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.”   

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.” 

“I’m not.”  She pushed her panties down and reached for my belt.  Then she froze.  “But what about Brecken?  He’s right in the next room.” 

“He’s got his music on,” I said, freeing my cock and then rolling on top of her.  “Just don’t shriek like a banshee every time you come the way you did last night.” 

Cassie giggled and opened her legs.  “I seem to remember that you weren’t exactly quiet and controlled yourself.” 

I grinded my hips against her and she opened her legs wider, her face already flushed with desire.  Fuck, she excited the hell out of me.

“It’s not easy to control myself with you,” I said, taking hold of her arms and pinning them above her head.  “But I’ll try not to let the neighborhood know about it.” 

“Curtis,” she moaned, writhing underneath me because I was teasing her now, rocking back and forth to the rhythm, making sure she felt me but not pushing my way in. 

“Cassidy,” I whispered before I entered her body.  I still didn’t know how I’d managed to deserve her but I was finished questioning it.  She was mine.

“You’re everything,” I whispered when I was inside of her. “You’re everything.”