Page 84 of Gin & Jewels
“What does that mean?”
“Can I talk to him first?”
“Sure.” He turned and walked into the back.
My palms started to sweat as I waited, and then he and Steve walked out. “Cassie,” Steve greeted. “What are you doing here?”
I took a calming breath. “There are some things you need to know.”
“I already know it was your brother who robbed us. The detectives told me.”
“Yes, but do you know how they found out or what happened afterward?”
He blinked and furrowed his brows. “No, I don’t.”
“That’s what I want to talk to you about.”
Steve stared at me for a few moments. “Okay, let’s talk in my office.”
I followed him back, and we both sat in the chairs at his desk. I told him how I knew it was Keith and his friends who robbed him, how I was scared to turn him in because he was my brother and the only family I had, how the bystander who got shot during the robbery was now my boyfriend and how we ended up dating, how Keith drugged me and took me to Tennessee without my phone so I couldn’t call in sick, and how it all came to a head when I was shot and Brad killed Micky.
“That’s quite a story,” Steve stated.
“I have the scar to prove it.”
“And you’re not being charged with anything?”
I shrugged. “Not yet, but I hope not. The only thing I did wrong was not telling the cops who committed the robbery, and looking back on it, maybe I should have because I wouldn’t have been kidnapped and shot.”
“Thank you for telling me. I was worried about you, and then when the detectives told me they recovered the jewelry and the name of the person who pawned them, I was upset.”
“I understand, but really, I had no idea my brother would do that.”
He bobbed his head slowly. “I believe you.”
My shoulders fell as though the weight was lifted. “Thank you.”
“Did you come to get your job back?”
I balked because that wasn’t on my mind though I needed a job. “No, I just wanted you to know because I was really grateful that you gave me a chance, and then it just all turned to shit.”
“That’s very professional of you.”
“Thank you, Steve.”
“What are your plans for a new job?”
I shrugged. “Not sure. Everything is just settling down, and I’m still recovering. I can’t keep my eyes open much in the afternoon and need a nap every day, it seems.”
“I bet. The good thing is you have a long future ahead of you. You’ll be fine.”
I really hoped that was true.
Brad and I were getting ready for our first official date. With everything that had happened, we’d never had a romantic date. I do think that the night before my birthday when we were at the drive-in was romantic, and even the lunch at the lake, but there was no candlelight dinner or anything like that. It was his idea too because he knew that I’d never been taken on aproperdate—his words, not mine.
As I got ready, I thought about how the night would go. Would it end in my first time? From what I knew about when he woulddate, it usually ended with him in bed with the woman. I knew that he would make sure everything was enjoyable on my end. And I was ready.
“Ready?” he asked as I slipped on my strappy sandal paired with jeans and a black tank top.
