Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(58)

I’m clenching and unclenching my hands on the steering wheel when we drive away.

Kay, noticing my anxiety, places her warm little hand over mine. “Hey, you did well, Chase. You didn’t hurt Kyle. There was no trouble. And I’m proud of you for that.”

Ha, if only she knew that I punched an addict who owed Kyle money and that I intimidated the f*ck out of her ex-boyfriend. But I can’t dwell on that shit right now.

I lift the hand that Kay is covering and bring her curled fingers to my lips. “I love you so f*cking much.” I brush my lips over her knuckles.

When I release her hand, she trails a finger over my cheek and jaw, rubbing at the light stubble. She leans over and kisses me. When she settles back into her seat, she says, “So, what did Kyle say? Did he have any info?”

“Yeah, he did, actually.” I shoot her a sidelong glance filled with meaning. “Will and Jared were at his house earlier, but he claims they didn’t buy any drugs.”

Kay’s brow furrows. “That doesn’t make any sense. I mean, why would they go see him, if not for drugs? What other possible reason would your brother or Jared have for visiting Kyle Tanner?”

“That’s the million-dollar question, babe.”

“It sure is,” Kay says under her breath. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”

“I agree.” I turn out of Kyle’s driveway. “But something’s going on, I’m sure of that. I just have no idea what that something is.”

We’re quiet on the short drive into town.

When we hit Market Street, Kay asks, “Where should we go next?”

“I was thinking maybe Pizza House. Will really likes their food. Maybe he and Jared stopped in for lunch or something.”

It’s wishful thinking, sure, but not out of the realm of possibility. In fact, I’m actually hoping all those two kids did today was grab a pizza. But I’d be lying if I didn’t admit the stop at Kyle’s is weighing on my mind. It has me concerned, very concerned. I think Kyle sold Jared—or more likely, my brother—something.

But what?

I am considering possibilities—and coming up blank—when Kay and I walk into Pizza House. Nick emerges from the back, and when he spots us, it’s obvious he’s shocked as shit to see Kay. But his shock turns into fawning when he starts to speak to her.

“Hey, Kay,” he gushes. “You look fantastic. How’ve you been?”

“Fine, thank you,” she responds.

“You haven’t stopped in for a takeout in so long,” Nick says, feigning disappointment. “I was starting to worry about you, thought I might have to stop by the church and make sure everything was okay.”

What a tool. I guffaw, and Kay entwines her arm with mine in an attempt to calm my ire. She knows me so well.

“Aw, Nick,” she says, “I’ve been fine.” She leans into me, cuddling to a point. I know it’s her way to dismiss Nick’s flirtation. “It’s just that Chase, here, has been volunteering to pick up all our takeout orders lately.”

“Yeah, I noticed that,” Nick says dryly, nodding curtly to me.

Everyone quiets, Nick wipes at his brow. He’s sweating. But I can’t figure out whether it’s because he’s uneasy around me—I mean, he obviously still likes Kay—or if he’s unnerved because he’s the person who facilitated my meeting with Doug Wilson.

Sorry, dude, but we’re in on that one together.

I hope my eyes are conveying that exact message when I shoot Nick a meaningful look. He just ignores me, though. I don’t know, maybe something entirely different is weighing on his mind.

Nick shoves his hands in the front pockets of his dark pants and leans back on his heels. Back to business, he asks, “So, what brings you in today? You want to order something to go?”

“No, we’re good,” I reply. “We just stopped in to ask if you happened to see my brother in here today.”

Will has accompanied me to pick up a number of takeout orders, thus Nick knows what he looks like.

Nick shakes his head. “No, sorry, man. I haven’t seen him, not today.”

I turn to go, mutter, “Okay, thanks.”

Kay tightens her hand on mine as we leave Pizza House. “Well, there’s strike number three,” I say. “Shit, Kay, I’m running out of f*cking options here.”

She softly says, “Let’s just go home, Chase. Maybe Will is back at the house by now.”

She has a point. It is after four o’clock.

“Yeah,” I agree as we get in my truck, “maybe.”

“Hey, we’ll find him,” Kay says reassuringly. “Even if he’s not at the house, we’ll find him.”

I wish I had her confidence.

I rake my fingers through my hair. “Fuck, let’s talk about something else for a while, okay?”

“Sure,” Kay replies.

There’s a long pause. I pull out of the Pizza House lot and turn in the direction of the house.

Once we’re on our way, Kay sighs and says, “So I guess Missy is doing okay with the rummage sale. Her mom must have come through. I haven’t received a single panicked call or any frantic texts. If things were going crazy over there, I’m sure Missy would be letting us know by now.”