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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Kassie
Kassie sat across the table from her mom, her sister-in-law Ali, and nephew Kaleb. It was a beautiful Friday in late October. Everywhere you looked, Pittsburgh was decorated for fall. The trees were yellow with hints of red, fallen leaves lay scattered on the ground, and the sun gave everything a golden, warm glow. The hockey season was in full swing now. The Renegades were in Detroit tonight for a game, and the team fathers were their guests.
Kassie and Kaden no longer had their dad. Kaden had taken the loss in his stride and never let the Dad’s Trip bother him too much. She admired him for that. It had been hard not having her dad here, especially with all that their mom had been through of late. But now that little Kaleb was here, their father’s namesake, their days were much brighter.
Kassie picked at her salad, hunting out the cranberries and eating them one at a time. Her mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Luc, and regrets of how badly she had handled things this morning. As soon as she was outside her apartment, she knew she’d made a mistake. But there was no turning back at that point.
Lying to him about being called into work created a lump in her stomach that wouldn’t go away. It wasn’t completely implausible that she was called in; it was Friday. But what Luc didn’t know was that the office was closed today. She hated deceiving him.
Her brain went to the conversation she’d had with her brother not long after he found them together. She didn’t tell Luc about that run in, because she didn’t want to cause any more trouble.
Kaden looked angry. His forehead was wrinkled and his jaw was ticking, along with the large vein in his neck popping out. Yeah, he was stewing.
“How can you just sit there and play with Kaleb?” His words were stern, but his voice calm.
“Um, just like this?” Kassie gazed at him. He was starting to look so much like their father. She knew that’s why he was taking such an interest in this. If their dad was here, he’d surely be skeptical of a young athlete like Luc. Especially one with very public escapades.
“Kassie, don’t act like you don’t know what I mean.” He obviously didn’t appreciate her sarcastic humor.
“Sorry, Kass,” Ali said. “I’ve tried talking to him, but you know how stubborn he can be.” Ali picked Kaleb up. “It’s time for little guy’s nap, anyway. I’ll leave you two to talk. Babe, remember this is your sister you’re talking to and not an opposing player. Kassie, call me later if you need to talk.”
Kassie watched Ali take Kaleb upstairs. This conversation didn’t need to be done in front of the little guy. She knew a large percent of it would be Kaden trying to convince her why he was right. Kaleb didn’t need to hear his daddy and auntie disagreeing.
“She’s a good one, bro. Hang onto her.” She nodded upstairs to Ali. Once Ali was out of sight and Kassie heard the bedroom door close, she took a deep breath and stretched her neck out, hoping to head off the migraine she was sure to get after this talk. “All right Kaden, what’s got your boxers in a bunch today?”
“My boxers in a what? Kassie, you know why I’m mad. Don’t act like you don’t.”
“You’re still bent out of shape that I’m dating Luc.” Kassie flopped down on the couch with her legs folded under her. How many times were they going to go through this? “Bro, you’re going to have to get over this sooner or later.”
In typical brother fashion, Kaden pouted. “I don’t have to get over anything. And don’t tell me that I do.”
His response reminded her of when they were kids and he couldn’t stand to be wrong. Ever.
“Kaden, I like him. I told you all this. Do we have to go over it all again? Or can I just enjoy visiting you and your family?”
“Will you just stop for one minute and listen to yourself. You never fell for athletes. Why him? What makes Luc so special? What makes him worthy of you?”
“I don’t need to justify any of this to you. I’m not a little girl anymore, and I can make my own decisions. I’m still getting to know him, Kaden. If he turns out to be a jerk, I’ll tell him to take a hike. I may or may not swear off athletes, but that’s my choice to make. And if he’s not the jerk you’re making him out to be, then I’m going to give him a chance, and so will you.”
Kaden shook his head, obviously not in agreement. His jaw ticked.
“Kaden, I want us to get past this. I know you’re worried about me. But I’m going to be okay. I swear. I can take care of myself.”
“But it’s my job to look out for you, Kassie.” His face was serious with concern.
She knew her brother, and that was why his argument didn’t affect her. Because he wasn’t angry, he was concerned about her. “Maybe when we were kids, sure, but not anymore, Kaden. You have a wife and a little boy that need your protection. I, on the other hand, can protect myself.”
Ali’s voice bellowed from upstairs. “I can hold my own, too.”
Kaden shook his head at his eavesdropping wife.
“Please stop with the macho caveman crap. Let’s just talk.” Instantly she saw his face soften at her words. But the frustration in his eyes stayed.
“You’re my sister. Marcella knows better than this. And I swear I’ll kill him if he hurts you.”
