Page 50 of Downpour

“I’m full,” I said, giving up. “Thanks, momma.”

Brooke set her fork down. “Do you think I could take mine to-go? The pot roast was so good, and I don’t want to waste the pie on a full stomach.”

Momma smiled. “Of course. Let me get some plastic wrap, and I’ll send two pieces with you.”

From across the table, CJ tipped his chin at Brooke. She smiled.

I didn’t like that. Didn’t like it one bit.

“Here you go,” Mom said, giving Brooke two slices of pie wrapped up on a plate. Everyone began to clear the table, except for Cassandra, who made a beeline for me.

“We need to talk.”

I lifted an eyebrow. “About what? Why does Bree look like she hates me?”

Cassandra rolled her eyes. “She doesn’t hate you, jackass.”

“Takes one to know one.”

“Exactly,” Cassandra hissed. “So if I’m the one calling you a jackass, that should be a fucking wakeup call. Bree is upset. She’s hurt. You were her favorite person, and then you blocked her out for a year and a half.”

“I almost died.”

“Almost,” Cassandra hissed. “And if you keep acting like a jackass to those two girls who still think you’re the guy they tell me stories about, I will finish what the bull started.”

Brooke watched Cassandra storm off. “I think I’m in love with her.”

Cassandra was the only one I currently tolerated, and she was skating on thin ice.

“You ready to call it a night, or do you want to hang out a little bit?” Brooke asked.

I took it back.

Cassandra was the only one I feared, though I would never admit it to her.

Brooke was the only one I currently tolerated.

“I’m ready to go.”

She nodded. “Do you want me here, or do you want me to go start the truck?”

I didn’t want her more than a foot away from me. Actually, I wanted her hand in mine again. But I needed a minute with my mom. “Give me a sec, and I’ll be out.”

Brooke grabbed the leftovers, said her goodbyes, gave hugs to everyone, and headed out. I waited until the front door closed before carefully navigating the dining room and finding my mom.

“Thanks for dinner,” I said as I stopped in front of the sink where she was drying the plates.

Her smile was weathered and worn. “You know me. I always have a place for you.” She tipped her head toward the door. “And one for that sweet girl too. She was a lucky find, wasn’t she?”

“Lightning in a bottle,” I said under my breath.

Mom chuckled. “That’s the truth.”

I waited a moment, not saying anything at all as she drained the sink. “I should head back. I’m pretty tired.”

“I’m cooking again on Saturday if you want some. It won’t be anything fancy. We might do burgers. I’ll be keeping all the grandbabies so Nate, Christian, and their ladies can go have a date night. You and Brooke should come. There’s food, so you know CJ will be here.”

“Brooke will go home on the weekends.”

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