Bound Together

by Marie Coulson

  I cut him off. “Something you have to deal with. Yeah, I know. You get to have your secrets but I can’t have mine. Got it. Guess we’re not as committed to this honestly thing as we thought.”

  I moved silently around the room as I pulled my clothes on. Jared stood in the door way rubbing his temple as though trying to sooth a headache. A headache I was causing. He exhaled loudly and I could hear the frustration in his voice as he pleaded with his eyes for an explanation. ”For the love of god Layla what do I have to do to show you that I’m serious about us? You want me to buy you a diamond and get down on one knee? What do I have to do?” Taken aback I stepped away from him, scrutinizing his expression, trying to see if he was serious. “Layla I’m not about to propose marriage. You’re twenty years old for Christ sake. I know I’m going to spend the rest of my life with you and I don’t need a ring or piece of paper to tell me that. But if that’s what you need to believe in me, then I’ll give it to you. Hell Layla I’d give you the moon, stars and oceans if you asked for them but please in the name of all that is holy just stop dooming us to fail.” Slumping down onto the vintage cream and gold couch I held my head in my hands. I knew all along the cause of our problems but not wanting to admit it I’d convinced myself that it didn’t matter. But the truth was that we really didn’t know each other, we never talked.

  Removing my hands from my face, Jared crouched in front of me, resting his forehead against mine. “Layla talk to me, please. You’re terrifying me with your silence.”

  “That’s just our problem Jared. We don’t talk. We hardly know anything about each other beyond the physical. It’s the reason I get mad when you give me lavish gifts because you have no idea why I find it difficult to accept them. It’s the reason you get mad and scared when you think about me and Ollie. We jumped in to this too fast and we just don’t know each other enough.”

  Grabbing me by the hand he hauled me up and dragged me down the hall to the other side of the house. I stumbled along trying to keep up with him and felt a little frightened as his demeanor changed from worry to determination. “Jared what are you doing? Let me go!” Turning the corner, we stopped outside a door at the far end of a long hallway that I hadn’t been down before. Gripping the handle in one hand and me in the other he tightened his grip. “You say we don’t know about each other right? Well let’s rectify that right now.” The door swung open and he led me inside, still holding my hand firmly.

  “Welcome to my world.”

  My jaw dropped as I gazed around the enormous room I was currently standing in. The walls were cluttered with news articles, photos, awards and posters. Endless rows of medals and plaques shone as they sat in mahogany display cabinets. A dark four poster bed was against the far wall and a door which led to another equally stunning bathroom was opposite. Releasing me, he gestured for me to explore. In the corner was a walk in closet similar to the one in his bedroom except there were no clothes inside. Instead there were dozens of brown cardboard boxes and I could smell the dirty scent of dust as I entered the doorway. The entire room smelled old and musty as though no one had been there in years.

  When I turned around, Jared was sitting on the edge of the bed with his hand extended out to me. Walking over, I placed my hand in his and sat next to him. His shoulders sagged and he stared blankly into the distance. “This was my room. My whole life up until I was eighteen unfolded in this room. I can’t say it was exciting or extraordinary but as you can see, I did ok. Right here, right now we’re going to talk. Anything you want to know, I’ll tell you and vice versa. So tell me Layla Jennings, what do you want to know?”

  “I want to know everything. Tell me about the six year old in that photograph downstairs. Who was he? What was he like? What were his hopes and dreams?” He chuckled and his eyes danced. “You want to go that far back huh? Ok. He was funny, well I think he was. He was demanding and some would say maybe a little spoilt but he was usually quite tame in his wants. He wanted to be an explorer like Indiana Jones. He loved spaghetti and jumping in puddles. He hated baths and boy did he hate girls; they had germs you know. I’d say he’s come a long way since then.”

  I smiled as I thought about the golden haired little boy slurping Italian food and pulling pigtails. “He sounds great. So what happened to him later? How did you end up at college studying business and economics?” Lying back on the bed Jared folded his arm behind his head and pulled me down with him with a sharp tug. “Well I stopped hating girls at about fourteen when I started seeing them more as objects of sexual arousal rather than irritating cootie carriers. I met a girl in high school named Hannah and at sixteen I lost my virginity in the back seat of her minivan. She dumped me that summer and moved to Oregon with her mom, I never saw her again. The next two years were pretty much girls, parties and goofing off with my friends. Then at seventeen my dad started talking about what I should do with my life but what he meant was that he wanted me to take over the business. I didn’t really have a direction I was planning on traveling for a year and then going to college but dad said he’d stop paying my bills unless I was taking a serious career choice. So I ended up at college until they died. That’s pretty much it.” Leaning on my elbow, I gazed at him as he lay there staring at the ceiling. “So what about the rest of your family? You’re grandma in Hawaii? Aunts? Uncles?”

  He let out a long sigh and shrugged. “I don’t have any. Grandma died when I was fifteen and my father was an only child. My grandfather had died when he was young and grandma never re married. I never understood when I was younger but she always said he’d been the love of her life and that for as long as she lived no man would ever hold her heart like he did. I thought it was crazy, but then I’d never been that deeply in love before. I was just a kid. But now…” He stroked my face with his fingertip and smiled sweetly at me. “…Now I know exactly what she meant.” I held his hand to my face and pressed a kiss to palm. “As for my mother, her family disowned her after she married my father. They were part of California’s social elite and when she fell for a small time shop owner’s son, they gave her an ultimatum. She chose my dad and they cut her off the day she said I do. I’ve never even met them but I’m sure she had a sister here in Long Beach.”

  “You never looked for them?”

  Sitting up he pointed to the display cabinets on the far side of the room.

  “You see all those awards? Well every time I got one my mom would write back home to her folks telling them what a wonderful grandson they had. When I was born she even tried to take me there to see them but they wouldn’t even open the driveway gates. They never wrote, called or made any attempt to get to know me. When she died I left hundreds of messages begging them to call me but they never even tried. I have no idea if they were even at the funeral, hell I wouldn’t be able to pick them out of a line up. So why should I bother trying to connect with people who would never even acknowledge my existence?” Sitting up beside him I leaned my head against his shoulder. He’d had so much sadness in his life and the thought that he had a whole family that had completely abandoned him when he needed them most, made me sick to my stomach with grief.

  Planting a kiss on the top of my head, he leaned his cheek into me. “It’s not all bad Layla. I had a good childhood. My parents loved me and they gave me the best start in life anyone could ever hope for. Besides, my story has a happy ending. Wanna hear it?” Lifting my head from his shoulder I nodded as he gazed down into my eyes. Hooking his hand beneath my chin, he lifted my face till his lips were so close I could feel his warm breath on my mouth. “I took over the business and kept my mother’s shop, turning it into a cozy little coffee house under a new name. I went in one day to get my usual cup of coffee and my life changed forever. A gorgeous, turquoise eyed blonde came crashing into my life and knocked me off my feet. She was fiery, strong and infuriatingly stubborn. I was hooked. She stained my shirt and stole my heart right there in that shop and I haven’t been able to get her out of my mind since. She’s amazing
and I’ve fallen head over heels in love with her. She’s my happily ever after.”

  Launching myself into his arms, we crashed backwards onto the bed with a bounce. I kissed him passionately, murmuring between each press of my lips. “You’re mine too. I’ve never been so happy in my life. I love you so much.” He chuckled into my mouth and pressed his hands on either side of my head over my ears, slowing me. Taking control, he snaked his arms around my back and pulled me close, deepening our kiss. Coming up for air, I grinned down at him as a boyish smile spread across his delicious lips. “Ok, your turn. I want to know everything. Who is Layla Jennings? Where did she come from? What does she like, hate and everything in between. Go.”

  I giggled and rolled off of his chest to lie beside him. “Well I’d like to think I’m independent, strong-willed and lots of fun. I grew up in Pasadena, in the same house my father now lives and I loved it there. I was lucky enough to have the greatest friend in the world live right next door and although my parents never had any other children, Mel is the sister I always wanted. My mom’s a nurse and when I was growing up she spent most of her time at home with me. My dad worked in a small garage so it meant we had to live modestly. I didn’t mind that all the other kids had gadgets and gizmos and designer clothes because they hardly ever saw their parents. I got to see mine every day. We always had dinner together and in the evenings we’d just veg out with popcorn and watch old movies. It was great. You already know about my love life and apart from wanting to be like Marilyn Monroe while growing up, I’d say I had a pretty standard life. Well, that was until I moved to college and started singing in bars, working in a cozy little coffee shop and met this guy. I accidently made him spill coffee on this shirt he was wearing and he got all moody about it. Oh and I may or may not have broken his nose but boy did he act like a baby.”

  Rolling on top of me Jared pinned me to the bed and ticked me relentlessly. I squirmed and shrieked as his fingers unleashed their assault on my body. “He was a baby huh? You sure you don’t mean a total babe?” I giggled harder as he continued to tickle me, digging into my ribs with his fingers. Wriggling out of his grasp I kicked and rolled till I was out of his grip. Standing in front of the bed panting, I watched as his eyes took on that familiar predatory gaze. I was a gazelle caught in the sights of a lion and I had one option. A mischievous smile spread across his lips. “Oh that’s a dangerous game Layla. If you run I’ll be forced to give chase and you know how much I love to catch you. One way or another I’m going to get you and when I do, oh baby.” I quickly glanced at the door before fixing my eyes on him once more. He ran his tongue over his lip and his mouth opened slightly. I could see the desire burning in his dark hooded eyes and it made me heat under his gaze. In a snap decision I squealed and laughed breathlessly as I sprinted through the hallways and down the staircase. His feet padded heavily behind me and as I glanced back I could see him gaining on me.

  Darting through the doorways I made it to the dining room before he cornered me. Standing on either end of the glass dining table we panted, trying to catch our breath. “Cornered Miss Jennings. Now, come here.”

  His long finger curved, beckoning me to go to him. Approaching the table I lifted my knee high and climbed on top. His eyebrow shot up as he watched me crawl sexily and seductively across the glass towards him.

  A low growl rumbled in his throat as I rose up placing myself less than an inch from him. My lips parted slightly, I breathed gently on his lips. “Oh you really are a tempting little siren. How the hell did I get so lucky?” Gripping his hands on my ass he swept my feet from beneath me and gently laid me on the cool glass. Lying on top of me, his hand slid up my thigh as the other continued its vice like grip on my behind. A vibrating in my pocket startled us. “Is that a vibrator in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” I laughed and pushed him off of me as I sat upright, digging my cell from my pocket.

  Lifting a finger to him indicating that he give me a minute, I answered the cell earning me a roll of his eyes. “Hey Amy.”

  “Layla did you know it’s Ollie’s birthday?” Confused, I glanced at Jared who was now sitting in one of the sleek black dining room chairs, watching me with a finger pressed to his lips. “Are you sure? I had no idea. How did you find out?”

  “Some guy came by looking for him and asked me to give him a message. He said he was Ollie’s brother and that he needed to talk to him about their parents and that I should wish him a happy birthday. Why wouldn’t he tell us it’s his birthday?”

  I paused for a moment as I turned over the feeling of uneasiness I felt about Ollie’s brother seeking him out over their father. He must have heard about him being in prison and their mother searching for Ollie. “I can’t believe his birthday is the day before mine. I have no idea why he’d keep it a secret.”

  “Maybe he didn’t want to steal your thunder. We’re going to do something though right?”

  “Of course we are! Ok, so we’re at the bar tonight as usual, we’ll turn it into a birthday party. Here’s what we’ll do. You go get Nick, Eric and whoever else you can muster from the dorm to the bar. I’ll pick up a cake and we’ll go halves on a gift? I have just the thing in mind.” Amy squeaked with excitement and I had to hold the phone away from my ear to stop her perforating my ear drum. “This is so much fun! A surprise party for Ollie! I’ll see you at the bar in three hours?” I risked a chance look at Jared before answering. “Yeah, see you in three hours.”

  Placing my cell on the table I scooted off the edge and over to the hot piece of ass brooding in the corner. Straddling his lap, I took his hands and wrapped them around my waist. “Jared, I know how you feel about Ollie but I really think you would feel differently if you got to know him. It’s his birthday and were all going to Benny’s bar to celebrate. I would really, really love it if you would come meet everyone.”

  “Layla I really don’t think…” Frowning, he ran his hand through his hair but I caught his wrist and threaded our fingers together. It was his anxiety tick and he needed to break the habit. “Please? I really can’t stand the way you two hate each other like this. He’s my friend and you’re the man I love. Please, for me?” Leaning forward I placed a soft chaste kiss on his lips. He groaned in defeat and I knew I had won. “Alright. For you I’ll come. But I am only doing this to make you happy. You know I’d do anything to see you smile. Just don’t expect us to be best friends because it won’t happen.”

  Pleased with my victory I grinned, jumped off his lap and did a little dance in celebration. Chuckling, he stood and slapped me on the behind playfully. “Behave yourself. You keep wiggling that sexy little ass in front of my face like that we’ll never make it there. Come on, I’ll drive you to the mall so you can pick up a cake and a gift. You know what you’re getting him right? We’re not gonna have to traipse around for an hour?”

  I smiled. “I know exactly what to get him. There’s a music store in your mall right?”

  Chapter 31

  One Tequila, Two Tequila, Three Tequila, Floor

  Entering the bar, I grinned as I saw dozens of students from the dorm drinking, laughing and talking together. Amy had managed to get almost every member of our building to come, just to celebrate Ollie’s birthday. Jared clutched my hand tightly and carried Ollie’s gift wrapped present in the other. Leaning into my ear he groaned. “Are you serious? This is where you hang out?” Rolling my eyes I had to balance the cake box steadily in one hand, as Jared had insisted he was not letting go of the other one all night. Scanning the area where our usual table stood, I spotted Amy as she waved at me enthusiastically.

  We made our way over and after greeting us with a hug and peck on my cheek, she took the box from me and carried it off to the bar. I looked around for the guest of honor and noticed Ollie near the stage, talking to a couple of guys I recognized from our psych class. He hadn’t noticed me come in yet which I was silently grateful for, as I wanted to introduce him to Jared properly which meant at least giving him a h
eads up that he was even in the building. Amy returned to the table with a pitcher and three glasses. “I didn’t know what you drank Jared so I thought beer would be perfect.” Raising his voice so that he would be heard over the crowd he smiled. “I’m pretty sure you ladies aren’t old enough to be drinking.”

  Giggling, she shrugged. “My father still thinks I’m a virgin, some things are more fun when done in secret I guess.”

  I stifled a laugh as he arched an eyebrow at her amused. Pecking him on the cheek I took the gift from him and indicated I’d be back in a moment.

  As I walked away, I watched as Amy pulled him down to sit beside her and began introducing him to Nick and Eric. Ollie had finished talking and was now striding towards me quickly. Scooping me into a tight hug he twirled me around and kissed my cheek. “You are the best fucking friend in the world. I can’t believe you did all of this for me!” I grinned and glanced at Jared, who was watching Ollie with a clenched jaw.