Love You Now (Book Two: Love Hurts Duet)

by M. Robinson

  I paused the video again. If I thought my hands were trembling before, it was nothing compared to how they were shaking as I pulled the folded results out of the envelope.

  Hiding my future.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  Tick.

  “Whatever it is, Jackson, I’m here, and I’m not going anywhere,” Harley reassured.

  Tick.

  Unfolding the sheet.

  Tick.

  Reading my name.

  Tick.

  Scanning the sheet.

  Tick.

  NEGATIVE.

  Boom.

  I broke down.

  From relief.

  From being set free.

  From my demons being put to rest.

  Harley pulled me into her arms, holding me so tight.

  I bawled.

  Crying my eyes out.

  Sobbing like a newborn baby.

  Shuddering uncontrollably.

  Just breathe, Jackson. Just remember to breathe.

  “Shhh, Jackson...” Harley soothed, rubbing my back. Pressing play on the video before she jumped into my arms. Wrapping her legs and arms around me. Molding us into one person. “I love you. I love you. I. Love. You.”

  “Just know I’m smiling down on you right now,” Mom expressed, pulling our attention back to the screen. “Proud of the man you’ve become. Please take care of each other. Tell your father I love him. I miss him. I know he found love again and I’m happy for them. Tell your brother I love him, and I miss him, and I’m always here for him. All he has to do is look at the sunflowers. Please tell your baby sister.” She rubbed her barely their stomach. “I know it’s a girl. I had a dream about it. Please tell her that my biggest regret is not seeing her grow up into the beautiful woman, I know she’s become. She’s my gift to all of you. My legacy will live on through her. Journey Pierce will do big things for our family. Not just ours, but our extended family as well.” She wiped a few tears from her cheeks. “Jagger’s results are also in that envelope. Please give it to him when you think he’s ready. I know your brother. He’s probably working his life away. Tell him to remember to stop and smell the sunflowers. Life is too short to just work it away. When Journey is old enough to understand this horrible disease, tell her I’m sorry. I would never hurt her. Please, do everything in your power to encourage her to take the test. If she’s anything like you two, she’s going to need the extra push to do it.”

  I nodded, unable to form words yet. Composing myself as best as I could while Harley kissed all my tears away.

  “No matter what life throws at you, Jackson, your family will always be there to catch you when you fall. I love you, my beautiful boy. I’m here if you ever need to talk. I always will be. The sunflowers are the best way to reach me.” She kissed her hands and blew it toward me. “Now it’s time to really start your life. Together. Healthy. Forever and ever.”

  The screen went black, and she was gone.

  Taking my demons.

  With her...

  She was right about it all. Especially how it was time to begin the next step in my life.

  No time like the present, to do exactly that.

  <>Harley<>

  They say everything happens for a reason, and my reason came in the form of the biggest bully of them all.

  Jackson Ashlyn Pierce.

  “Can you believe it?” I asked, feeling an overwhelming amount of emotions.

  Relief.

  Happiness.

  Love.

  So much love...

  “I knew they were gonna be negative. I knew it in my heart. I think that’s why I’ve been able to hold off this long without knowin’ those results. How do you feel?”

  He didn’t say one word.

  He wasn’t even moving.

  “Jackson, you gotta say somethin’. You’re freakin’ me out.”

  In one swift, sudden motion, he flipped me over on the bed. Getting on top of me.

  “Rudolph, what are you doin’?” Completely surprised by the sudden turn in events.

  With his hands cradlin’ my face, cagin’ me in, lookin’ deep into my eyes, he vowed in a serious, dominant tone, “I’m getting you pregnant.”

  I laughed, I couldn’t not at that.

  “Can you wait a minute and let me enjoy what just happened?”

  He opened my silk robe, unwrapping me as if I were a present.

  His gift.

  Kissin’ his way down my naked body. “Oh, you’ll enjoy it, Gremlin...”

  “Jackson, you’re healthy!”

  He sucked a nipple into his mouth. “Mmmhmm.”

  I moaned, “You’re going to live a long life with your memories!”

  Slidin’ to the other nipple. “Mmmhmm.”

  “All these years! Finally! Freedom!”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  Down my torso he went, kissin’, lickin’ until he kissed my lips, and I’m not talkin’ about the ones on my face.

  “I want another baby girl, and then I want a boy,” he groaned, makin’ me smile big and wide.

  We never talked about havin’ kids before, and hearin’ him say these things to me were new and very excitin’.

  Arousing would be the best way to describe it.

  “I still can’t believe you’re okay. You’re really okay!”

  Sucking my clit into his mouth, he moved his head side-to-side. Humming, “Mmmhmm.”

  “Ah...”

  He gently bit down, and I squirmed as he pushed two fingers inside of me, causin’ my back to arch off the mattress. Instantly, hittin’ my sweet spot while he devoured me with his mouth.

  I panted, “We’re gonna have the best life, the best memories, the best future. Together.”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  My breathing hitched, and my legs trembled.

  “I’m gonna come.”

  “Not like this, you aren’t.”

  “Wha—”

  Before I got the word out, he flipped me over onto my stomach and spread me wide open.

  My mouth dropped to the bed. “Jackson!”

  “Shhh!”

  “Your tongue is in my butt!”

  “Mmmhmm.”

  “This ain’t how you make a baby!”

  “Well, it’s in my face. I’ve been waiting a long time for this. Like I told you when we were kids, if I wanted in there, I’d get in there.”

  Sliding his fingers back inside of me, he proceeded to give me the most intense orgasm of my life. All while his tongue rimmed my ass. Makin’ me eat my words from long ago.

  Kissin’ his way back up my body, he growled as he slammed into me in one hard thrust.

  “I’m only just getting started. We aren’t leaving this bed today. I’m spending the rest of the day inside of you.”

  And, he did.

  Epilogue

  <>Harley<>

  Now: Twenty-nine-years-old

  “Momma! Daddy threw away my pink bikini! The one you just bought me for my birthday party today!”

  “Ugh.” I rolled my eyes, walkin’ into Bailey’s bedroom. “I swear those pink bikinis get all the girls in this family in trouble.”

  “You bet your ass they do,” Jackson chimed in, leanin’ against the doorway with his arms over his chest. Lookin’ all handsome and bully-like at the same time.

  “Daddy!” Bailey stomped her foot. “What am I gonna wear now? I don’t got nothin’ new.”

  “Baby girl, you got plenty of one-pieces in your drawer.”

  She looked at him like he was crazy. “But, Daddy! It’s my ninth birthday today, and Momma said I could finally wear a two-piece. We bought a special pink one for my birthday party, and I already told all my friends!” she explained all in one breath.

  “Jackson, we talked about this.”

  “Vroom, vroom, vroom!” Our six-year-old son ran into the room with his toy car. Colorful Band-Aids spread throughout his body. A few on his forehead, some more down his arms, endin’ with a coupl
e on his legs. He fell, or should I say he jumped, out of a treehouse out back ’cuz Bailey dared him to.

  Now, he wouldn’t take them off. Sayin’ he was a cool bad boy.

  “Get out of my room, Beau! No boys allowed.”

  “It smells like Mom’s poop spray in here.”

  “Oh my God. Jackson, see what you started.”

  “Listen.” He put his hands out in front of him in a surrenderin’ gesture. “It’s not my fault you think it’s okay to spray that girly shit in the bathroom. We’re men, we associate with smells.” Tuggin’ me toward him, he whispered in my ear, “Like how I still get so fuckin’ hard when you smell like you do now.”

  “You’re disgustin’!” Bailey addressed her brother. “You’re the only one who smells like a big giant turd.”

  I shook my head, grabbin’ my pregnant belly.

  “Why did we decide to have another?”

  “I love you barefoot and pregnant.”

  “Ugh. You’re as horrible as your son.”

  “Daddy,” Bailey whined, bringin’ our attention over to her. “My friends are gonna think I’m a big fat liar.”

  “Bailey, tell them it was me. I threw the bikini away.”

  “That ain’t gonna fix nothin’. They already don’t like you. You and Pops made Jimmy cry, remember?”

  My mouth dropped open. “Jackson! You did not threaten a child.”

  “I cannot confirm or deny those allegations until Shiloh is present.”

  The more things changed, the more they stayed the same. Over the last five years, we grew into our family dynamic which was complete and utter insanity. The older Bailey got, the more protective Jackson became, and not only him...

  My father.

  The Prez.

  Pops.

  Like Bailey called him.

  He was just as bad as her daddy. My poor baby girl, she never saw it comin’. I’d be surprised if she’s ever allowed to date, let alone have a boyfriend.

  Our families were tighter than ever. They were once again in our lives, and I couldn’t have been happier. I spent years distancin’ myself for nothin’.

  The truth was...

  They knew our reality.

  Even Shiloh.

  Our parents were always aware Cash was Bailey’s biological father, she looked so much like him. They didn’t say one word to us about it, wantin’ us to figure out our journey on our own. Positive we’d come out stronger in the end because of it. My old man, he respected the hell out of Jackson for raisin’ Bailey as his own.

  I always wondered how overnight he was acceptin’ of him, especially after almost shootin’ him in front of all of us. I was so consumed by the lies I didn’t even realize how perceptive they could be. Includin’ knowin’ about our marriage.

  At the end of the day, it was indeed our story to tell. They were just waitin’ until we were ready.

  If Cash’s parents knew Bailey was their blood, they didn’t bring it up. Neither did the rest of our families. However, there would eventually come a time when we would tell Bailey the truth. She was still too young understand.

  Maybe we would tell everyone, but right now wasn’t the time. To be honest, I didn’t know when that would, but we would decide together.

  Jackson and me.

  Our second weddin’ was everythin’ I ever hoped for. Sayin’ our vows under the pier that no longer held any bad memories, or maybe it never did.

  It was where we became a family.

  Jackson and me.

  Just like he promised, he made love to me right on top of that pier late in the night, when no one was around. Provin’ to the world, I truly was his.

  Narrowin’ his eyes at me, Jackson arched an eyebrow. Conscious of what I was thinkin’.

  “You want to go to the pier later?”

  “Maybe.”

  He smiled. “I love you, Gremlin.”

  I smiled back, repeatin’, “I love you more, Rudolph.”

  “Momma! What am I gonna wear?”

  “It don’t matter. You’re still ugly.”

  “Beau! Get out of my room with your stinky balls!”

  “Bailey Pierce! You cannot talk like that,” I reprimanded, shaking my head at her.

  “My balls ain’t stinky! Your breath is.”

  “Oh my God.” I cradled my face, shakin’ my head again.

  You know how people always say kids are the spittin’ image of their parents?

  It’s true.

  This was my family.

  The loves of my life.

  And I wouldn’t have it any other way.

  <>Jackson<>

  It didn’t take long for Bailey’s friends and our family members to arrive. Spoiling the birthday girl just like we knew they would. Our kids were surrounded by nothing but love and happiness.

  Quick recap. Teddy was still alive, loving me more than his momma. Often catching Bailey in her Belle costume from Beauty and the Beast, Teddy dressed as the beast of course. Slow dancing to “Tale as Old as Time.”

  My parents still couldn’t keep their hands off one another.

  Harley’s parents couldn’t either.

  Jagger continued to live and breathe his company while my baby sister was studying abroad in Barcelona. Harley’s brothers, on the other hand, were causing trouble wherever they went, specifically Luke.

  Shiloh was kicking ass and taking names as a top lawyer in North Carolina, back in Harley’s life as her best friend.

  Trigger and her... Well, let’s just say it was their story to tell.

  “Where’s our girl?” Harley’s dad asked, tearing me away from my thoughts. Handing me a beer.

  “She’s in the kitchen, getting Bailey’s cake ready so we can sing happy birthday.”

  “You know, one day I’m gonna thank you for raising her as your own.”

  I chuckled. “I look forward to that day, sir.”

  Lucas, Harley’s grandfather, grinned, hearing our exchange like it brought back memories between Creed and him.

  When I walked back into the kitchen, Harley had changed into a white sundress after getting out of the pool. I couldn’t help but get hard.

  “Gremlin,” I murmured into her ear, coming up behind her. She was lighting the candles on Bailey’s cake.

  Wrapping my arms around her belly, I felt our baby bouncing around. At some point, my hands slipped in her dress, wanting to feel her smooth, silky skin against my fingertips. “How do you always smell so fuckin’ good?”

  “I do it to fuck with you.”

  “You’re still a little shit. Fuckin’ Gremlin.”

  “Jackson,” she giggled, hiding her neck. “Babe, there’s people and children around.”

  “I’m just loving on my wife.”

  “You’re more than loving on her. You’re groping her in front of everyone.”

  “You didn’t mind it this morning when my face was buried between your thi—”

  “Jackson Pierce! You are rotten to the core.”

  “Just how you love it.”

  She squirmed out of my embrace, beaming. “Go get your daughter. It’s time to sing “Happy Birthday”.”

  “This ain’t over.”

  “It is for now.”

  To say I wasn’t the happiest man alive would be a lie. I had everything I ever wanted.

  A family.

  With the girl I loved the most.

  My career was at its all-time highest, my wife was fuckin’ perfect, and my kids were little shits exactly like their mother.

  My life was finally where I always wanted it to be. We went through so many ups and downs to get where we were today, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

  Sometimes you gotta go through the bad to get to the good.

  We were no different.

  As I held my wife in my arms, peering around the room at our loved ones as we sang “Happy Birthday” to our baby girl, I realized I was one lucky bastard.

  So much love.

  So much uni
ty.

  So many stories under one roof.

  “Happy birthday, dear Bailey. Happy birthday to you!”

  I nodded. “Blow out your candles, baby girl.”

  As soon as she did, the doorbell rang.

  “Babe,” Harley addressed. “Can you go get that?”

  I kissed the top of her head, thinking about how grateful I was to finally have it all. Grabbing another beer from the fridge before heading toward the door, I opened it.

  My heart dropped.

  My blood ran cold.

  Instantly, seeing nothing but red.

  Bright.

  Bold.

  RED.

  Seething from the inside out.

  My jaw clenched, and my fists tightened.

  Ready to go war.

  Never in a million years did I expect to see who was standing there...

  Holding my baby sister’s hand.

  Cash fuckin’ McGraw.

  The end.

  For Jackson and Harley.

  It’s only the beginning for...

  Cash and Journey.

  My Rockstar, enemies baby sister romance.