What Deceit Looks Like | ✓

35: cassidy

"Okay fellas, I have a beer for Austin, a jack and coke for Diego, and a shirley temple for Jackson," I smile saying the last one. Austin snickers and Jackson shoots him a look.

"Someone has to make sure you two idiots get home without getting robbed. I happen to like shirley temples," Jackson says firmly.

Diego takes a swig of his drink and rolls his eyes. "You've hardly been out with us since you started dating Sandra."

"Oh was that the blonde from last time?" I ask, and Austin shakes his head.

"Nope, she shut him down. But her friend was interested so it seems to have worked out for the best. Sandra's more of a homebody though so it appears that our buddy can never come out with us anymore."

I chuckle lightly, "Oh so that's why I've only been seeing two of you. It's good to see you Jackson, I was starting to get worried."

Austin pulls out a chair, "What's your drink of choice?"

A month and a half ago I would have told them it was scotch with a dash of water, but not anymore, "Vodka soda."

"Put one on my tab, we'd love to tell you more stories about the wimp Jackson's becoming if you drink with us."

It's smooth on his part, but I shake my head, "Sorry boys, I have work to do."

Diego snickers at how I dodged Austin's proposal, "Not a problem, bring a vodka soda over the next round though. I wanna see what the hype is about for the chick drinks that Jackson seems to like."

I turn away, covering my mouth to hide my laughter when I hear his reaction. They're a funny group that make long shifts easier to get through.

Jupiter was behind the counter mixing something together, "What did Austin want?"

I shrug, "To buy me a drink, alas I have to work."

"It's a slow night, you're more than welcome to have a drink."

"And leave you all alone behind the bar? Blasphemy," I tease, dropping my head back dramatically.

She gives me a look, "Stop that. It makes you look like another actress wanna be."

"Whatever Jupiter, just let me live my life the way I want to." I give her a smile to let her know I'm still joking and she laughs.

"Oh I don't think anything I say will make a difference in how you live your life. But I do think you should take Austin up on his offer. He's cute and seems nice."

I know exactly what she's trying to do and I force my smile to stay on my face. "Maybe next time. I don't feel like drinking tonight."

Jupiter is momentarily distracted by a new customer ordering a drink, and I take it as a chance to check my phone. I have a few missed calls from Noah, but I swipe and delete them. My heart momentarily stops when I see that I have a voicemail from Maddox.

I quickly delete it without listening to it because there's nothing that needs to be said. We're over and it shouldn't have taken him two and a half weeks to reach out the first time he did. I've kept my promise to Charlie though. I've stayed out of their way.

Sometimes I notice photographers who are trailing me, and then there are others who sit in the bar wanting to question me on the relationship status. John's pretty good about weeding them out.

Keeping myself busy is keeping me from laying in bed. When I think about him, my heart hurts. Dean and I avoid the topic of Maddox and Paige completely. If he doesn't tell me where he's been, then it's safe to say that he was with them.