I released a small laugh. “Talk to you later then.”
“Wait! Dean?”
“Yeah?”
“You know I’m not picking him up on Sunday.”
Damn it. I sighed, and said, “I’ll come get his car.”
“Thanks. ’Bye.”
When she hung up, my thoughts pinged from wondering if Cassie was going to text Jack, to worrying how I was going to pick up his Bronco from her place. I didn’t want to involve Gran and Gramps in any of the drama, and while the girls’ apartment wasn’t far, it was too far to walk.
A text message pinged, and when I saw my brother’s name on the screen, I hesitated.
Jack: Any news?
Dean: She said she’s busy with a photography project that’s due.
Jack: Thanks, man. Sorry I flipped out. I think I’m losing my mind.
Dean: I told you she was fine. See you Sunday, bro. Good luck.
I pushed my laptop aside and fell back on my bed before I called Melissa again.
“What now?” she said.
“I need a favor.”
She huffed out an exasperated breath. “Another one?”
“Cassie said she’s not picking Jack up on Sunday. Can you come get me and take me back to your place so I can pick up his truck? I know it’s a lot to ask,” I said, and then waited for her to respond. It seemed like I was always waiting for this girl.
“No biggie. I’ll come get you. Now?”
“Now works. Thanks.”
I reached for my shoes and slipped them on before lacing them up, and then dug through the small drawer in my nightstand. When I found the bottle I was looking for, I pulled out three aspirin for the headache I felt coming on. After downing them with a sip of water, I walked into the living room where Gran and Gramps were sitting in their recliners, watching TV.
“Melissa’s coming to get me so I can go get the Bronco. I’ll be right back, though.”
Gran narrowed her eyes on me, instantly suspicious. I could never get anything past that woman.
“Why are you getting Jack’s truck?” she asked, then glanced at Gramps. “I thought Cassie was looking after it?”
“She was, but she hates driving it. She calls it his deathmobile.” I tried to smile and hoped they bought my lame excuse. “So instead of having it sit there all weekend, I’m going to get it.”
“Okay,” she said slowly, thinking it over. “Then who’s picking him up on Sunday?”
Shit. I’d forgotten about that part. “I am. Cassie has some big photography project she’s working on all weekend.”
“All right. Drive safe,” Gran said, then added under her breath, “It is sort of a deathmobile.”
“I like that car. Truck. Whatever it is,” Gramps muttered as he lifted the remote to change the channel.
When Melissa’s car pulled up out front a few minutes later, I shouted good-bye and jogged outside.
“Hey,” she said with a smile, and I wished like hell that friends were allowed to make out. Her short shorts crept up on her thighs as she pressed down on the gas, and I wanted to rest my hand there more than anything else in this moment.
I tore my eyes away from her legs and looked at the road. “Thanks again for doing this. I really appreciate it.”
“I wasn’t doing anything anyway. And Cassie’s being unreasonable and annoying right now, so I was happy to get away.”
“Any idea why she’s being extra difficult?” I couldn’t help but be curious since I didn’t know much about Cassie’s personal history, other than the bits and pieces I’d overheard.
Melissa sighed. “I think she’s comparing Jack to her dad, and her dad’s basically a giant liar. I don’t think she realizes that she’s making Jack pay for her dad’s sins, but that seems to be what she’s doing. Or maybe it’s somehow wrapped up in it.”
I completely understood. Jack and I were both well versed in Fucked Up by Your Parents 101.
Nodding, I asked, “Did you try to tell her that?”
Melissa frowned at me before looking back at the road. “Of course I tried to tell her that, but she won’t listen. She has to come to that conclusion on her own. It can’t come from me,” she said grimly.
“You know he’s going to flip out when he gets home Sunday and she’s not there to pick him up.” Usually I looked forward to picking Jack up after his trips, but thanks to all the drama, this time I was dreading it.
“I know. I’ll be prepared for all hell to break loose at some point on Sunday.” She ran her fingers through her hair before tossing it over her shoulder. “You know, you could do me a solid and send me a text when you pick him up. That way I can mentally prepare myself for his arrival.”
I huffed out a small laugh. “How are you so sure he’ll come there?”
“Are you kidding?” She shot me a look that said I’d lost my mind. “Of course he’ll come there. He’ll come straight there. Don’t tell me I know your brother better than you do,” she said before making a right into the complex.
I glanced around, looking for Jack’s truck as she pulled into her covered spot and cut the engine. “No, you’re right. He’ll come right over. And he won’t be happy.”
“His truck’s over there.” She pointed somewhere behind us and off to the right, and I scanned the area before seeing it. “And his keys are in here.” She popped open her glove compartment before pulling them out and placing them in my palm.