I assumed Jack and Cassie worked out all their issues since he came home that night wearing a huge smile. So when Gran insisted that he bring Cassie over one night the next week so she could finally meet the family, he was all too agreeable.

“You think they’ll like her?” he asked me before leaving to pick her up Wednesday night.

I curled my lip in mock disgust. “No, of course they won’t.”

“Dick.”

“Don’t be stupid. What’s not to like? She’s great. I love her. If you ever break up with her, I’m going for it,” I teased, not meaning it at all, but the look on his face made it worth it.

“Back off.” Jack practically growled at me, and his reaction only made me want to mess with him more.

“Just go get her already,” I said, shoving him in the shoulder.

When he finally left, I realized that Jack had never brought a girl home before. Ever. And our entire family buzzed with the anticipation.

“Am I going to like her,” Gran whispered to me, although I had no idea why she was whispering.

I nodded. “You’re going to love her.”

“How about me? Will I love Kitten?” Gramps said with a laugh.

“Is there any girl you don’t love?” I rolled my eyes at him and he shrugged, playing with the unlit pipe in his mouth.

“I better get back in the kitchen,” Gran said. ”I have a pie in the oven.”

A little while later, I yelled, “They’re here,” like a kid on freaking Christmas morning. Why I was so damned excited, I didn’t really know.

Before they could reach the door, I pulled it open and greeted them with a smile.

“It’s about time.” I winked at Jack before pulling Cassie into a bear hug.

“I will hurt you. Get off her,” Jack said as he playfully shoved me away.

Cassie laughed before lifting her chin and sniffing at the air. “It smells incredible in here.”

“It’s Gran’s homemade sauce,” I told her.

“Welcome home.” Jack smiled down at her, his adoration obvious.

Watching his face light up like that, I realized I’d probably pay good money to see him like this. Jack had pushed people away for far too long. It was about time he let someone in.

“I’ll see you two in the kitchen,” I said before walking away, but neither of them paid me any attention.

I’d just settled at the kitchen table as they walked through the entryway. Gran immediately leaned over the stove, stirring her sauce over the heat even though it didn’t need it. Gramps pretended to read the newspaper while I sat watching the two lovebirds.

“Oh, Ma, they’re here!” Gramps folded the paper and stood up, extending his arms as he headed straight for Cassie. “You must be Cassie. It’s so nice to finally meet you.” He squeezed her hard, and her smile only grew.

When Gramps released her, Jack reached for her hand and pulled her toward the stove. “Gran, this is my girl, Cassie.”

Gran wiped her hands on her apron as Cassie turned to her. “It’s so nice to meet you, Cassie. We’ve heard so much about you.”

“It’s wonderful to meet you both. Thanks for having me,” Cassie replied with a warm smile, and then asked, “Can I help?”

I almost choked. Gran never let anyone help with the cooking. The cleaning, you bet your ass, but not the actual cooking part. Her kitchen was her domain, and she never let us forget it.

“Oh heavens no, dear. I’m almost finished. Go sit down and make yourself comfortable. Jack, you get her whatever she needs, you hear me?” Gran’s voice took on the tone she only used with me and Jack.

“Yes, Gran, of course,” he said a little too sweetly before kissing her on the cheek. “Do you need anything, Kitten?”

“I’m fine, thanks.”

Gramps pulled out the empty chair next to him and patted it. “Come sit down next to me, Cassie. Or do I get to call you Kitten too?”

When he winked at Cassie as I took a sip from my glass, I almost shot water out of my nose. Gramps just winked at Jack’s girlfriend.

I couldn’t stop laughing. “I think we should all start calling her Kitten.”

Jack shot me a murderous glare. “Only I get to call her Kitten. You’d be wise to remember that.”

“Jack, stop threatening your brother,” Gran said while waving the steam away from her face.

“Yes, Gran,” he said nicely before kicking me under the table.

I moved my foot to kick him back and missed.

Gramps leaned on his elbow and studied Cassie. “So, Cassie, Jack tells us you’re a photographer.”

She nodded. “That’s what I’m studying right now. I’d like to start my own business as soon as I graduate.”

Gramps slapped his hand against the table. “Well, that’s just great! Isn’t that great, dear?”

Cassie answered all my grandparents’ questions about her photography and her hopes for the future. Whenever we could get a word in edgewise, Jack and I both sang her praises.

The girl had a natural talent. She was a gifted photographer, and I’d never seen anyone photograph things from the angles she did. Jack seemed truly impressed not only by her passion, but by her talent as well. I had to admit that it was pretty awesome seeing them support each other’s passions.

“If it doesn’t work out, you can always go into sports photography and follow your boyfriend around the country,” Jack said with a laugh.

Everyone laughed with him, but I knew he wasn’t joking. He meant it.

“So, I’d just wake up and take pictures of you all day?” Cassie asked with a teasing smile.

“Sounds like a dream job to me.”

“Oh Lord.” Gran sighed. “Forgive me, Cassie. I did the best I could with him.”

She laughed. “It’s okay, Gran. He’s perfect just the way he is.”

I wanted to stick my finger down my throat and make a gagging sound, but knew that both Jack and Gran would murder me later for being rude, so I stayed quiet.

“Jack, Dean, come help me serve, will you?” Gran asked.

We jumped up from the table and returned carrying steaming dishes filled with homemade Italian food. It smelled fantastic. I couldn’t even eat at Italian restaurants after having Gran’s meals. She’d ruined me.

“Dig in, please. Cassie first,” Gramps said, which was his way of giving us guys a reminder to be hospitable and not attack the food like ravenous wolves.

Cassie reached for the bowl of spaghetti and dished out a huge helping before grabbing two slices of garlic bread and dropping them onto her plate. As she was dishing out some salad onto her plate, her eyes grew wide and she froze, as if she’d only realized how much food she’d piled on.

“Get enough, Kitten?” Jack teased.

“I think I got excited in my serving sizes,” she admitted as her cheeks pinked.

“Don’t worry about it. Just eat what you can.”

“This all looks incredible, Gran,” she said, her apology in her eyes. “Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome, dear. We’re so glad you came.”

“Jack, we need to talk about the draft,” Gramps mentioned between bites.

“What about it?”

The conversation continued about the upcoming major league draft and Jack’s role in it. We’d been told that he’d most likely be picked up by a team in the first round, which was a big deal that included a significant signing bonus.

Cassie apparently didn’t know a thing about it, so we all tried to fill her in on how it worked, including the fact that there would be cameramen at the house filming Jack’s reaction to whoever drafted him.

When Jack mentioned his two agents, she got even more confused, not understand how he could have agents already when he was still playing in college. After explaining the technicalities to that as well, she seemed to take it all in stride until it finally hit her that Jack getting drafted meant that he was leaving.

“When is it, anyway?” she asked, referring to the draft.

“The first Monday in June,” I answered before anyone else could.

“And then when do you leave?” Her eyes were firmly focused on Jack as if the rest of us were no longer a part of the conversation.

“I don’t know for sure, but I think right after,” he said.

She looked as if she was about to cry. “Like that day?”

“No. But within a week, I think.”

Cassie was obviously upset. Tears were going to start falling any second. How had Jack not discussed this with her at all?

I kicked him under the table and this time I didn’t miss, wanting to be sure he knew what an insensitive idiot he was.

The mood sobered a bit with Cassie’s continued questions and Jack’s nonstop answers that did nothing to soothe her. I felt bad enough until Gran asked what they planned on doing about their relationship once Jack left. Then I felt horrible for them.

The look on their faces said it all—they hadn’t talked about shit.

I mentioned something about long-distance relationships being awful, and that sent Gran and Gramps into a lecture about how beautiful and wonderful they could be. I had zero experience with it, but it sounded like a crap idea. Then again, if the only other option was to not be together, then I would try it too if I were them.

“Well, that’s enough of that talk for one night. I’m sure the kids don’t want to think about all this stuff right now.” Gran waved a hand in front of her face before rising from the table, followed by Gramps.

“No, it was really nice to hear. Thank you.” Cassie smiled, and I wondered if it was just for show.

“We’ll get the dishes, Gran. Go lie down,” my brother suggested with a smarmy smile.

“Thank you, Jack. We’ll just be in the other room,” she said before slowly making her way into the living room.

When it was just the three of us, I addressed the elephant in the room. “You two are gonna stay together, right?”

Jack turned toward Cassie, who was already staring right at him. “She’ll probably be sick of me by then.”

“Most likely,” she said in response.

I hoped they were kidding, assumed they were kidding, because I couldn’t believe the topic had never come up.

Leaning back in my chair, I said, “You guys seriously haven’t talked about any of this?”

“Not yet.”

“Dude, June isn’t that far away. And you’ll leave right after the draft. You two are hopeless.”

I stifled a shout as Jack rammed his foot into my shin full force.

“Why don’t you shut the fuck up, Dean, and worry about your own love life? Or lack thereof.”

I shoved out of my chair, sliding it across the kitchen floor with a loud squeak.

“Ow, Jack! Jesus! I was just saying you two should probably get your shit together and actually start doing that whole communicating thing Gran was talking about. ’Cause the last time I checked, you sort of sucked at it.”

Jack stood up and pushed his face inches from mine, breathing hard. I tensed and braced myself, worried for a moment that my own brother was going to hit me.

“You’re being a real asshole, Dean, you know that?” A muscle jumped in his jaw, telling me I’d struck a nerve.

“Jack! Sit! Down!” Cassie yelled as she tugged at the hem of Jack’s shirt.

“Let’s go,” he gritted out, and Cassie scowled at him.

“What? No. We haven’t even done the dishes and—”

“We’re leaving. I’ll do the dishes when I get back,” he shot back, acting like a little bitch.

Cassie sighed and gave me an embarrassed smile. “‘Night, Dean.”

“‘Night, Cass. Sorry.” I shrugged, feeling a little bad about the conversation and hoping she didn’t hate me, but her smile told me she didn’t.

After they left, I looked around at the mess in the kitchen. As my way of apologizing without saying sorry, I rinsed all the dishes off before putting them in the dishwasher. At least when Jack got home, he’d know I wasn’t intentionally trying to start a war with him. I’d truly been surprised to hear that they hadn’t talked about any of those things.

June was right around the corner, and then what?

I’d already started to feel like Cass was a sister to me. I didn’t want to lose her either.