Never Doubt Me: Judge Me Not #2(7)

Cassie shifts uncomfortably and starts bouncing on her toes. She asks if she can use the bathroom. “We haven’t stopped for a really long time,” she adds apologetically.

“Oh, of course, honey,” I say. “You should have said something sooner.” I gesture to my apartment above the garage. “Here, follow me.”

I lead Cassie over to my place. It’s a little farther than if we just went into the main house, but I figure this way Cassie can get a glimpse of where she’ll be staying for the next few days. Plus, the extra time it takes to walk back and forth will give Chase and his brother more time to reconnect.

When we walk into my apartment, I show Cassie where the bathroom is, then wait for her in the living room. When she comes out, she surveys the small, but nicely decorated rooms and says, “You were right. Your place is really nice. It’s…cute.”

“Thank you,” I reply, smiling.

We head back over to the house, but as we near the main house, Cassie slows to a stop. She starts to giggle, and I ask, “What? What’s so funny?”

She gestures to our guys, who are still standing on the porch, laughing and talking. “It’s just funny that neither one of them had any idea what the other was wearing today, yet, check it out, they’re dressed almost exactly alike.”

Now I’m chuckling, too, since what Cassie is saying is so true. Both Chase and Will are wearing dark T-shirts and low-riding jeans, only Will’s T-shirt is dark blue and Chase’s is black. Oh, and Will’s jeans hang way low, lower than Chase’s, leaving the top part of Will’s boxers exposed.

“Nice white boxers,” I mutter to Cassie, teasingly, since I’m hoping to keep things light like this. There was enough drama earlier.

Cassie plays right along. “I can see the top edge of Chase’s underwear, too, you know. They’re black and look like boxer briefs.”

I start laughing. Cassie just called it, right on the nose.

“They are boxer briefs,” I confirm. I then nudge her arm and nod over to the boys. “Hey, you should yell over to Chase to pull up his pants. Tell him you can see his underwear.”

Her eyes widen. “God,” she gasps, “no way!”

“I’m just kidding,” I assure her.

While we laugh, Chase and Will have no idea we’re discussing their underwear. The brothers appear far too busy catching up.

Cassie and I glance over at each other and just lose it for no particular reason. It’s been a stressful night and laughing feels good. Chase glances our way, but otherwise doesn’t pay us much heed. “Typical man,” I say when he resumes talking to his brother.

Cassie giggles, then says, “I like you, Kay. You’re pretty cool.”

I’m flattered Will’s girlfriend has decided I’m “cool.”

We start walking again, and Cassie wants to know, “What’s Chase like?”

“Oh, that’s easy,” I reply. “He’s basically incredible.”

“Yeah…” She smiles as she eyes Will. “I believe it. Will is pretty much great, too.”

“They’re probably a lot alike,” I muse, giving my guy a wistful once-over, as well.

Cassie sighs and slows, since we’re almost within earshot. “Can I ask you something, Kay?” she quietly murmurs.

“Sure.”

“Is Chase really pissed Will drove without a license?”

I shake my head. “I don’t know, Cassie, probably not. I think he just doesn’t want to see Will get into any trouble.”

“That makes sense,” she replies, nodding. “But, seriously, Will was the logical choice. He’s actually a much better driver than me, especially on the interstates. The trucks get so close when they pass.” She shudders. “Ugh, they freak me out.”

“I completely understand,” I tell her, since I do. “Trucks make me nervous, too.”

Cassie quiets, perhaps reflecting, and then she says in a low, low voice, “Will was so cute, Kay. Like the whole way here, he kept doing the sweetest things.”

I sense she wants to share, so I ask, “Like what?”

“Well, for starters, he made sure we stopped for meals at what he termed ‘regular intervals.’” She pauses and smiles. “And even though we ate mostly fast food, Will always made sure all the food groups were covered.”

“That is sweet,” I agree.

And it is. Will’s obviously a thoughtful kid. And Cassie is sweet, too. I can’t help but smile as she continues to share, quietly but excitedly.

“Another thing Will insisted on doing was guarding all the ladies’ rooms I went into, especially when I’d stop in to freshen up.” With downcast eyes, Cassie softly adds, “Will told me he was guarding to make sure no perverts snuck in with me.”

A funny look crosses Cassie’s face when the word “pervert” passes her lips. Chase has told me about her stepdad, some guy named Paul. He’s much younger than Cassie’s mom—closer to Cassie’s age, in fact. He’s supposedly around the house a lot. Used to work in some casino, but he got fired. This is just what Chase has related to me. Will doesn’t share much with him in the way of details, but it’s been made clear Paul spends a lot of his free time basically hitting on Cassie.