by Rachel Leigh
“That depends, can you ever forgive me?”
I take a step back, still tangled in his touch. “Forgive you? I’m the one who kept a secret that wasn’t mine to keep. Why would you need my forgiveness?”
He pulls away and drops his hands to his side. “Blakely,” he begins, but I cut him off.
“Please stop calling me that,” I speak softly. “You didn’t start calling me by my name until you found out about... well, you know.”
“I thought you hated when I called you B.”
“I did...at first. But, it’s sort of grown on me. Now whenever you call me Blakely, I feel like you look at me as a stranger.”
“Ok, B.” he continues. “When I first found out what your dad did, I was furious with him. Beyond furious. But, with you... and my dad, I was hurt. I felt betrayed and that cut me so deep. I did things I’m not proud of. But, at the time, it’s what I needed to feel better.”
“I’m not mad at you.” I take his hand into mine. “Whatever you think you did, I forgive you. Now,” I take a deep breath, “can you forgive me?”
“I think we can both agree that we made some mistakes and that we need to move on from this. We’re beating a dead horse if we don’t.”
I nod in response. That’s our Jasper and Blakely way of apologizing, and it’s good enough for me.
“I’m gonna get going. I’m glad we talked.” He pulls me in for a hug as I drop his hand from mine and he presses his lips into the hair of my head.
Please don’t go.
“I’ll see you in school on Monday?” He questions.
I simply nod.
I should stop him— tell him how I really feel.
Instead, I watch him walk away, taking part of my heart with him.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Jasper
I head back down the trail to my car, climb in and put it in reverse, before I change my mind and go back to her. I’m not really feeling the whole party scene, but I head to Marco’s anyways. That’s where I’m crashing for the time being, so that’s where I go.
I thought that talking to Blakely... B, would make me feel better. I thought I’d get everything off my chest, hear her piece, and I’d feel good. So, why do I feel like shit? Why do I feel like I’m driving away, and I’m never going to see her again? We go to the same school; of course, I’ll see her, but something feels off. Like a dark cloud looming over me and a knot in the pit of my stomach.
None of this was her fault. She was just a kid who was brainwashed by a monster. Sure, she grew up, and she knows right from wrong, but at that point, she was to invested in that sick bastard’s lies. I can’t blame her. I can’t blame Dad. The only person who deserves the burden of guilt in any of this is Mike Porter. And, he’s gone. It’s time to move on.
I pull onto Marco’s street, and there are even more cars than when I left. I pull up about a quarter mile from the house in the first available spot and sigh, slapping my hands on the steering wheel.
I don’t wanna go back there.
Maybe I should just go back to her. It’s only been fifteen minutes. I’m sure she’s still there. We could just talk, hang out like we used to. She can give me shit for anything and everything. I can admire the beauty of an angry Blakely. It’s pretty fucking sexy. I don’t even care that she never wanted a relationship with me. I just want to be with her. She’s all I want.
Fuck.
I’m going.
Just as I’m about to shift back into drive, a slap on the window startles me.
“Blakely,” I say out loud, as I roll down the window, “What are you doing here?”
She bends down with her arms crossed over the window frame. “I wasn’t ready for you to go.”
It’s obvious she’s been crying. Her cheeks are tear stained and her eyes that would usually trail black mascara when she cries, are puffy and red.
“I thought we said all we needed to say. We’re good, right?”
Say it. Tell me what I need to hear.
“No, there is so much more that I need to say to you, Jasper.” She looks to the passenger seat, and I give her a nod, hitting the button to unlock the door as she makes her way around.
She climbs in and instantly cranks up the heat. I turn to look at her and she struggles to speak.
Give me something, damnit.
“Jasper,” she tucks her leg under the other and turns to me, “I love you.”
She said it.
The way those words take control of my body is like nothing I’ve ever felt before. I just stare at her, hoping I heard her correctly.
Her lips press into a hard line as if she’s wishing she hadn’t said it. “I know, it’s crazy, I’m sorry.” She buries her face into her hands.
I lean over and tuck her hair behind her ear and lift her head with both hands cupped on her cheeks. “I love you, too.”
Her face begins to show life again as her lips curl into a smile. “Really?”
“Really. Don’t you know this by now?” I laugh. “I’ve loved you since that first strip tease from across the yard.”
She slaps her hands back to her face. “Since when are you bashful?” I wrap my hands around her waist and pull her over the center console onto my lap.
“I have no idea.” She shakes her head in laughter. The beautiful sound echoes through the car. “Now, I’m going to ask this again. What now?”
“Now, this.” I press my lips to hers, raking my fingers into her hair and holding on like I never want to let go. Our mouths open, and our tongues dance in circles. Suddenly, the dark cloud has passed, and I’m exactly where I want to be—where I need to be.
She pulls away. “Is this for real? Are we really doing this?” Her thumb traces over my damp lips.
“Oh, we’re doing this alright.” I raise my eyebrows and smile. She rests her head on my shoulder and I pull her even closer. My tone shifts to a more serious note. “But, I need you to open up to me, even when it hurts. Don’t push me away and hide the parts that I need to see. I want all of you—the broken, the bruised, and the beautiful.”
She lifts her head, and I watch her lips move as she speaks. “How about if we agree that I’ll try? This is all so new to me. You are the first person I have ever taken my walls down for. Will trying be enough for you?”
“I’d say that’s plenty.” I kiss her lips again.
And, again.
And, again.
“I’ve gotta go, babe.” I lean over and kiss B as she sleeps next to me.
“No,” she mumbles with her eyes still shut, “just lay with me a little longer.” She rolls over to face me. Her hair is a beautiful mess, and my t-shirt looks hot as hell on her. Especially since I know that it’s all she’s wearing.
“I told my dad I’d meet him. I won’t be long.” I kiss her head and pull the blankets up and over her.
After the sudden change of events last night, I went back to B’s house with her. Mike did good on his promise, she got the house and did everything I told him to do. Her mom is still here, for now. B gave her two weeks to be out. She may have a heart, but she’ll never be someone's doormat. Mike and Anna were poison to her and Talon. I just hope that they can heal from all of the pain they’ve endured.
I pull up to Boulder Park and park right next to Dad’s work truck. I roll down the window as he gets out of the truck. “Hey,” I say softly.
“Thanks for coming. Do you mind?’ He looks to the passenger seat. It seems to be the spot for amends lately, so I unlock the door as he makes his way over.
I roll the window back up and leave the car running. When he climbs in, I intend to speak first. He’s said his part, and it’s my turn now.
But he beats me to it, “Son, I know that these past seven years haven’t been easy on you.”
I hold up a finger. “Let me go first.” I take a deep breath. I’m no good at this shit. “I’ll never understand why any of this played out the way it did. But I know that you love me and if you say that you d
id what you did out of love, then I believe you.” I stare straight ahead. It’s easier opening up to B about all of this. It’s different with Dad. We’re close but feelings aren’t something we share often. “Nothing can bring her back, even the truth. But, it’s out now, and I think the best thing we can do for her is move on and not let this break us.” I turn to him. “Sticks in a bundle.”
“Are unbreakable,” he finishes for me, with a smile. Then, he reaches over and pulls me in for an awkward hug as we pat each other’s backs, releasing at the same time.
“Does this mean you’re coming home... err, to the Burton house?”
“I think you had it right the first time. Yeah, I’ll come home.”
How could I not? With the amazing view out my bedroom window, I’d be a fool not to.
The End.
Epilogue
One year later
Knox
“Would you hurry your ass up! I told Kip we’d help him carry the keg in,” Axel grumbles into the pillow on my bed as I search for my phone.
“Got it.” I pull it out from underneath my English textbook, noticing a missed call from Blakely.
Axel jumps to his feet. “Party time, baby.”
“Five minutes.” I hold up a finger before I tap Blakely’s name to call her back.
“You’re fucking kidding me.”
“Blakely called. I need to call her back.” I press the phone to my ear.
“Dude, it’s time to get over that girl.” He shakes his head.
He doesn’t know what the hell he’s talking about. Sure, I’ve got feelings for Blakely. She’s been a part of my life for so long that it’s impossible not to. The girl next door who needed me and only me. That is until she met Jasper, my step-brother. Now she’s got him. And, I’m ok with that. Jasper and I have become pretty tight this past year.
I wish I could say that Blakely’s parents suddenly became loving and tolerable, but that will never happen. She is free from them and hasn’t spoken to either since last fall. But, she’s happy, and that’s all that matters.
Jasper and her have been going strong. He comes home on the weekends from UCLA and stays with her next door. She runs the art studio she took ownership of, Eliza’s Atelier. Named that after Jasper’s mom, and it also holds an entire room with all of her old drawings, dedicated to her memory.
“Hey, Blakely. You still coming over tomorrow?” I speak into the phone as I watch Axel make googly eyed faces while I talk to her.
He thinks I’m still hung up on her, but little does he know that I have my sights set somewhere else. The new girl in town, and she has enough attitude to knock the queen of Redwood off her throne. She’s going to be a tough one, but I like a challenge.
“Of course, I’m coming. In fact, Jasper and I were thinking of coming to Kip’s tonight. I just wanted to make sure you’d be there.”
“Hell yeah. Leaving now. See ya soon.” I end the call and stuff my phone into my back pocket.
“You good? You got your fix?” Axel rolls his eyes sarcastically.
“Dude, shut the hell up. I wanted to make sure they’d be here for Thanksgiving dinner tomorrow.”
“So, they’re doing well? Her and Jasper?” Axel follows as I walk out of the bedroom.
“Better than any of us could have imagined.”
I look over to Mom, who is on the phone in the kitchen. “I’m staying at Kip’s tonight. I’ll text ya later.”
She blows a kiss and keeps on with her conversation.
“Good. Now we just need to find you a girl,” Axel continues.
“I certainly don’t want your help with that.” We climb into the car, when my gas light comes on. “Shit man, I need gas.”
“Of course, you do. The hell with carrying in the keg, it’s gonna be gone by the time we get there.” He sinks back into the seat. He’s in a sour mood because Harper just dumped his ass. They weren’t even serious, but he had it bad for her.
I pull up to the pump, and the first thing I notice is the girl on the other side.
It’s her.
Gorgeous, confident, and intimidating as hell. I sit for a minute until Axel nudges me to get out, so we can get to the party.
“Knox, I thought that was you.” She pokes her head around the gas pump.
“Hey, Ms. Hyland.”
Redwood High Book 2
Coming Summer of 2020
Message from the Author
Thank you so much to everyone who has helped me along the way with Like Gravity. To all the amazing ladies at Foreword PR, thank you for all you do. Thank you to Fairest Reviews for your beautiful edit. Gem’s Precise Proofreads and Susan Clark Hopkins for polishing it up with your amazing proofreading skills.
Thank you to my wonderful beta readers who helped me tremendously, Anthony Tumbarella, Kelly N, and Samantha Soccorso.
To my readers, THANK YOU much for giving this book a chance. I’m so grateful for each and every one of you.
I hope Blakely and Jasper have touched you as much as they have me.
I’d love for you to share your thoughts with myself and/or my Facebook reader group, RK’s Ramblers.
If you have a moment to leave a review on Amazon, I’d be so grateful.
Stay tuned! Coming this summer is a new stand-alone with someone from Like Gravity that I think you’ll love <3
Xoxo
Rachel
About the Author
Rachel Leigh resides in West Michigan and has three beautiful children with her husband of eleven years. She enjoys spending time with her family, crafting with vinyl, and reading.
Rachel overuses emojis and lol. Coffee is her guilty pleasure, paired with a nice alpha hero romance novel. Writing is her passion. Her goal is to brighten at least one person’s day with the worlds she creates between the pages of her books.
Also by Rachel Leigh
Take Me Away
Take Me Back
Undercover Barmaid
Find me on Facebook
@rachelleighauthor
Reader’s Group: Rachel’s Ramblers
Or visit
www.rachelleighauthor.com