by Brooke Page
“And that was a gift for Trevor, too,” my Dad added, slapping Trevor on the back while they sat next to each other on the couch. Trevor gave him a grateful smile, eagerness in his eyes. I’m sure he was chomping at the bit to be done with family time and go play on the game system with his little brothers.
“Does that mean for my birthday I’ll get to go to cheer camp?” Riley asked with skepticism. My father’s face fell. I knew they wanted to buy us everything, but some things were just too expensive.
“We’ll see, sweetie,” my mother said nonchalantly, running her hand through Riley’s hair. Her face fell, but she still held a smile. She understood my parents’ financial situation. Thankfully, she didn’t know I was the one who had caused it.
A knock came on the door. “That must be Sharon. She’s picking up an order.” My mother jumped from her seat on the floor heading for the door. I was happy her jewelry sales business was doing decent. It made her feel good that she could contribute.
“What games do you want for the Xbox?” I asked Trevor as the twins brought their helicopters to Dad to help open.
“Jamie, there’s someone at the door for you,” my mother said, coming back into the room. I stood, not sure who would be here to see me. I didn’t have any friends back home. “Not to mention a very attractive someone,” my mother whispered as I walked by. My eyes widened, and so did Riley’s.
She turned on the couch, looking through the blinds. “Oh my God! Who is that?” Riley nearly panted. My brows crinkled as I stepped closer to the door, my body wanting to curl into the fetal position when I saw Mitch through the screen door.
He looked beat up and miserable, but his eyes held relief when they saw me. Guilt overwhelmed me, knowing I’d caused him to worry. “What are you doing here?” I said in a harsh whisper while closing both the screen and front door. “How did you find me?”
“Your parents' address is on your emergency contact list. Nathan told me you were coming here.” His eyes became darker. “You left me without saying goodbye. One minute we were kissing naked in bed, then the next you booked it while I was in the shower. What the hell, Jamie?”
I owed him an explanation, but I didn’t know what to say. “You look terrible.”
“That’s because my stomach’s been in knots wondering what happened to you. Why the hell didn’t you just tell me your dad was sick and you needed to come home?”
“I didn’t think it’d be a big deal.” I fidgeted, moving my hair behind my ears trying to buy time. I noticed Riley watching us with curious eyes. I rolled mine, then grabbed Mitch’s hand, leading him in front of the garage where she couldn’t see us.
“Jamie, what’s going on?” he asked.
“At first I thought my dad was sick, but my mother made it sound worse than what it was,” I lied, pissed at myself for telling Nathan that stupid lie.
Mitch ran his hands over his short sandy hair in frustration. “You ran from me.”
“No,” I scoffed, shifting my weight from leg to leg.
He scowled at me, obviously frustrated with my reply. “You going to invite me in?”
“What?”I was baffled by his question. “Why?”
“It’s a party, I’d think your family might want to know who’s interrupting it.”
“The party’s actually over.”
Mitch’s green eyes widened in frustration.
“Jamie, why don’t you invite your friend inside? We’ve got plenty of leftovers!” my mother said, coming around the corner.
“Hi, I’m Mitch.” My mother took Mitch’s hand. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say she was swooning over him. “I’d love something to eat. I’ve been traveling all day.”
“Jamie, don’t be rude. Invite him inside,” my mother chastised.
I tried to contain my eye roll, knowing my mother would scold me the second she saw me doing it. “Mitch, would you like to come inside?” I grumbled.
“As a matter of fact, I’d love that.” His teeth shown through in his smile, and I wanted to deck him. My mother urged us inside, and I swatted Mitch’s hand away when he put it on my lower back.
“Hi, I’m Riley,” my little sister greeted Mitch the second he walked through the door. “I’m Jamie’s younger, very mature sister.” The way Mitch tried to hide his discomfort at Riley’s attempt to flirt with him made me crack a smile.
“She still sleeps with her dolls,” Trevor added. Riley punched him in the arm, giving him a death glare.
“She’s definitely your little sister,” Mitch whispered against the shell of my ear. The feel of his lips sent a slight tremor through my body, but I quickly squashed it by elbowing him in the side. He chuckled, which only pissed me off more.
“I’m, Ryan, Jamie’s father.” My dad was a huge man who scared the crap out of almost everyone. Mitch only gave him a smile and offered his hand to shake. I couldn’t help but notice Mitch’s shoulders were just as broad as my fathers.
“Nice to meet you. I’ve heard a lot about you,” Mitch added. My brows furrowed in his direction. He didn’t know that much about my family; we’d only talked about them once.
“Funny, we’ve never heard of you.” My mother gave me an irritated glance, but I ignored her as she took Mitch’s arm into the kitchen to give him a plate of food. “Wow, you’ve got some big muscles!” she added as she led him through the door frame. Both my father and I rolled our eyes simultaneously.
“Watch out, Jamie. Mom’s going to make a move on your boyfriend,” Trevor said while helping the twins with their helicopters.
“He’s not my boyfriend,” I scolded while pushing his hat down further on his head.
“He’s not?” Riley said with hope.
“No, and he’s not interested in teenage girls either,” my father added before I had the chance.
“We were just about to play cards,” my mother announced as she came back into the living room with Mitch. He was carrying a plate full of food. He sat down at the table and crooked his finger for me to come and sit by him, but I shook my head. He needed to know following me to my parent’s house was not cool, and not safe for all parties involved.
“Do you play Seven Up, Mitch?” my mother asked, sitting across from him with a few decks in hand.
“No, but I’d love to learn.”
“I’m not sure you could handle it,” I said coldly to Mitch.
“If the twins can play, I’m sure he can figure it out. Come on kids, Ryan, let’s play,” my mother insisted while shuffling the cards. My little brothers groaned, but Riley jumped from her seat on the couch, rushing to sit next to Mitch. I chuckled, loving how Mitch shied away from her.
“Riley, you need to sit by the twins and help them,” my father scolded, forcing her to move so he could sit by Mitch. The old sheriff in him was coming out, and that made me smile even more.
“Jamie, come on. Don’t keep your guest waiting,” my mother urged. Reluctantly, I sat on the other side of Mitch.
He leaned into my side, coming close to my ear. “I’m offended you don’t think I can handle Seven Up.”
“It’s numbers,” I mumbled.
“Low blow,” he grumbled back playfully. “Besides, I can count the shapes.”
I huffed while sitting back further in my chair and crossing my arms.
***
“Jamie, are you sure you and Mitch have to leave? Trevor can stay with the twins tonight and the two of you can have his room,” my mother begged as I pushed Mitch out the door. We played cards for nearly two hours, then Mitch played video games with my little brothers for another two.
“We’d need two rooms, and no, we both have to work in the morning,” I grumbled.
“You would need two rooms,” my father interjected in agreement. But then, to my surprise, he smacked Mitch on the back, giving him a wink. Mitch smirked back, and I almost blew a gasket.
“Thank you for the hospitality,” Mitch said politely, reaching both arms out to give my mother a hug.
> “Stop glaring, Jamie. It’s not polite,” she scolded over Mitch’s shoulder as she hugged him back. I rolled my eyes, causing her to grumble under her breath in disapproval.
“I’ll call you both later, goodnight,” I said in a rush as I power-walked to my car.
Mitch waved one final goodbye to my parents then followed me to my car. “Can we talk?”
“I have nothing to say to you.”
“Why are you so pissed off?” he asked irritably, moving his hand to block me from opening my door.
“Because you followed me to my parents house and acted like we’re a couple!”
His arms crossed as he leaned against my door, now making it impossible for me to open it. I threw my hands in the air in defeat.
“We aren’t together!”
Mitch cocked his head. “Last night’s actions might beg to differ with that statement.”
I narrowed my eyes at him. “We were drunk. And I thought you could handle a one night stand.”
“We weren’t drunk this morning.”
My eyes met the ground as I bit my lip, remembering how perfect this morning felt. I wanted him, more than anything, but risking the safety of the ones I loved wasn’t worth it.
Mitch uncrossed his arms and reached to hold my hands. They were nearly twice the size of mine. He stepped in front of me, tipping his head low, trying to get me to look up at him. “Jamie, I know someone hurt you, and these feelings are hard to accept, but baby, we were meant for each other.”
The lump that was forming in my throat was thicker than it had been in a long time. I believed his every word, but he didn’t understand.
“Look. Let’s start over. I know you need to gain my trust. We can go slow.” His thumbs brushed rhythmically against the tops of my hands as he spoke. “We can fight, flirt, act like we hate each other all we want, but this,” he pulled my hand to his heart, “this wants every single piece of you. Please, let me prove it.”
“Slow?” My voice cracked, knowing this was going to be the only way I’d get him out of my parents’ street and far away from any danger.
He nodded, letting go of my hand so he could cradle my face. “Like molasses.” A small smile crept across my lips, causing his grin to widen. “Can I have a kiss to tide me over for whenever you decide the time is right again?”
I rolled my eyes, but held my smile as his thumb traced my cheek bone. “And I thought you were supposed to be aggressive.”
He shook his head while laughing, then leaned in for a kiss that was surprisingly tender and sweet. My body was awakened, but I firmly held my hands to my sides, not wanting to let the evening go any further than it already had.
Mitch pulled away, licking his lips as our foreheads met. “Can I have one more night?”
“Mitch…” I wanted many more nights, but it couldn’t happen.
“I know, I know. Slow… You’re more than worth the wait, Jamie Rae.”
Tears threatened as I wrapped my arms around his waist. Fighting these feelings was going to be the hardest battle I’d had my entire life.
Chapter Twenty
Jamie, age 18.
The past six months I’d been on autopilot.
I’d turned eighteen and was in my final month of high school. I still had no life, and my house was tense because my father had lost his job. He couldn’t be in any police department in the state, so was forced to find a factory job that paid half as much as his previous salary.
The uncontrollable guilt was consuming me. The same day I’d planned to confront Rod, my father stormed out of his workplace saying he’d resigned because of upper management. He was calm and collected when he talked to my mother about it, reassuring her everything would be fine and that they’d be okay. The pit in my stomach grew knowing it was because of me that he’d quit, and he hadn’t looked me in the eye since that day. My poor decisions were a constant kick in the ass.
But there were two good things: I wasn’t pregnant with Rod’s demon child like I had feared, and Rod hadn’t contacted me. My heart played tricks on me, though. As afraid of Rod as I was, I partially missed him. He wasn’t always a monster, passionate and kind at points in our relationship. He’d taken so much from me, yet I still remembered the few good things he introduced me to. Admitting I loved him was painful, and I hated that some nights I’d still daydream about the few moments where he was tender.
Landon was my saving grace. He knew my secret and miraculously hadn’t share it with anyone in our family. But since he’d finished his first semester of college and left for basic training, I’d tortured myself with silence. I missed him terribly, but the contact we could have was slim since he had to focus on his training. I was proud of him, but I was dying inside.
“Jamie, are you sure you don’t want to go to your senior prom?” my mother asked as she sat down on the couch next to me.
I shook my head. “I’m fine, Mom. Besides, it’s expensive and overly done. Who actually remembers their high school prom?”
“I do, sweetheart.”
My lip quirked. I wasn’t sure, but from mine and Landon’s calculations, he was conceived in May of our parents’ senior year of high school. Not that we really wanted to think of that day.
“It’s fine. Besides, Landon will be home. I’d rather spend the time with him,” I said truthfully, warmth filling me knowing I’d see him within a week's time.
“Yes, we should plan a get together and invite all the family. Want to help?”
I nodded, grateful for the distraction.
***
“The signs at the airport were a bit much, Mom.” Landon blushed as he walked into our new home. We’d moved into a smaller house while he was away because of my father’s job change, another reason for the knife to twist further into my gut.
I nudged his side with my elbow. “We were the ones who needed the signs. You look so different.” He was broader in the shoulders, more muscular, and his hair was buzzed short underneath his side cap. He stood tall and proud in his Air Force uniform that he’d worked hard to earn.
He grinned. “Now the ladies really won’t be able to keep their eyes off me.”
My entire family laughed as we entered our home. After a large family meal my mother prepared, we went about our normal Saturday routine. It felt good to have him home. Our family wasn’t complete without Landon.
I found my way to the porch swing I’d grown accustomed to sitting on by myself the last few months. The gentle creaking sound it made with a steady swing was soothing along with the birds rummaging in the pine trees.
Landon noticed me staring off into the smaller backyard. He took a seat next to me, following my gaze. “So … this weekend … I hear it’s prom.”
I let out a soft breath. “Yeah, should be a banging time.”
“So you’re going?”
I laughed. “Not a chance in hell.”
He laughed with me. “What if you had the most charming date on your arm?”
I raised a brow. “I haven’t been in the mood for a date.”
Landon rested his elbows on his knees. “Mom and Dad said you’ve been off. Have you told them?”
My voice was barely a whisper. “I can’t.”
“They aren’t going to let you go to FSU in the fall if you don’t start acting normal.”
“What?” FSU was my only hope for my life to maybe go back to normal. A new place where I’d be on my own and able to focus on my future. A place that would be hours away from Rod.
“I bet, if you took your older brother to prom, they’d think you were just missing me.”
“I have nothing to wear, no tickets, and the prom starts in four hours. I wouldn’t even know what to do with my hair.”
“I could help with hair,” my mother suddenly said from the porch. I turned to look, seeing her standing there with my father. “You could take the Grand Prix. Not too fancy, but nicer than the Corolla.”
“Mom got a dress for you, too!” Riley piped in, more
excited than anyone else here. She was already more girly than I was.
Landon stood then reached his hand out to me. “So, what do you say? Will you go to prom with me?”
“All right,” I conceded as though I were being forced to go to my senior prom, but I was excited.
***
“Red looks great with my uniform, don’t you think?” Landon brushed his uniform with his palms, more looking at himself in the review mirror than at my red strapless dress. It went perfectly with my beauty queen curls and red heels.
“We are quite patriotic,” I sighed.
He turned to me and smiled, his aviators covering his eyes. “Dinner was great, now on to the dance. Honestly, I think I stayed for only ten minutes of my prom.”
“That’s because you and Kevin went to go smoke pot and drink at an after party.”
His lip twitched. “Yeah, we did. Look, we’ll get the prom photo, have some spiked punch, dance to a few songs, then head to a party. Sound good?”
I stared down at the silver sparkly nail polish Riley painted on my nails while my mother curled my caramel hair. “I don’t know.” I mainly didn’t know because I had no idea where a party would be.
“A friend of mine is throwing a party. Would that be cool enough for an after-prom shin dig?” Landon asked while pulling into the dance.
I’d only drank with Landon and his friends a few times. Maybe getting drunk would help me to relax a little. As long as none of his friends hit on me, especially Kevin.
Reading my mind again, he added, “I promise Kevin will be on his best behavior.”
“Okay. Can we just go to his house?”
“No, I promised Mom we’d get a picture.”
I groaned in annoyance, causing Landon to laugh. “A half hour tops, I promise.”
That half hour couldn’t have gone any slower. I don’t think any of the kids noticed who I was. Even Bethany didn’t say hi to me. She looked wonderful and I smiled at her, but she only turned up her nose and kept walking. Every other girl who walked by us giggled and blushed at Landon. They all knew him. He was known as the stud a grade ahead of us. He would wink at them and smile, flirt a little when a few of them had the courage to talk to him. They ignored me every time.
