Graceless (Grace Notes #2)

“I suspect you’re exaggerating,” she said, though as she peeked around Lane she did notice at least two different older men trying to catch her eye.

“Oh, believe me, I’m not,” they said flatly. “I’m stuck chaperoning you so that Savannah doesn’t have to deck anyone while seven months pregnant. Do you want a drink or what?”

They ended up sitting side by side on a large speaker stack, each with a glass of champagne in hand, watching the celebrities with awe (Cassidy) and relative indifference (Lane), occasionally in silence and occasionally needling each other. No one interrupted them, despite Lane’s portending of doom. It was like they were in their own little bubble. It wasn’t long, though, before Brynn found them.

“So you’re really not going to act your age and go out and get sloppy drunk in a bar somewhere?” She sounded disappointed. When they both shook their heads, she sighed. “God, kids these days. You’re a disgrace. Alright, come on, Savannah’s sneaking out before her feet give way.”

She led the way through the crowd and out through a corridor to a back door. Outside, the town car was waiting. Savannah was in the front seat, chatting and laughing with Burt. Twenty feet in front of them, a crowd of excited fans and paparazzi flashing cameras were held back by a barricade and a small line of security guards. Lane, Cassidy and Brynn slid into the back seat to the sound of their shouts.

Sitting in the middle, Cassidy felt acutely aware of Lane’s body next to her own. There was something extremely compelling about the tight muscles in the suit beside her. At any rate, she definitely didn’t hate that Lane thought she was gorgeous. Somehow it meant more to her than the roaming eyes of powerful men backstage at the Ryman. Lane, for better or for worse, had always seemed to actually see her.

Chapter Twelve

“You’re not going to quit with this, are you?” Lane groaned from where they’d been innocently sunbathing on the back lawn a week later.

“No.” Brynn shook her head, plonked annoyingly right next to them, a blade of grass twirling between her fingers. “Come on, Lane. She’s twenty-four and she’s never been literally anywhere. You’re twenty-six and you never go out.”

“I go out-“

“Yeah, occasionally, when you miraculously somehow always meet girls. But the rest of the time, your best friends are a five-year-old child and an old married lesbian. You need to get out and live your life.”

“And by live my life you mean chaperone Savannah’s little sister around town?”

“I think you’d have fun! Just… take her to a bar, go listen to a band, how bad could it be?”

“And this is my responsibility, why?”

“Because she’s your age, and she’s lonely and bored. And you’re a nice person who wouldn’t leave her hanging, and who could stand to get out a little too.”

“Ugh,” Lane groaned. “If I say yes will you leave me in peace?”

“On the condition you promise to make it happen this week?”

“I’ll do you one better.” Lane spotted Cassidy appearing at the edge of the lawn on the way back from her visit with her friend, an actual horse. “Hey, Cassidy!” they called. “Want to go hang out in Nashville with me tonight? Get a drink or whatever?”

Cassidy’s head snapped up.

“Really?” She looked both shocked and excited. “Wait, why?”

“Because Brynn is forcing me to leave the house and making me invite you as well?” Beside them, Brynn sighed, but Cassidy just shrugged.

“Okay, sure.”

That evening when Cassidy came down the stairs, Lane forced themselves to look at her properly.

“You look great,” they said immediately. It wasn’t a lie, though it was an understatement. Cassidy looked so beautiful it made Lane’s teeth ache. Her dress was somehow a perfect blend of old Cassidy and new Cassidy: a sweet floral print, but the cut was modern and clinging. It left her pretty shoulders bare; her hair had been just slightly curled and kissed those same shoulders distractingly. The red lipstick was back, the one that made it frustratingly hard not to stare at her mouth.

“Thanks,” she said with a small smirk that left Lane wondering if this time she was feeling a tad more confident of her appearance. It would be no wonder since Lane had practically fallen over themself to splutter about her attractiveness the other night at the Ryman. God, how embarrassing. “You look good too.” She surveyed them frankly. “Shall we send a selfie to Mia?” she asked mischievously. Lane rolled their eyes and opened the door, gesturing her out to the waiting car.

“So, where am I taking you two tonight?” Burt looked from one to the other in the rearview mirror. There was a slightly knowing look in his eyes that Lane did not quite know how to correct.

“Downtown, maybe?” Lane told him, giving him a quick eyeball back in the mirror. “What do you want to do tonight?” they asked Cassidy.

“Honestly, I don’t care.” She looked at them and smiled. “I just want to be out of those damn glass walls and I want to hear some music.”

“Okay, well, that’s easy.” Lane shrugged. “We can start off at Printer’s Alley for a drink and see who’s playing.”

But the second they walked into the bar, Lane felt off. Sure there was a band on stage, but also, big screens were down around the room and-