Page 37 of Moonshine Kiss
“What are you sayin’?” I asked, knowing perfectly well exactly what she was saying.
She shook her head. “Nothing. I’m not saying anything. Neither are you. That’s the way it’s always been. The way it will always be.”
“What the hell do you want me to do, Cassidy?” Frustration and desire were simmering beneath my words. But if she told me. If shewantedme, would I be able to keep the promise I’d made all those years ago? When I gave my word, I meant it. Take it to the bank. If I said it, it was the God’s honest truth. Except this.
Our relationship was a lie. Me pretending I felt nothing but brotherly love toward her.
I knew that if she said the words. If she asked me the question, I’d crumble. I’d put my hands on her like I’d longed to. I would kiss her until everything else in the world disappeared. All she had to do was give me a definitive sign. Tell me she wanted me. Ask me to show her how I really felt.
She gave me one more long look and shook her head. Was that disappointment I saw on her pretty face?
Disappointing her crushed me.
“I’ll see you around, Bowie,” she said in her flat, professional tone. She got in her car, feathers still ruffled, and I watched her drive away.
I wished for a lot of things in that moment. That the situation were different. That Dad hadn’t once again screwed things up for us or that he could be here to answer the questions. That I was good enough for what I wanted most in this world. I picked up a rock out of the gravel driveway and hurled it into the lake. It was too dark to see it, but I heard the splash. I knew the ripples were spreading out and out and out, ruining the glassy surface.
I turned my back on the water and went inside.
“Was that absolutely necessary?” Scarlett demanded.
“Yeah. It was,” I snapped.
“She’s family,” Scarlett argued.
“No. She’s not. In this situation, Cassidy Tucker is a cop investigating our father. We can dance around it all you want, but y’all better remember that she’s a cop first and a friend of the family second. She’s already chosen between us once.”
“Let’s table that discussion for now,” Devlin suggested, slipping into attorney mode. “Leah Mae, why don’t you explain what we’re all doing here.”
Still glaring at me, Scarlett flopped down on the chair next to Dev. I wisely chose a seat on the couch, out of punching distance.
Leah Mae stood. “Right. So, y’all are in a sticky situation and I think it’s important that we have a game plan for dealing with both the investigation and the media,” she began, addressing all of us. “Now, what are your objectives?”
“Talk plain, Leah Mae,” Jameson teased her, looking up at her like a puppy to his master.
She winked at him. “What do you all want to get out of this situation?”
“Get rid of the reporters hounding us all day and night,” Jonah said.
“Prove Dad’s innocence,” Scarlett chimed in.
“Do you really think he didn’t have anything to do with it?” Gibson asked Scarlett. It was a source of tension in their otherwise fiercely loyal relationship. Gibson hated the fact that our sister always tried to see the best in Dad.
Gibs had it the worst out of all of us. I’d at least had a tenuous connection with the man over baseball. But Gibson had been the reason why our parents never pursued their dreams of music and travel.
“Don’t start again,” Scarlett cautioned him, baring her teeth.
I tossed a pillow off the couch, breaking their stare down. “We’re on the same team,” I reminded them.
“Bowie’s right,” Devlin put in. “You don’t have to agree to have the same objectives. What’s best for all of you is to present a united front. You need each other now more than ever.”
“Fine,” Scarlett said, reluctantly giving up the fight.
Gibson grunted.
“Then let’s talk game plan,” Jameson sighed. “What do we do about the press?”
“I put together a packet of acceptable responses and suggestions on avoiding being cornered by them,” Devlin said, handed out spiral bound copies.
