Present Day…
“I’m so glad you decided to take Nick and me up on coming out with us tonight,” Gabby chortled broadly, tossing her straight black mane over one shoulder. She directed her eyes toward her blonde-haired best friend sitting nonchalantly on a bar stool next to her.
“I am too. This is just what I needed,” Cassie responded, lifting her glass of white wine to her mouth to take a sip.
“I could not agree with you more. I think we both need a good looking man to tell us how pretty we are and show us a good time.” Gabby showed a high-spirited grin.
Cassie shook her head. “That’s not what I meant. I’m not here in search of a man; I’m not interested in a relationship right now. I have enough baggage in my life as it is. I definitely don’t need anymore. I just came for the good company, but it also doesn’t hurt to browse the eye candy even though I’m not looking to go home with anyone tonight. After all, I’m not blind yet.”
She was referring to Gabby and Nick; the trio had been friends since they were five years old. She and Gabby had been friends for too long not to have some of her men antics rub off on her. Yellow Valley was too small of a Texas town, where you always knew everyone residing here, and your personal business didn’t stay personal for very long. Sometimes Cassie wondered if the townspeople discovered information about her life even before she did.
“Of course, your reason for ditching the track pants in favor of a sparkly dress has nothing to do with a certain tall, dark, brown-eyed man being back into town. Mm, yeah, I would want to distract myself too. We don’t want Yellow Valley’s golden-boy interrupting your life again—not when you’re just now getting over him in the first place and moving on with your life,” Gabby said. “Lord knows, he’s done enough damage already.”
Everyone knew Cassie’s ex-boyfriend. He was the town’s local hero. He was a resident boy who was the only person to ever make the big leagues in the NFL—the only big thing to come out of Yellow Valley really. His name was legendary around town thanks to his starting position with the Miami Dolphins, but to those who personally knew of Jordan Castillo, he was simply once known as Cassie’s boyfriend, and the one who got away.
“May I say—he also happens to be a very good friend of mine,” Nick interrupted, speaking for the first time since they arrived at Mickey’s Tavern, one of the only places you could go to unwind from the workweek.
Gabby rolled her eyes, shaking her head at Nick.
“I think you mean you used to be good friends. Not anymore—since he ditched us for his fancy football scholarship at the University of California. When was the last time you talked to him? He was my friend too…until he dumped Cassie through a freakin’ text message. Now I’d like to kick his ass and give him a piece of my mind for breaking my friend’s heart the way he did.”
Nick grasped the handle on his mug of beer, ready to take a sip of beer. “Whatever, but just so you know, I didn’t decide to come hang out with you ladies tonight so you could discuss how you’re interested in hooking up with other men. I think you’re both forgetting something very important here,” said Nick.
“What’s that?” Gabby questioned him in a challenge-like tone.
For as long as Cassie had known Nick and Gabby, they were always testing the water with each other through their quick-witted banter aimed at each other amongst challenges and dares to outwit and outsmart the other. Relationships were never their strong suit, opting to go for something much more casual but they each thought they were better equipped to be in a relationship than the other.
Nick pulled the sleeves of his crisp, blue, collared shirt up around his elbows. “I’m a building contractor and I’m fit. I can kick any guy’s ass that messes with my friends. Besides, I’ve known the both of you for a very long time. I know things about you. I’m sure you wouldn’t want me spilling them to other people.”
“And as much as I would love to hear all about what you know about us, I’m going to stop you right there,” Cassie interposed, and then turned to Gabby. “I’m flattered you’re willing to help me find a good looking man to date, but it’s not necessary, because I’m not interested in dating anybody right now…and it’s not because I’m still hung up on Jordan. I’m simply content in my life at the moment. While the little time we’ve been here has been fun, I’m going to have to be the party pooper of the evening and say I’m leaving now.”