by Alex Rosa
I want to smile, but I’m beyond confused now. I can’t think clearly with him so close.
“I love you, Skyler.”
I straighten at hearing his words, and the warmth that forms in my chest terrifies me more than the heartbreak before. “No you don’t, Blake.”
He leans in, only an inch from my face, his breath humid and minty. “I know it’s crazy, but I do. I’m in love with you. No one has challenged and intrigued me at the same time. Not even Marguerite. The idea of losing you is too much to bear, and the panic that ensued while trying to get ahold of you this morning has me realizing that I love you. And it’s okay that you don’t feel the same, but you have to know I will fight this to the end. You taught me that I can love, and for a long time, I didn’t think I was capable.”
I gulp at the thought.
“I know you’re scared. It’s a scary thing. I’m scared, too. But you have to know that I do, I love you.”
I shake my head, feeling overwhelmed. I’m about to speak my rebuttal, but Vanessa’s shrieking sounds from down the hall, and it has both of our stares shooting toward her.
“Skyler! Blake! I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to say anything! It just slipped!”
Just as quickly, the tall form of my brother appears behind her, and he looks irate.
Blake turns to me and speaks in bursts. “Do you believe me?”
“Believe what?” I spit out, trying to push him away. I need to get him out of here, but he is a wall of rock-hard muscle, unwavering and stubborn. His eyes won’t leave mine. He seems fed up and fearless.
“Believe that I love you?”
I scrunch my eyes shut. “Blake, stop it! You need to get out of here!”
“Do you?”
My eyes fly open, and equally as stubborn, I blurt out, “No, Blake! You can’t love me! I’m broken. And it’s too soon.”
Blake offers me a quick shrug of nonchalance, which has me confused as I look up to his piercing jade depths. “I’m going to let your brother beat the shit out of me to prove that I love you.”
“What? Blake, you’re crazy! Don’t.”
“Only crazy for you, babe.”
He places a chaste kiss against my sputtering lips before pulling away to face my brother, who already has his fist raised and ready as he comes barreling toward him.
The only thing I have time for before my brother’s fist hits Blake’s face is my jaw dropping in frantic shock.
Chapter 38
Though I know I should not be the one seeing stars, that is exactly how I feel. My vision blurs and sparkles in disbelief. When my mouth falls open, I expect a scream to emerge, but I choke as I watch Blake take a solid slam with no resistance whatsoever right in the kisser.
However, the scream reveals itself when I watch Blake sway, and then my brother decides to go in for one more blow. Blake still doesn’t put up his hands in defense, nor does he attempt to fight back. The second punch sends Blake tumbling to the floor.
“Josh! Stop!” I try to wedge myself between them to no avail.
My brother ignores my presence as he kneels down to continue his pummel. He wraps a tight fist around a clump of Blake’s shirt. “What the hell did I tell you? You never fucking listen! I said leave my sister alone! She isn’t another trophy to be won!”
Vanessa is standing with both hands clasped over her mouth. I frantically throw my hands up. I’m about to shout again, but Blake throws his hands up, blocking an oncoming punch.
“Josh! Listen! I didn’t mean to!”
“Shut up!” my brother barks. He swings his fist one more time. Finally I reach for his shoulder, slowing the oncoming hit, but he yanks his arm away. His rigid muscles frighten me.
“Hit me all you want, but I will not stop seeing your sister!” Blake speaks through clenched teeth, and I worry as I see my brother’s anger-driven expression.
I claw at my brother’s back. “Josh! Get off him! It’s not what you think!”
Josh whips his head around to face me, and his familiar blue eyes sear with rage. “Stay out of this, Skyler! I told you the same! It’s for your own good! Trust me on this.”
I’m ready to argue, but Josh turns to face Blake, still with a firm grip on his shirt, shaking him like a rag doll. “You can screw around with anyone you want, but you had to mess with my sister. Is the thrill of the chase worth this, Blake? I’ll be damned if you ever speak to her again.”
Josh’s fist makes successful contact with Blake’s beautiful nose, and a stream of blood is quick to follow. I’m shocked and dumbfounded at Blake’s defenseless state.
“Josh! You don’t know what you’re talking about! Stop hurting him!”
Blake’s hands push Josh away, letting the blood drip over his lips and soak into his white dress shirt. Although he is at least trying to block the punches, he still won’t go in for a swing. “Josh! Listen to her, goddammit!”
I cringe at his words, realizing what Blake wants out of this. If Blake were to shout the reasons for the fight right here, my brother might stop, but no, the stubborn man is waiting for me. I wonder how many hits he’s willing to take.
I stomp my feet like a child, leaping onto my brother now, grabbing his arm mid-swing, grinding my teeth, and the fact that Blake is so . . . ARGH!
“Josh! Stop! I . . . You need to stop because I-I lov—” Nope, can’t do it. “Stop!”
I swear to God, Blake’s bloody, bruised face manages a smirk amid the chaos.
Josh yanks his arm free. “Skyler! Leave! Go home!”
“Stop it!” I grumble. I take in a deep breath before saying the exact thing I’ve known all along, letting it out in the form of a loud, cathartic shout. “Josh! Stop! I love him!”
Josh’s arm freezes in the air at hearing me, his head twitching before he turns to face me, and I notice Blake’s wide, bloody grin.
“Has he fooled you too, Skyler? You wouldn’t be the first!” The fist comes down hard against Blake’s jaw.
“No! You’re wrong!”
Finally, Blake finds the need to speak. “Josh! Listen to her.”
Josh and his rage cut Blake off. “Stop! My sister will not get you out of this mess. It’s your mess! You see what you’ve done to her?”
“Josh!” I screech more as a way to express my annoyance. I’m offended by his assumption.
Blake shakes his head. “I’m in love with her, Josh. Seriously, madly in love with her. You told me to stay away, and I tried. For God’s sake, I tried!”
I feel a twinge of anger at hearing his tone, finding that it makes it sound like it was painfully impossible, though I know it’s supposed to be a compliment.
Josh lets go of Blake’s shirt and stands, but his twisted scowl has me thinking he’s still livid.
I kick off my heels and fall to the floor to be at Blake’s side, cupping his face. His smug grin has me madly in love, and angry with him all at once.
I want to kiss him, but his bloody nose halts any such movement. I swipe my finger over his bruised cheek and shake my head, admonishing him. “You’re an idiot, Blake. Why go through that?” I sigh, finding that I don’t want to let him go, and that my body crawls into his lap. He wraps his arms around me, bringing me close.
“It was all worth it,” he breathes out. “You love me, too.” He waggles his eyebrows and I roll my eyes.
I brush strands of hair away from his forehead and give him a sweet kiss before speaking. “You’re a crazy, crazy fool, Blake.”
He looks at me, shaking his head. “See how crazy you make me?”
“I should be really mad at you right now, but I just want to kiss you.”
I’m so relieved that the chaos has ended that I forget Josh is still standing behind us.
Josh is watching the scene as if he’s never witnessed Blake, let alone me, react this way to each other. He shakes his shoulders out and straightens his blazer, as if trying to gather his cool.
I feel tears forming at the corners of my eyes as I peer up
at my brother. “Are you happy now? You didn’t have to do this, Josh!”
Josh and I haven’t gotten into a fight since we were kids. I watch his strong jaw tick in anger. His eyes soften as they make contact with me.
“I don’t regret it, Skyler.” He says it like it’s a fact, and effortlessly.
“You’re being stupid, really!”
“You need to know this was for your own good. I still don’t think this is the best idea.”
Vanessa manages to find her words as she tries her best to calm her boyfriend, and maybe help the situation. “But, Sweetie, what if he makes her happy? You said that’s all you wanted.”
Josh lets out a grunt and shoots an angry growl at Vanessa, who doesn’t flinch.
He turns back to Blake and me on the floor, and I notice his eyes linger on Blake. “I don’t know what the hell is going on, but regardless, this conversation is not over.”
I feel a need to protect Blake and our relationship, so I rise from the floor, finding that, without my heels, my brother towers above me. I jam my finger into his chest. “You bet your ass it isn’t over.”
Josh’s shoulder slump surprises me as he runs a hand through his hair, and then grabs for my arm. “Skyler, I want you to come home with me.”
I yank free. “Absolutely not. I have to clean up my boyfriend’s face.” I gesture to Blake, who is rising from the floor, touching his nose as if wondering if it’s broken.
Josh looks stunned. “Meet me at home, now.” He turns to Blake. “And you can forget about our arrangement. I don’t think it’s a good idea, considering the turn of events.”
Blake shoots his evil glare at his best friend while swiping blood from his top lip. Both boys exchange some sort of nonverbal words before my brother turns on his heel to leave, grabbing for Vanessa’s hand.
“But, Sweeeettiiiee,” she whines.
“Not now, Vanessa,” is the last thing I hear him snap as he disappears. I notice a rag on a vacant rack and run to grab it, sprinting back to Blake.
My movements are calculated but somewhat frantic as I wipe at his nose, causing him to smile. The blood is gone but it still leaves a red strain on his skin. I move to dab below his left eye where my brother’s fist broke skin.
Blake grabs for my wrist, stopping my meticulous caretaking. He moves my hand to his mouth, kissing at my fingers. I can’t help but find his bruised and swollen face attractive when matched with his intense eyes.
“I need to get you home, Blake.”
He nods, unwilling to let go of my hand. “What about your brother?”
“Let me deal with my brother now, okay?”
He releases me to lean down, grabbing for my heels off the floor, then effortlessly entwines his fingers through my hand, tugging me down the hall.
I want to giggle at the fact that, even bloodied and bruised, he still feels the need to lead me.
Actually, I want to grin because, for the first time, he’s allowed to hold my hand in public.
It’s the little things.
***
Walking into the living room, we’re greeted with darkness, and I’m glad to be able to breathe a moment before my brother gets home. I’ll be taking my version of a pummel, but in verbal form.
Blake lifts my hand to his lips like he did before, kissing it before letting it go and walking away in silence.
I watch Blake, noticing he goes straight to the bathroom. I put one foot in front of the other and walk to the kitchen, open the freezer to find a bag of peas, and make my way to Blake’s room.
I smirk as I leave the door open, placing the frozen peas on his dresser. I open the top drawer for a plain black T-shirt and a pair of his boxers. I have this overwhelming need to get out of this dress. It feels drenched in the stress of the evening. Stress that I never fathomed happening, and I want it off me now. I unclip my bra and have it join the lace dress on the floor.
I listen for a moment, hearing the running water of the sink coming from the bathroom before pulling Blake’s oversized shirt on over my head, slipping on a pair of his briefs over my silk panties.
The sound of the water turning off and of the bathroom door opening has me peering toward his bedroom door, nervous as I hold my breath.
He enters the doorway looking glorious, other than the swollen skin around his left eye. His handsome face is free of blood smears, and he is naked from the waist up. His right arm holds his white dress shirt in a ball.
I salivate at the sight.
I notice him admiring me with a wonderful smile. “Well, I’ll be damned,” he breathes out.
I chew the inside of my cheek and slink toward him, grabbing for the peas on my way, then press the bag to his swollen face. “I don’t want that pretty face of yours to be damaged.”
He winces but manages a chuckle as he lifts the peas from his face. He places the bag back on the dresser as he takes a step inside, causing me to stumble back.
“There’s something I’ve been wanting to do.”
I feel timid and shy, looking at his adoring expression, still finding some sense of giddy guilt in the black eye that’s forming. “What’s that?”
He wastes no time, grabbing for my face, pulling my lips to his, crashing his possessive mouth to mine. I willingly accept his kiss with a release of a moan. I wrap my arms around his neck, feeling like I just won a gold medal at the Olympics.
His kiss is hard but sensual as his lips caress mine, coaxing them open. His tongue dips into my mouth, and I’m eager to taste him. I let his seductive assault of my mouth taste every bit of me, letting another groan escape while pressing my body against his. His skin feels blazing hot and tempting through the thin material of his shirt, causing desire to pool deep between my legs.
The slamming sound of the front door has our lips stopping, our shallow breaths heaving in and out against one another in the silence.
“Skylerrr!” my brother shouts for me from the living room.
I push out of Blake’s grasp, but he doesn’t budge, bringing my lips to his.
“I should be the one to go talk to him.”
I smile at his willingness to sacrifice his beautiful bone structure yet again, and I let out a giggled huff. “This is my battle now. I think you’ve done enough, don’t you think?”
He chuckles, and goose bumps rise over my body at hearing his dark tone.
Surprising me, Blake pulls away, eyeing me, and speaks in a whisper. “Before you go, I need to ask you something.”
I smirk, but worry floods my gut too as I watch the doubt fill his eyes. “What?”
“I just . . . I was thinking that maybe the word ‘love’ was forced on you tonight. I mean, you didn’t have to say it back if you weren’t ready.”
I let a real smile spread through my face. “Did you mean it when you said you loved me?”
He sighs as if that might be the most infallible statement known to mankind. “Without a doubt.”
“Then don’t worry. Maybe this is what it took for me to realize it. You were right. I’m scared as hell, but I love you, too, as crazy as you are. I’m really the fool here.”
“Skyler!” The shout has me flinching.
I let out a huff, knowing I have to face my one-man firing squad in the living room. I grab for the bag of peas again, and press it against Blake’s face, causing him to wince.
“Take a seat and ice your beautiful mug, okay?”
He looks about ready to say something snarky, but I nod, signaling that the conversation is over. I leave a quick kiss on his bruising jaw, and trail my fingers over his hard abdomen before I scoot past him and out the door.
As I enter the living room, Josh is sitting on the red couch in silence, his hands steepled in front of his face, his steel-cut features rigid with anger.
With Blake’s kiss as a new form of courage, I can’t help my sarcastic greeting. “No Vanessa tonight?”
When Josh turns to look at me, I can tell that he has his own snide remark, but he free
zes, eyeing my attire. “You have got to be kidding me. Is that appropriate?”
I peer down at Blake’s clothes, and sigh. “Josh, are you done?”
He rises from the couch, running his hands through his hair. “I don’t even know where to begin. I don’t want you dating Blake; he’s not good for you.”
“I understand you want to play the part of overprotective brother right now, but I’m an adult and I can date whomever I want.”
“You don’t know him the way I do. Plus, he’s not the type of distraction you need with school.”
I throw my hands up, halting his words. “You need to let me live my life, Josh. I thank my lucky stars for you every day, but you have to let this one go. You need to let me get hurt sometimes.”
Josh shakes his head as he paces. “Skyler, I know you think you know what you’re talking about, but you don’t. Blake has slept with most of West Hollywood!”
His words send me into a rage. As if I don’t know of Blake’s previous escapades.
“You’re being such a fucking hypocrite!”
Josh stumbles back a bit, shocked by my sudden outburst, but shoots back with the same level of anger. “How the hell am I being a hypocrite? I asked you to do one fucking thing, Skye! And that asshole of a best friend of mine. I did it for the both of you.”
I snort, disgusted by his words. “What about Vanessa?”
His brows knit together, confused, but still riled up. “What do you mean by that?”
“Don’t you think it’s kind of like the pot calling the kettle black here, Josh? Except you didn’t even give me a chance to tell you no. You tell me not to touch or consider your best friend. Well hell, Josh, you went and did the exact thing without a thought, not even considering that it might bother me.”
He sputters, “You said you were fine with it!”
“The damage had already been done! You were already seeing her! At least I had the decency to let my issues go because I could see she made you happy.”
He grits his teeth, losing his bearings. “Vanessa is different from Blake.”