The vibe got awkward real quick. Chase knew exactly what Easton was hinting at, but he played dumb. He cracked open his beer and tossed a can to Easton.
"What are you talking about?" Chase asked, feigning ignorance.
Easton caught the can effortlessly, his eyes on the folks having fun on the beach, face unreadable. He turned, leaning against the observation deck railing, the light illuminating only half his face. "Chase, you know what I mean."
The sound of the can opening broke the silence. Easton took a swig, his face still blank, and locked eyes with Chase. His voice was steady, making it hard for Chase, his best bud, to figure out what he was thinking.
Chase felt stuck. He thought he'd left the scene fast enough, but Easton had seen him. He had no choice but to nod and admit, "Yeah, Easton, I saw it."
Easton didn't look surprised. He leaned on the railing, downing most of his beer.
Chase hesitated, then decided to try and talk some sense into Easton. "Easton, with how things are between you and Cassidy... you should keep your distance."
A stepson hooking up with his stepmom? That would be a disaster for Easton. Plus, from what Chase saw, Cassidy didn't seem too keen on keeping things going with Easton. Chase didn't want to see his friend mess up his life.
Easton stayed quiet, sipping his beer, his face getting colder.
Chase didn't notice the change and kept going, "If this gets out, it'll trash your reputation and could mess up your shot at leading the Cooper family."
He looked at Easton, worried. He hoped Easton would get that having a thing with his stepmom was a bad idea right now. But Chase felt like his concern wasn't just for Easton; there was something else, some self-interest he couldn't quite pin down.
Easton finished his beer and crushed the can in his hand. He gave Chase a cold smile. "Chase, chill. I've got it all figured out—no slip-ups."
Chase frowned. "You still want to be with Cassidy? But she's your stepmom."
"Ashton's dead." Easton laughed, looking a bit dangerous. "Cassidy's mine now." He tossed the can to the ground with a sharp clink, like a warning. "And Cassidy's more than willing to be with me."
Chase wanted to argue, but the words caught in his throat. Trying to convince Easton to let go was useless; he wasn't letting Cassidy go. Saying Cassidy wouldn't agree was futile—Easton didn't care. Even if she resisted, he'd find a way to keep her. That was just how Easton was—once he wanted something or someone, he never let go.
Chase knew he had no chance of changing Easton's mind, so he shut up.
Meanwhile, after her call, Cassidy cleaned up and got dragged to the party by Hailey. They joined the other guests for a lively dance party, excitement in the air.
Hailey tried to drag Cassidy onto the dance floor, but Cassidy shook her head. "Hailey, you go ahead. I need a break." After being forced into a quickie with Easton outside, her whole body ached. Dancing was the last thing she wanted to do.
Hailey pouted. "In this amazing atmosphere, you really want to sit here alone?"
Cassidy smiled, swirling her drink. "Drinking alone can be pretty great too. Go dance!"
"Alright, if you insist." Hailey shrugged, setting her glass down and heading to the dance floor.
Cassidy watched the dancers, feeling the vibe was just right. No drama to deal with, just some time to herself. It was the most relaxed she'd felt in ages.
But her peace didn't last long. Before the song even changed, she heard the voice she dreaded. "Cassidy, may I have this dance?" Easton had snuck up on her, bowing and extending his hand.
Cassidy's grip on her drink tightened. She frowned, glancing around to see if anyone was watching.
Luckily, everyone was focused on the dance floor.
Easton kept smiling, waiting for her answer.
Cassidy shook her head. "Sorry, I just want to rest. I'm not up for dancing." Dancing with Easton here would be like announcing their relationship to everyone, and she wasn't about to do that.
Easton's smile faded, looking a bit annoyed. "It's just a dance. What's the big deal?"
"Easton, I'm not feeling well. I don't want to dance." Cassidy took a deep breath, refusing again. "If you really want to dance, ask Zoe."
Right on cue, Zoe's voice chimed in. "Easton, may I have this dance?" She looked at him with hopeful eyes, her cheeks flushed.
Zoe was dressed to the nines, looking like a fairy-tale princess. Everyone heard her invite Easton just as the first dance ended and the music paused. To the crowd, Zoe was a stunning girl, and Easton was the perfect match. It would be rude to turn her down.
Easton wanted to refuse, but the crowd started chanting. "Say yes! Say yes! Dance! Dance!"
The cheers grew louder, and though Easton was fuming inside, he kept his cool. He glanced at Cassidy, hoping she'd show some sign of jealousy so he could refuse.
But Cassidy, wanting Easton to get closer to Zoe, showed nothing but encouragement. "Easton, Zoe's invited you. Go dance with her."
Zoe looked at Cassidy gratefully, and Cassidy gave her an encouraging nod.
Easton's face hardened, realizing Cassidy was once again pushing him towards another woman. He snorted, almost gritting his teeth. "Alright!"
Zoe looked up at Easton, confused by his tone, but before she could say anything, he pulled her onto the dance floor.