“If you kissed me back it would get you out of trouble? That is deplorable!”Rob asked angrily, his eyes sparking as he quickly stood up.
Cassie quickly shook her head. “No! That’s not what I was going to say! Rob!!”Cassie cried out as he stomped away. She heard the front door slam and winced. What did she do? Here was yet another man who walked out on her without her knowing why. They were all alike! Was it because she wasn't good enough? Misery filled her heart.
She was on the couch, tears covering her face, when Glenn came back home. He immediately came to her.
“Hey, why are you crying? Did Rob punish you?”he asked gently, holding her against him. Cassie shook her head and sobbed out her story. Glenn looked confused.
“Rob never jumps to conclusions; I mean, not like that. Odds 10 to 1 he’s just tired. Wait…he kissed you?”Glenn suddenly remarked.
“Yes. It was perfect. It felt so good. Glenn, what did I do wrong? Why can’t I ever be good enough? I always chase people away!”the tiny girl sobbed pitifully.
“Shhh, I don’t know what his deal is. It sounds like he’s having his own struggle with this. Damn, I wish Bry was here. He always knows what to do,”Glenn sighed, glancing at the clock.
Rob did not return to the house that night. He called Glenn on the cell phone to inform him that he was at his own place and would be back in the morning to‘deal’with Cassie. He refused to talk about what had happened, hanging the phone up abruptly on his brother.
Glenn looked at the sleeping girl on the couch. Poor thing. He started to get angry. Rob probably brought back all those feelings of her being unwanted and abandoned. His anger grew and, by the time Bryon walked in, the young man was steaming.
“Hey, what are you doing up? It’s 2 a.m.,”Bryon whispered, putting his gear bag down.
Glenn’s eyes flashed. “Our big brother is an asshole and I’ve had it with him!”Glenn hissed.
Bryon frowned. “Did he hurt her?”
“Yes. But not like that…”he stopped Bryon from rushing over to the girl. Slowly, he explained the situation.
Bryon took a breath. “So, the old man finally came to terms with how he feels about the squirt, huh?”
“You knew?”Glenn’s eyes widened.
Bryon chuckled. “I keep telling you people. I’m a jock, but I’m not stupid. He’s always been over-protective of her and I’ve been watching how he started looking at her these last few years. Haven’t you noticed how much he’s here now? Or that he really hasn’t tried to date anyone?”
“How do you think Pop’s gonna take this?”Glenn asked quietly.
Bryon shrugged. “Pop loves them both and he knows Cass needs someone like Rob to keep her in line. I think he’s been secretly hoping something like this would happen. Now, let’s get this little thing to bed and we’ll pound some sense into our big bro tomorrow, okay?”
“‘Kay. I’ll get her,”Glenn agreed, easily lifting Cass into his arms. Murmuring, she wrapped her hands around his neck and rested her head on his chest as he carried her upstairs. The brothers tucked her in and then headed towards their own rooms.
* * *
Rob paced the floors of his newly renovated farm house, located just outside Miami in the center of a small avocado grove on the edge of a spring-fed lake. He glared at everything that met his eye, knowing he had messed things up with Cassie and had likely destroyed what little trust she had in him. What an idiot, he berated himself. It frustrated him, this sense of powerlessness. It wasn’t at all like him. What was she doing to him?
He plopped on a stool in the kitchen, elbows on the marble island. He had no idea the girl liked to cook. If he had showed genuine interest in her life, he would have at least known what she was majoring in! She would love this kitchen…no, he blew it. She needed him to be consistent. Her big, mean, asshole brother. Ok, then that’s what she’ll get. No way would he let himself, or her, be hurt again by rejection. Maybe he should ask Bry to handle things…
“Are you kidding?”Bryon questioned, yawning as he spoke with his brother the next morning on the phone. “Dude, I’ve never known you to run from a fight. What’s with you?”
“I just think things would be better right now if I made myself scarce. I fucked up bad last night,”Rob said, absently stirring his coffee as he sat on his large couch.
“You’re a grown adult, so start acting like one. I know what happened.”
“You do? How?”
“Glenn told me. Hey, before you pop an artery, hear me out. I’ve seen how she affects you. She needs you in her life and, Rob, you need her. Don’t hide from this.”