Love You Now (Book Two: Love Hurts Duet)

by M. Robinson

  I didn’t think twice about it, letting Harley go. “I’d love to dance with you, baby.” My stare shifted back to the Gremlin, looking her up and down for a second before I spoke the truth, “Yeah, I’m done with her.”

  Harley glared at me and I smirked, turning my back to leave her all alone...

  On the dance floor.

  I pulled Willow close to my body, pressing her tits against my chest. Playing it up, aware Harley was watching our every move. Putting on the show of a lifetime, purely to piss her off.

  She should have known better than to poke the bear. The little shit could push my buttons like no one else in this world, and she knew it too.

  “You look good enough to eat, Willow.”

  She posed for me. “You like?”

  “Mmm hmm...”

  I did.

  She was hot as fuck. Long brown hair, legs for days, a toned body, big tits, and a great ass. Older than me by two years as well. Willow was captain of the cheerleading squad, and by high school standards we’d make the perfect couple.

  Except, I’d never had a girlfriend, and trust me—I wouldn’t be breaking that streak with her. The girl was easier than me throwing a spiral on the football field.

  “Jackson, are you listening to me?”

  “Mmm hmm...”

  I wasn’t listening at all.

  Whatever came out of her mouth was never really that interesting. Willow talked about stupid ass shit that didn’t matter, like pep rallies and homecoming. Her life consisted of what she’d wear to school and where she’d be seen over the weekend.

  It was as pathetic as it was sad to watch.

  While her lips moved, the only thing I was thinking about was whether her bright red lipstick would leave a rim around my cock.

  “So what do you think?”

  “About what?” I replied, feeling Harley’s piercing glare shooting a hole in my back as I spun Willow in a slow circle, pulling her back into my embrace.

  “About homecoming. Do you want to go together?”

  “I’m not going to homecoming.”

  “What?!”

  “You heard me.”

  “Jackson, that’s like social suicide. You’re going to be nominated for court. That’s a slap in the face to everyone who voted for you.”

  “I don’t give a shit about any of that.”

  “I know you have this cool guy, I don’t give a fuck attitude about anything, act—”

  “Who’s acting?”

  She smirked, emphasizing her fuck me eyes. “What can I do to convince you?”

  Shrugging, I arched an eyebrow. Shamelessly replying, “You can start by getting on your knees.”

  She purred, leaning in close to my face. “I can do that, but first... I have a surprise for you.”

  “Is that right?”

  “Yes,” she giggled in that girly, yet annoying sort of way. Unfazed by my lack of interest, she continued on about some more random shit, like coordinating colors and what flower corsage I’d have to buy her.

  More things I gave zero fucks about.

  We spent the next hour dancing, shooting the shit about nothing in particular. Mostly, Willow just loved hearing herself talk. Since I was never much for casual conversation, I simply pretended to listen. Trying not to think about my girl, who in one way or another always consumed my thoughts.

  It didn’t help that I could still feel her penetrating glare on us. Over the years our dynamic changed as much as it stayed the same. I still, for the life of me, didn’t understand how she could make me feel so many emotions without even saying a word to me.

  But knowing she was watching from afar made it easier for me to behave the way I was. It was all a mixture of being torn, confused, angry, and just plain hatred. Maybe a part of me was also trying to be spiteful and hurt her.

  Why?

  Who the fuck knows because I sure as hell didn’t.

  Plain and simple, we were just young and stupid. I needed to feel in control again, so I did the only thing I could. I pushed Harley away. It made things easier with distance between us.

  Although, it never mattered how much I pushed her away. It was as if she was connected to me whether I wanted her to be or not, and nothing could ever change that.

  Or so I thought.

  At one point, I even saw her talking to Mary Poppins.

  What was she telling her?

  Why did I care?

  “So...” Willow rasped against my ear. “You want your surprise?”

  I opened my mouth to respond when out of the corner of my eyes Cash McGraw caught my sight. He was holding my baby sister’s hand, walking her inside.

  “Hold that thought,” I muttered, focusing my attention on them instead of her. I added, “I’ll be right back.”

  As quickly as the words came out of my mouth, I was retracing their steps. Following close behind them, trying to overhear their conversation.

  “Cash, do I wook pwetty?” she asked, twirling in a circle in her silly, yet adorable way.

  “You’re as pretty as a peach, darlin’.”

  Her eyes lit up, and I never wanted to kill the pussy boy more than I did in that moment.

  She giggled, “Dat’s ’cuz I June.”

  Journey started calling herself June when she was around him, after seeing a Johnny Cash record in my room. Saying she wanted to be the girl who was sitting beside the guy who was holding a guitar just like her Cash.

  He laughed, shaking his head. Opening the door to the bathroom for her.

  “You okay by yourself?”

  “I big girl. I do it.”

  “Alright.” He nodded, watching her walk in.

  I waited till she was inside, away from us before warning the obvious, “Stay away from my girl, McGraw.”

  His eyes snapped to mine, snidely smiling. “Which one?”

  “Don’t fuck with me, pussy boy. You think it’s okay to mess with my baby sister like that?” I cocked my head to the side. “What’s wrong, dickwad? Can’t find any girls your own age, or did Harley finally run away from you?”

  “Oh, come on, quarterback. She’s a little kid. I’m just tryin’ to make her smile. Besides, we both know the only guy Harley is ever runnin’ from is you.”

  I growled, getting in his face.

  He didn’t back down, if anything he stood taller. “I don’t need the attention of a little girl when Harley does plenty to keep me occupied.”

  I jerked back. “The fuck does that mean?”

  “Baby girl comes runnin’ into my arms whenever you piss her off. Makin’ it so fuckin’ easy to constantly be her hero. And uh...” He openly looked me up and down, grinning. “Nobody smells like Harley does. The strawberry scent of her hair, her soft vanilla scented skin, and my personal favorite, her cherry lips.”

  “Motherfucker, like you would know a damn thing about how her lips taste.”

  He scoffed out a chuckle. “Well, I can say I’ve done more with her than just holding hands on a roof and forcing my tongue down her throat. Unlike you, Harley gives it to me without havin’ to steal a fuckin’ thing.”

  My eyes widened, completely taken back by what he just shared.

  She told him I forced my way down her throat?

  Being used to the cockblocker standing in front of me, I recovered quickly. Biting back, “Have you seen the amount of pussy that gets thrown my way? I didn’t force shit on Harley. Actually, now that we’re talking about it... Didn’t she leave your ass at the anniversary party to come check on me?”

  He glared at me, snarling.

  “Stings doesn’t it? Knowing all you do is get my sloppy seconds. So the real question is, how’s my tongue taste, bitch?”

  To my surprise, he shoved me.

  Making me laugh, “Oh, so pussy boy does have some balls. Seeing as you love to live up Harley’s ass, it’s a little confusing.” I got right back in his face, threatening, “Keep your hands off my girl, or next time it’ll be your balls I’m forcing d
own your throat.”

  He shook his head, glaring at me again. “Jackson, you think I’m scared of you? Quarterback, I pray for the day there aren’t people around us, so I can finally lay your ass out. And trust me, it will happen. But until that day comes, I have the peace of mind knowin’ every move you make just secures my position on her field. I’m her best friend, I’ll always be the guy in her life. You’re nothin’ but the boy she fuckin’ hates. So do what you do best, Pierce. Go push her away some more. ’Cuz let me tell ya, nothin’ tastes better than kissin’ away Harley’s tears.”

  “I fuckin’ knew it. You are in love with her, aren’t you?”

  “The only difference between you and I, Jackson, is that she loves me back.”

  “I don’t love Harley.”

  “Then why the fuck you standin’ in front of me?”

  My heart suddenly felt like it was in my throat, and I found it hard to breathe, not knowing how to respond.

  Why was I standing in front of him?

  Journey chose that moment to walk out of the bathroom, smiling wide when she saw me.

  “Jackson!”

  “Hey, baby.”

  Cash reached for her hand, and she immediately took it. Unaware of the animosity that’d been brewing between her crush and her brother since we were born.

  “Face it, quarterback...” he murmured in my ear, shoulder checking me on his way out. “Your baby sister is just another girl who wants me over you.”

  “I don’t want Harley.”

  He shrugged, speaking with conviction, “Then prove it.”

  And so, I did.

  Chapter 2

  <>Jackson<>

  I grabbed Willow’s hand and led her down to the beach, under the pier. Only to find out her surprise wasn’t for her to deep throat my cock like I assumed, but to show me she had a pint of whiskey in her purse for us. I was never one for drinking, however there was a first time for everything, and I was so fuckin’ pissed I could barely see straight.

  Fuming, I took a long, deep swig off the bottle. Throwing it back as if it were water.

  “Whoa ... Jackson, take it easy.”

  “Don’t tell me what to do.”

  Two swigs.

  Three swigs.

  Four swigs down.

  Unfazed by the burning liquid searing down my chest, I passed it over to her when I was done.

  She took a sip, immediately clearing her throat from the strong taste assaulting her lungs. I chuckled in response, kicking off my shoes and socks before sitting in the sand. As I rested my elbows on my knees, she sat beside me, handing the bottle back over.

  I swallowed a few more mouthfuls, setting it between my legs. Swiftly, feeling the effects of the liquor coursing through my veins.

  “Baby girl comes runnin’ into my arms whenever you piss her off. Makin’ it so fuckin’ easy to constantly be her hero.”

  “I really like you, Jackson,” Willow revealed, triggering me to bring the bottle back up to my lips.

  Her confession wasn’t a surprise by any means. She didn’t know the meaning of the word subtle. Having her admit what she felt for me didn’t change how I felt about her.

  Nothing.

  I decided it was better if I kept my mouth shut. This wasn’t going to end well, that much I did know. The last thing I wanted to do was hurt her, but I didn’t want to lie to her either.

  I wasn’t a complete dick. Although, I also had no filter, and she knew it.

  So instead, I simply spoke the truth, “You don’t want to like me, Willow.”

  “Why is that?”

  “’Cuz I’m all sorts of fucked up.”

  “I don’t think so.”

  I turned my head, looking at her. “You don’t know me.”

  “I think I do.”

  Taking another pull off the bottle, I shook my head. Conscious of where this was going.

  “People at school still talk about your mom.”

  “Don’t.”

  She didn’t listen, not that I expected her to. “Are you scared? That you’re going to end up like her?”

  “We’re not talking about this.”

  “Why not? I can be here for you.”

  “I don’t want you here.”

  She flinched, making me feel like an asshole.

  “Listen.” With the bottle in my hand, I gestured in between us. “What we have going, it works for me. No strings, no emotions, no bullshit.”

  “Then what you’re really saying is you don’t want anyone getting close to you, right? Why? Because you think you’re going to forget them?”

  Even though she was the one sitting right in front of me, it wasn’t her face I saw.

  It was Harley’s.

  “You think I don’t know you have nightmares?! That I don’t know you’re constantly thinkin’ about your mom ... but it’s so much more than that. You push everyone away ’cuz you’re terrified of losin’ someone else who matters to you! Someone else who you care about ... think about ... fuckin’ might love!”

  “I don’t love you.”

  She jerked back, and I shook my head again. Trying to clear away the drunken haze with my mind playing tricks on me.

  “Fuck. I didn’t mean that for you... I mean...”

  “Hey, it’s okay.” She kissed my neck. “I don’t love you either, but I could. If you let me.”

  Throwing back swig after swig off the bottle like it was water, ‘til the pint was half empty. I drank more than I probably should have, feeling the effects of the alcohol much faster with each passing second.

  Wanting nothing more than to get rid of the thoughts and memories of the girl I might eventually forget.

  “I didn’t want this to turn heavy between us,” she muttered into my ear, working her way up the side of my face.

  “Too fuckin’ late for that,” I murmured under my breath.

  My lips tingled.

  My face was on fire.

  My body was numb.

  Finally, it was the first time in what felt like forever where I didn’t feel anything at all.

  “Come on!” Willow exclaimed, standing in front of me. She reached for my hands. “Let’s dance!”

  “There’s no music.”

  “Who cares.”

  I scoffed out a chuckle, stumbling to stand upright. Realizing just how drunk I truly was. As soon as I lost my footing, she caught me around my waist, and we both fell back down on the sand. Laughing our asses off over nothing.

  “Shit,” she giggled, falling on top of me.

  I was used to getting my ass handed to me on the field, so having Willow’s small frame tumble on me was definitely a nice change of pace.

  She laughed.

  I laughed.

  We both found our bearings, and it was only then I noticed how close her mouth was to mine. By the look in her eyes, she did too.

  Her fingers quickly grabbed ahold of my hands as she molded herself much closer to my face and body. The liquor running through my veins made it easy for my mind to drift. Taking me back to another time and place, with the girl I was imagining was suddenly on top of me now.

  “Jackson, why are ya holdin’ my hand?”

  “You’re holding my hand.”

  “You held mine first.”

  “I like takin’ your firsts, Harley.”

  “Hey there, football player,” Willow breathed out, wrapping her arms around my neck. “Want to see my surprise?”

  Narrowing my eyes at her, I cocked my head to the side.

  Waiting.

  She didn’t falter, reaching into her purse and pulling out a condom.

  It was my turn to jerk back, caught off guard she wanted to go there with me. We’d never done anything more than fuck around a few times. And by that I mean, she sucked my cock and I fingered her. We didn’t kiss, and I didn’t go down on her, ever.

  It was too intimate, and I didn’t want to lead her on. The truth was, I’d never kissed anyone besides Harley.

 
; As if reading my thoughts, she smirked and without saying a word, she tried crashing her lips onto mine.

  At the last second I turned my face, stating the obvious, “Willow, you know better than that.”

  “You know I had to try,” she enticed, batting her long, dark eyelashes at me. “I know where you really want my mouth anyway.”

  Slowly, I watched as she seductively crawled her way down my body, unbuckling my belt and slacks.

  “God, I can never get over how huge you are. The fact that I can even stick you in my mouth makes me feel like I deserve some kind of award or something.”

  “My cock in your mouth is all the award you need.”

  She giggled before I felt her deep throat my dick. Making me close my eyes and bite my bottom lip. Through panted breaths and eager thrusts, I started fucking her face.

  Long and hard.

  Savoring the feel of her warm mouth, sucking me off like the pro she was.

  The booze abruptly stirring memories I kept inside.

  Harley was so tense beneath me that I found myself murmuring, “Relax, baby girl, open your mouth for me.”

  She hesitated with a confused expression on her face.

  “Please, Harley...”

  Hearing the desperation in my voice, her lips parted in the same rhythm as mine. It was the most overwhelming feeling I’d ever experienced. When my tongue slid into her mouth, I sought out her tongue again, tangling them together.

  I shook my head, fighting the longing to stay in the past instead of the present with the girl who was still sucking me off.

  “You like that, don’t you?”

  I groaned something in response, lost in between two different states of mind.

  “Fuck, I think I drank too much,” I slurred, opening my eyes.

  “Well...” I felt her hand sliding down my shaft. “Let me give you the real treat, baby.”

  Her hand worked me over faster and harder, driving me toward the edge. This was the moment I should have stopped her. Should have said something. Should have done anything.

  Instead, I drunkenly watched with hooded, confused eyes as she sat...

  On my condom wrapped cock.

  Chapter 3

  <>Jackson<>

  When did she put that on?