Page 31 of Shattered Veil

“Mhm…let’s, er—bypass the text messages. Bypass last night.”

It was an odd sensation, the combination of relief and disappointment…the emotions that I typically found to be polar opposites were now washing over me in unison, and I struggled to focus on the first, for I shouldn’t have been disappointed. I laughed as if the action would force my former feeling to prevail over the latter, and though it sounded convincing, it did nothing of the sort.

“Bypass,” I noted. “Got it. How much did you drink?”

“Unknown,” she quipped bitterly. “I could check my receipt from the bar, but someone told Garrett they were paying for all of my drinks.”

“Ah,” I pressed my lips together tightly, remembering my stammering to the bartender as I moved for a quick escape. “Right. I think Garrett misunderstood that one.”

“Did he, now?”

“Mhm…I’ll send you a bill.” Her returning throaty laugh at my sarcastic remark—which I had no intention of following through on—made me smile. I asked, “You make it home?”

“Ah, no,” she returned. “Crashed at Liam’s. Driving would have been a poor choice.”

Though I knew she couldn’t see me, I nodded. Comfort at her decisions from the night prior aside, nerves settled into the pit of my stomach at her admission. I thought back to how Cassie had greeted me, trying to remember if she had used my name. If so, Liam and Zoey would most likely be curious as to why I was calling.

I tentatively began to ask, “Are, uh…Liam and Zoey—”

“They’re still asleep,” she interjected, the reason for my questioning clear in her tone.

My unease dwindled down to nearly nothing, and I muttered, “Mmkay.”

“So, I was thinking—you owe me.”

I responded slowly, “Sure, I do.”

“Luke and Claire made me aware that you could be of service to me,” she noted casually.

A smirk pulled at my lips. “Is that right?”

“Which is why I have your number,” she told me. “I have a bench.”

“A bench?”

“Er—swing. I bought a bench-swing thing that I want to hang on my front porch.”

“At this time of year?” I asked mockingly, “Are you going to sit on the bench when it’s snowing?”

“I don’t know! I wanted one ever since I moved in…never found the right one, and now that I did, I bought it on a whim.” Cassie continued, “It’s supposed to be nice out today…and there’s a storm coming in by tomorrow.”

“And you need help hanging it?” I assumed.

“Hanging it,” she stated offhandedly. “Building it—”

“It’s not built?”

“I’ve done half of it already! It’s just kinda a two-man job to get it hung, and it won’t take long to throw the rest of it together with two people. Liam said he’s busy with class, so he’s no help.”

It wasn’t at the forefront of my mind, but I did know that Liam was currently in school, studying to become a teacher for young children.

“Right…and it’s supposed to snow tomorrow?”

“Mhm. Has to be today…or weeks from now, probably.” Cassie whispered dramatically, “I’d much rather it be today.”

“Cassie,” I spoke her name in a soft laugh. “I’m working today.”

“I’m aware that you’re a typical guy with a nine-to-five job. I’m not working tonight—just come over after.” Cassie added in a sing-song tone, “You owe me…”

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