“Did you pick Butler because it was close to Connor?”
Yes, she had. That had been my decree—if she was going to college at all, it had to be near enough to Indianapolis so that she could escape to me if things got overwhelming. That, and that she would keep up her weekly therapy appointments with the best psychiatrist in town.
“I picked it because it’s a great school. And close enough to Connor that I can kick his ass whenever I want.”
“You wish,” I drawled.
“And you’re a sophomore?”
I tensed. Cassie was two years older than most of her classmates. That was because of her years in the hospital after her suicide attempt. But my sister rolled right over the question.
“You know I am,” Cassie said. “So tell me about your family.”
I smiled and mentally high fived my sister. The easiest way to evade a question was by turning the attention away from us and onto Gia.
I already knew most of her story—a foster care kid adopted by a huge Irish family. She’d worked hard in school, then at Indiana University to get her marketing degree. She landed her job with the Bobcats after interning with us. Gia summarized it quickly, then Cassie went straight for the personal stuff—stuff I didn’t want to know but couldn’t stop myself from listening to with rapt attention.
Family? She lived with her foster sister in a downtown closet of an apartment.
Boyfriend? Too busy for that bullshit.
Cassie pointed a forkful of chicken at Gia. “What about all that hot Bobcat man meat?”
I glared at my sister, but it had no noticeable effect. Gia just laughed.
“You mean Bobcat children. I swear, I don’t know how grown men can get into so much frat boy nonsense.” We were sitting together in the living room—my sister and me on the couch, Gia in the opposing chair. So it was easy for me to see her expression shift into a thoughtful one. “Except for your brother. Compared to his teammates, he’s a man of mystery.” She popped in another bite of pasta. “I had no idea he was such a good cook.”
“Definitely a wizard in the kitchen,” Cassie quipped. “And on the baseball field.” Her eyebrows waggled. “But I want to know how he is in the bedroom—”
“No ice cream for you!” I interrupted as I snatched the empty plate out of her hand. Naturally, she let loose a peal of laughter that warmed me so much, I softened.
It was so good to hear her laugh. Strange, too, to hear Gia’s giggles chime in. It was female music that unsettled me. But it was good to hear, even though I didn’t trust it. I didn’t like that Cassie was so free and easy with someone who wasn’t me.
It was stupidly protective, but I didn’t trust Gia’s motives yet. I didn’t want her anywhere near my little sister until I knew for sure what I thought of her. And yet, I couldn’t deny the joy their combined laughter gave me. It was such a happy, carefree sound. I’d rather cut off my own arm than take that away from my sister.
Meanwhile, Gia answered the unspoken question. “I have no idea what your brother’s like in the bedroom. And no woman has ever returned to tell the tale.”
“And that’s enough talk about me,” I said firmly. “Let’s watch your tape.”
Cassie shook her head as she threw out her trash, then rinsed her dishes before putting them in the dishwasher. “I can’t. Gotta get back and study.”
I stopped with my hand on the freezer. “But what about ice cream?”
She laughed. “You just told me no.”
I glowered. “You know I—”
“And I’m on a diet anyway.”
I straightened up. “You look fine. You don’t need—”
“To fit into my sexy nurse costume for Halloween?”
“What?” We were a month away from that, and I didn’t want to think of her in anything sexy. But I knew what an important step this was for her—normal college parties, sexy outfits and all—so I tried to quash my urge to suggest she wear a nun’s habit. Apparently, I failed, because my sister rolled her eyes again.
“Relax,” she said with a grin. “I just wanted to see your face.” She looked over at Gia. “I’m really planning to go as Goldilocks. I’ve already started auditioning guys to play my three bears.”
That was when Gia burst out laughing. Probably because I growled or something. I don’t know what I did, except that both females apparently thought it was hilarious. Meanwhile, Cassie grabbed her backpack, but I caught it before she could swing it onto her shoulder.
