by Lannah Smith
Only, it didn't work out the way he thought he would.
Because Terry didn't let him.
"I still can't believe Terry punched you."
John groaned and lit up the grill. "When the hell are you morons going to get over it?"
"Never?"
"Why don't you join Rohan under his umbrella and leave me alone?"
Skull smirked. "Now where's the fun in that?"
"Hey, guys." Sophia was making her way over them with a plate of raw steak. "I see you finally got the grill to work."
"Yeah," John grinned at her. "Leon helped."
Sophia looked at Skull. "If you're hungry, I can take out the brownies."
John shook his head. "No. Don't spoil him. How are you?" he asked, ignoring Skull's glower.
Her smile was radiant when she glanced at Leon who was talking with Rohan. "I'm alright. Thanks again for helping me, John. Without your support, I don't think I could have done it."
"Done what?" Skull inserted. "Barge into Leon's house, yell his head into submission and then do the deed with him?"
Sophia blushed. "Well, yeah."
John slapped Skull's head. "Will your mouth ever have a filter?"
"Nope."
He sighed. Then to Sophia, he said, "I'm so happy for you."
Sophia smiled gratefully up to him. "You'll find someone soon too, John."
Skull nearly choked himself from holding back laughter and John pushed him away. "I guess I'm the type who's going to end up alone," he said jokingly as he put the steaks on the grill.
Sophia said nothing. She was not disagreeing with him and John felt amused.
Leaning into her, he asked, "What do you think?"
She tilted her head. "If you continue chasing girls, of course you'd end up alone."
While Skull was bent over, laughing so hard tears were falling down his face, Sophia grinned and went to Hannah and Terry. John took another moment to appreciate the bikini of his girlfriend. And yes, she was still his girlfriend despite not having talked to her in three fucking days.
Still she was wearing the new rings he had Vincent deliver to her on Christmas. Maybe she wasn't that mad at him anymore.
"I take it you and Terry still aren't telling her?" Skull tried to pinch a piece of steak and John slapped his hand with the tongs.
"You think I want to have another black eye?" he said wryly. "I'd rather she tell her. And besides, we haven't talked since I fought with Haru. Apparently, she's real tight with her brother now."
"But you literally fought for her brother's approval. Doesn't she find that all romantic?"
"I don't think my girlfriend has a romantic bone in her body."
"Oh, man. She has you wrapped around her finger, doesn't she?"
John glanced at Terry again. He just couldn't help but steal glances at her. She was talking to Hannah, looking grumpy and he chuckled low. The he stopped smiling. Terry was leaving for Japan tonight and if he didn't do something, they'd never have that very much needed conversation.
Skull tried to steal another piece of steak again and John put down the tongs, grabbed a big spatula and slapped his hand again.
"You are such a dick," Skull grumbled, rubbing the spot John hit. "And a fucking slow cook."
"Can't you fucking wait?"
"Can't you just give me one fucking piece?"
"I'll fucking drown you if you don't stop fucking with me!"
"Hit me," Skull suddenly whispered.
John blinked. "What?"
"Just hit me," he crazily urged.
He leaned away from him. "Are you high? I'm not hitting you-"
"I banged Terry last night."
And he hit him. Right on the jaw.
John would have apologized because he knew the asshole was just lying but Skull tackled him to the ground with a laugh.
"Say uncle," he said when he had John in an arm lock.
"Fuck you," John growled, quickly overpowering him and had him eating sand when he pushed his face into it.
Fucking hell, what was wrong with him today?
His question was soon answered when John noticed a pair of beautiful legs in front of him. He let go of Skull's head and Skull pressed his advantage by turning his body and slamming his fist into his jaw. John shook off the blow and slowly stood up, but not before kicking Skull in the ribs.
"Stop it, Skull," Terry snapped when Skull was about to slam his foot into John's groin. "And get up."
"Yes, Maam," Skull mumbled as he got off the sand, dusting his shorts and subtly sending John a wink.
John glowered at him. This wasn't how he planned to get Terry's attention. He needed her sweet not furious. Damn, Skull.
"Why can't you both just act your age?" Terry began to rant. "You're going to be seniors next year. Are you still going to act like children?"
"No," the both of them mumbled.
"What?"
"No, Maam," they both said louder.
Shit this was embarrassing. Rohan and Leon was grinning and snickering under their breaths at them and John sent Skull another glower again.
"Skull, stop bothering him," Terry seethed. "And you," her gaze was sharp when she looked at him, "just ignore him."
"It's hard to ignore an idiot his size, Terry," he tried to reason but immediately shut his mouth when Terry's eyes narrowed dangerously at him.
"What's Leon doing?" Skull chuckled, his gaze over Terry's shoulders and John looked to see Leon walking away with a blushing Sophia in his arms.
John didn't misinterpret the intentions in his best friend's eyes. He laughed and pumped his fist in the air and Skull did the same. But he immediately stopped again when Terry looked at him with a promise of death in her eyes.
"I think it's time we talk," he said, reaching out to take her hand.
"Careful," Skull muttered. "She really looks like she wants to give you another black-eye."
Terry took a threatening step towards Skull and Skull immediately scrambled off to bug Rohan. John stood there, giving her a hopeful expression and she clicked her tongue at him.
"Come with me," she mumbled, turning to go to the beach house.
John quickly followed her. They entered the house, her still fuming, him practically wagging his tail. He smiled to himself. She really had him wrapped around her finger.
"Why are you smiling?" she snapped.
He pursed his lips. What the hell was she so mad about?
"Is your body okay?"
He blinked. "My body?"
She looked askance and folded her arms. "You fought with my brother remember?"
"I'm fine," he told her, trying not to smile.
He was lying, though. Two of his ribs were cracked after the fight and his whole body was in total agony. Terry had hurried out of the room after she punched him so he didn't get any loving from her. Skull and Rohan laughingly suggested that they assist him out but he was damned if he showed Haru or any of that damn family any weakness.
Skull and Rohan had to take him to the hospital though when he couldn't get out of the truck without moaning in pain. And he had to suffer their jeers and laughter at the whole ordeal.
"I'm leaving for Japan tonight," she told him, still looking away.
"I know," he replied.
She looked grumpily at him. "You know. And you're still not going to talk to me."
His brows rose in surprise. "But you're still angry."
"So every time I'm angry you won't talk to me?"
"You punched me," he reasoned. "If that's not a non-verbal command to get the hell out of your sight and leave you alone, what was it?"
She looked like she wanted to strangle him. "You do that crap and you expect me to be happy?" she shouted. "Why the hell do I love you?"
John laughed.
He laughed as he picked her up the floor and swung her around in his arms.
He laughed when he put her down, pulled her body to his right before his mouth came down on hers hard.
"I
miss you," he whispered against her lips. "I miss you so damn much. Did you miss me?"
She slapped his shoulder. "I waited for you to show up at my door for three days, John."
"Yep, you miss me." He kissed her again and she kissed him back. "And I was recovering from the fight at home, baby. I hate to admit it but your brother really hurt me pretty bad."
"We have a dojo, remember?" Her voice was harsh but her fingers were gentle as they probed around his fading black eye. "I'm sorry for hitting you. I was just so worried that he'll kill you."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence," he said dryly.
"And you made him miss his flight. You hurt him pretty bad too that's why he's flying with me tonight instead."
John grinned. Then he was kissing her again.
Her entire body arched against his and fuck, but he missed this. He knew he missed this but having this back, he realized he really missed this.
Something registered deep in his soul as he kissed her. And he knew exactly what it was because he'd felt it many times before.
He felt it when he first met her.
He felt it when they were reunited after their first separation and felt it when she forgave him.
He felt it when he saw his best friend's blissful expression.
He felt it when he saw all of his friends together.
And he felt it now while she was in his arms.
And that feeling was contentment.
John still didn't believe in happily ever after.
But having her in his arms, he sure would fucking make sure she has hers.
Damn but he did love her so much that it hurts.
John was about to suggest they take this inside the bedroom when the door suddenly opened. A wide-eyed Sophia stared at them as Leon pulled her to the bedroom. Leon barely glanced at them but John saw the smirk playing in his lips. When the door closed, John looked at a flustered Terry.
"Damn," he muttered.
She frowned and shook her head. "Cat's out of the bag?"
"No, I was about to say they got to the room first."
She rolled her eyes but she did it smiling.
"So are we okay now?" John asked, giving her a squeeze. "Or do you want me down on my knees, begging for you to take me back?"
"Did I ever let you go?" She flicked his forehead and squeezed his cheek. "Don't make me wait for you ever again."
"I won't, baby. I promise."
"And stop calling me baby."
"Now that I can't promise."
They shared another tender moment, kissing each other softly. But when they started hearing moans from inside the bedroom they pulled back, sighing, and returned to their friends.
"That was fast," Hannah shouted from the chair with a Cheshire grin. "I thought you would be making John beg for a long, long while if you know what I mean."
"Shut up," Terry said, pushing her friend off the sand chair. "Sophia saw us kissing."
Skull exploded into laughter. "She did?" He looked at John. "So she finally knows?"
"Guess so," John answered, taking over the grill again.
"Damn it," Hannah muttered as she grabbed two twenties from her purse. She swung her feet onto the sand, stood up and approached Skull to give him a twenty. "I thought she was going to find out next year. You cheated, didn't you, Skull?"
Skull smirked. "Cheating is not my style, sweetheart."
But even as he said that, he winked at John and John couldn't find it in himself to be angry.
Still, he couldn't believe he got fucking played.
"You bet on us?" He frowned at them.
Rohan lifted his hand without looking away from his PSP to get the other twenty from Hannah. "Leon suggested the bet. She also owes him a twenty."
"Leon did?"
"We've actually been betting on you guys for some time," Skull informed him. "I won a hundred when Terry punched you by the way. Rohan didn't think she would."
"I thought she would slap him," the kid mumbled.
"Hannah, can I talk to you?" Terry said in a strangled voice.
Hannah's expression turned nervous. "Okay."
As the girls walked away, Skull put his arm around John's shoulder. John elbowed his side and Skull grunted but he didn't let go.
"You owe me," he said. "Again."
"Yeah, whatever," John muttered contentedly as he stared at his girlfriend. "I'll send you an empty check."
Skull was silent for a few minutes.
Then he asked, "Leon and Sophia are fucking, aren't they?"
And John burst out laughing.
Hannah and I sat on the sand, the waves kissing our feet. We were silent for awhile, just staring out at the sea, me feeling at peace, her worried out of her mind from the looks of her.
"So you bet on me with Skull," I said, finally breaking the silence.
She cringed. "I... I overheard the guys talking about you and John in the house and they mentioned something about a bet," she stated defensively. "I was curious and asked them what the bet was about and Skull told me they were betting on when Sophia will know about you guys. Naturally, I joined."
"Yet you lost," I sighed.
"I was expecting her to find out next year since she's still all about Leon right now! You made me lose money."
My glare silenced Hannah. "I was going to tell her today anyway."
"Dang it," she muttered.
"So are you friends with Skull now?" I asked, drawing my knees to my chest and putting my arms around them.
Hannah giggled. "I had him help me with something. He's actually useful to have around."
"It's about William, wasn't it?"
She looked at me in shock. "How did you know?"
"He called me yesterday asking about your new boyfriend," I deadpanned. "I said I wasn't telling him anything and hung up."
She smiled. "Thanks for playing along."
"You made Skull your pseudo-boyfriend? Seriously?"
"Remember that time I told you I had a cold? Well, I was actually stalk - I mean visiting Will at his parent's newly opened restaurant downtown. Skull saw me and wouldn't leave. Will noticed me outside and asked me what I was doing. I didn't like that smug expression on his face so I grabbed Skull and told him we were on a date. Let's just say he wasn't looking smug anymore."
I smiled and shook my head. Hannah was looking cheerful and so satisfied with herself. I thought back to yesterday to when she wasn't. I'd called her, asking her to come to the house. And when she did, I confessed everything I've been keeping from her, about my life, about my mother and the fact that I'd been dating John secretly.
She didn't take the first two very well. She was silent for a long time, absorbing the burden of this information which reminded me why I didn't tell her in the first place.
Then she just crumbled, enveloped me in her arms and forced me to promise to never hold something from her ever again.
"I'm sorry I couldn't tell you for so long," I told her after I gave her my promise.
"There's nothing to forgive," she whispered and she sounded like she meant it. "I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at myself for... for not noticing your problems sooner."
I pulled back and held her hands, squeezing them. "It's not your fault. I deceived you and everyone by being a good actress remember? And it's not that I don't trust you, Hannah. I just thought I could handle everything on my own." My throat clogged and I swallowed with difficulty, going on, "And you don't know this but you saved me a million times. Just by being my friend. Just by making me smile and laugh when I thought I couldn't anymore. You gave me hope, you made me believe in friendship and you made me trust in people again."
The tears again spilled over from Hannah's eyes.
"It was not because I didn't trust you, Hannah," I told her earnestly. "It was because I was afraid I'd lose you too. I keep losing the people I love and I don't want to lose you. I'm sorry for lying to you for so long."
