“What?”
“Kiss me again.” He holds his finger up. “Butreallykiss me.”
His request has my stomach fluttering.
“You… want me to kiss you? Why?”
He shrugs. “Doesn’t matter. That’s the cost for getting my story. Is it worth it?”
I didn’t hate kissing Cassius a short time ago, though I doubt you could call it an actual kiss. It’s been a long time since I’ve kissed anyone because it’s too personal. It makes things messy. Even with sex, there is no kissing. Not for me.
But I want to know what is going on with him. Because I want to help.
“It’s worth it,” I say, leaning in to press my lips to his. He sucks in a breath, opening his mouth. I do the same and our tongues meet, gently but eagerly. Cassius whimpers and I grasp his hip, pulling him closer to me. I deepen the kiss before pulling away, before things get out of control. Before I can’t stop myself.
His eyes are still closed when I pull back, and it takes him a moment to open them.
“Wow. Okay,” he says with a soft chuckle. He takes a step back, licking his lips. I have the awful urge to pull him back to me and kiss him again. “Uhm, so, basically I was able to find an apartment for me and my sisters.”
“You told me that.”
“My mother is not letting my youngest sister come with us. Today, she threatened to call the cops on me and say I was kidnapping her. She’s only fourteen.”
“Christ,” I mutter, running my hand through my hair. “Do you need a lawyer?”
“A lawyer? What good would that do?”
“To take your mother to court and get custody of your sister.”
“Custody of my sister?” he asks as if he’d never thought of the idea.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I just assumed…”
“I… I, uh… I can do that?”
I close the distance between us, putting my hand on his cheek. “Yes, Cassius, you can do that. And if you want my help, I will give it to you.” I search his eyes, not sure what I’m looking for, but I need him to know how serious I am. “I know a lot of lawyers, and I can guarantee any of them would help you win this case.”
“But then I’d be responsible for her, right? Like… everything?”
“Haven’t you been doing that already?”
“Sort of. I mean, I’ve taken care of her, but not like… this feels different.”
“You’re an amazing brother. Look how much you’ve done for her so far. If this is what you both want, all you have to do is say the word. I’ll make it happen.”
“And if we did this… my mother couldn’t do anything? She’d have no say?”
“If you win? If you can prove she is unfit, then no. You’d be your sister’s caregiver.” I put my hand on his shoulder and look him in the eye. “Think about it. Let me know what you decide. I’m happy to help.”
I leave him standing there to head upstairs to go to bed.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cassius
I call Cammy the moment I’m out of Harmon’s driveway. She answers on the second ring.
“What happened?” I ask.