Beautiful Lessons

by Rebecca Brooke

  She nods and I drop my hand to take a hold of hers. “Seona, for so long I’d been the object of rumors and lies, wanting nothing more than to finish this year and get away from it all. Then you walked into my life.” I chuckle for a moment. “I should say, forced your way in, but I’ve never been as happy as I was during the months we spent together. I won’t lie to you,” I say squeezing her hand. “You broke my heart that day and what scared me more than anything, was when I realized that you were the only one who had the power to do that. When you showed up on my doorstep that day, I let my fear get the best of me. I didn’t want to go through that again, so I went to meet with Alyssa.” Her eyes darken, and I know what I’m saying is causing her pain, but I know it needs to be said for us to move on.

  “Alyssa was safe. Someone, who in all of the shit of the last year, stood by me. She was the one person I knew would never hurt me, but Alyssa and I were never together. She always has and always will only be my best friend. And after what she told me tonight, maybe I led her on and maybe that makes me an asshole, but my heart was in pieces.” Reaching my hand up, I cup the side of her face, wiping away a tear with my thumb. “I don’t love Alyssa that way. Never have, never will.”

  The question is there in her eyes and before she gets a chance to ask it, I answer her. “She knows I left to look for you. Actually, it was Alyssa who told me to come get you. She knows it will never be any more than a friendship between the two of us. So even though I may not completely deserve it, will you forgive me for being so stupid?”

  Throwing her arms around me, practically knocking me down, she yells, “of course.”

  Throwing her arms around me, practically knocking me down, she yells, “of course.”

  “I have something for you,” I whisper.

  She gasps and lifts her head. “What is it?”

  Stepping away, I turn back towards the guitar case and pull out the box I’ve been holding since that disastrous day her father showed up.

  “I wanted to give this to you a while ago, but whenever thing happened I couldn’t bring myself to get rid of it. I guess somewhere in the back of my mind, I hoped this day would come.”

  Carefully, she takes the box from my hands and lifts the lid. “Oh my god,” she breathes. Her shimmering eyes lift to mine. “It’s beautiful.”

  Lifting the bracelet out of the box, I connect it around her wrist.

  “Jayceon, I don’t know what to say.” She picks up the charm, twisting it in her fingers.

  Cupping her face with my hand, I wipe away a tear. “Don’t say anything. I want you to have it.”

  There’s something in me that needs to be closer to her.

  There’s something in me that needs to be closer to her. I don’t want to push her too hard. The second she lets go, I stand and hold my hand out to her. “Can I have this dance?”

  Tentatively, she places her hand in mine. Dropping my phone into the dock, I choose Lullaby by The Spill Canvas and pull her into my arms. This song makes me think of Seona every single time it plays.

  “You look beautiful tonight,” I whisper in her ear.

  “I could say the same about you.” Her hands slide up to wrap around my neck.

  For that moment, as we dance and stare into each other’s eyes, the past few months are just a bad memory. Something that will be gone tomorrow when we wake up. That’s exactly how I want it. Our bodies move in time to the music and as the song is ending, I don’t want to let her go.

  “Will you come upstairs with me? I’m not ready to let you go.”

  She doesn’t say anything, just nods her head against my chest. Tipping her chin up, I see her eyes filled with unshed tears. It hurts to see her this way. “Why the tears?”

  It takes a second to answer, as I see her wrestling for control of her emotions. “Because I never thought I would be here with you like this again.”

  “Oh babe, you couldn’t get rid of me now if you tried,” I promise, holding her even tighter.

  After a few seconds, she pulls away and takes my hand, pulling me up the stairs behind her. The minute the door to my room closes, she presses herself against me, placing her lips on mine. It’s a soft, simple kiss, but it sets my body on fire. I try to keep it under control. The problem is, having not touched Seona in a few months, my need for her is almost overwhelming. To keep myself sane, I attempt to put some distance between us. This wasn’t my intention when I suggested we come up here, but now it’s all I can think about.

  The moment I try to pull away, she sinks her hand into my hair, holding my mouth to hers. I’m lost the second her tongue slips out to caress my lips. With a groan, I take possession of the kiss, pushing my tongue into her mouth, drowning in the taste of her. It hasn’t changed at all, not that I really expected it to. This is wrong, I tell myself and pull away from her.

  “Seona…”

  This time it’s her turn to stop me from talking. “Shh, it’s okay. I want to have this with you.”

  “I feel like I’m taking advantage of you.”

  “You’re not, just answer me one question.” She looks a bit uncomfortable and I realize why the moment the question drops from her lips. “Have you been with anyone else?”

  “No. I haven’t been with anyone since you,” I say, pushing a piece of hair behind her ear.

  “Me neither.”

  Those two words make me feel like dancing around my room. While I know she has a past, from the moment I met her, she’s been mine and it makes me feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

  “I love you,” I say, bringing her body back against mine.

  She smiles. “I love you, too.”

  Taking her by the shoulders, I turn her around and grip the zipper of her dress, pulling it down. The fabric floats to the floor and pools around her feet. Bending down, I press my lips to her shoulder, loving the taste of her honey, sweet smooth skin. Her breathing quickens and at the same time, she reaches up to wrap a hand around my neck.

  “Jayceon,” she sighs.

  Before I turn her around, I let my jacket slip off my shoulders and throw it on the chair in the corner, quickly followed by the bowtie. Taking Seona’s hand, I turn her and lower her to the bed. Her lips are calling to me and I have no intention of ignoring them. Our lips touch and I don’t think I’ve ever been so happy. The feel of small hands on the buttons of my shirt makes me roll to my back to give her better access.

  Straddling my lap, she looks so sexy in her bra, panties and heels. I missed this. I missed her. Once she has all of the buttons undone, I sit up and remove the shirt completely. Her eyes blaze as her gaze travels down my body. “Oh god, you’re as hot as I remembered in my dreams.”

  With no good response to her statement, I lower my head to taste her luscious lips once again. Her body moves against mine in a way that has me straining against the zipper of my pants, dying to be released. Lying back on the bed with her, we continue to kiss, enjoying the feel of each other until I need more. It only takes one hand to pop the hook of her bra, which immediately falls to the side. There’s not a part of Seona that isn’t gorgeous.

  I let my lips make their way down her neck, stopping to suck on each of her nipples before skimming across her stomach. Itching to get all of her clothes off, I dip my fingers into the waistband of her thong and pull it slowly down her legs, knocking her shoes off her feet at the same time. There’s no need to waste any more time with Seona; we are both here, wanting each other. I watch her chest rise and fall as I kick off my shoes and let my pants and boxers drop to the floor.

  “God, you are beautiful.”

  The condoms are still in the drawer next to my bed. Grabbing one out, I return to Seona and let the passion from before start all over again. Her body’s warm against mine and I have no control over my hands as they touch and caress every part of her, making her writhe all over the bed. When my hand slips between her legs, she gasps.

  “Jayceon, please. I can’t take any more,” she pants between labored
breaths.

  There is nothing I can deny this girl, if she wants me, she can have me. Moving on top of her, I find her entrance and slide inside the only place I want to be. The sensations of being with her again, make the heat rise from both of us. There’s no regret, no missing pieces, no broken hearts. It’s just us and the incredible feeling of our bodies sliding against one another.

  Seona reaches her peak first, taking me with her to a place I never want to leave. Not wanting to crush her, I drop to the side and pull her against me. As our bodies calm themselves, I lay there and enjoy the feel of her in my arms.

  “Jayceon?”

  “Yeah?”

  “Promise me something?”

  Looking down into her eyes, I’m wondering what this is all about. “Okay. What is it, babe?”

  “Promise me you’ll never let me use my fears to push you away again.”

  “Not a chance, sweetheart. Next time I’m locking you in your room until you agree to talk to me and I’ll get Travis and Mark to block the door.”

  She laughs. “I have no doubt they would. I can see one standing outside my window, too.”

  I had to join in her laughter for a moment. “Seona, I love you with all my heart. Never doubt that. Please don’t push me away again because it will never be what is better for me. You are the best thing for me.”

  “I won’t. I’m here to stay no matter what. I finally found a place where I belong and it’s with you.”

  “It’s exactly where I want you to be.”

  Chapter 34

  Seona

  Packing the last of my things, I look around my room and sit on the bed. Grabbing my teddy bear, the one Jayceon won me, I hold it to my chest and think about the last few weeks. Since the night we got back together, Jayceon’s been amazing. It’s as if we never broke up. A storm of emotions surrounded us. We shut out that chapter of our relationship, the chapter I’d like to call mistakes, and are moving forward to the future. It’s funny how one look can make you change your way of thinking. He makes me feel whole, like the missing puzzle piece I’ve been looking for. Jayceon looks at me differently, but not in the way that scares me. In his eyes, in mine too, we’ve changed each other for the better.

  “Got everything you need?” I turn and see my dad coming into my room. He takes a seat on my bed and looks around my nearly empty room.

  “I do.” I smile, turning to face him.

  Mark rubs his hands together and keeps his head down. I’ve never seen him like this. My usually strong and confident father looks scared and sad.

  “Daddy?”

  “When I first found out about you,” he sighs. “I wished every day I could hold you and never let you go.” Tears come down my eyes. “I prayed every night that you had a good life and maybe one day we’d be reunited. I know that life hasn’t been easy,” he pauses and takes a breath. “I know that you’ve grown up and you’re ready to take on the world, but dammit I’m not.”

  “I know and I’m not either, but Dad, I haven’t been the easiest. I caused you and Travis so much stress.”

  Mark gets up from my bed and walks over to where I’m sitting. He takes my hand and looks at me. “Seona, you made our lives complete. You made your brother happy and gave me the chance to be your father. You gave me the role of worrying about my baby girl in this world. No, sweetheart, you didn’t make our lives miserable or stressful. You made it better.”

  Damn you, Dad! I don’t want to cry! “I don’t know what to say.”

  “Promise me something, Seona.”

  “Anything.”

  “Promise me that you’re going to fight every day and you won’t give up. You are my daughter and you will achieve your dreams. If you feel down or you want to give up, you call me or Travis, you got it?”

  “Yes, sir.” I smile. “I love you, Daddy.”

  “I love you too.” He kisses the top of my hand. “Now that my little girl’s going off to college in New York City,” his voice gets lower, “with her boyfriend, I might add.” He closes his eyes and his grip gets a little tighter. “Please don’t make me a grandfather yet. I don’t want to kill the boy.”

  “Ugh! God! Stop!”

  “What? I am not blind, Seona.”

  I cringe. “Please,” I take my hand and lift it in the air, telling him to stop. “Just stop.”

  “Well, you know you need to hear these things and I know…”

  I cut him off. “Daddy, stop. Now. I am a big girl and I know.”

  “Well,” he stands up, “good. I’m gonna go finish putting your things in the U-Haul.”

  “You do that,” I laugh. “Thanks again.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart.”

  I open the window to let the July air flow through my room. My life in Texas has been unexpected. I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world. I know it sounds cheesy and a little unrealistic. I should be single, especially since I’m going off to college. There will be so many more people I’ll meet and guys that’ll notice me and maybe I’ll notice them. But when you have someone like Jayceon Ashworth in your life-someone who fights for you and shows you how much he loves you as many times as he can, you don’t let that go. He’s the forever kind of guy.

  I softly laugh, wiping the tear from my eye. It took us both a while to realize how much we meant to each other. The night of prom, we reminded each other a few times and the next weeks after that made everything worth it. Jayceon and I graduated with honors and we’ve been accepted to NYU. In a few minutes we’ll both be in his truck, with Dad and Travis behind us, as we make the journey to our next adventure.

  Lifting myself from the ledge by my window, I look out and see Jayceon getting out of his car. I smile and lean against the wall. I’m here because of him. His love saved me and made me see who I am and my worth. I’m here because he saw the real me, even though I tried being the girl I was used to. No. He didn’t want that girl. He wanted the girl who made him laugh and would lie down under the stars and hold his hand. He wanted to know what I was thinking and my opinion, not just my mouth. I thought my reputation would follow me to Texas, and it did for a few moments; then he came into my life and his green eyes changed it all.

  The beautiful lessons Jayceon is always showing me keep me on the ground. I don’t want to run.

  “Hi, beautiful.” I turn around and see him standing in the doorway. His eyes land on mine and he smiles. “What were you thinking about?”

  Getting up, I walk to Jayceon, wrapping my arms around his waist. Breathing in his manly Jayceon scent, I relax. “Life. How messy everything used to be and the disaster you and I caused. I think about it and realize everything that happened brought us to today. I don’t know how my life would have been if I didn’t pack up my things and come to Texas. It scares me to think I almost never met you.”

  “Now you don’t have to worry,” he tells me, holding me tighter in his arms.

  “I know.” I let him go a little and look up into his captivating green eyes. “Thank you.”

  “For what, beautiful?”

  “For showing me the beautiful lessons of love. I was standing in the rain, and you saved me. You saved me more than once.”

  “I’d do it again in a heartbeat. I love you.”

  “I love you too.” I smile at him. “God, I love you so much.”

  He slightly laughs, kissing the top of my head. “I’m glad we’re doing this together. New York City with my beautiful girlfriend. This is going to be amazing. Thank you for doing this with me and for waiting.”

  “Jayceon,” I sigh. “No matter what or where you go, I’ll always be here by your side. I’ll follow you anywhere. You are it for me and I know it sounds crazy, but I mean it.”

  He holds me tighter and I’m doing my best to hold back the tears. “You don’t know how much that means to me. I know we’ve been through a lot, but I firmly believe the obstacles we had to overcome brought us back together. You’re it for me too, beautiful, and I’m never letting you w
alk away.”

  My heart pounds against my chest. His sweet words are like music to my ears. I know that whenever I’m feeling alone or scared, I can listen to his words and feel okay.

  Our relationship is far from perfect. We’ll go through the bad times and good and that’s okay. I don’t want perfect. Perfect is boring and life with Jayceon, I know, will never be boring.

  “Are you ready to start a new chapter?”

  “I’m ready.”

  Epilogue

  Jayceon

  I’m going to throw up.

  Seona is on her way home and here I am pacing the apartment like an idiot. Her dad was being sent to Germany for three months and she had gone home to see him off. It seemed like a good idea at the time; I even had the chance to talk to Mark before he left, but now I’m not so sure. Pulling out my phone, I send a quick text to the two people who will tell me the truth. It takes less than a second for both replies to come in, almost at the same time.

  Alyssa: She’s going to love it! I want pics

  It took Alyssa and me some time, a lot of talking and apologizing, to get our friendship back on track, but we finally did it. She accepted the fact that Seona was my one and even found the love of her life last year.

  Travis: Stop being a pussy and man up

  Great. Just the advice I need. He’s lucky he’s one of my best friends or I might need to fly home to beat his ass. Then again, I can always text his wife, Erin. She was crazy enough to marry him; I know she’d knock him upside the head for me. As I’m opening a new text message, I hear the front door open and I freeze.

  “Jayceon?” Seona calls out. “Are you home?”

  It’s now or never. “Yeah babe, I’m in the bedroom.”

  There’s plenty of banging coming down the hall as she drags her suitcase behind her. She looks frazzled. Rushing forward, I take the bag from her hand. “Why didn’t you let me come pick you up?”

  She leans up and places a quick kiss on my lips. “Don’t be ridiculous. You had class today and I don’t want you missing any of your senior requirements.”