Chapter 23
“All right, Cass. Tell me everything.”
My sister and I are sitting on the back porch while Penny spends some time getting to know my family.
Cassie’s eyes instantly well up with tears and she scrunches her nose, taking a deep breath. “I think I was in denial. I’ve known deep down that things weren’t good. Things were off long before this.” She stands and walks to the steps of the pool, sitting to dangle her feet in the water. I slip off my shoes and do the same.
“You know this is the same type of bullshit I talk to my patients about all the time. So many women out there are willing to put up with whatever from a man. And here I am, no different than them.” She goes quiet, looking down at the water. I don’t say anything because I know this is how Cass processes things, and she doesn’t always require a response.
“And you know what the worst part of it is?” Cassie straightens, looking over at me. “If I’m being completely honest with myself, I’m not sure I even liked him anymore. I’m devastated by everything that’s about to change, but I don’t think it’s because I’ll miss him. I’m mostly embarrassed and ashamed that I didn’t listen to the people who warned me about him.” She looks back down at the water. “He wasn’t nice to me.” Her words come out in a whisper.
“What do you mean, he wasn’t nice to you? Did—did he hurt you, Cass?” My vision turns red and I have to take a few breaths to tamp down the flare of anger.
“Not physically, no.” She glances up at me and back down. “But he wasn’t ever kind to me. He never complimented me or thanked me for anything. Anytime I’d cook, even if it was foods I know he likes, he’d find something to complain about. When I’d fix myself up to go to dinner, he’d find something wrong with the way I looked. I’d begun to think something was just wrong with me .”
“No, Cass, that’s fucked up. Nothing’s wrong with you. He’s a narcissistic douchebag. You’re absolutely perfect just the way you are.”
“You have to say that. You’re my brother.”
“I say it because it’s true. You deserve better than that. You know that, right?” I ask, my eyes scanning her face. My sister looks so much like my mom and I wish she was here right now for me to say the exact same thing to her.
Cassie must see where my mind goes because she lays a hand on my arm. “I’m not her, Austin. I’m not gonna be her. I left.”
“Damn right you did.” I reach over and squeeze her hand.
About that time my aunt’s dog comes running up and jumps in the swimming pool, splashing both of us. Cassie and I both laugh, and it feels great to be sitting here laughing with her.
“Wanna know something?” Cassie’s voice has traces of amusement lacing her words now. “I have the password for his social media and website. He’s an idiot and never knew how to do a damn thing with technology.” She flips her phone over and pulls up the website to his gym. “Look what I did.”
I burst out laughing when I spot it. On the homepage of the website she’s changed the picture of Alan. She’s edited it to have a speech bubble beside his picture that says, “Take as many steroids as I do, and you too can have erectile dysfunction.”
I throw my head back, laughing. God, this sister of mine.
“Remind me to never piss you off again.”
We’re both still laughing when Penny steps out. I motion for her to join us and she slips off her shoes and sits beside me. I turn Cassie’s phone for her to see it and she joins us, laughing at the caption.
“Why—” I start, at the same time Penny speaks. “You go first, Penn.”
“I came out here to tell y’all I have an idea. Cassie, why don’t you come back with us?”
“I swear to you that’s what I was about to say.” I grin, and we turn to face Cassie, expectantly. “What do you think? I’m telling you, I thought Ty was blowing smoke up my ass when he told me it would be good for me there, but he was right. That town is special.”
“It’s not a terrible idea,” Cassie says, thinking over our offer. “Where would I stay?”
“I have an apartment over my garage,” Penny offers.
I turn to face her. Is she saying what I think she’s saying?
“The apartment Austin is in?” She shakes her head. “I’m not sharing a bed with my brother. That’s weird.”
Penny snorts a laugh, cutting her eyes over to me. “He can stay with me.”
Yep, she’s saying what I thought she was saying.
Hot damn.
Cassie’s lips curl up into a knowing grin, and she looks back and forth between us. “I like you, Penny. Yes, I’ll come back with y'all. My patients are all telehealth, so it doesn’t really matter where I am.”
“You can even take my G-wagon,” I offer.
Penny looks at me, eyebrows scrunched. “You say that like we won’t be riding with her.” At that, Cassie laughs and Penny looks back and forth between us. “What am I missing here?”
“He has his precious in his garage. He’s basically Smeagol and it’s his ring. I’m sure he plans on driving that,” Cassie explains.
Penny snorts a laugh as she starts to stand. “Okay, I need to see what she’s talking about.”
“Wait—” Cassie starts, and Penny lowers back down. “I need my stuff moved out. I can’t hire movers because they won’t know what’s mine, but I could go with you guys and show y'all what to get.”
“I’ll see if Ty and Uncle Brad can go with me tomorrow. We can rent a U-Haul and between the four of us it should go quickly.”
“Okay,” Cassie says slowly. “Alan’s out of town for a bodybuilding competition. He won’t be there to get in our way.”
I scoff. “Narcissistic prick. All right, I’ll tell Ty what’s going on. Now let’s go see my precious.”
* * *
Ten minutes later, we’re in my detached garage. Cassie stayed back, claiming there’s only so many times she can watch me gush over a truck. My pristine G-Wagon is parked in one bay with my red ATV in the next one. And in the third bay sits my truck. It’s covered to keep it from getting scratches or dings.
Carefully, I remove the cover, exposing the shiny black exterior of my 1987 Chevy Silverado, with tinted windows and shiny chrome wheels. I mowed every grass in Warbler the summer of my junior year to afford these wheels. Stepping back, I stand next to Penny to admire my truck.
“She’s my pride and joy.” I mime wiping a tear from one eye. “But seriously, I love this thing. I got it when I turned sixteen, and when I started making money I decided to restore it like new.”
I open the passenger door, gesturing for her to get in. She does and I walk around, climbing behind the wheel. “I upgraded the leather and stereo, but I tried to keep as much of the original as possible.”
I turn the key and the engine roars to life, giving me goose bumps. “This is what we’ll be driving back.” When I glance over she’s grinning at me. “You look pretty damn good in it, too. C’mere.” I jerk my chin, raising my arm for Penny to scoot across the bench seat. When she does, I wrap my arm around her shoulder, and she reaches up lacing her fingers with my hand.
Yeah, I think I’m gonna love having her beside me in my truck, just like we are right now.