by Cora Brent
Cord glanced down at the wood and tools as if he’d forgotten they were there. Then he returned his piercing gaze to me. “Is there something specific you wanted to talk to me about, Curtis?”
“No. Well, actually yes. There’s something that I really wanted to tell you face to face.”
“It’ll have to wait because there’s something I want to say to you first,” he said, taking a seat on a nearby stool. He watched me as I stuffed my hands in my pockets and then removed them. I got the feeling he was enjoying my discomfort.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“I need to thank you.”
I stared at him, trying to figure out if he was bullshitting me but he looked totally earnest.
“Thank you for being there for Cassie,” he said and then winced. “It’s terrifying to think what would have happened to her if you weren’t around that night. She told us the whole story. She said you took care of her, that you’ve been there for her every step of the way. My daughter thinks you’re a good man.” He paused. “And I completely agree.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that,” I said, shaking my head. “There are moments when I still wish I would have done more permanent damage to that fucker.”
He nodded. “I understand the feeling. But he’ll be experiencing his share of damage. I’ve got some clients in the police department so I made a few calls. He’s going to be arrested any minute now. And I think I’ll go out of my way to make sure that his mug shot makes the rounds on social media. He won’t ever be able to get away from this. Every future employer, every relationship, everyone he fucking meets from now on will be able to paste his name into an internet search engine and learn what he is.”
“Good,” I said. And it was good news, at least as good as it could be under the circumstances. I doubted Parker Neely would do any time. In my experience, criminal charges didn’t tend to stick to guys like that, but at least there will be a permanent mark on his name. Although that was nothing compared to what would happen to him if he dared to come within an arm’s length of Cassie again.
“We’re together,” I blurted. “Me and Cassie. I mean, we’re-“
“I know,” Cord said. His mouth tilted slightly. He was definitely feeling entertained by my awkward explanations.
“Are you okay with that?” I asked.
“Would you give her up if I said no?”
“Hell no.”
He chuckled. “I’m fine with it.” He wiped the sweat from his brow. “Curtis, if you’re ever lucky enough to be the father of daughters you’ll understand something. It’s hard to believe any man would ever be good enough for any of them.”
“If it means anything,” I told him, “I’m crazy about her. I’d do anything for her.”
“Of course that means something,” he said and flashed a real smile. Then the smile fell away. “Cassidy has always been the gentlest of my girls. And the one I worry over the most for that very reason.”
“I’d never order a father not to worry,” I said. “And you’re right about Cassie. I’ve never met anyone with such a gentle heart. But she’s also strong. And wise. Believe me, Cord, your daughter can hold her own.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
I held out my hand. “I’ll always be good to her. I swear.”
He returned my handshake firmly. A little too firmly. “I know you will, Curtis.”
Brecken poked his head out the door. “There you are.” Then he made a face. “Shit, it’s hot out here.”
“Language,” I warned automatically and Cord laughed.
“I’ll see you at work tomorrow, Curtis,” he said, picking up his tools and returning his attention to the block of wood.
“See you tomorrow, Cord,” I said.
Right before I closed the door behind me I heard the crack of metal as Cord resumed chipping away at the wood block. We’d be okay, him and me. I didn’t ever intend to give him a reason to doubt that I was worthy of his daughter.
Now that Cord and I had sorted things out, I needed to have another talk, this one with the brother who was waiting for me to take him home.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Brecken was confused when I asked him if he wanted to get something to eat.
“But I ate at Cord and Saylor’s.”
“You’re a teenage boy. I thought you might be hungry again. It’ll be lunch time soon.”
He gave me an odd look. “All right.”
Brecken didn’t want lunch. He wanted frozen yogurt yet again. I didn’t argue with him.
We went to the mall and sat on one of the benches at the far end where I knew there wouldn’t be a lot of noise. That’s when I told him about Tristan. He was upset. He kept asking if he could call Tristan, if he could go down there and see him. I told him that all we could do was wait and hope that our brother would be in touch.
Brecken made a face like he’d just taken a bite of something sour. It was the face he made when he was trying not to cry. “Did you tell Tristan that I wanted him to come back?”
“Yes.”
“And he doesn’t give a fuck?”
I thought it was a good time to let bad language slide. “I don’t think it’s that,” I said gently. “He’s mixed up right now, Beck.”
He was angry. “Like Mom, right? She’s mixed up too, huh? Yeah, she’s totally mixed up. Running around the world as a fugitive and forgetting she even has any kids.”
Defending my mother was harder. “I don’t think she’s forgotten you.”
“Maybe, maybe not,” he sniffed. Then he gazed at me with curiosity. “Why are you still here, Curtis? You were gone for so long and even after you came back when Mom was arrested I didn’t expect that you’d stick around. So why did you?”
“Because walking away from my family, from you guys, was the worst mistake I ever made. And I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to make up for it.”
Brecken’s face softened. “I think you’re doing a good job,” he said. “You’re a good brother.”
“Trying to be.”
Brecken stirred his frozen yogurt with the plastic spoon but he didn’t take another bite. After a moment he just tossed it into a garbage can.
“So that’s the reason for this little field trip?” he asked. “So you could tell me about Tristan?”
“Mostly.”
“What’s the rest of it?”
I mulled over what to say next. I wasn’t sure how Brecken would feel about my new relationship with Cassie. It always seemed to me that he lit up whenever she was around so it might be kind of tough for him to get used to.
“Does this have anything to do with Cassie?” he asked.
“It does.”
He nodded. “So you guys were together last night, huh?”
I was surprised. “How’d you know? Did she say something to you already?”
He threw me a withering look. “Do you really think I’m too lame to figure out what’s going on when she comes waltzing through the front door this morning with her hair a mess and wearing your clothes?”
“Oh.” I couldn’t quite stop myself from grinning.
“Plus you keep doing that,” Brecken said.
“Doing what?”
“This.” He gave me the widest, cheesiest fake smile. “It’s a dead freaking giveaway.”
I nudged him. “Does it bother you at all? Me and Cassie?
He was puzzled. “Why would it?”
“Because I’ve noticed how much you like her.”
“Well sure, I love Cassie,” he said, still looking perplexed. Then he seemed to catch my meaning and gave me a tremendous eye roll. “Oh, Curtis, come on. Were you seriously thinking I had some kind of a crush on Cassie?”
“Maybe,” I admitted. “I’ve been known to be wrong before.”
He crossed his arms, obviously offended. “Yeah, you’re totally wrong now.”
“Okay, okay, I get it. You love Cassie like a sister and that’s all.”
&nbs
p; Brecken grinned. “I know that’s not quite the same way you love her.”
“I didn’t say….”
I couldn’t quite finish the sentence. After all, didn’t I love Cassie? It might be a little too soon to shout it from the rooftops but I couldn’t convincingly deny it either.
Brecken noticed my hesitation and laughed at me. I shoved him playfully.
“Someday you’ll go wild over a girl and understand what it means to lose your mind a little,” I promised him.
Brecken didn’t laugh this time though. His expression was suddenly anxious.
“What if it doesn’t happen that way?” he asked quietly.
I shrugged. “It can happen a million different ways but it’ll happen at some point.”
“No.” Brecken shook his head slowly. “I mean, what if it’s not a girl I’m wild about?”
I looked at my little brother and saw the worry in his face. I understood what he was telling me and I also understood that this might be the first time he’d ever said it out loud. He should have had a parent here to talk to but all he had was me and he was terrified because he had no idea what I would say next. This would be one of the most important conversations we’d ever have. I couldn’t fuck it up.
I touched his shoulder so he’d know everything was okay. Then I told him the truth from my heart. “You should be wild about whoever you want, Brecken. He’ll be the lucky one.”
Brecken nodded and his eyes misted over. “Okay, Curtis.”
I opened my arms. “Come here, kid.”
My little brother fell into my arms and I held him the way a father would hold his son. I hoped I was doing it right.
“I love you, Breck,” I told him, my voice cracking with emotion. “I’m not going anywhere. I’ll always be here for you.”
He let out a sob and then choked out, “I love you too.”
Then we stopped all the tears because there was no reason for them. This was a good day. We walked around the mall for a little while and then Brecken decided he was hungry for real so we got some old-fashioned greasy hamburgers and fries. We visited a bookstore and I bought Brecken a couple of graphic novels that he’d been wanting. We’d never be rich and I couldn’t afford to give him everything I wanted to give him, but these days I was glad I had a little cash to get him something special now and then.
“Is Cassie coming over later?” he asked when we got back to the apartment.
“I hope so.”
“Me too. I’m glad you guys are together. You just seem to fit somehow.”
I grinned. “I agree.”
Cassie had given Brecken some old music posters to hang on the walls of his bedroom now that he had one. There was also an art poster with pictures of melted clocks that Cord had asked him if he wanted. I thought it was weird but Brecken liked it so we fixed it to the wall using poster putty. Then I asked Brecken if he wanted to play cards or something but he said he just wanted to hang out in his room.
I’d just decided to crack open my textbooks and do some studying when Cassie called.
“Hi, beautiful,” I said after answering on the first ring. “When are you coming over?”
I knew I sounded overeager but I didn’t care. I couldn’t wait to be with her again. She said she’d be here in a little while. She was baking a batch of cookies for Brecken.
“Don’t I get any cookies?” I wanted to know.
“You can have some cookies,” she said and then she lowered her voice. “Although I had a different dessert in mind for you.”
“It’s a date,” I promised.
“I miss you,” Cassie said and the sound of her voice was sweet music.
“Then hurry up,” I told her. “Because you’re all I can think about.”
After that call it was tough to resume any interest in the books. I was still giving it my best shot when my phone buzzed again. I smiled, thinking it might be Cassie telling me she was on her way but then I saw the number was an international one. I almost didn’t answer, not really wanting to sit there and absorb yet another call full of anguished silence.
But I did answer.
“Mom?” I said.
There was no response, just a faint whistling sound that might have been distant breathing.
“Mom, is that really you? Please talk to me.” I closed my eyes. “I really need you to talk to me.”
There was a muffled sob and then a faraway voice that was as familiar to me as my own said, “Curtis. Oh Curtis, I’m so sorry.”
I thought she’d end the call abruptly after that small breakthrough but she didn’t. The conversation started slowly. I knew better than to ask exactly where she was. I had to tell her about Tristan first and she cried hard over the news. I thought I’d feel anger when this moment finally arrived but now I just felt pity. She was still my mother. And I hadn’t always been a good son to her. She’d suffered a lot of grief over things I’d done in the past and yet I always knew she loved me. I would never understand why she thought it was a better idea to abandon her own children rather than face the consequences of her actions but I wouldn’t deprive her of information about them now that she’d finally reached out. There was more than just bad news. There was good as well. I told her about how well Brecken was doing and about my job and our new apartment. I told her I’d met a terrific girl and I was planning on finally getting my high school diploma.
Before my mother hung up she said something that shocked me. I didn’t know whether to believe it would come true. Time would tell.
I was sitting there blankly staring at the phone, wondering if that call had really just happened, when there was a knock at the door.
Cassie was waiting on the other side and I almost forgot how to breathe when I saw her. She’d gone to some trouble, wearing a sexy blue dress that hugged every tempting inch of her gorgeous figure. I reached for her, cupped her face in my hands and kissed her long and slow.
“I’m so glad you’re here,” I told her.
She’d brought over fresh cookies and ingredients to make spaghetti for dinner. Brecken emerged from his room and sat at the table, silently laughing at me because I couldn’t stop staring at Cassie standing there preparing dinner in her hot little dress.
We ate dinner around the tiny kitchen table I’d scored for twenty bucks at a clearance sale and I decided not to spoil the cheerful mood by mentioning the call from my mother. I was also afraid to get Brecken’s hopes up.
Cassie looked at me questioningly a few times and I realized I was quieter than I’d meant to be while she and Brecken chatted back and forth. I reached under the table and found her knee, leaving my hand there while I finished eating.
When dusk fell and the outside temperature became more bearable the three of us took a walk to a nearby manmade lake where kids hovered at the water’s edge and threw bread to ducks while their parents stood back and snapped photos.
Brecken separated from us a little, wandering a short distance away on his own as he watched the last traces of the sun disappear over the horizon.
I hugged Cassie to me and kissed her. “Spend the night?” I asked.
She hesitated and glanced at Brecken. “Are you sure?”
“Fuck yes.”
She gave me a smile and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me in for another kiss.
It was impossible to kiss her without getting hard. It seemed we were getting a little too enthusiastic because Brecken returned and made a crack about inappropriate public displays of affection.
After we returned to the apartment and ate every single one of Cassie’s chocolate chip cookies, Brecken announced he was going to hang out in his room until bedtime.
“Don’t stay up too late,” I said.
“You either,” he snorted and then closed the door to his room.
I waited until I heard music coming from his clock radio, then I pulled Cassie into my room.
“I keep thinking about you,” she said as she pressed against me and kissed my neck. “I
want you.”
I lifted her and set her down on the bed. She sat on the edge while I ran my hands over her legs and removed her heeled sandals.
“Did you tell your sister all the details?” I asked, sliding my hands higher, over her thighs.
She opened her knees for me and giggled. “A few. She liked saying, ‘I told you so’. Cami knew how I felt about you even when I was still in denial.”
I pulled my shirt off and climbed on the bed, easing her back to stretch out beside me.
“I had a nice chat with your dad,” I said as I casually rolled the sleeve of her dress down. I kissed the smooth shoulder underneath.
“You did?” She got up on her elbows, her eyes wide. “What did he say?”
“That he was tempted to use his hammer and chisel on certain important parts of my body.”
She put a hand to her mouth. “No! He didn’t!”
I laughed. “Nope, not at all. Cord Gentry was as polite as he could be under the circumstances. “
“Good.” She relaxed and touched my cheek. “You’ve been quiet tonight.”
“I know. There was a reason for that. Just before you got here my mother called. And this time we actually talked.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. I didn’t tell Brecken. Didn’t want to give him false hope. At the end of the call she dropped a small bomb. She said she’s coming back to the states to face trial.”
Cassie let out a small gasp. “Curtis, that’s a good thing, right?”
“Yeah, it’s a good thing. It’s better than all the uncertainty of not knowing, especially for Brecken.” I paused. “I still can’t believe we really talked. And you know what? Even though she’s still on the run in a foreign country it was the longest conversation we’d had since I was a kid.”
“I’m so glad,” she said happily and then laid her head on my chest . “I want to hear all about it.”
“And I’ll tell you.” I played with her long golden hair and then my hands travelled lower, lifting up the hem of her dress and sliding into her panties. “But first I just want to enjoy the way you feel. Unless you’re too sore after last night.”
