Sold Out - Michael Hardy

NINE

"I told you I was fine." Michael grumbles.

"You got seven stitches, Michael!" Cassie shoots back. "That's not-"

"Well I turned out fine."

Cassie nudges him to sit on the couch. "Stay here. I'm gonna get you some aspirin and somethin' to eat."

"I'm fine, Cass."

She ignores him as she whips up a quick sandwich, a glass of lemonade and a couple tablets of Tylenol. "I gotta send a couple files out."

"New songs?"

"Yeah, a couple." Cassie replies. "Worked on 'em and gonna send 'em out."

"To who?"

"Uh, I got Lee Brice, Dustin Lynch, and uh, Jason Aldean. Tomorrow I'm meetin' with Sean Stemaly to write a couple."

"He's a cool guy."

She doesn't respond- there's no need for her to respond.

Cassie sits next to him and opens her laptop, tapping around to send a couple audio files to Lee Brice, Dustin Lynch and Jason Aldean and their managers, too.

She feels like she's doing pretty damn good in the industry.

Hell, she's been working her ass off.

Michael is prouder than hell of her.

She just needs to be proud of herself.

+++

"What do you think of this place?" Cassie asks, sliding her phone to Haley as they sit at a table in a bar off Broadway.

It's Monday so it's a relatively slow night, quiet enough to talk without shouting.

"That's- look at that view." She says, her jaw dropping at a picture of a huge forest that's overlooked by the balcony on the top floor of the house.

"Look at that tub." Cassie chuckles.

"Looks so romantic."

Now that she's gotten a couple number ones under her belt, she has some more money in the bank and can finally move out of that grumpy old lady's house she's renting.

"Where is it?"

"Franklin area."

Haley nods. "Look in Lynchburg. It's pretty rural."

"I gotta... Haley, I gotta tell you somethin'."

"What's up?" She asks, a bright smile on her face.

"I- the girl- I slept with Morgan."

Her face drops. "What?"

"It was months ago, I had no idea he had a girlfriend and-"

"He- you're the- oh my god."

"I'm so sorry, Haley. If I known he had a girlfriend, I would've beat the shit outta him. I did when he told me."

"That was you?"

"Yeah. I tore him a new one when I found out. I'm so sorry, Haley."

She glances up from her drink with a clenched jaw. "Thanks for telling me."

"I fully intended on tellin' you when we first met that one day but then I met you and I couldn't do that to you. You got-"

"I'm not mad at you. I mean, I am but not as mad as I could be. I'm more pissed at him." She has tears in her eyes but refuses to let them fall, they both are misty eyed.

"I'm so sorry." Cassie repeats, licking her lips. "Really, I'm not that kind of girl."

"It's okay. I believe you." She pats her hand then stands. "I should go."

"Haley-"

"I'll talk to you later, okay?" She gives her a sad smile.

"Okay." Cassie nods, watching her leave.

She gets up and follows her out. "It ain't safe for you to be walkin' 'round here by yourself." She states.

Haley chuckles weakly.

It's a silent walk to the garage but Haley is grateful. She's right, it isn't safe for them to be walking around downtown by themselves.

They silently split and head their separate ways.

Cassie is worried out of her mind.

She doesn't want to lose Haley; they've become extremely close friends. She doesn't know what she'd do without her.

They're closer than her and Michael.

"Hey babe- woah, what's- what's wrong?" Michael asks when he sees his girlfriend leaning against the front door, crying. "C'mere."

Cassie collapses in Michael's outstretched arms, sobbing against his chest. "I told her." She manages out between gasps. "I told Haley I slept with Morgan."

Michael nods, running a hand over her hair.

"She's my best friend, Michael. I hurt her."

"I know, baby." He whispers. "I know but you did the right thing. Morgan wasn't going to tell her the whole truth so I'm glad you did."

Cassie pulls back and Michael gently cups her cheeks, brushing her tears away with his thumbs gently.

"Give her some space, okay? She'll reach out when she's ready."

Cassie nods and takes a deep breath, wrapping her arms around Michael's middle tightly.

He holds her as tight as she's holding him, knowing she's incredibly distraught. He hasn't seen her cry in years.

She pulls back again. "I'm gonna take a bath."

"Okay. You let me know if you need anything."

"Thanks." She kisses him sweetly then heads down the hallway.

Michael watches her then sighs.

He knew this was going to happen. Cassie always does the right thing- always.

Her parents brought her up right and she will always been grateful but she can't believe she upset Haley.

Such a sweetheart, both of them.

The only thing she can do is give her space and time, it's up to Haley if they want to be friends anymore.