand, Woodsta, then we stop. I have to win,’ Cassie slurred.

Jason tried to explain to Woody that the bet was for Cassie to give them all a back massage, insisting that she had to stay for them to win this hand. They were hardly making sense and kept making Cassie laugh. Woody took the drink off her, sculling it himself and replacing it with a coffee. She took a sip of the strong brew and the room started to swim, so that was it for her. ‘I’m out, guys. Can’t spin and play at the same time,’ she moaned.

Getting up was more difficult. Slithering down the pillar, she grabbed Woody, who only just caught her. ‘She’s bloody paro. Who’s been making those drinks?’

The guy that made them ‘fessed up. ‘We were just trying to help your boys, man,’ he said, and Jason and Ethan tried to high-five each other, missing hands completely.

‘That’s real mature, Jason,’ Woody said. ‘Kayden, get up and look after your woman.’ Kayden stood up and came over to help with Cassie. He was a goner as well. Jason and Ethan both passed out on the table leaving Conor to help sort out Cassie and Kayden.

He put his arm around Kayden. ‘I’ll take the boss, you grab the girl,’ he slurred at Woody.

‘We’ll take them up to the guest room,’ Conor suggested and Woody nodded.

Conor and Kayden staggered up in front of them and as Cassie neared the top of the stairs, she felt suddenly ill.

‘I think I’m going to throw up, Woodsta.’

‘Shit, Cassie. You sure?’

‘Yep!’

He grunted and made a detour to the bathroom. When he came back for her, she had just started splashing her face and gargling with mouthwash. Even that made her dry retch. He frowned, seeing the shape she was in and suggested a walk.

‘No! You have your girlfriend here. Don’t be silly. I’ll be fine.’ Standing up with some scrap of dignity left, she tried to make it to the door but Woody caught her again as she stumbled. ‘I’m fine, Woodsta. Your dream date is waiting. Just take me to Kayden.’

‘You’re too far gone to go to sleep yet. Damn those guys! Jeez, I leave any of them for five minutes and they are up to no good.’

‘They’re incorrigible but I love ‘em,’ she slurred.

‘Well, your boyfriend’s no better. He should have been watching you.’

‘Woodsta, he’s my boyfriend but he doesn’t own me. I have to learn for myself. Go play nice with your friend. I’m fine really,’ she mumbled, thinking he understood.

‘You don’t need to learn how to become a bloody alcoholic, Cassie. None of us expects you to drink like this. You only need just enough to get happy and then you have to learn to stop.’

She nodded as he walked her down the stairs and out the front door. They walked for a very long time down a path before turning back. She was starting to walk better and her head wasn’t nearly as fuzzy.

‘Thanks, Woodsta. You’re a real sweetie,’ she said without the slur. It felt good to feel a little normal again.

He stopped and lifted her head to the moonlight. ‘Wow, not only are you looking better but I could actually understand all you said that time. What possessed you to drink so much, Cassie? I’ve watched you and you always know when to stop. What’s eating you up?’

She sucked in a gulp of air, thinking about this afternoon. ‘Kayden explained to me today that I’m different from other girls. You know, immortal like you guys. Your girlfriend Ella; she looked at me as if I was a freak and I felt like one. I’ll never again be normal like she is. Against her, I felt so insignificant, plain and inadequate. I was angry with myself for feeling like that so I kept drinking to make me forget. I’m no princess anymore, Woodsta. I used to have the prettiest clothes, shoes and makeup. Once I could have stood next to someone like Ella and felt an equal. I’m so sorry, I don’t mean to hang it on your friend but it just made me remember and I feel so stupid now I’ve sobered up.’ Cassie watched the change in his expression. ‘You’re disappointed in me, aren’t you?’

‘Cassie, I’m not disappointed. I just didn’t know you missed the dressing up bit. You never seem to worry and I never thought it might be a part of who you are. I never gave it consideration that there might be a part of your life that you did enjoy and miss. At the casino I remember now how perfect you looked with your uniform on and not a hair out of place. Sometimes boys can be so insensitive.’ He ran a hand through his hair, pausing to find the right words. ‘Sweetie, we have more money than you can poke a stick at and you only have to ask us and you can have anything you want. You shouldn’t ever be made to feel inferior to anyone. I’ll organise our designer to pay you a visit. Cass, you are our family now, the little sister we never had. Now I know how, can you please let us spoil you just a little in return for the joy you give us?’