No Regrets (Live Today #2)

by Savana Jade

  “I guess you weren’t lying about our little trait were you?” I pat her hand. “There’s obviously another reason you’re willing to travel with a bunch of weirdos.” Her face flushes.

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Awe, c’mon Pai. Spit it out.” Just then, Drew walks in the room. “Good morning to you.”

  “Hey.” He scratches the back of his head before sitting by me. “Heard there’s breakfast soon.” He yawns and rests his head on my shoulder. I keep my eyes on my sister as her entire body perks up with excitement. Squeezing her hand demanding attention I nod my head to Drew. She blushes and nods. Ahh. My baby sister has a crush on my best friend. I smile.

  “Matt’s mom is getting it ready now.” I try to hide my amusement.

  “What’s got you all chipper this morning?” He shoves my shoulder. I laugh and take a sip of my morning glory.

  “Oh, nothing.” I reply winking at Paisley who is about as red as a tomato. Drew sits up, eyes me suspiciously as I stand and kiss the top of his head. “I need to freshen up, or see if they need any help outside, or something.” I laugh. “Have fun you two.” I wink at Paisley.

  “What’s up with her?” Drew asks Paisley when I leave the room. “I dunno…” Was all I heard.

  “Did you know that my little sister has the hots for Drew?” I ask entering the shower with Gabe, startling him as he rinses the soap from his eyes.

  “I thought something was up. But I was so focused on you, I didn’t care much to notice.” He turns to pull me into the water. “He asked something about her the other day when we were at the park.” He shifts me until we both are under the water and pours shampoo on his hand before massaging it into my hair.

  “Why didn’t you tell me?” I moan. God his hands feel so good.

  “Like I said. I was too carried away with you.” He tips my head back for a rinse. “Turn around, I need to wash your back.” I turn as he loads the loofa with soap. “Did she say something?”

  “Not really, I noticed how her entire body lite up when he came into the kitchen this morning. Plus, she has this thing she does when she lies.”

  “She’s not the only one Angel.” He kisses my shoulder. “Your noses give it away every time. It begins to twitch whenever you start to lie.” He chuckles. “Brennan too.”

  “You’re lucky I don’t like to lie then.” I lean back onto his chest as he begins washing my front.

  “Uh, I think you’re the lucky one there. I would have spanked that gorgeous ass of yours long ago.”

  “Like I would let you.” I laugh.

  “Mmmmhmmm…” He lips trail up my neck. “Like I said. You can lie to me any time. As long as my hand lands on your ass in the end, that’s all that matters.” I can feel his erection grow onto my behind.

  “Didn’t you get enough this morning?” I reach my hand between our bodies and take hold of him.

  “Mmmmm…”

  “That’s not an answer Gabe.” His hand trails from my stomach down to between my thighs.

  “Shhh, I need you.” He uses his other hand to take a hold of my breast. Moments later, I turn my head to meet him in a passionate kiss. “You’re so beautiful Jenna.” My heart picks up speed.

  “Gabe.” I plead turning in his arms. He lifts me and holds me up against the wall. His hand returns to my core. I begin panting when his lips trail down my neck to my breast as he inserts a finger inside me, he takes a nipple in his mouth. “Ahhhh.”

  “God I love what you do to me, Jenna.” He says with a flick of his tongue on my nipple as his fingers work their magic.

  “Gabe, please.” I plead with a sensual moan.

  “Wrap your legs around me baby.” He lifts me by my ass. I do what he says. Within seconds he enters me. Dropping my head back to the cool tile, he takes advantage of nestling in my neck. “Fuck Jenna!” He cries when I angle my hips to fit him better.

  “Jesus. Do you two ever stop? Disgusting.” Gabe stills. I drop my head on his shoulder trying to hide my embarrassment. “You’re like rabbits. I would say get a room, but…” He laughs.

  “Jesus Matt, don’t you have any fucking manners?” Gabe shouts. He covers my body with his own as much as possible. The glass door dividing us lacks any privacy. “Get the fuck out.” Matt chuckles. Gabe turns to whisper in my ear. “Didn’t you lock the door?” I nod with a sigh, resting my head against the tile.

  “Really man, you think a locked door can keep me out?”

  “Matty!” I yell.

  “Okay, okay.” He laughs. “Mom’s got breakfast ready.” He’s leaning against the sink.

  “For the love of God Matty, if you don’t leave right now…”

  “Geez, calm your tits Jems. It’s not like I haven’t seen you before.” He chuckles. Gabe begins to snarl. “I’m going, I’m going. But I wanted to tell you, we’re going to hang out today at the beach. After breakfast, we’re running to the store to get stuff for barbeque. That butler dude, whats his name? Todd? Anyway, he offered to get meat, but I want to pick my own out.”

  “And you couldn’t fucking wait to tell us this after we got out Jackass? Leave!” Gabe grabs a bar of soap and chucks it at Matt causing him to laugh even harder.

  “Carry on. And make it quick. Food’s getting cold.” He turns when he gets to the door. “Oh and Gabe, nice ass.” He winks just before shutting the door behind him.

  “Asshole.” Gabe shakes his head before turning his attention back to me. “Still want to live with them?” He smirks.

  I run my fingers through his hair before pulling his mouth to mine. “We need to consider putting a deadbolt on the bedroom door.” I shift my hips with need.

  “Or buy the house next door.” He begins to move. “But now, I need to finish what I started.” His lips pressing against mine alerts my senses and I forget all about Matt and his intrusion.

  ~~~

  “Nenna, Nenna.” Danika runs circles around the sand castle that Gabe is focusing extremely hard on making. He’s dead set on having his better than Matt’s castle.

  “I’m going to get you Dani.” I chase her, coming super close to him.

  “No!” She hollers in laughter just before grabbing Gabe by the neck. “Abe!” She holds onto him with all her might. He grunts as she begins to climb over him almost causing us to topple over his castle.

  “What’s wrong baby? Is Auntie Jenna chasing you?” He flips her over his shoulder to protect her from me. She giggles and nods.

  “Here I come.” I crouch down to attack.

  “No!” She tries to wiggle out of Gabe’s hold, but doesn’t succeed.

  “Ha! I got you now.” I begin tickling her until he takes hold of my arms and holds me back.

  “Get her Dani.” He tells her, she begins to laugh uncontrollably and tries to run her fingers under my arms. I fake laugh.

  “Oh no. Dani, you’re getting me.” She cackles. “Stop Danika, Nenna can’t breathe.” I pretend. Her eyes widen in shock and she looks at Gabe. I turn to him as well and raise my brow.

  “Oh, look at Nenna, Dani. She’s fine.” He kisses my nose. “But maybe Dani needs some more.” He winks at me and we both turn to her. She barks a laugh.

  “Dada!” She make a bee line toward Matt. “Dada, elp.”

  “What’s wrong baby bug?” He scoops her into his arms. We aren’t far behind her. “What are you doing to my girl?” He tries to keep his amusement down.

  “Just having some fun daddy.” I explain while crouching in front of him watching her try to climb over his shoulders to get away from me.

  “She won’t get my bug.” Matt says pulling her back down into his arms. “Stop squirming Dani.” Moments later, Willow comes up to us.

  “I think it’s time for Dani bug to have her nap.” She takes Danika in her arms and leans in to give Matt a kiss. “Especially if we want her to last through the night.”

  “I’ll join you.” Matt smiles with nothing but love and adoration for his girls
. “I’ll be back. Don’t fuck up my sand castle.” Pointing at Gabe who raises his hands up in defense.

  “Now why would I want to do that?” He chuckles before taking my hand and pulling me into his arms. “Let’s go for a walk.” He demands.

  “Okay.” I release his hand to grab my flip flops and skirt wrap. He’s made it to where the water meets dry sand. With my shoes in one hand, I take his with my other once I make my way to him.

  The walk is quiet. Our feet leave trails on the sand and the waves pushing their way on shore is the only noise we hear. This is heaven. I wrap my arm around his waist and lean into him as we walk side by side. “What are you thinking about?” My voice is soft, but curious.

  He kisses the top of my head. “You.” We walk in silence. A few more steps later. “Everything I guess. So much has changed this year. The accident and Will. You leaving me for three of the longest months of my life. You holding my hand when we went to see my parents.” He pauses. “I was scared shitless seeing them, but because you were by my side, I knew I could do it.” I hold onto him a little tighter, knowing he isn’t finished with his thoughts. “Then, our first time. A night I will never forget.” I look up to him and smile.

  “No, I don’t think I will ever forget that night either.” He kisses me swiftly.

  “The night of the fair. The night you went on stage and sang. I was so proud of you, Angel. Then shortly after, I fucked up, and you leave again.” I begin to argue, but he presses his finger on my lips and shakes his head. “Hush woman, these are my thoughts.” I end up kissing his finger and encourage him to finish. We’ve made it to the pier and begin walking down it.

  “My world changed again when you left me that day. I had sworn to myself that night we were high and you said ‘I love you’ to me, from that point on, I would do everything I had in me to take care and protect you. I failed the night of the accident, because I shouldn’t have let you go out. Then I failed again the day you left with Drew. A piece of me left when you did. I didn’t feel whole until I saw you here on the beach. I was expecting to grovel for weeks, or months. But you forgave me so easily.”

  “You are the strongest woman I know Jenna Munson. Last night when you where speaking, I didn’t realize how much we were pushing you. I thought I was doing right by you. But the reality is, I was holding you back.” We stop at the end of the pier.

  “Gabe, why do I get a bad feeling about this conversation?” I turn in his arms, but he doesn’t meet my eyes.

  “Because, I didn’t realize how much I was holding you back.” He finally turns to face me. “You know that saying, ‘If you truly love someone, let them go’?”

  “No. You’re not doing this to me now, Gabe. I won’t… I can’t.” He pulls me into his arms.

  “God, Jenna. No.” He holds me close, trying to calm my shaking body. “How could you think that?”

  “Because you just said…”

  “I know what I said. But you, like always, never let me finish.” His hands rest on either side of my face. “What I was going to say is this. I let you go twice already. And both times, look where we ended up.”

  “Together.” I whispered.

  “Together. Granted, the first time, you had no clue that I was planning on telling you that the sun rises and sets with you. Instead, I spent the weekend by your side. Holding your hand and praying with all I had in me that you would pull through. Because a life without you, Jenna, is a not life worth living. Will begged me to say something when you woke up. Your brother insisted on my silence. Then when you woke up, you left. And I let you go.”

  My mind races to the moment we were in the hospital. “You were talking, in the hospital, weren’t you?” He smiles and nods. “And Brennan said to drop it.”

  “You were broken. I had to let you go. And as you know, I went there every day to see you…” He closes his eyes deep in thought. “Then when you left again. I thought that was it for us. I was willing to let you go, even though it was going to be the end of us. Even after we finally became one.”

  “I just needed time. I told you in your parent’s living room that I still loved you. But I needed some time. I was angry at you and I was more ashamed of myself for what I had done. I didn’t want you to see me detox.”

  “You didn’t give me a choice. I don’t care if you puked a million times on me. I would have held you and loved you like Drew did.”

  “I know you would have. I’m sorry.”

  “Stop being sorry. I realize now that you did those things for you. You might not think you did. But you did. I envy your strength and your dedication to do the right thing. I put you in a horrible spot and you did the only thing you thought was the easy way out. But no more okay? Talk to me or talk to Drew. But don’t you ever disappear on me again. Do you understand me? I love you Jenna.”

  I reach up and caress his cheek, wiping away a tear that I have caused to form in his eye. “I love you too. And I promise, from now on, I will do things for me. Even if you go bat shit crazy on me, we will end each day loving each other. Because, these times only makes us stronger. I’m not going to say this is going to be easy.”

  “That’s because you aren’t the easiest to live with.” I smack him on his chest. “Seriously Jenna. Maleficent has nothing on you in the morning.” He holds my head in place and kisses me passionately. “You have bewitched my soul. I know you more than anyone in your life. And you love it. I can tell what you’re thinking just by looking at you across the room. And I know how to get your gorgeous body to come alive.” His hands rest on my ass pulling me closer to him. He’s right on all counts. “There’s no more running from me Angel, wherever you go. I go. And I promise that even if we are apart, and heaven forbid that we are, I will make sure you know how much I love you before you close those beautiful blue eyes of yours.”

  “Promise?” I ask wrapping my arms around his neck.

  “You better believe it baby.” His lips meet mine once again. Just then, his phone chirps. “Sometimes, I wish I didn’t have this fucking thing.” He holds me tight before looking at it. His body tenses up when he sees who it is.

  “Who is it?” I want to give him enough respect and privacy, but I’m more than curious to see who’s interrupted us.

  “It’s my mom.” He lifts the phone to his ear. “Hi Mama.” He says. I try to walk away to give him some alone time, but he takes my hand and shakes his head disappointed. “What?” His body stiffens and his eyes meet mine immediately.

  “What is it?” I mouth. All my senses are on high alert. The last time he was on the phone and stiffened up was when Brennan called to tell him about my mom.

  “Mom, slow down. Okay. Now take a deep breath and slowly tell me. Is dad okay?” He’s holding his breath staring through me. He releases with a sigh of relief. “Thank God. What about Emily? Uh huh. Okay. So, what’s wrong then?”

  I suddenly feel a chill run throughout my body as I wait and listen to him. I wrap my arms around myself and he notices me and immediately pulls me into his embrace.

  “So, what does that have to do with me?” He asks. “No shit. Well, I guess if you have to. Then go ahead. Okay then. Look, Jenna and I aren’t home. Let me call you once I get back to the house, okay? Thanks mom. I love you too. Yeah, I’ll give her your love too. Bye.” He puts the phone in his pocket and takes my hands. “Ready to head back?”

  “Uh. Okay?” I say, a little disappointed that he hasn’t come out and told me what happened.

  ~~~

  We made it back in half the time. He has been extremely quiet ever since he got off the phone with his mother. Irritation has set in with me, big time. We’ve been back from the pier no longer than an hour ago. He closed the door to our bedroom to talk to his mom again when we got home. I decide that it’s not worth the anger, so I take a beach chair and drag it back out in front of the house by the shoreline with a glass of lemonade.

  “Penny for your thoughts?” Drew says sitting on the sand beside me about an hour l
ater. The sky turns from daylight to night before our eyes. I’m used to watching the sun set in California, but this is different. “Not gonna say anything huh?” I can tell he’s looking at me. From the corner of my eye, I glance his way as he turns to the sky. “It sure is beautiful isn’t it?”

  “Did Brennan send you?” I sigh.

  “No.”

  As I watch the sky’s colors change before I gently but discreetly wipe a lone tear from my eye.

  “What’s the matter Jenna?” I remain silent for a good five minutes. He knows when it’s time to push me and he’s smart enough to know when to leave things alone as well. Figuring he waited long enough, even though he probably knew I would talk, I decide to put him out of his misery.

  “We stood on that pier over there and had a heart to heart about not shutting anyone out and to make sure we talk things out. Then he gets this phone call and all of the sudden, he closes up on me.”

  “Kind of like what you do to him?”

  “Ouch, Drew.” I turn toward him. “That hurt.”

  “Sorry Jems, but it’s true. I won’t ever lie to you, you know that… You have to know you do this, not just to him, but to all of us.”

  I sit there and absorb his words. I guess I never realized how shitty it feels being on the receiving side of it. “So now what?” I ask. “Do I just pretend that nothing is wrong?”

  “You could do that. Or…” He stands up and offers his hand. I take it and let him pull me out of the chair. “You can talk to him. Maybe he wasn’t ready to talk just yet. Maybe he is now.”

  “Maybe. But I like option one much better.” He laughs.

  “Of course you do. So if you decide on option one. Think we can do it at a bar?” He seems genuine about his offer. “I need a break from my dad. But I don’t want you to go unless you feel up to it. The group is going, and I asked Paisley if she wanted to go as well.” He begins to blush.

  “Does someone have a crush on my new found baby sister?” I push him turning back to the house. He grabs my chair and chuckles.