Statistic

by Dawn Robertson

  “Thank you, I really appreciate it. I genuinely do. Liam doesn’t have much in terms of grandparents, so the whole thing would be new to all of us. But, I would love to take you up on the offer.” I stand up to give her a big hug, because let’s be honest here… she is just the kind of person you want to hug.

  “By the way, are you named after Sleeping Beauty?” Jackson’s mother asks with a chuckle.

  “You know, you are the first person to ever ask me that.” I laugh. “Yes, I am named after Sleeping Beauty. She was my mother’s favorite princess growing up.” While we sit and chit chat, I become increasingly comfortable with Jackson’s mom. Which is really a first because I never had this with Colin’s mom. She was so far away and always so damn bitchy when she did take the time to visit.

  “I hate to interrupt you ladies, but if I don’t get home shortly I am going to turn into a pumpkin.” Jackson appears next to his mother, giving her a kiss on the cheek and reaching his arm out to collect me. I slowly stand up and make my way over to stand next to him.

  “Eager to leave?” I whisper into his ear, discretely trying to hide my comment from his mother. If that is at all possible. He ignores me as he says his goodbyes to his mother and I do the same. She reminds me of our pending date, including Liam, which warms my heart. But, Jackson’s clipped and moody behavior has me the slightest bit worried.

  The drive back to his house is silent. He doesn’t say a word, and this is the first time I have ever seen him upset. I don’t try and initiate a conversation, because I am probably one of the most passive aggressive people you will ever meet. I tip toe around any kind of confrontation and that is exactly where it looks like this is heading.

  As we pull into the driveway of his house, I am already planning on grabbing my weekend bag and heading home. The truck parks and I reach to open the door when Jackson turns in his seat and grabs my wrist. Not tight, or painfully but enough to keep me from opening the door and getting out. He lets go when I stop trying to leave.

  “My brother?” he says as he runs his fingers through his hair and lets out a long labored breath.

  “Jackson, I didn’t know! He was just another guy I talked with, nothing more.” I shouldn’t have to defend myself over something that Jackson had nothing to do with. Something that really wasn’t anything to get huffy puffy over at all.

  “He couldn’t help but rub it in my face all night long.” Jackson says with a pissed off look. “All night long he bragged about you giving him your phone number and how he could have you if he wanted you.”

  “Jackson, he was just trying to get under your skin. He can’t have me and I don’t want him. The only reason I gave him my number was because he was nice and I was deleting my Fish in the Sea profile and I didn’t wanna be rude!” I don’t see why I have to defend myself at all, but I feel like I am being attacked in some way.

  “He isn’t nice. Wait, you deleted your profile?” Jackson’s demeanor slowly changed with my admission.

  “Yes. First off, I am creeped out about this whole online dating thing since someone broke into my house, and then that poor girl got killed. Second, I don’t need to be talking to any other guys. I am HAPPY!” I yell the last word at him as if I am trying to slap him in the face with my words.

  “You are happy?” He asks me.

  “Yes, until you act like a bag of dicks like you are right now!” I huff out the breath I have been holding and open the door to get out. He doesn’t stop me this time and I make my way up the walk to the front door, realizing the door is locked and I don’t have a way to get in until Jackson decides to join me. I am going to give him a whole two minutes before I say fuck it and just start walking home without any of my shit.

  I see him exit the truck, but I look in the opposite direction trying to ignore him. Facing the door, tapping my foot impatiently on the wood of the porch.

  I hear his footsteps come up the stairs, and my heart starts to slam against my chest. His large frame dwarfs me in the moonlight, and I know I shouldn't be scared, but everything scares me these days. Everything.

  His arms wrap around my body, and he presses my body against the front door. His lips a mere inch from my ear as he begins to speak.

  “Aurora, you are mine. I won’t share you with anyone else. Not my brother. Not anyone.” his breath is hot on my ear and I can feel my skin prickle at his touch. “I’m a patient man, Aurora. But I can’t stomach the thought of you with anyone else.”

  My breathing quickens and I can feel his erection pressing against my ass through his pants. The weight he is using to press me against the door lightens and he takes a few steps back, releasing me and running his hands through his hair and scrubbing his hands down his face. “Shit” he mumbles under his breath.

  I step to the side and he unlocks the door and I follow him into the house. I am no longer scared of him, because I know exactly where his intoxicated mind is. Somewhere between loving boyfriend and caveman aching to mark his territory.

  I walk in the house and make my way upstairs to grab my bags so I can leave for the comfort of my own home. Even if it is just for the evening. I think I need that little bit of space. As I round the corner into the bathroom to grab my toiletries, Jackson enters the bathroom behind me.

  “What are you doing?” Jackson asks.

  “I’m packing my stuff. What does it look like I’m doing?”

  “It looks like you are trying to leave.”

  “Very smart observation, Jackson.”

  “That isn’t happening.” his hips press me against the bathroom counter and again, I can feel the hardness of his erection pressing against the crack of my ass. I shouldn’t be excited by this, but I am. I should push him away and continue what I am doing. Leave and go home just like I want to. But, the longer he pins me to the counter, the more I actually want him. My emotions are a hot damn mess.

  “I’m gonna take what’s mine. You are mine, Aurora. You know it. I know it.” His hands push the skirt of my dress up, and pull my panties down in one quick movement. I let out a gasp, completely shocked by his actions.

  His hands come around on either side of my body, essentially trapping me against the counter, one grabbing my wrist and the other starts pulling at his own pants. I look up in the mirror to see the determined look on his face as he frees himself from his pants.

  Our eyes lock for a moment and I feel his hard cock push against my entrance. I let out a whimper as he pushes his way inside me, our eyes still locked in the mirror. He watches me closely, taking in every movement, sound, and expression that crosses my face as he takes me right there in his bathroom.

  “You are mine, Aurora.” He grunts out in between thrusts. I want to be mad, but it all feels so good and if I am being completely honest with myself, I love how he is getting all alpha male. Claiming me as his own. Branding me from the inside out. Fucking my pussy and marking it with his own seed.

  “Say it, Aurora. Say that you are mine.” he says as he continues to thrust in and out of me. “Say it,” he coos into my ear. Begging me to make that admission once again.

  I go back and forth in my mind as he continues to claim me. Do I really want to give him that power right now? Do I want him to know how much I truly do belong to him already? Or do I want to keep this stupid childish charade going on and push his buttons even further. Because clearly his brother got under his skin tonight.

  “I’m yours, Jackson. Only yours. I belong to you.” I say with staggered breaths as he continues to take me against the bathroom counter. “My pussy belongs to you. My heart belongs to you.” I yell as I feel my climax starting to bare down on me.

  “You are mine.” he says as he grunts one more time, and I feel his come flood the inside of my vagina.

  “Yes, I am yours.” I say, as I turn my head to kiss him.

  Jackson

  I can’t keep myself in check anymore.

  I have argued with him about her repeatedly. Over and over again. But I just can’t win. S
he is his and there is nothing I can do to change that right now.

  I am dying to feel her flesh under my fingers. Grabbing, squeezing, and scratching.

  I need her like I need oxygen to stay alive.

  She doesn’t belong to him. She is mine and she has been since the day that I laid my eyes on her. I don’t know why she thinks she can escape me. Why she thinks that she can just do whatever she wants with whoever she wants.

  It won’t be long.

  I am coming for her.

  I only hope that this time, she won’t fight me.

  Because I would hate to hurt her the way I hurt the others.

  I wanted to pitch a fit and leave Jackson for the night. But, I couldn’t. I had no right to be mad at him for the way he found out I had once talked with his brother on a dating site. The reality of it all was… out of all the men I had spoken with and dated, he was the last man who would be a threat to him.

  So I stayed. After he bent me over like a two-cent hooker in his bathroom, essentially staking his claim to me, I slept in his arms for the entire night. Resting my head on his chest, he was still sound asleep. I listened to his heart beat against his chest and just enjoyed the peace and quiet the early morning hours provided me. For the first time in a while I was finally finding peace. I wasn’t scared about some nutcase creeping in the shadows. I wasn’t worried about losing or finding love. I wasn’t worried about that shitty dating site or if work was going to provide me enough clients to continue paying my bills.

  For the first time since early in my marriage to Colin, life was good. Calm. Peaceful. And I was genuinely happy. Not the kind of happy where you put on a fake face and smile for those around you. But the kind of happy when you find yourself smiling without even thinking about it. Humming while you are doing laundry or cleaning the house because you are actually that content with life.

  Jackson just fit into my life perfectly. He filled a void I didn’t even realize I had. His family was warm and welcoming. His mother most of all, accepting me for who I am and welcoming my son into the fold without even the opportunity to meet him. I can’t help but look forward to the moments I will be able to spend with them. As a family.

  Jackson moved under my head, and I slowly get up hoping not to disturb him anymore on my way to the bathroom.

  “Going somewhere?” he asks with a sleepy tone as he rolls over to investigate where I am heading.

  “Just goin’ to the bathroom. Go back to sleep.” I say, and make my way to finally empty my bladder. I waited as long as I could. I didn’t want to bother him because he looked so peaceful. Content, as long as he was touching me in the bed.

  When I return to the bedroom, he is sitting up in bed scrolling through his cell phone, typing away and catching up on whatever it is he needs to. He smiles when I return to the room wearing nothing but his t-shirt from the night before.

  “You know, I really love you in my clothes. I think I am going to hide everything else you brought to the house so you have to wear that all day long.” he laughs as he nods in the direction of the bed.

  “I told you to go back to sleep. It’s still so early.” Looking at the alarm clock next to the bed, it only reads quarter after seven.

  “I’m up for the day. I can’t sleep past seven these days. Must be my body’s internal clock.”

  “I have a lot to do over at the house today. What do you say after breakfast you walk me back home and help me out for a little bit?” I smile and hope he is up for building the new bookshelf I’ve had sitting in the box for a full week now. Something about a hammer, and screws don’t really sound too appealing to my new manicure.

  “That works. I have to go across town at noon to pick up some sprinkler system pieces, but it shouldn’t take me more than a half hour.”

  “Whatever works. I will use that time to catch up on some of my work, instead of making you complete my slave labor.” I joke with him, and he laughs.

  Happy. This is what real happiness feels like.

  “I will be back in about a half hour.” Jackson calls from the open front door of my house.

  “See you then! WAIT! Can you grab me a sweet tea from Dustin’s on your way back?” I ask. I’ve been dying for some for the past couple days. I got so used to getting it daily when I still lived in the condo complex but now I am on the other side of town and I don’t have to pass by there on my daily trip to pick up Liam from daycare.

  “That is fine. What time is Colin bringing Liam home tonight?” Jackson asks from the doorway. The two still haven’t met each other and I suggested he stick around tonight to finally break the ice between the two. I’ve met Jillian, so I know who is spending time with our son. I only see it fair for Colin to meet Jackson now that he is going to be spending more time with Liam.

  “They should be here around four. But, you will be back by then.” I say.

  “I should be back no later than one. Come give me some suga’.” he laughs from the doorway and I run to him giving him a kiss on the lips before turning around to go back to the open box of picture frames I am unwrapping for the gorgeous mantel I have to decorate.

  “Don’t miss me too much,” I say as he makes his way out the door. I know I will miss him while he is gone, even if it is just for a few hours. What we have become is the relationship I have always dreamed of and it feels damn good. Minutes later I hear his engine come to life and the car back out of the driveway. I ignore it and continue to unwrap all the photographs I have had framed of Liam over the years.

  His first picture in the hospital. I laugh to see how much he looked like Colin when he was born, when he looks nothing like him today. A picture from his first birthday, covered in the Mickey Mouse birthday cake from head to toe. What a nightmare that was to clean up. I laugh a little to myself thinking about the adorable milestone. Next a picture of his first steps across the living room of the home we shared as a family. His first swing in a swing at the park. The way his face lit up with sheer excitement and fear all at once. The first time he had his face painted like a Dalmatian at the state fair.

  One-by-one I dust the pictures off and place them across the mantel, arranging them in terms of age from left to right. The last picture I pull out is the first picture of me and Liam in my condo. It was our first night officially moved into the small space, and finally out on our own. The ink on my divorce papers was barely dry and even though I had a bright smile on my face, it was fake. I was dying inside knowing that my marriage was over and everything I had with Colin was just a soon to be distant memory.

  It is amazing how far I have been able to come in the time I have been on my own. My personal growth and healing has truly known no bounds. One thing I look back and am grateful for is all the time I took to work on myself, instead of jumping into the arms of another man, any man, quickly like so many other women do. I was able to find myself. Fix myself to an extent and heal enough to love and trust another man again. Jackson was that man and I was over the moon that I found someone I could share my life with without any reservations.

  The front door opens and shuts quickly and I expect to see Jackson standing in the doorway, forgetting something but instead Brent stands with his back resting on the door. He looks tired and worn out.

  “Hey, you okay? You look exhausted.” I make my way across the living room, filled with concern. After hearing about his mother and seeing his condition, it is clear he really just needs someone to take care of him. My motherly instincts kick in, looking to protect yet another person I have allowed to become such a fixture in my life.

  He shakes his head no, but doesn’t say a word. His feet give out from under him and he sits with his knees bent on the floor, back still to the front door. I feel like I should run and call an ambulance, but I stay frozen, observing him and waiting for some kind of a cue as to what I should do. My mind races as I think of ways I can help him, but I have no idea what is actually wrong.

  “Is Max okay?” I ask quietly as I take a couple more steps to
wards him. Only wanting to help the person I now consider my best friend.

  “Yes,” he says quietly without looking up from the floor.

  “What is wrong, Brent? Can I help you?” he shakes his head yes, but doesn’t say a word. He continues to look down at the floor never making eye contact with me.

  “You picked him. You picked them all over me.” His words confuse me. I start to take a few steps backwards from him. His voice is strained, like he wants to cry but his words are all foreign to me. I don’t understand why he would be upset. We talked about this so many times. So, I question him because I feel comfortable and safe enough to engage him in whatever issue he is having.

  “What are you talking about?” I need him to explain himself to me, because I am not following this at all. I thought we had agreed we wouldn’t work as a couple? Did he feel differently about it?

  “You picked the other guys. The guy in the restaurant. The landscaper. Everyone but me, Aurora. You picked everyone but me and Max.” How dare he make this about Max when it has nothing to do with the boy. It has everything to do with two adults who went on one damn date and became great friends.

  “I thought you only wanted to be friends? That is what you told me, Brent. I went by your cue. You know how much both you and Max mean to me. I can’t imagine my life without the two of you!” I continue to walk towards the kitchen, trying to put distance between Brent and myself, as well as find my cell phone. A few feet to the left and I could grab it and text Jackson to come back. I shouldn’t be scared of Brent, but for some odd reason, I am. He isn’t an intimidating man, but there is something off. Something wrong with him.

  “They always turn me down. Girls like you. You are all too good for me. No one ever wants to stay, not since she died.” He mumbles. I grab my phone and send a text to Jackson before Brent notices exactly what I am doing.