The Perfect Game(48)

When the police officers left, Jack walked me into the bathroom where I caught a glimpse of my reflection for the first time that evening.

“That’s so weird.” I leaned toward the mirror, touching the green and purple bruise on my brow before moving to the similar one forming on my forehead.

“What is?”

“I don’t even hurt where the bruises are,” I noted, mesmerized by the unfamiliar face staring back at me.

Jack’s forehead creased. “Where do you hurt?” he asked, the pain in his eyes evident.

“My cheeks and jaw.” I touched them gingerly.

“I’ll go get you some ice and ibuprofen. They’ll help with the pain and swelling.” He grabbed my hand, turning me toward him. “If I ever find this guy, I’m going to fucking kill him for putting his hands on you.”

I shook my head, my heart breaking. “I just want my camera back.”

“I know,” he said before looking away.

“Hey, Jack?” I stopped him. “Why did Dean say he was my brother?” I asked, suddenly remembering what the officer had said.

Jack shrugged. “I don’t know. I can only guess that he thought he was doing you a favor. Or protecting you somehow. Why?”

I smiled and quickly winced with the pain. “I just liked it, was all.”

His dimples flashed in his cheeks as his lips turned upward. “Oh yeah? And why’s that?”

I shrugged. “I liked the way it sounded.”

I didn’t know it was possible, but I watched as his dimples deepened as his smile grew. “So did I, Kitten. So did I.” He walked out and my heart stammered with his confession.

Jack’s cell phone rang and it reminded me that I still needed to call Melissa. I walked toward my bed and reached for my cell as Jack leaned in, his hand covering his phone. “You don’t mind if Dean stays here tonight, do you?”

“Of course not. I was just gonna tell you to call him. I’m gonna call Melissa real quick,” I told him, relieved that Dean was coming over.

He removed his hand from covering the phone before bringing it up to his ear. “She says it’s fine. I don’t think so. Hold on, I’ll double-check.”

He looked at me again. “We don’t need anything, right?”

I shook my head. “Nope, just get him over here.”

“She says no. She won’t care. Make sure Gran knows we’re both staying here before you leave. Okay, see you soon.”

“I won’t care about what?” I asked as soon as he hung up.

“If he stays here all weekend,” Jack said before straightening his stance.

“Oh. Not at all. I sort of want him here.”

“Oh, really? Trading me in already?” He winked at me and I laughed.

“Ouch. Don’t make me laugh, it hurts.” I grabbed my cheeks with both hands. “No, it’s just that I want to be around him ’cause he was there. He knows how I feel because he experienced it too. Is that weird?”

“It makes sense to me, Kitten,” he said with a smile.

“I really need to call Melissa before she shows back up here.” I started to press buttons on my phone and Jack turned away, closing my bedroom door as he left.

“Oh my God, Cassie! What happened? What is going on? And what took you so long to call me back? I’m freaking out here!” Melissa yelled into the phone.

“Sorry, it’s been a crazy night.” I held the phone away from my face, taking care to not press it against my cheek like I normally would.

“Is Dean okay? Is Jack there? What happened?” Her questions shot out rapid-fire.

“We were walking to the softball game to see Jack and we got jumped. Some guy stole my camera, beat me up, broke a forty-ounce bottle over Dean’s head—”

“Oh, Cass, he stole your camera?” I could hear the sorrow in Melissa’s question as she interrupted me, and her compassion for my loss affected me more than I expected.

I struggled to even out my breathing as I swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

“I’m so sorry. I know you’re more upset about that than anything else.”

“You know me well.”

“Are you okay? I mean, where did he hit you? Did Jack freak?”

“Jack’s pretty…” I paused. “I don’t know what Jack is. Pissed? Sad? Angry? He’s all over the place. Oh, but hey, I think Dean’s gonna stay here this weekend. Do you mind if he sleeps in your bed?”

“Not at all. Just tell him no funny business in there. I don’t want to come back to sheets I have to crack in half or anything.” Melissa laughed at her own joke.

“You are so gross.” I chuckled, trying not to scrunch my cheeks.