Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(14)

I roll my eyes and grab another handful of popcorn.

Cassie replies, “Yeah, I guess he’s okay, but he’s a little too old for me.”

My brother, who is obviously eavesdropping, same as me, leans in close to his girlfriend and kisses her cheek. “Good girl,” he tells her in a completely patronizing tone.

That prompts me to launch a handful of popcorn over the girls’ heads while calling him out. “Don’t be such a Neanderthal, Will.”

“You’re one to talk,” my brother retorts, brows raising.

Kay whispers in my ear, “Don’t worry, Neanderthal is good. I like you untamed.”

She squeezes my bicep, and I murmur back, “That’s my girl.”

Will grumbles to Cassie, “See what I mean?”

“Well,” Cassie comments, “it’s obvious you two are related.”

I ignore their chatter and lean in to Kay. Our lips meet, and soon we’re so lost in kissing the hell out of each other that I end up missing the big climactic finish on the screen. Not that I care. I’d rather taste Kay’s sweet lips than watch the movie.

But I’m soon reminded we’re not alone when Will mutters from a few feet away, “Dude, seriously, you two need to get a room.”

Kay smiles against my lips. “Guess that’s our cue to stop.”

“Guess so,” I quip.

Intermission arrives about three minutes after Kay and I quit making out, and as I regroup, which includes discreetly adjusting myself, I hear Cassie saying to Will, “I’m gonna go buy some candy. You want anything?”

In a very loud voice, Will announces he needs more popcorn, since, “Someone wasted a bunch, throwing it at my head.”

His eyes slide to me, and I chuckle but refrain from commenting. Kay, meanwhile, offers to go with Cassie to the concession stand.

While Cassie is preparing to jump down from the bed of the truck, Kay turns back to me, pins me with a meaningful look. I catch on quickly—this is another opportunity for her to get through to Cassie. Kay plans to close the deal, so to speak, in convincing Will’s girlfriend to talk with her mom before the week is up. Kay has already made good progress.

After Will and I returned with the popcorn, seconds before he and I became immersed in the movie, what Kay whispered to me was that Cassie told her she wants to go back to Vegas—she misses her friends and her mom—but she fears her twisted stepdad, Paul, will continue to harass her. As it stands, things have gone from bad to worse. He propositioned her in very vivid terms last week. That’s what dragged Will away from the airport. That’s why he didn’t fly to Ohio to visit as was originally planned. And that f*cker Paul’s proposition is what led to Will and Cassie running away.

As far as I’m concerned, the sick f*ck has to go—and soon. I swear, if Kay can’t convince Cassie to tell her mother what’s been going on, I’m flying my ass out to Vegas and laying that motherf*cker out myself. There was no tolerance for pedophiles in prison, and I uphold the same philosophy here on the outside.

Eventually, Kay and Cassie return, but there’s no opportunity to get an update. Everyone is tired and ready to go home. We return to the house, and as soon as we’re parked, Will jumps out of the truck.

“I’m exhausted,” he announces as he heads straight to the house.

I linger in the driveway while Kay and Cassie fold the blankets, trying to assess if they need help.

“Hey, bro,” Will calls over his shoulder when he reaches the porch. “Come on.”

“Yeah, give me a minute,” I yell back.

Cassie is fumbling with one of the blankets, so I take it from her and say, “Why don’t you go spend a few minutes alone with your boyfriend before we all turn in?”

Cassie smiles thankfully and heads over to the porch. But before Kay gets started on telling me how sweet of a gesture that was, I drop the stupid blanket and grab her up in my arms.

Showering my love in hungry kisses, I say, “I’ve been dying to do this since we were interrupted earlier.”

I am up—in more ways than one—for Kay sneaking over again, but I can tell she’s beat. It’s probably best if we don’t push our luck. Two nights in a row of Kay calling out my name while I f*ck her senseless is sure to wake up Will. Not that I care if my brother hears us. I’m just worried he’ll take the opportunity of my being preoccupied to sneak over to the apartment and engage in the same sort of activities with his own girlfriend.

After a few more minutes of holding my girl and sharing with her how much I love her, we reluctantly part.

When I reach the porch, I yell in through the screen door for Cassie to come out. “Time to wrap things up,” I say.

Will and Cassie are in the dining room, which is directly off to the left of the hall. That allows me to hear every word of them telling each other how much they love one another and can’t wait to hook up. Kissing noises follow, and I roll my eyes.

Seconds later, Cassie scurries past me. She tosses a “Good night, Chase” over her shoulder before she catches up to Kay.

When I step inside the house, chuckling and shaking my head, Will is standing at the base of the stairs. “Hey,” he says, yawning, “I’m going to take a shower before bed.”

“Okay, cool.”

“Good night.” Will says, yawning again.