by J. M. Walker
My gaze slowly slid from Ashton to her. “Why don’t you meet me in the back? Grab us a drink and save me a seat.”
She frowned. “What are you going to do?”
Something I should have done a long time ago. In a quick move, I had my hand wrapped around her throat before I could stop myself.
A gasp escaped her. Her eyes darkened, lust billowing between us.
I took one last look at Ashton before lowering my mouth to Piper’s.
She sighed, opening to me and, being the type of woman she was, didn’t care that I kissed her in public. She didn’t care that I was staking my claim in front of a guy she used to fuck. I didn’t give a shit that it had only been a handful of times. The fact that Ashton and his brother both knew what Piper looked like, tasted like, and sounded like, didn’t sit well with me. Especially when he threw it in my face without so much of a word.
“Jaron,” she whispered against my mouth.
I cupped her cheek, placing a soft peck on her forehead. “I love you.”
A shaky breath left her. “I love you too. But please behave.”
“Always.” I kissed her cheek and released her.
Ashton stood a few feet away, watching us with his arms crossed under his chest.
“Please behave,” Piper repeated, pointing at Ashton. “That means you too.”
His gaze flicked to hers. “Sorry, babe. You don’t belong to me, so that means you can’t tell me what to do.”
With her shoulders pulled back, she took a step toward him. “You know what, Ashton—”
“Piper.” I grabbed her shoulder, stepping between them and looking down at her. “How about that drink?”
Her jaw clenched. “Fine.” She huffed, spun on her heel, and joined her friends in the backyard.
When she was out of earshot and I was satisfied she wouldn’t see me kick Ashton’s ass, I turned to face him head on.
He raised a dark blond eyebrow. “It’s been a long time, Jaron. If you’re worried that I still want your girlfriend, you’re wrong.”
“What the hell is your problem, Ashton?” I bit out. I had to remind myself that I grew up with him. Even though I hadn’t lived close by as a kid, I still saw him at every get-together, holiday, and during the summer. But now that we were adults, I realized something. I had never actually liked the guy. Even before he started fucking Piper.
“Problem?” Ashton held his hand out, checking out his nails. “I don’t have a problem.”
Cocky fucker.
I went to follow Piper when he stepped in front of me. Crossing my arms under my chest, I sized him up. I was impressed. He had gained a few pounds since I had last seen him. His chest was filled out, his arms thicker than I last remembered. Someone had been working out.
“You’re in my way,” I told him.
“You broke her heart,” he said instead of moving.
The muscle in my jaw ticked. “I saved her life.” And lost a piece of myself in the process but that was beside the point.
“Right,” he said slowly. “I heard about that. We all did. And we were here to pick up the fucking pieces too.”
I took a step toward him, getting in his face. “What’s your deal, Ashton? You got beef with me? Say what you want. Tell me what’s on that fucking mind of yours, buddy.”
“I am not your buddy. I never have been and never will be.” He reached out; swiping his hand along my shoulder to wipe away whatever it was he was trying to get rid of. “It seems though that she loves you. I don’t know why. Do I want her for myself? No. Not anymore. I’ve moved on. Especially when she’s ignored us this whole time. Her fucking friends.”
That explained some of his bitterness. “What happened messed her up.”
Ashton’s face softened. “It did but it didn’t mean she had to ignore us.”
“So you’re being a dick because Piper handled her trauma the way she needed to and poor little Ashton felt ignored? Get the fuck over yourself, that wasn’t about you. You sure as hell don’t get to tell a victim how to handle their shit and you aren’t entitled to her time. A real friend would see that. You of all people should know that people deal with their issues differently, Ashton.” His brother was a drinker. Even though I had been locked up, I still heard how Aiden shoved his demons aside by swimming at the bottom of a bottle. He had joined the navy like their father, was deployed and something happened. He was home and discharged within a year. But no one knew why.
“Leave my brother out of this.” But as Ashton said those words, I could see that pain in his deep blue eyes. He was hurting for his brother. I had seen it in the bikers I had grown up with. If you weren’t careful, alcohol was like a noose, eventually tightening its hold around your neck until you were no longer breathing. I just hoped Aiden could loosen the rope before it was too late.
“I know we’re not close. We’ve never been close but…” I glanced out at the yard, finding Piper smiling and talking with the girls. As much as she pushed everyone away, you could see the happiness etched all over her face now that she was back. “If you need anything.” I coughed, clearing my throat and met Ashton’s gaze.
“Yeah, okay, buddy,” he mocked. “You don’t give a shit about me or my brother.”
“I don’t like you. I never have but I know you don’t like me either. Your brother is a different story.”
“He fucked Piper too,” Ashton reminded me.
“Yup. He did. But I don’t see him standing here trying to cause shit.” I clapped Ashton’s shoulder. “I do suggest leaving this alone though. Piper is here. Play nice and we won’t have any problems.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Are you threatening me?”
“Nah.” I lightly slapped his cheek. Not hard enough that it would hurt but just enough that it would get my point across. “Be a friend to Piper and you and I won’t have any issues.” I looked back at her standing with Gigi and Vince. Piper laughed at something Gigi said while Vince stared down at his fiancée. “Where’s Aiden?” I asked, suddenly realizing that Ashton’s brother was nowhere to be found.
“He’s…” Ashton stepped up beside me. “Around.”
“Is that your way of saying that he’s not here?”
“Leave it alone, Jaron. You got the girl, didn’t you?” Ashton took a step forward.
“Maybe Aiden needs a good ass kicking. It’s been a while. I could go for a bloody match.” I crossed my arms under my chest, scratching my jaw.
“I’m sure we could both use that,” Ashton mumbled, heading back to the group I had grown up with as a kid but no longer knew as an adult. “Lots has changed, Jaron,” he called out, meaning he was implying that he could now kick my ass.
Sorry, buddy, I’m still bigger, faster, and dirtier. I’d scrub the ground with your face before thinking twice about it.
I only smirked.
Ashton walked up to Piper, scooping her up into a hug and swinging her around.
My jaw clenched so damn hard, I thought my teeth were going to shatter.
He met my gaze and winked.
Motherfucker.
***
(Piper)
“Ashton,” I squealed. “Put me down.”
He laughed, placing me back on my feet.
I smacked his hands away. The hairs on the back of my neck tingled and I knew before looking that Jaron was watching the whole exchange.
“What do you think you’re doing?” I demanded, placing my hands on my hips.
“Just having a bit of fun.” Ashton winked. “You look good though, Piper. It’s nice to see you.” All amusement left his face as he stared down at me.
I sighed, that familiar flutter I had felt years ago whenever he looked at me, no longer there. I was glad for that because Ashton wasn’t the type to settle down. I wasn’t even sure he ever would be.
“Is she here? Is she here?”
I smiled, turning to find Luna Stone running toward me. I laughed, rushing toward her. We hugged and laughed some more and hugg
ed again. “It’s been so long.”
“I know. God, I could cry,” she said into my hair.
“Please don’t.” I had done enough crying for the both of us put together.
“Is Jaron here too?” She looked around the yard.
Jaron was leaning against the far fence, talking to his cousin, Zach Porter, who was also Luna’s fiancé.
“He looks good,” Luna said softly.
“He does.” And he felt good too. Really damn good.
Jaron caught my gaze. He lifted his chin, giving me a wink.
My stomach tumbled, the desire I felt for him unfurling deep in my belly.
Luna giggled. “I know that look.”
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” I said, looking away from Jaron’s gaze before our friends caught us eye fucking each other from across the yard.
“You good?” Gigi asked, coming up to us, followed by her sister, Meadow.
“Yeah.” I wished everyone would stop asking me that.
“How’s he doing?” Meadow asked, nodding toward Jaron.
“We have our moments.” I followed her gaze, my heart jumping when I saw that he was coming toward us.
Jaron glanced at the girls. “Ladies.”
Luna gave him a hug. “It’s good to see you, Jaron.”
“You too, Luna.” He returned the embrace. “You treating my cousin well?”
She laughed. “Always.”
“How’s your son?” Jaron stepped up beside me, slipping his fingers between mine.
My stomach somersaulted. Leaning the side of my head against his shoulder, I wrapped my other hand around his bicep.
“You good, babe?” he whispered, kissing the top of my head.
“He’s growing so fast but he’s good,” Luna said before I could answer Jaron’s question. “I don’t know if anyone told you, but we named him Benjamin after your uncle who passed away.”
“Piper told me. Uncle Benny would have been proud,” Jaron said. “I only wish I could have met him too.”
“I know.” Luna sighed.
While he continued talking to Luna about her son, I glanced around the yard. Ashton was standing on the other side of the bonfire with Zach. I wondered where Aiden was.
Zach gave me a small wave.
I waved back.
Ashton’s head snapped up. He scowled.
I frowned. Asshole.
I quietly excused myself from the group and made my way inside the house. I had only been in it a couple of times. I was thankful that the old house no longer existed. As much as I was sorry that it happened at the expense of almost losing Gigi and Vince, it was as if the house had been cursed.
Even though their home, looked nothing like the one I had shared with the girls, memories of that night came rushing back. It had been the last time I hung out with my friends. The last time I had seen Jaron before he was taken from me.
My feet carried me down a hall that led to the bathroom but before I reached it, I stopped in front of a closed door. Placing my hand on the doorknob, I took a deep breath and opened the door. Glancing into the room, I saw that it was Hannah’s bedroom.
My thoughts took a dark turn. It didn’t make sense as there was nothing there to trigger me. Memories shouldn’t have hit me like they did, but I had learned from the little research I had done, that anything could be a trigger. From a touch, to a scent, to something that happened so damn quickly, you couldn’t control it, it could all bring you back to that certain trauma.
When I closed the door, I was brought back to that night.
“I like you, Piper.”
I ran around him and jumped onto my bed when my feet were pulled out from beneath me. I cried out, struggling against him. I kicked and fought with all of the strength I could muster. My foot landed against Brody’s crotch, making him grunt, but it didn’t stop him from ripping at my clothes. His fingers dug into my sides, his knee pushing into the small of my back.
No matter how much I fought him, I couldn’t get him off me. It took Jaron breaking into my room for that to happen and even then, it wasn’t enough. It would never be enough.
Brody still touched me. He still put his hands on me when I never wanted him to.
“Brody, please stop this.”
But he never listened to me.
“I will make it so you never forget me.”
He was right. He was right this whole time. I never forgot him. I tried to. Lord knew I tried. But it never worked.
Even though the house no longer existed, I was still brought back to that night. Leaning against the wall for support, I tried to forget. A night that had changed everything. I had been pregnant with Brynlee at the time. Brody’s punches could have killed her, but they didn’t. She was strong and I knew once it was confirmed that I was in fact pregnant, that she was a fighter and would do amazing things for this world.
My mind was playing tricks on me as I continued making my way to the bathroom. Even though I knew this wasn’t the house I used to live in with Gigi and the other girls, that sense of fear still slithered over my skin like I was back there. Back in my old room. Back in my old bed with Brody on top of me.
The room that had held so many happy memories was tainted by one fucked up night. And then Jaron was taken from me and that night became even worse.
A sound at the end of the hallway made me spin around. Jaron stood there with his arms crossed under his chest and a deep scowl on his face. He was pissed. Not at me. I knew it wasn’t at me. But he was mad at the situation. He was mad that I went into the house without him. He was mad that I was losing myself and he couldn’t do anything about it. He was mad that the simplest things triggered a memory of that horrible night. He was mad. Period.
My heart raced, my blood pounding in my ears. “I just…I had to…I…”
I shook my head, Brody’s words from that awful night still ringing in my ears. My head suddenly started pounding, remembering the many times he had punched me in the face.
“Piper.” Jaron closed that final distance between us, wrapping his arms around my shoulders.
“I had to pee,” I told him, a sob wracking through my body.
“Shhh…” With his arm around my shoulders, he guided me down the hall to the bathroom. We walked into the small room and instead of leaving like I thought he would, he shut the door and leaned against it. “Take all the time you need, Piper.”
I looked at the toilet, my bladder screaming for release.
“I’m not leaving,” Jaron said, tugging the thought right out of my head. “Tell me what happened.”
“I had to go to the bathroom. I didn’t think I would get a trigger, but something made me think of that night. It doesn’t make sense. Maybe it’s because I’m here. Maybe it’s because I’m with the same people as that night.” A sigh shuddered through me. “I thought maybe I was over it,” I told him, deciding to get used to the fact that he was there and went about my business. When I finished, I was washing my hands when his next words made me pause.
“How the hell do you expect to get over something like that, Piper? It could take years. And even then, you might not ever get over it.” Jaron came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here.”
I shook my head, pulling away from him so I could dry my hands. When I was done, I turned toward him. “Do you get triggers? Anything that reminds you of whatever happened while you were in jail?”
His jaw clenched, a sharp exhale leaving him. “Yeah. I do.”
“How do you deal with them?” I asked, leaning against the wall opposite him.
“I have you, Piper.” He took a step toward me. “You help me deal. I know I haven’t told you every nitty gritty detail of what I did but…” He closed the final distance between us, reaching out and locking my chin in his grip. “I love you and without you, I would have done far worse shit than I did.”
I swallowed hard. “Really?”
His gray eyes darkened, som
ething flashing in his intense stare. A stare that I could get lost in if I ever let myself.
“Really,” he murmured, placing a soft peck on my forehead.
My eyes fluttered closed at the gentleness coming from him. “I’m here for whenever you want to talk about what happened.”
“I know.” He pulled away, putting some space between us, but it wasn’t space that I needed. No. I needed him. Every inch. Every dark stormy stare. Every smirk. Every word. I needed him to tell me that this was going to be okay. That we were going to be okay.
When I went to walk past him, he grabbed my upper arm. I looked up at him.
“Did someone tell you that you should be over it by now?”
“What?” I pulled from his rough grip. “No. God no. I was thinking it myself. But no, everyone has been wonderful and supportive. Even though I haven’t seen people as often as I’m sure I should have…it’s my own fault that I haven’t been around. And I don’t know what Ashton’s problem is. He was a dick before. He caused problems for your cousin and Luna but he’s dealing with Aiden.” My stomach clenched. “Not that it matters anyway. It’s no excuse.”
“Piper, listen to me.” Jaron cupped my face, forcing me to look up at him. “What you went through was traumatic. And you haven’t been able to hang out with your friends since. Luckily, as sad as it is, you never have to go back to your old place. A trigger can be caused from anything. You don’t have to be in the location of where the trauma actually happened for you to get one. But I wish you would have come got me.”
“You followed me,” I reminded him. “And I only had to go to the bathroom. I didn’t think something would happen.”
“Of course I would follow you. I followed you to Paris remember.” He kissed my forehead.
A shaky laugh left me. “I still can’t believe you did that, creeper.”
Jaron chuckled. “I followed you to the bathroom to make sure that you were okay. Seeing as saving your life means shit to some.”
“What?” I leaned back. “What does that mean? You did more than just save my life, Jaron. I don’t know who you were talking… you were talking to Ashton. Did he say that?”
Jaron’s jaw ticked. “It doesn’t matter.”