The Hart Game

Chapter Twelve

CASSIE

Since Christian had a game in San Diego, my father decided to have lunch there. I'm scared. I wish that I was like Bryan. Totally unaware of who our father really is. Who I really am. Sometimes I'm scared that Bryan will see me in that state, and he'll end up being afraid of me. But for now, the only thing that I need to be worried about is this lunch with my father.

    Yesterdays game was a blowout. Another win. For some reason my eyes couldn't look away from Luke. Every time I tried to look away, my eyes just automatically found his jersey. This past week has been a refresher for me, and I realized that it was Luke that made it that way. But I can't think like that. I need to keep my head straight. This is only a bet Cass!

    I'm laying down in bed next to Bryan just staring at the ceiling. Waiting to get up and get ready for the lunch with my father. Dean has been texting me nonstop about how I need to keep my father out of my head. I told him one hundred times that I could handle myself. Then my mind goes to the amber eyes that I've been texting all night as well.

    We were up late last night just texting. Talking about everything and nothing. I think I was even texting about our Chemistry homework, helping him understand more. Focus Cassie! I'm meeting my father in less than two hours. He cannot know about Luke. But I know that that will be a problem with Christian being there. I mean look at the dinner with Cutter. He couldn't keep his big mouth shut during that, imagine how he's going to be during this lunch. I mean me and Luke aren't even dating and already Christian is trying to make it known that I have an 'interest.'

    "Morning Princess." I hear from beside me. I turn my head and see the bright green eyes of my little brother.

    "Good Morning Bee! How'd you sleep?" I say looking at the clock on the nightstand next to me.

    "Good. I had fun at the game yesterday."

    "Me too buddy. How about we go swimming before we go out for brunch." That got him to wake up completely. Without saying a word he gets up and goes to get ready for swimming. I text Teddy to make sure to come get us to get ready for lunch. When he texts back that he will get us when its time to get ready, I get up and get my stuff and wait for Bryan to get done.

    We had spent almost an hour swimming around. It was great spending some time with just Bryan. I was excited for Sunday. I had told Bryan about going to the park with John and Rosie and he was beyond excited. He practically grew up with them. When Teddy came down to the hotel pool to tell us that it was time to get ready I almost broke from the look that Bryan had when he started to slowly get out of the pool.

     "Bryan, tomorrow you, me, Rosie and John are gonna be going to the park. Remember that?" I say trying to cheer him up.

    "I guess." He says as we get out of the pool and grab towels to dry off. When he doesn't cheer up I try to think of ideas to cheer him up. When something comes to mind I go to him and get to his level.

    "How about your birthday weekend, you, me and Dean go camping at the Waterfalls?" Remember when I told you that the Court is surrounded by a giant Forest? How there is a secret waterfall that no one knows about? We took Bryan one time and he was overjoyed. When I mentioned the waterfalls, his face lit up like the Fourth of July. His birthday is in three weeks and that gives me plenty of time to gather the equipment.

    "Really?" He says with a big smile, the light in his eyes coming back.

    "Really. I'll tell Dean. Now come on, we have a lunch to get to."

    "Okay!" And like that the bubbly Bryan is back and I know that he is not only excited for the now camping trip but seeing our father after a month. I wish I can be excited as he is. God, help me through this lunch.