Cassie's New Plan(8)

Bryon sighed, getting no response. He pulled into his spot on the side of the athletic department and grabbed his gear bag from the backseat of his jeep. He held his hand out for Cassie’s backpack, snapping his fingers.

“Come on, you know the rules. The men carry your bags. We also like to open doors for you, but you rush out of the car too fast,”he said in good humor, watching her roll her eyes again as she sourly handed him the pack. She followed him into his office, looking around. Like Bryon, everything was neat and organized; even his workout clothes were clean, folded and placed neatly on the shelf. Control freak.

“Hey Coach! We’re ready on the field... Hey Cassie-girl! Gonna play defensive line for us today?”

“Go get the guys warmed up, Mr. Harrison, and stop flirting with my roommate. She’s off-limits to you.”Bryon frowned, pointing to the door. The young, blonde man chuckled and trotted out of the room.

Cassie smiled. Harrison was really cute!



* * *



Cassie pretended to be studying way back on the bleachers, waiting for Bryon to get involved in his practice. Glancing around, she pulled out the joint from her back pack, lit it up and happily took a few hits. Between the warm sun and her‘gift’. Cassie quickly found her‘happy place.’ She leaned back, eyes closed, relaxed and lost in her own world.

She cursed when the sun was blocked. When the clouds didn’t leave, she opened her eyes to see Bryon standing in front of her, hands on his waist, his expansive frame cutting off the sunshine.

“Where did you get it, Cassandra?”he demanded, his voice a low rumble.

“Get what, Bry?”Cassie smiled sweetly. Bryon held up the remainder of the joint that she had placed in the metal bench. Cassie paled.

“Let me guess. It was just sitting here when you chose this spot. I came up here to see if you wanted me to get you some lunch and this is just laying here, nice as could be.”

“It’s not mine,”Cassie said hesitantly.

“I might be a jock, young lady, but I’m far from stupid. Where did you get this?”

“I found it.”

“Okay, so you’re not going to tell me. I’m guessing it was Gina.”

“No! Why do you always blame Gina?”Cassie repudiated, watching as he started to rummage through her backpack. “Leave that alone, it’s mine!”

“You know what’s going to happen when Rob hears about this. I’m seriously tempted to take care of this myself. One nasty word from you and I will. Get up, we’re going home,”he directed, putting the lighter into his pocket before holding his big hand out to help her down the bleachers.

Scowling, Cassie reluctantly accepted his offer, still feeling too light headed to avoid falling.

His grip remained tight as he pulled her alongside him to where the team was practicing. “Mr. Harrison, do you think you can work the lines without me? Cass needs to get home and finish some things.”

“No prob, Coach. See ya later, Cassie-girl. Let me know if you want to catch a movie.”The young man winked.

Bryon frowned. “She will do no such thing. Get back to work or you can start running laps until I’mtired.”

Cassie plopped in the front seat of the jeep, crossing her arms. Bryon joined her, pressing back in his seat to consider her before starting the vehicle.

“Why, Cass?”he asked, seeing her shrug. She hadn’t said one word since his threat. He left a message for Rob to let him know that they had left the field and had started the short drive home.

Bryon pointed to the stairs as they entered the house and she ran up to her room, giving him her customary door slam.

“What did you do this time?”Glenn asked from the couch.

Bryon sat next to him, sadly telling him of the events.

“No way! Man, she is so busted. Rob’s gonna kill her.”

“She was my responsibility today. I’m thinking I should deal with this. It certainly scared her when I promised I would if she got nasty.”

“You’re ten times larger than Rob. I’d be scared too, if I didn’t know you were such a wuss.”Glenn punched his brother’s huge arm, trying to lighten the situation.

“I need to think about it. What would you do, little brother?”Bryon looked weary. Of the three brothers, he was the one who was the most contemplative and even-tempered. He never proceeded with anything without weighing the results.

Glenn looked surprised. “You’re asking ME?”

“Yeah, I’m asking YOU.”

Glenn frowned, glancing upstairs. “Well, even Iknow better than to do drugs. Pop would kill us,”Glenn admitted.

Bryon chuckled, ruffling his younger brother’s hair. He had found a way to gain Glenn’s reluctant support. “Rob was caught once with a joint. He was about 14. Pop gave him a hiding that he whined about for two weeks.”