Rising from the Ashes

by Jessica Prince

  Humor was evident on his face, but I still cringed slightly at the mention of Jeremy’s behavior toward Ben.

  “Yeah. I’m really sorry about that. I’m gonna have a talk with him.”

  Ben gave me a good-natured smile. “Nah, you don’t have to do that. I understand where he’s coming from.”

  “Ha! Well, how about you fill me in? Because, apparently I don’t, and alpha isn’t a language I’m fluent in.”

  Ben leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers. The look on his face said he was about to school me on all things male. “Well, you see, young grasshopper—”

  I immediately interrupted him. “Oh, gag! Spare me the Karate Kid bullshit.”

  “Okay, fine. In a nutshell, Jeremy has/currently is/or wants to sleep with you. Any man who thinks that way about a woman will automatically get possessive when he feels like another guy is encroaching on what he assumes is his.”

  “But you aren’t encroaching on anything. We’re just friends.”

  “Doesn’t matter. That’s just how we function. If a member of the opposite sex is talking to our woman, it’s in our DNA to view that man as a threat. I’m pretty sure there are medical journals and scientific studies out there that back up my theory.”

  I remained silent for several seconds, thinking about what he’d said. I could only come up with one response. “Penises make y’all stupid.”

  “That’s why we’re the weaker sex,” he replied with a grin.

  I threw my head back and laughed. “At least you’re willing to admit it.”

  “Well, if he’s the reason for your good mood today, I’m happy for you.”

  I stood, smiling brightly at Ben, as I started toward the door. “He is, and thank you.”

  “You’re welcome, Savannah. I’m just glad to see you happy.”

  And I really was. For the first time in years, I was one hundred percent genuinely happy.

  “Get a move on, sugar. We’re already late,” Jeremy hollered from the living room.

  I was running around my bedroom in nothing but my bra and a pair of jeans, freaking out. I would have been perfectly content to spend all evening in bed with Jeremy. But was I ever that lucky? Of course not.

  “Not that I don’t love what you already have on, but you show up to my folks’ house like that, and Pops is liable to go into cardiac arrest.”

  I turned to see Jeremy casually leaning against the doorway of my bedroom, like he didn’t have a care in the world, and threw him an evil look. Dinner with Jeremy’s family—I’d done it a million times when we dated in the past, but that had been years ago. After we’d broken up, I’d only seen members of his family here and there around town. They were always pleasant, but I knew they hated how things had ended between us.

  “I don’t have anything to wear.” I pouted. “I can’t go.”

  Rolling his eyes, Jeremy pushed off the doorframe and made his way over to my closet. “I find that hard to believe, considering it looks like the entire Cloverleaf mall is in your closet.”

  He wasn’t kidding. I had a serious retail-therapy issue, but that didn’t mean I had anything appropriate to wear to a family dinner at my boyfriend’s parents’ house.

  “What about this right here?”

  He held up a top that said Classy Girls Say Fuck that I’d gotten as a gift from Brett on my last birthday.

  “Yes, because nothing says, ‘I’m a suitable girlfriend for your son,’ like a shirt with the word fuck in eight inch hot-pink letters.” I threw myself down on my bed with an exaggerated sigh.

  I felt the bed dip with Jeremy’s weight, and then his fingers began to lightly trail across my stomach.

  “It’s not like this is the first time you’re meeting my folks, Savvy. Hell, you were practically part of the family when we were dating.”

  “Yeah, but that was a lifetime ago, honey. I wouldn’t be surprised if they hated me for dumping you and breaking your heart.”

  I could feel Jeremy’s body shaking in silent laughter. “They don’t hate you, baby. They hated that we broke up because they loved you like a daughter, but they never hated you. Besides, none of that matters anymore. We’re together now, and it’s gonna stay that way.” With that, he hopped off the bed and pulled me up after him. “Now, put on a damn shirt before I rip off what little you’re wearing and make us even later.”

  Ten minutes later, we were in Jeremy’s pickup, heading toward his parents’ house. I was pretty happy with my decision of an ivory silk camisole that flowed slightly and a coral-colored jacket with cuffed sleeves. Paired with jeans and tan heels, it was the perfect combination of dressy and casual.

  “So, who all is coming to dinner?” I asked, wondering exactly how many of Jeremy’s siblings were going to be in attendance.

  I prayed it wasn’t all of them. The Matthews were amazing people, but Jeremy had three brothers and a sister. How his parents managed with five kids was beyond me, but having four boys? No, thank you. They were loud and boisterous by themselves. Getting them all together in one room had a tendency to become overwhelming.

  “Well, Olivia’s school hasn’t let out for winter break yet, so she’s still in Louisiana, and Daniel had to go out of town for some conference, so they won’t be there.”

  Olivia was Jeremy’s little sister. At nineteen, she was the youngest. Add the fact that she was the only girl stuck with four overbearing older brothers, and it didn’t take a genius to guess how difficult life had been for her growing up. To say they were protective was an understatement. Poor Olivia had to go to college in Louisiana just to get a date.

  Daniel was thirty-five and the oldest of all the kids. He’d gone on to medical school, and was currently working at a hospital in Houston’s Medical Center.

  That meant Chris and Michael were coming. Three out of five wouldn’t seem that bad, but between just those two, Jeremy had five nieces and nephews. Five! That didn’t even count the other four kids that Daniel had.

  It wasn’t hard to see why Jeremy was all about a big family. At that thought, I was hit with a twinge of sadness.

  Jeremy must have sensed the change in my mood and interpreted it to be nerves because he reached for my hand and shot me a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay, baby. You’ll see. Everyone’s excited to see you again.”

  I knew the smile I gave him didn’t quite meet my eyes, but I just couldn’t muster up anything more genuine at that point.

  A few minutes later, we pulled up in the driveway of Jeremy’s childhood home. The red brick house was just as I remembered it. With a porch that extended the length of it and the same white shutters, I was instantly hit with memories from my past. I’d spent so much time at this house, soaking in all the love that was missing in my own home. I almost forgot how much Jeremy’s family meant to me growing up, especially his mom. Everything I’d never received from my own mother, Mrs. Matthews had given me in spades.

  God, I missed her.

  Before my nerves had a chance to take over, the front door was thrown open, and she came flying out, straight toward Jeremy’s truck. For a woman who had given birth to five kids, she was such a tiny little thing. She was all of five feet tall with a sleek bob that was the same reddish-brown color as Jeremy’s. The only sign of her age was the smattering of gray hair lightly spread throughout it.

  I didn’t even have time to blink before the passenger door was flung open, and I was wrapped up in her familiar arms. “Savvy, honey, I’ve missed you so much!”

  I let out a laugh and returned her hug, squeezing her back just as tight. The scent of lavender wafted up, and any anxiety I’d felt earlier was washed away by the familiarity. My arms constricted, hugging her even tighter, before I finally let her go and stepped out of the truck.

  “I missed you too, Mrs. Matthews.”

  “Pffft, what’s this Mrs. Matthews business? You’re family, sweetheart. It’s Kathy.”

  My breath hitched, and I had to fight to hold back the tears. To still con
sider me as part of her family after so long was even more proof of what a phenomenal woman she truly was.

  I’m not gonna cry. I’m not gonna cry.

  She grabbed hold of my forearms and stepped back to look me up and down. “Look at you—just as beautiful as ever. You look absolutely stunning.”

  She smiled up at me, her brown eyes glimmering, and I was reminded where Jeremy got his eyes from.

  “You look beautiful too, Kathy. Thank you for inviting me.”

  She linked her arm through mine and started leading me to the house. “Of course you’re invited. I’m just so thrilled you and Jer got your heads outta your asses long enough to see what was good for y’all.”

  “Jeez, Mom, how about we at least get in the house before you start in on us?”

  I turned and gave Jeremy a wink from over my shoulder.

  Just as we crossed the threshold, I heard a booming voice coming from the kitchen.

  “Is that my sunflower?”

  I squealed in excitement and started jumping up and down as Jeremy’s dad rounded the corner.

  “Burt!” I hollered, launching myself at the giant teddy bear of a man.

  “Sunflower!” he replied as he scooped me up and started spinning me around.

  Jeremy’s hair and eyes might have come from his mom, but he’d gotten everything else from his dad. Burt Matthews was definitely a handsome man. Standing well over six feet, he was all broad shoulders and muscular arms. His midsection might have gained a little paunch over the years, but it didn’t detract from the fact that he’d most definitely been a lady-killer back in the day. Jeremy was built just like him—well, with the exception of his dad’s extra weight around the middle.

  I’d totally forgotten about Burt’s nickname for me. He’d started calling me sunflower when Jeremy and I were just kids, and for the longest time, I’d thought it was because of my blonde hair. That was before he told me that I shined like the sun and lit up all their lives when I was around. I loved him calling me sunflower almost as much as I loved when Jeremy called me sugar.

  “How you doin’, darlin’?” he drawled as he put my feet back on the ground. “We’ve missed you something fierce around here.”

  “I’m so sorry I waited seven years to see y’all again.” I could feel the tears welling up. To my horror, my voice cracked, and everyone standing by me knew I was about to lose it.

  “Hey now, sunflower, it’s okay.” Burt pulled me back into his barrel chest and squeezed gently. “We understood, darlin’. We’re just glad you and Jeremy came to your senses. It’s nice to have you back.”

  I pulled away and ran my fingers under my eyes to fix any smudged mascara. “It’s so good to be back,” I whispered.

  Sensing I needed a change of subject, Jeremy wrapped his arms around my waist from behind and pulled me to him. “Don’t be tryin’ to steal my woman, Pop,” he said with a smile in his voice.

  I could see the pride shining in both of their eyes as they looked at me and Jeremy together.

  How did I ever walk away from all these wonderful people?

  Then, just like anytime I started to feel happy, I was hit with an ugly reminder. I’d walked away because I couldn’t risk seeing the disappointment on their faces if they found out what I’d done. Walking away had been easier than letting them down. I couldn’t stand the idea of that.

  I was pulled from my ruminations by the sound of Burt’s deep belly laugh.

  “Wouldn’t dream of it, son,” Burt replied as he wrapped an arm around Kathy’s shoulders. “Got everything I need right here.”

  The love that they had for each other was written all over them. Not many people were lucky enough to have that, and all I could do was hope I hadn’t ruined my chance at having the same thing with Jeremy.

  A loud thundering sound caught my attention, and I turned just in time to see four kids come flying into the living room like a destructive hurricane.

  “Eww, Poppy’s kissin’ on Granny!” one of them yelled.

  “Uncle Jeremy smells like butt crack!” another shouted.

  That was quickly followed by, “Get back here, you little monsters!”

  All four kids let out delighted shrieks loud enough to break every window in the house, and ran from the living room just as Chris and Michael came after them.

  Chris was the second youngest at only twenty-three, but he’d married his high school sweetheart, Michelle, right after graduation. From what Jeremy had said, they were insanely happy. They had a three-year-old boy and a newborn baby girl, the only girl out of the whole bunch. I’d been an only child growing up, and I didn’t have any close family, so I’d never really gotten the chance to be around babies. I was kind of excited about meeting her.

  Michael was thirty-two, and had been married to Sandra for the past ten years, so I’d gotten to know her pretty well before Jeremy and I broke up. She was one tough woman, mainly because she had to be. Michael and Sandra were the parents of the remaining three children—all boys ranging from ages seven to two. Sandra was my kind of people, all attitude on the outside but with a soft, caring center. I really liked her.

  “Savannah!” Chris and Michael both yelled and immediately stopped chasing after the kiddos to engulf me in a group hug.

  And just like that, it was like I hadn’t been gone for the past seven years.

  “What’s your name?” Cameron, Michael’s four-year-old son, asked.

  I smiled at the adorable towheaded boy. “I’m Savannah, but all my friends call me Savvy.”

  His face scrunched up like he’d just smelled something disgusting. “Why they call you that?” he asked. “That’s a stupid name.”

  “You’re a stupid name!” Johnny yelled at Cameron.

  Johnny was Chris and Michelle’s three-year-old son—the one who had informed everybody that Jeremy smelled like butt crack.

  “Am not!” Cameron hollered back. “Mama, Cam said I’m a stupid name. Make him take it back!”

  “Are too, poop face!”

  I sat there with Jeremy, both of us trying to suppress our laughter, as the kids went back and forth, and the adults tried to holler over them with threats of time-outs, no TV, and no Christmas. Michael even went as far as pulling out his cell phone and threatening to call Santa. All that did was send the kids into a fit of hysterical tears while Sandra threatened to murder him for making the situation worse.

  Dinner was eventful to say the least.

  As the evening passed and we moved the party into the living room, I soaked in as much of the family dynamic as I could. I hadn’t grown up in a home with so much love, and I wanted to experience as much as possible.

  I sat in a rocker, snuggled up with baby Caitlyn, while chatting with Burt and the women as Jeremy and his brothers wrestled on the floor with the boys, trying to expel as much of their energy as possible.

  Staring down at that beautiful little girl, I felt an ache inside my chest that I’d worked years to ignore. Guilt pushed its way to the surface as I tilted my head down to inhale that wonderful baby powder scent that all babies seemed to have. She began to stir in my arms, so I ran my fingers over her downy hair to try and comfort her.

  My eyes lifted to catch Jeremy staring at me with a huge smile on his face, and I couldn’t help but question if I deserved the happiness I’d been feeling since we had gotten back together.

  Shoving those painful feelings deep down, I summoned up a half-hearted smile, hoping he couldn’t notice the sorrow I was feeling shining in my eyes.

  When Jeremy finally called it a night, Caitlyn had fallen asleep in my arms. I was so exhausted from the emotional turn I’d experienced that I was ready to leave. We said good-bye to everyone, and I spent the whole ride to my house trying to pull myself out of the self-induced funk I was in.

  If I knew anything, it was that there was one sure-fire way to get my mind off of all the bad things swirling around. He might not have known it right then, but Jeremy was definitely about to get lucky.


  “Oh God, Jeremy, I’m close.”

  Thank Christ! “That’s it, baby,” I replied, trying to coax her orgasm out of her.

  If she didn’t come soon, I was liable to explode. The girl was riding me like it was an Olympic event, and she was going for gold. And considering I was seconds away from blowing harder than I’d ever had before, she deserved it!

  I sat up, wrapped my lips around a gorgeous pink nipple, and began to suck, knowing how sensitive it was. I could feel her clenching tighter around me. I knew she was close, so I reached up and wrapped her hair around my hand and pulled just hard enough to make her scream.

  “Oh FUCK! Baby!”

  The sexy noises coming from her pushed me over right after her, causing me to moan her name like a friggin’ prayer until there was nothing left. My girl fucked like a dream, that was for sure. She milked every last drop until I collapsed back onto her bed and pulled her down with me.

  “Holy shit,” she whispered into my neck once she caught her breath. “It gets better every damn time. I think you just about killed me.”

  If she hadn’t just wrung me dry, I probably would have jumped out of bed and run naked through the streets, letting everyone know I’d fucked Savannah Morgan to near death. “The feeling’s mutual, sugar. I feel like I should write you a thank-you card or something.”

  She bit my chest playfully and let out a quiet laugh. “In lieu of thank-you cards, I’ll accept monetary donations.”

  I leaned up and nipped at her shoulder. “Ah…like a hooker.”

  She smacked me on the arm and sat up, still straddling my hips and giving me an amazing view of her perfect body. “High priced call girl—get it right.”

  I sat up and gave her a smacking kiss before falling back down. I still hadn’t fully recuperated.

  “I had a nice time tonight,” she said as she ran her fingertips in random patterns over my chest. “I didn’t realize how much I missed your parents.”

  I looked at my beautiful girl and smiled. “You think we could refrain from any talk of parents while I’m still inside you?”