Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2

Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2

S.R. Grey




Chapter One


Chase


I hesitate, glancing from my fifteen-year-old runaway brother, Will, to his waiflike girlfriend, Cassie. But it’s the woman who helps me keep my shit together, in situations as f*cked up as the one I’m in tonight, who garners my full attention.

Kay Stanton. As my eyes linger on her, she sends the sweetest smile my way. I can’t help but smile back.

Shit, I sometimes can’t believe this demure beauty who works at the church down the road is the love of my life. I mean, damn, who would have ever expected someone like me—an ex-con with a drug-soaked past—to find love in the first place?

Certainly not me… But I did find love, and now I can’t imagine life without her.

Kay has learned me well enough to know I’m stalling by focusing on her. She nods encouragingly at Will and Cassie while flipping her long chestnut-brown hair over her shoulder.

“Okay, okay,” I mumble under my breath, smiling.

Knowing I have Kay’s support no matter what strengthens my resolve, but, damn, I wish I could read her thoughts. Then I’d know exactly what her take is on this crazy situation, which would be helpful before I open my mouth and say the wrong thing.

But is there really a choice here?

Not that I can see.

As it stands, I am still coming to grips with the fact that dear little bro ran away from home. He traveled thousands of miles from Nevada to Ohio with his sixteen-year-old girlfriend in tow, and they showed up on the doorstep of my farmhouse, like, ten minutes ago. So here he is. My brother is in Harmony Creek, standing next to Cassie, while her corn-silk hair blows gently in the nighttime summer breeze. The old yellow porch light bathes Will and Cassie’s faces in a warm kind of glow, making them look even younger than they are.

Will, catching me red-handed as I stare at him and his girlfriend, says, “So, what’s it gonna be, Chase? Can we crash here for a few weeks or not?”

I sigh, thinking, Christ, how did we all end up here? My brother and his girl should be out having fun, not on the run. My eyes slide briefly to Cassie. She’s the real reason they’re here in Harmony Creek…instead of back in Las Vegas where they belong.

Okay, everyone has waited long enough.

I take a deep breath and announce my decision. “This is what’s going to happen.” I point to Will and Cassie. “You two can’t stay here. You’re runaways and you’re both under eighteen. I am not going back to prison for illegally harboring your teenage asses.” I say to Will specifically, “Sorry, bro, but you have to go home.”

Will curses and grumbles under his breath, “This is such bullshit.”

Conversely, Cassie’s shoulders relax. If I were to guess, I’d venture that she’s mostly relieved, confirming what I’ve been thinking all along—this cross-country escapade was my brother’s harebrained scheme from the start. I have no doubt this “running away” is just part one of his big plan to “save” his girlfriend from her sleazy stepfather’s inappropriate advances.

Will’s intentions are honorable, true, but his execution—running away—is for shit.

Before Will can argue my decision, I tell him he needs to call our mother. “She’s worried sick about you, kid.”

Will shrugs his shoulders and shoots me a f*ck-you expression. “I can’t call Mom,” he retorts. “My phone died hours ago. And we didn’t have a charger that worked in Cassie’s car.”

“Not a problem,” I shoot back, complete with a smirk to rival the one plastered on little bro’s smug face.

“Oh yeah, how’s that not a problem? You got a charger up your ass?”

I bite my tongue, hold my cell phone out to him. “I was talking with Mom before you got here. Now, quit being such a smart-ass and call your mother.”

Will hesitates, so I jiggle the phone in front of his face. “Take it, Will.” My tone is deadly serious. “Mom needs to know you’re safe. She can book a couple of flights for tomorrow for you and Cassie. You two can spend the night here. I’ll call off work and drive you to the airport in the morning.”

My brother’s eyes burn hot, fiery green, just like our mother’s do when she’s pissed.

“What about Cassie’s car?” My brother gestures wildly to the sporty, too-f*cking-nice-for-a-kid car parked in my gravel driveway. “We can’t just leave it here, like, forever.”

Will is stalling. He knows when he makes that call to Mom, his reckless runaway days are done.

“We’ll figure that shit out later.” I sigh and rake my fingers through my hair, pulling on the ends for good measure. This kid is going to be the death of me. “Just make the call before I run out of patience.”

Suddenly, Will hurls the phone in my direction, yelling, “Fuck you, Chase. I’m not calling anyone.”

Unfortunately for Will, his outburst lacks effect. My reflexes are too sharp, and I catch the cell, no problem. If the phone had hit me and fallen to the solid-wood slats that make up the porch floor, it surely would have shattered into a million pieces.

No doubt that was Will’s intent, prompting me to mumble, “Little shit,” under my breath.

Will hears my comment and starts to go off on how this house shouldn’t even belong to my ungrateful, undeserving ass. “I have as much right to this house as you do”—he shakes his head, disgusted, and adds a sarcastic—“big brother.”