Just Let Me Love You (Judge Me Not #3)(34)

“Yeah,” I agree, “most likely.”

I don’t add what I’m sure we are both thinking: It’s better than being in trouble for having an illegal firearm in your possession. One you fully intended on using.

When the police and paramedics do arrive, Will and I stick to our agreed-upon stories, with Will explaining to the police that he came out here merely to talk with Paul. And only because he was tired of Paul’s continued harassment of Cassie.

“I thought maybe I could reason with him man-to-man,” Will explains to the officer taking our stories down.

The policeman nods and turns to me. “And you, how did you end up here?”

“Uh…” I clear my throat. “I came out after Will’s girlfriend told me he wanted to talk with Paul. I had a feeling things might get heated, and I wanted to be here to protect my little brother.”

The cop glances at the pipe on the ground. “You didn’t hit him with that, did you?”

“No,” I reply. “I only used my hands.”

I don’t think the cop really buys it, but he doesn’t press. And little wonder. Turns out, there are multiple APBs out on Paul. Not just the one for violating the restraining order to stay away from Cassie, but for other things too, similar things to what he was doing to Will’s girlfriend.

My brother and I are informed that Paul has an outstanding arrest warrant out on him in another state. We are told he used to live in some tiny town in Arizona, where he’s suspected of soliciting under-age girls online for sex.

“Sick f*ck,” I murmur when the cop is finished with that particular story.

“He’s going to be going away for a long, long time,” the officer states. Turning to Will, he adds, “You and your girlfriend will never have to worry about this man ever bothering you again.”

“Good,” Will says.

With our statements on record, Will and I are free to leave. The police make arrangements for Cassie’s car to be towed back to her house.

Together, Will and I walk away from Paul’s trailer and head toward the rental car down the road.

“You lucked out,” I say to Will.

The officers at the scene chose not to write him up for driving without a license.

“Just don’t do it again,” one burly cop admonished.

“No, sir,” Will replied.

Now, on the way to the car, Will says, “You’re not kidding. I was one lucky guy tonight.”

“You sure were,” I agree, “in a lot of ways.”

Will doesn’t disagree. In fact, he thanks me for saving his ass.

“That’s what big brothers are for.” I reach over and ruffle his hair, carefully, though, so as to avoid the cut on his temple. The paramedics bandaged it before we left, but I’m sure it still hurts like hell.

Will half-heartedly attempts to push me away. “Stop it,” he complains.

Since it’s been a rough night, I leave him be.

A couple of minutes later, right before we reach the car, Will slows to a stop.

I stop next to him and ask, “What’s up?”

“Uh…” he trails off.

I jerk my head, indicating the rental car where Kay is waiting. “When she notices us, she’s going to be out of that car in a heartbeat. You better tell me now if you have something to say.”

Exhaling, Will says, “Since this is all over, I was wondering if you and Kay plan on heading back to Ohio soon.”

“Pretty soon, yeah. School starts in a week and a half, and Kay needs to be back before then.”

“That’s right,” Will says. “She teaches first grade in the school we painted the mural in, right?”

I nod as I think about those summer days that seem so long ago.

“Hey, Chase.” Will’s eyes meet mine. “Is there any way you, just you, could stay a little while longer?”

I shake my head, and Will swiftly adds, “Even just one more week would be good.”

“I don’t know, Will.” I rake my fingers through my hair, uncertain. Even though I’m sure Kay would be fine with me staying under most circumstances, I don’t think spending our first few weeks as a married couple apart is going to go over all that well.

But Will sends me such a pleading look that I can’t refuse.

“One more week,” I say, relenting. “Not a single day longer, though.”

My brother’s face now positively beams. “Thank you, Chase,” he says. “And I’ll tell Kay myself that I promise I won’t keep you two apart a minute beyond one extra week.”

Just then, in the distance, a jagged streak of lightning brightens the sky, giving me the most morbid sense of foreboding.





Kay



I discover plans have changed when Chase and I are back at the house.

“So…” I say. “We’re not going to drive back to Ohio on the motorcycle?”

I try not to sound dejected, but I can’t hide my dismay as Chase and I walk up to our bedroom.

“Baby girl…” Chase stops at the top of the stairs and wraps his arms around me. “I am so sorry. It looks like we’ll have to fly back.”

“Yeah, separately,” I say, sighing.

‘Yes, separately, but I’ll be back in Ohio not much longer after you.”