Page 98 of Just One Night Together

“Of course, we’ll miss you,” Cassie said. “You’ll have to call in and keep us updated.”

“No, actually, that’s the thing.” Damon told them the last detail. “They control the environment completely. I need to surrender my cell phone when I check in.”

“Social media withdrawal!” Kyle said and pretended to twitch. “I’d never survive a day, let alone a month.”

“Meesha might drop into a coma,” Cassie said.

“I can take a book,” Damon told them.

“Hard core,” Theo said.

“He was a Marine,” Cassie chided. She met Damon’s gaze steadily. “I think it’s great that you have this chance for a new therapy and that you’re asking for help. I also think it’s awesome that you confided in us.” To Damon’s surprise, she gave him an impulsive hug. “I feel like we’re becoming friends now.”

“Oh, so now you’re going to show him your new tattoo before I get to see it,” Kyle said, coming around the table to clap Damon on the back. Ty shook his hand and Theo gave him a hug. He felt like he had a support network.

One he’d always had, but never dared to use.

It was just the way Haley had said it would be.

“It’s still puffy,” Cassie complained.

“Bull. You just don’t want to show me,” Kyle complained. “Did you get the name of your one true love over your heart?”

“No, that’s your trick,” Cassie retorted. She gripped the front edges of her sweatshirt. “I guess I could show it to you, if you make it worth my while.”

“Isn’t it supposed to bring you love and romance?” Theo asked.

“That’s why she wants to work in the club!” Kyle said. “Where better to meet a hot guy and find romance?”

“If Cassie doesn’t want to show us, she doesn’t have to,” Ty said.

“I think she does want to show us,” Damon said and she grinned at him.

Cassie peeled off her sweatshirt and spun around. “Ta da!” She was wearing her black yoga gear, with her hair tied up in a ponytail. Beneath the sweatshirt, she had on a black tank top that showed her muscle definition to advantage. On her left bicep was the new tattoo.

Kyle peered at it. “Shoes?” he asked, his brows drawn together in confusion.

The tattoo showed a pair of shoes, the kind of Mary Janes with high heels worn by dancers. One was on its side. Behind the shoes were the numbers 2006 and in the middle was a single red heart.

“Not just any shoes,” Cassie said. “Those are dancing shoes.”

“Oh right.” Kyle rolled his eyes. He raised his hands. “Whyshoes?”

“Where did you dance in 2006?” Damon asked. “You must have loved it.”

“Aha! At least someone is perceptive,” Cassie said, turning on Damon with a brilliant smile. “Radio City Music Hall. I was a Rockette for one Christmas season and you’re right, I loved it.”

“Get out,” Kyle said.

“Wow,” Ty said. “Isn’t that hard work?”

“Toughest months of my life,” Cassie said, shaking her head in recollection. “I’ve never been so sore, before or after. I’d dropped out of college when I got the job, but I went crawling back in January.”

“With sore feet,” Theo said.

“With sore everything,” Cassie corrected. “Turned out I only missed one semester and I made it up. The second show of the day was always brutal, but we smiled right on through.” She sobered. “It taught me that I could do a lot more than I thought I could, if I didn’t give up.”

“I know that feeling,” Damon said, when once he would have kept quiet. “They call it boot camp.”

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