* * *
Cass
The movie played,and wesat side by side, eating popcorn, neither of us saying anything. I could feel the tension leave my body the longer we watched TV. It helped to know Ray was going away tomorrow. I didn't want to see him for a while after all that had gone on tonight. How dare he come and assume like that, then attack Brody because he was jealous.
When the movie went to a commercial, I cleared my throat, took a sip of tea and asked, “Not that I want to bring this up, but this morning you said you wanted to talk to me about Ray?
“Yes.”
“Was it about your split lip?”
“Yes. I can only imagine what he told you.”
“What happened, Brody?”
“I'll have you know he confronted me there. He wants me to leave you alone, in case you couldn't have guessed. He's not as nice as you might think.”
I was already finding out he wasn't who he had appeared to be. I swallowed hard and took a drink of my tea.
“If I tell you something, you promise not to get upset?”
“Depends on what you're going to tell me.” He gave me a small smile.
“He tried to force himself on me the other night when I didn't want him to.”
Brody was quiet, his jaw clenching. “Are you okay?”
“I am.”
“Why didn't you tell me?”
“I didn't want to upset you, so I just let it be.”
“I see, that’s why you were crying. Cass, if you are going to pursue anything more with him, please be careful.”
“I don't know what I am going to do.”
“Well if he keeps this up, I'm probably going to end up in jail, so I hope you figure it out soon.”
I turned my attention back to the TV. I went to reach my hand into the bowl of popcorn just as Brody went to reach his hand into the bowl. I looked down when our hands hit, noticing how red and swollen his hand was. I grabbed his hand in mine.
“What is it, Cass?”
“Your hand, it's all swollen, you need ice.” I handed Brody the bowl and got up from my spot.
“It's fine, I'm fine,” he called after me.
I walked to the freezer and took out ice cubes, putting them into a freezer bag and wrapping it in a cloth. I walked back over, sat back down and took his hand in mine, placing the ice bag on the back of it. I sat his hand on my thigh, holding the ice pack there.
After a bit, I removed the ice and examined his hand, the swelling starting to go down. I ran my fingers gently over the back of his hand and couldn't get the thought out of my mind of what it used to feel like to have his hands on my body, imagining them tracing lines up over my bare legs, to my stomach, and up to my breasts. I couldn't help looking at his strong, broad shoulders and bare chest, thinking about how it would feel to run my hand over him once again.
“What are you thinking about?”
I jumped at the sound of his low voice, and when I looked up at him, he was watching me intently. I swallowed hard.
“Nothing, I was just making sure you were okay.” I could feel myself getting warm.
“Do you normally blush when you wonder if people are okay?” He reached over with the other hand and pushed the hair that had fallen into my face behind my ear, his touch sending a jolt of electricity right to my center.