Irreplaceable (Harmony)

  “You sure you’re all right?” she asked, sipping her wine across the table from me.

  “Perfect.” I really was, but I knew what she was asking and I wasn’t going there. “So, what’s Caleb up to tonight? I’m sure you’d rather spend your Sunday with him over your dreary old friend.”

  “You’re not dreary!” she sneered. “Although it would be nice to see you in something other than sweatpants.”

  I chuckled once at the disdain in her voice and crinkle of her upturned nose, then took another bite. I never knew what she put in the casserole, but was certain it was different each time.

  “Caleb’s stuck at Haven since he had a new guy up and quit on him last night,” she explained.

  “You poor thing.”

  “Yeah, but he said he’d stop by my place later and make it up to me.” Her eyes brightened as she peered over the rim of her glass. “He’s really good at the making-up-for-it part.”

  I swallowed and held up my hand, giggling. “All I need to know.”

  “So what about Logan? Did he stop by and annoy you today?”

  “Not yet,” I grumbled.

  Hilary smiled, amused as her phone sang from her pocket. She pulled it out, scrolling her finger over it, and I watched as her smile melted into bewildered frown.

  “Hmmm,” she said to herself, brows pinched.

  “’Hmmm’ what?”

  “I don’t know. It’s… you know what, I’m sure it’s nothing.” The contrived half smile on her face and worried lines marring her forehead told me something was wrong.

  “All right, what’s up?” I asked directly, determined to get an answer.

  She set the phone on the table. “That was Jennifer, the head waitress at Haven. Said I should come down and stake my claim.”

  A chuckle bubbled in my throat. “Stake your claim? To what?”

  Her eyes searched her plate, and my understanding clicked.

  “Caleb?” I nearly gasped. “Why? He wouldn’t.” I blinked twice, wiping the ridiculous thought away. Sitting further up in my seat, I spoke with nothing but sincerity. “Hilary, Caleb adores you. He’d never cheat.”

  “Neither would Mark. Isn’t that what you always said?”

  I hunched back, feeling like I’d just been slapped. “Ouch. That hurt,” I mumbled.

  She sighed. I’d never seen her so worried. It wasn’t like her. “Sorry. I just...I can’t lose him. I’ve never cared about anyone like this before. He’s everything.”

  My heart ached for her. All too familiar was the feeling of falling for someone in a way that left you terrified by the powerful emotions it evoked.

  “I know, but if he’s cheating, he’s not worth it. You have to trust that Caleb cares about you, loves you, and isn’t stupid enough to screw that up.”

  Or would he? Were all men the same when it came to easy women?

  I finished the final bite on my plate and pushed it forward. I’d eaten way too much of the mystery meal.

  Hilary stood. “Will you come down there with me? Just to check in and say a quick hello?”

  I nearly spit out the soda in my mouth as I stared at her, wide-eyed.

  “Are you kidding? I just got of the hospital not even two weeks ago, and you want me to go to a bar with you—a bar that isn’t exactly a place I’m eager to return to? You do realize what you’re asking, right?”

  She paled. “God.” Her hands flew over her face, running over her forehead. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. Of course you can’t go, and I know Caleb would never do anything like that. All right, moving on.” She attempted to shake off her worry. “So what are you up for tonight: chick flick or zombies?”

  Her phone chirped again, and I saw the struggle on her face as she tried to ignore it. Preoccupied in her head, she walked to the sink with her empty plate.

  “I’m feeling a little zombie action myself,” she said with an awkward chuckle.

  How could I watch her sit beside me with anxious tremors all night? I wouldn’t do that to her.

  “Give me ten minutes and we’ll go.”

  “What?” She whipped around, jaw dropped.

  “I need to change, and then we’ll go check in on your lover boy. However, when we get back, it’s a chick flick—my choice.” I stood up, plate in hand, and headed to the sink.

  In a flash, she flung herself at me, wrapping me in a tight embrace. “Too tight!” I yelped, my chest screaming at her to release me. She dropped her arms instantly and pulled back, frowning.

  “Shit, so sorry. How long did the doctor say your ribs were gonna be sore?”

  “Another week or two, so no more bear hugs, got it?”

  “Deal! Now you’re sure you want to go? We don’t have to. I’m a big girl, and I’ll be all ri—”

  “No, I don’t want to go, but I’m not going to watch you worry yourself into a seizure either. I‘m sure you’ll find Caleb down there charming customers into buying more drinks, and not trying to get into their panties. And when you do, we’re coming straight back here.”

  I walked toward my bedroom door as she called out, “You’re the best!”

  The thought of going out was one I dreaded. Still, I ran a brush through my knotted hair and tugged on a clean shirt and faded blue jeans. Sitting in her car on the icy roads and spending any time inside Haven so soon was not sitting well with me, but that’s what friends were for, and I wasn’t about to leave her hanging because of my own issues.

  Chapter Seven

  Undercover

  Once Hilary was parked, she bolted from the car, slowing down and looking back once she was halfway out of the parking lot. She’d been a bundle of nerves the entire drive, which meant I was nearly wrecked. Her thumbs had kept a constant beating rhythm on the steering wheel. My anxiety had been lost in pleas with the universe that she was keeping her focus on the road and not the possibility of walking in and finding Caleb with another girl.

  As we headed to the double doors of the swanky restaurant, I grimaced. It was time to face the music—literally. Even on a Sunday night after nine, Haven was alive with locals. My phone vibrated in my pocket and I pulled it out to catch the incoming text from my mother.

  Just checking in. Love u.

  “Logan?” Hilary interrupted my thoughts.

  I shoved the phone back in my jeans and gave her a quick head shake. I still hadn’t heard a word from him, although he’d made it clear I wouldn’t. I just hated that I kept waiting for his call or unexpected text.

  My body stiffened and I closed my eyes as we passed the infamous alley. Not even quickening my pace could stop the sizzling of my nerves and raging of my heart pounding against my ribcage.

  “You sure you’re okay being here?” Hilary asked, sensing my stiffness. “We can go. I don’t mind. I shouldn’t have even brought you here. I don’t know what I was—”

  “I promise, I’m fine,” I said, swallowing the golf-ball-sized lump constricting my throat. “Now stop asking. I had to come back here eventually.” I held a contrived smile as long as I could, but she wasn’t buying it. The girl knew me better than anyone.

  “Come on, let’s get this over with so you can see how crazy you are,” I added, snaking my arm through hers.

  I’m fine, I repeated in my head. We’ll sneak in, and then right back out. I just hoped it would be that quick. While I’d gotten dressed, Hilary had been talking to Jennifer on the phone. Turned out there was a mystery woman at the bar putting on a show, ready to pounce on Caleb any minute. Hilary was no pushover, nor was she shy when it came to defending what was hers. Whomever this woman was, she was about to have an eventful evening—and not the kind she’d been hoping for with Caleb.

  The moment we stepped inside, I knew it wasn’t going to be so simple. Jennifer saw us immediately, and diverted us to a corner in the back. Oh the drama. My head was already throbbing.

  “Where is this skank?” Hilary hissed, eyes scanning the dimly lit room.

  The
place was packed with diners laughing and soaking up the atmosphere. The bar was taken up by drinkers looking for company, and the dance floor was covered with sweaty bodies ready to move their nights to more private locations.

  “Over there—dark hair, green dress,” Jennifer answered, eyes fixed on the barstool across from Caleb.

  The mystery woman wasn’t hard to miss. Her long, shiny coat of dark wavy locks swung as her shoulders shook from laughter. The cut of her emerald-green dress let anyone interested know that she’d come out looking for more than just a drink. However, it wasn’t she who held my attention or caused my anxiety to catapult.

  With a heavy heart, I placed my hand on Hilary’s shoulder. “I’m sure it’s not what you think.”

  Did I really just say that? It was the same line she’d said to me over a year ago, and here we stood, watching Caleb leaning over the bar, inches from the woman, intrigued as if she’d said the most marvelous thing.

  I waited for Hilary to say something—anything. Instead, she squared her shoulders and stomped toward them. I followed, ready as her backup for whatever she needed.

  “Hey Caleb, how’s work going?” Hilary’s voice dripped with sarcasm and held a nasty bite.

  “Hilary.” Caleb straightened himself, his face losing color by the second.

  The woman in the green dress twirled to meet our gaze, and my stomach churned. Natasha.

  Hilary’s face was plastered with an enormous contrite grin as she extended her hand to the woman she was ready to bitch slap across the room.

  “Hi, I’m Hilary. You must be new in town.”

  Natasha only glanced impassively at the hand in front of her, then resumed sipping on her glass before answering. “I am, and Caleb here is doing a wonderful job keeping me company.” Natasha set her sights on Caleb and never looked away, ignoring the threatening glare set on her.

  “Is that so?” Hilary’s narrowed eyes darted to Caleb’s. “How sweet of him.”

  “I need to go check on something in the back. Hilary, would you mind helping me out?” Caleb asked, his wide eyes begging. I wanted to feel for the guy, seeing how nervous he was, but the flirty act between him and Natasha couldn’t be denied.

  Caleb stepped around the bar and reached for an arm Hilary had crossed over her chest. She didn’t budge it, but after a pause filled with menacing glares, she followed him reluctantly. She looked back at me and I nodded, letting her know I’d be there waiting.

  “You look familiar. Have we met before?”

  Great. Now I was stuck standing next to a curious-looking Natasha waiting for me to answer. The night was going down the drain quickly. I wasn’t sure if she recognized me from New Year’s, since she was only there a brief moment, but I wasn’t about to help her out.

  “I don’t think so,” I replied.

  I walked a few stools down quickly, following the curve of the bar until Natasha was blocked out of view, and took a seat. From there, I caught sight of Hilary and Caleb standing around the corner in the back. He was trying to explain himself—or so it looked like, from the constant movement of his lips and frantic arm motions—but she wasn’t hearing it. Finally, his hands came down on her shoulders, and he crushed his mouth onto hers. She struggled under him for only a moment, and I shifted my uncomfortable gaze elsewhere.

  “This was sent over by an admirer.” The bartender smiled as he set a glass containing a frozen concoction in front of me.

  Who would buy me a drink? “You have the wrong girl.” I pushed it forward.

  “Nope. It’s for you.”

  I caught the guy’s arm before he could walk farther down the bar.

  “I can’t drink it. Might as well take it back.”

  No mixing alcohol and pain meds—doctor’s order, and one I wouldn’t disobey. Not that I really needed them much anymore, but I’d taken one before I left the house.

  He looked down at my drink and chuckled. “It’s a virgin. Your mystery man demanded it so, and I made it myself.”

  My face screwed up as I lifted the drink and took a sip. It was good, but it didn’t answer who sent it.

  “Turning down a free drink? You’ve always been too sweet for your own good,” a familiar dull voice said, sliding down on the stool beside me.

  My eyes closed, shoulders painfully stiff until I inhaled a breath and let it out. No, this was one guy who’d never see me at anything but my best. He was nothing more than an annoyance. I turned, smiling cheekily at my ex-boyfriend, Mark.

  I held the drink to my lips and took another sip, my eyes on him, then set it back down. “Obviously you don’t me know as well as you think you do,” I said with a contrived smile.

  He chuckled, shaking his head down at his beer. “You’re right, I probably don’t know you as well as I should, considering our history. But I do know from the look on your face when you sat down that you’d rather be anywhere else.”

  “So you decided to buy me a drink?”

  “Sorry, that’s not from me, but I’ll buy the next round,” he said, smiling.

  My phone vibrated against my leg and I pulled it out, thankful for the distraction, seeing the name I shouldn’t have been expecting: Logan.

  I’m in the back. Walk away from him now.

  I rolled my eyes, not in the mood to be bossed around, and set my phone beside my drink.

  “What do you want, Mark?” I drawled, narrowing my eyes at him.

  “Julia told me about the accident. You look pretty good, considering.”

  I scoffed, staring down at my drink. I looked anything but good, and we both knew it.

  “Was that all you wanted to say?” I asked, unimpressed.

  “No.” He sighed. “I saw you come in with Hilary and when she walked away, I figured I’d come say hi.”

  “Scared of Hilary, huh?” I snickered.

  “The girl hates me.”

  “Can you blame her?” I asked, scoffed. Yes, she definitely hated him.

  “True. Look, Cassie, I never meant for things to happen the way they did with you. I mean, I loved you—hell, I still do.”

  “Don’t!” I held up my hand, an angry frown on my lips.

  “Relax, I’m just trying to say…I’m sorry.” His tone softened. “Sorry for sleeping around, sorry for lying to you, and most of all, sorry for not treating you the way you deserved. You were always so good to me. Every time I screwed up, I swore I was going to come clean, but then you’d be waiting for me with your innocent smile full of love. I wanted it, I wanted you, it’s just…I was young, and there were so many girls hanging around.”

  My gaze fell from him to my hands clutching my glass. An apology? I hadn’t seen that coming.

  My phone lit up with another text and, needing time to process my thoughts, I hit the screen to retrieve it.

  U have 30 seconds to walk away.

  I shook my head with a scoff, not sure which man was infuriating me the most.

  “The day you caught me with Mackenzie woke me up. I felt like shit for hurting you.”

  “How many?” I asked after a long pause.

  “What?”

  I turned on the stool to face him fully. It was time for closure, once and for all.

  “How many girls were there during the five years I spent as your lapdog, loving you blindly, planning my future around you?”

  “Cassie—”

  “How. Many?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “More than five?” I pressed.

  “Look, it’s not important,” he replied, nerves evident in his expression.

  “More than ten?” I hissed through clenched teeth.

  “We don’t need to rehash—”

  “Answer my question, damn it!”

  “I don’t know…fifteen, twenty, maybe more,” he confessed, unable to look me in the eye. “I lost track after the first few times.”

  “Twenty!?” I gasped as though I’d been slugged in the gut. I shouldn’t have been surprised, but it was a huge number
, and meant I probably knew most of the girls.

  “Look,” Mark said. He grabbed my hand, and I ripped it away. “I was a dumbass, and I should have told you, but—”

  “Why did you even date me, then? What was the point when I obviously didn’t make you happy or satisfy you?”

  “I just…I don’t fucking know, all right? It just kept happening, and you were always so sweet, and I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

  My eyes grew wider. I was stunned. “You didn’t want to hurt my feelings?” I all but yelled.

  “I know it sounds a little messed up, but—”

  “A little!?” I burst out laughing, my head falling back at how ridiculous his reasoning sounded. “Mark, do me a favor and listen to yourself the next time you try to apologize to someone.”

  My phone went off and this time it was a call from Logan. Slowly, I hit ‘Accept’ and brought it to my ear.

  “What?” I asked gently, my mind reeling, making a mental list of which of my friends in this small town would screw around with Mark.

  “I’m going to fucking kill him if you don’t tell him to leave!”

  He wasn’t serious. Before I could reply, I heard Caleb’s muffled voice through the receiver.

  “Calm down, Hilary’s going now!” he told Logan.

  “Get the hell off me!” Logan roared, and then there was a loud scruff against the phone and a few grunts before Caleb’s unaffected, clear voice was there.

  “Hey, Cassie, you might want to tell Mark to head out for the night because I have three guys holding Logan back, and I’m not sure how much longer they can manage.”

  With a puffed-out sigh, I shook my head. Logan needed to get a grip. I could talk to whomever I wanted.

  I hung up and turned back to Mark, noticing Hilary rushing over.

  “We need to go,” she demanded, shooting a menacing glare at Mark.

  “Everything all right?” he asked, ignoring her and taking a drink of his beer.

  My shoulders lifted. “Give us a minute, Hilary.”

  An explosive crash in the back startled me. I shot a glance in that direction, then at Hilary.

  “I don’t think you have a minute,” she answered, pulling me up from the stool. I grabbed my cell and plunged it into my pocket.