“You think he loves you? No one could love you, Joslynn. You're useless and you will never be someone that a person could love.”
“STOP IT!” I yell.
He smiles and leans in running his hand along the fingerprints I'm sure are now visible.
“Forgive me,” he says laughing.
“JOSLYNN! WAKE UP, BABY!”
My eyes open at the sound of his voice.
“Marshall?”
“Yeah, it's me. Come here.”
My whole body is shaking as he pulls me to him. Wrapping his arms around me and kissing my head.
“How did you get in?”
“You left it unlocked.”
I nod my head and let my eyes lower once again. I am exhausted.
“I remember the day like it was yesterday. Your dad had been out all night drinking and Taylor and her family were on vacation. I sat up waiting for you to walk outside. It was like the only place you were safe at night. Your dad never thought people could hear him yelling and hitting you through the walls of your home so on the outside he would act like the world’s greatest dad. But once that door shut it was like walking into the house of horrors.”
He stops talking waiting for me to say something or trying to catch his breath, but there was nothing I could say. He takes a deep breath and continues.
“It was the anniversary of your mother leaving. That was the one day he seemed to be the worst. You and I were playing outside when he pulled up and you told me to run home. I heard it for hours before you walked outside. He was taunting you about me. He knew I liked you. Even as young as we were I loved you then. When you ran outside you ran to my porch. My parents woke up and called the cops. That's how you ended up at your grandmothers. We moved not long after and I never talked to you again. But I never stopped thinking about you, Joslynn, not for a second.”
“Is that why you came back?”
His arms tighten around me, and he kisses the top of my head.
“Once my brother was old enough, he came back saying this was home. He had seen you one day and called to tell me how you were. I had been at a bad time in my life, doing drugs and hanging out with the wrong crowd. I decided it was time for a change and I wanted to see you so I came back.”
“Why did you tell me your mom was sick?”
“Your dad saw me one day at the gas station and knew who I was. He told me that it was time that he got the biggest mistake of his life taken care of and if I got in his way he would go after my mother. I couldn't let that happen, Joslynn.”
“Why didn't you just tell me?”
“I thought about it. I started coming to Frank’s to see you. I showed you the picture that day in hopes that you would remember me, but you didn't remember everything. So I started watching the people around you. Frank nor Tank are people you should trust.”
I sigh. They helped me. More than I would have ever expected.
“They helped me, Marshall.”
“How do you think they knew someone broke into your house?”
I stop and think about what he's saying. They were both here without me calling. They said the cop called and told them my house was broken into and they wanted to help me. I didn't think about it at the time. But it makes sense now.
“How do you know all of this?”
“Do you think I am some guy with a bunch of gunk on my arms?” He asks laughing.
“I can find things out, Joslynn. Just be careful, okay? We will figure this all out and fix it. Trevor is watching out for you too.”
I nod my head. All of this information brings a lot of things to light. I wondered how I went from some employee to little sister in the matter of a day. I guess now I know.
“Marshall?” I ask.
“Yeah?”
I want to know why he said the same thing as my father. If he was around to see all of it and knew what was going on then why would he say the one thing my father would always say to me?
“Why... Why did you say ‘Forgive me?’”
“That's why you passed out isn't it?”
“Yeah. My father used to say it to me all the time.”
“I know, I am so sorry. I was mad I wanted you to remember something. Anything.”
“Don't ever say that again, Marshall, ever.”
“I am so sorry, Jos.”
He tightens his arms around me and kisses my head. I am sure other people would tell him to walk away now. I want to be mad at him, but he is all I have, and I feel safe in his arms. I feel at home, and I am not ready to let that go and at a time like this, I don't think I can.
“Get some sleep, okay.” He kisses the top of my head once again and squeezes me. He starts to let go and get up, and I panic. He can't leave me.
“Please don't.”
“Calm down. I won't go, okay. I’ll be right here when you wake up.”
His arms come around me once again and I slow my breathing. I lay in silence for a while and listen to his breathing. It begins to slow, and I smile knowing he is asleep. I don't know how I know it’s so strong, but I can feel it deep inside my body. I know that I can trust him. As crazy as it sounds, I know he loves me, and he has for a long time.
Chapter Ten
The next morning I wake up and Marshall is still asleep with his arms around me. I look at the clock by the bed and it says it's lunch time. We slept through the entire morning. Looking back at him, he looks so peaceful. I can feel his heartbeat under my hand and know I have done that many times before.
“You used to do that all the time,” he says with a sad smile on his face.
“What?”
“Nights your dad would come home messed up, I would lay with you on your porch swing and you would hold your hand on my heart. It was a comfort thing for you. I used to tell you that anytime you were scared just remember my heart beat and know that as long as my heart was beating I would take care of you. I would chase the bad things away and you would be safe again.”
I cry again for what seems like the millionth time this week. I look up to Marshall and smile. Sitting up, I slowly lean in and kiss his lips. The contact makes me sigh. His tongue darts out and I waste no time opening my mouth and letting him in. I moan as the taste of him enters my body.
Crawling over him, I straddle his stomach and run my hands through his hair. Our breathing picks up. My panties are soaked in a matter of seconds as his hands roam my body. He never lets them linger in one space too long before he's rubbing somewhere else. I can feel him grow under me.
His moans match mine as I run my hands down his chest to the button on his jeans. His hands grab my wrist and he pulls back.
“Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
He watches me for a few seconds before he releases my hands and pulls me back down to his lips. His hands start their pursuit of my body once again. When he pulls back again, he slides my shirt over my head.
“You are so beautiful.”
I smile and pull his pants down. His cock springs forward and I moan. Just the sight of him ready for me is enough to make me orgasm on the spot. He wraps his arm around my back and flips me, causing him to be on top of me. Wasting no time he removes our clothes, throwing them on the floor all around my bed.
“You were taking too long. I need to be in you now, Joslynn.”
He leans in and kisses me again and slowly slides inside of me. My eyes roll back at the feeling of him stretching me. When he is finally fully inside me he stops causing me to whimper.
“Are you okay?”
“Please, don't stop, Marshall.”
That's all he needs to hear for him to start moving in and out of me. His hands on my hips, his eyes locked with mine. His pace picks up and his head rolls back and now he is close. I can feel my release coming too. It doesn’t take long before we are yelling our orgasms in unison.
His body falls across mine as we lay and catch our breath. My hand rubs his back, and I close my eyes.
**
I must have fallen asleep because when I wake up Marshall's side of the bed is empty. I sit up and look around the room. His shoes are still on the floor so I know he has to be close. I take a quick shower and walk into the living room. Marshall has the door open and he and Trevor are unloading the couch. They both stop when they see me.
“Hey, guys.”
“Hey, did we wake you?” Marshall asks.
He walks up to me and kisses me slowly. I forget Trevor is standing there until he whistles and my hands are in Marshall's hair.
“As happy as I am to finally see you two together can we please get this couch inside? It is heavy you know.”
Marshall gives me a quick peck and laughs.
“I got you a biscuit, it's on the counter,” Trevor says.
“Thanks.”
I watch as Marshall and Trevor move the couch in. They must have thrown out the old one before I woke up because it is nowhere in sight. Marshall has enough stuff to fill my house of everything that was ruined. I know that I need to go back to work but that is something I am scared to bring up. I don't want him to flip out on me in front of his brother but I highly doubt anyone will attack me while I am at work. And at least there I will be able to keep an eye on Frank and Tank.
Once the house is put back together we all sit on the new couch. I make us all some tea. I want to talk to them both, but I’m not sure how much Trevor knows about everything.
“Marshall?”
“Yeah?”
“Uh, I am supposed to go back to work tomorrow.”
“After everything I told you, you are actually considering going back there?”
“What do you think it's going to look like if I just stop working there? They will both get suspicious and that helps nothing. At least there I can keep my eye on them.”
“She has a point man,” Trevor says shrugging his shoulders.
Marshall's eyes never leave my face. I know it wasn't a good idea to bring it up, but I need money also.
“Fine but nothing changes. Either Trevor or me will be up there.”
Wait Trevor? I look to Trevor his eyes on the floor.
“How many times did you come to Frank's and watch me because your brother asked you to?”
“Uhhh, well, a lot, but I was smarter than this dumbass. I sat on the other side where you wouldn't be the one taking my order.”
I laugh and roll my eyes.
“I am going to hurt you both.”
They both start laughing. My house phone starts to ring, and I feel like the world falls from under my feet. The last time it rang it was the last person I ever wanted to talk to.
“He… Hello?”
“You okay, Lynnie?”
“Hey, Tank, yeah I am fine. What's up?”
“Well, I know Frank wanted you to take off until tomorrow but Rebecca called in and we need someone to cover her shift. You know we wouldn't call if we had someone else that could do it.”
I look to Marshall and he is watching me like a hawk.
“Yeah, just give me time to get ready.”
“Okay, see ya soon.”
“Yeah.”
I hang up the phone and Marshall shoots to his feet.
“Are you serious right now?”
I shrug my shoulders and go to my room to get dressed. It doesn't take long before Marshall is behind me.
“You can't expect to come in and change my life. You or Trevor or hell you and Trevor can come sit there with me I don't care, I have bills to pay.”
“Fine, but anytime you feel uncomfortable text me.”
“Uhm, well, that is kind of a problem.”
I walk around my room putting on my work uniform and pulling my hair up. I have never been big on wearing a lot of makeup and the mood I am in today I don't even bother. When I turn and look at Marshall he has a confused look on his face
“What do you mean that is a problem?”
“Well, I looked you and your family up and saw that you had lied to me about your mother being sick and it made me mad so I slung my phone against the living room wall.”
He shakes his head.
“I'll go get you another one and have Trevor bring it to you. I don't want them to know I am there unless I need to get to you.”
“You're not buying me another phone, Marshall.”
He turns and walks out of the room yelling over his shoulder.
“Watch me. C'mon, Trevor.”
I run to the living room and they are both out the door before I can say a word. That man is going to be the death of me. Either it be from sex or just being him. Grabbing my keys, I run to my car and head to Frank's. I have never been nervous about going to work. I have always felt safe there, even after the car almost hit me it still felt safe there. But now as I head to work I can't help but feel like I am heading into the danger zone.
My palms are sweaty on the steering wheel, and my heart is racing the closer that I get. When I pull up I have to take a couple of deep breaths before I get out of the car. I look around the lot for the police officer and he is nowhere in sight. Frank must have told him he didn't have to come anymore.
When I get out of the car I check the lot again and walk inside. Everything seems normal. Everyone is eating or waiting for their order to be taken. Tank is in the back cooking and looks up when I walk in smiling. I smile back and try to calm my nerves more. I wish Marshall was here. I would feel a lot better knowing that he is at least in the parking lot watching.
When I clock in Tank yells through the window.
“Good to see you, Lynnie, good to see you.”
“You too, Tank.”
I put on my apron and set to busing tables. Whether or not it was a lie, they needed me because the orders and tables are all backed up. I can tell already it's going to be a long night.
“Joslynn, welcome back,” Frank yells from his office door.
I never realized how small things can make you nervous, but when I turn to Frank, he is on the phone, and I panic. What if he's talking to my father? I smile, wave and get back to work praying Trevor shows up soon. I need to know that Marshall is close before I break down.
About an hour later Trevor walks through the door and sits in the back on my side. I breathe a sigh of relief and walk towards him.
“Welcome to Frank's what can I get you to drink?”
“Coke,” he says as he slides the cell phone in my front pocket.
My eyes fill with tears as I hand him his menu and go to make his drink. When I catch the eyes of Frank and Tank, they are both watching me like a hawk. The phone in my pocket vibrates, and I check it when I walk towards Trevor. His eyes are scanning the room.
Marshall: Remember my heartbeat, Joslynn. As long as it is beating you are safe.
Me: Where are you?
Marshall: I am here and you're okay.
Me: I don't feel okay.
Marshall: My heartbeat
I take a deep breath and send a quick text back.
Me: K
Trevor surprises me when he orders the special of the day. I smile and remember the first time Marshall came in and ordered the same thing.
“Today's special, Tank.”
“Got it. What's with guys and the gunk on their arms?” He says laughing.
He hands me the plate and I take it to Trevor.
**
The day goes by smoothly. Trevor leaves but I know both he and Marshall are close. I go through the day watching both the guys and everything they do makes me nervous.
“Joslynn, can I talk to you in my office before you leave?”
“Uh, sure, Frank.”
I walk into his office with my hand in my pocket on the phone Marshall gave me.
“What's up?”
“How are things? No more problems?”
“Good, no, no more problems.”
“Well, that's good. I just wanted to check on you before you left and make sure you were well enough to pick up your regular schedule for work?”
“Yeah, I can do that.”
“Great, Rebecca asked for some time off so I'll need you to start covering her shift.”
“Okay, no problem.”
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