“I’ll take good care of it. I promise.”
She places a gentle kiss to my skin, then turns in my arms and settles her perfect little ass against me. I duck my head into her neck and kiss just underneath her ear.
“Night babe.” I whisper.
She yawns and relaxes her body into mine. “Night James.”
Sunlight streams in through the blinds and wakes me from the best dream ever. A dream which has now turned into a nightmare when I hear the deep rumbles coming from downstairs. Tyler and my dad. They’re still fucking cosy. He knew before me, had this time to bond with my dad and it pisses me off that they all came and blindsided me.
Hayley’s laughing voice combines with theirs creating one big happy family without me. I pull Laurel tighter against me and kiss her neck. This right here, is all I need. I’ve technically been on my own since I was eighteen, when dad moved to Spain. Why should anything change now?
Laurel stirs and stretches beside me. She turns onto her back, her hair spread out around the pillow.
“Morning.” She says sleepily.
“Morning gorgeous.” I kiss her lips and lean my head on my hand.
A loud chuckle travels upstairs and straight to my ears making me frown.
“Oh everyone’s up. We should go downstairs.” She throws the covers off and gets out of bed, searching for the t-shirt and shorts she stripped off her body last night. The body that’s completely naked right now.
“Stop looking at me like that.”
“I can’t help it. I need you back in this bed.”
She laughs and kisses my cheek playfully. “Later. We have guests.”
I sigh, and let my head fall back against the pillow. “I’m not happy about this.”
She rests her hand on my thigh.
“I know. I don’t think your dad thought about this at all.” She says truthfully. “I’m kinda pissed myself. But this is supposed to be a happy time for him. Let’s just go and try, okay? For him?”
After a few seconds, I give in. This is still my house, and I’m not going to hide.
The laughter silences immediately when we enter the kitchen. Awkward. As. Fuck.
My dad and Hayley smile at us, and I give my best one back. It’s hardly a smile, I don’t feel it at the moment. I need to clear the air properly with him but that won’t happen in front of anyone else so I’m stuck trying to fake the authenticity until then. It’s still good to see him though. That I’m grateful for.
Tyler coughs and my eyes fall to him immediately sat at the kitchen table next to my dad. It hurts more than I thought to see them together, knowing he’s had my dad when I couldn’t. Through no fault of my own. I guess I just reminded him too much of my mum.
“How did you sleep, abuela?”
That…pet name he has for my girlfriend is going to be knocked out of him if he carries on. I narrow my eyes, but of course it only makes that smirk even more permanent.
“She slept fine, thanks for being so concerned.” I snap, and his eyes flash with satisfaction that he’s got a rise out of me. Again.
“I can imagine.”
Oh shit, he did hear. Laurel’s not going to like that. Her cheeks flush that rosy pink colour but I know my girl, and she won’t let on she’s bothered by it. His eyes drop down the length of her t-shirt and little tight shorts. She’s going to have to be more careful what she wears around the house now he’s here. I wonder how long he’s going to stay for. It’s not like I can kick him out but I can make it damn annoying for him to stay.
“Enough, Tyler. We’re guests.” Hayley frowns over at him and he seems to look repentant at her, but I still notice the slight smile as he brings his eyes back to us. To Laurel.
She walks over to the table and sits down. That’s good. It hides her body from him.
“So, what plans do you have while you’re here?” She asks.
I busy myself with putting the kettle on and making a coffee for Laurel, and a tea for me whilst they talk.
“I’ve got some friends I’d like to take Hayley to meet. It’ll be the first time.”
I laugh inappropriately as I shake my head, and make a noise of stirring the coffee in Laurel’s mug. I meet her at the same time as some friends he hardly ever sees.
“Something funny, son?”
Son. I glance at Tyler whose eyes are watching me, excited, expecting drama. Well whatever I can do to please my new brother, I’ll do.
“Yes, actually.” I chuck the teaspoon in the sink with a loud clanging and turn to my dad crossing my arms over my chest. “You are. This whole thing is. Like one big fucking joke.”
I’m pumped now. My words hurt Hayley. I can see it in her eyes. I didn’t mean to, but I can’t control myself. The anger just pushed the words right out. Laurel’s lack of a filter is rubbing off on me.
“Well, we’ll just leave you to talk about some things. I’m sure you’ve got a lot of things to get off your chest, both of you.” She touches my dad’s arm before she urges Tyler and Laurel out the room. I get a text straight away. Laurel.
Just shout if you need me x
“I didn’t bring you up to be so rude. That wasn’t fair on Hayley.”
It wasn’t. I’ll give him that. But that’s all I’ll give him.
“What’s gotten in to you?” He sits back in the chair, and open his hands out on the table.
How can he look so relaxed?
“You.”
He flinches and shifts in the chair.
“How long have you and Hayley been together?”
Another shift in the chair and he leans forward. “I’ve known her for five years. But we’ve been together for about a year.”
“And Tyler?”
“I’ve known him for about four and a half years.”
His voice holds a hint of sadness. I think he gets it. But it won’t stop me from ramming my point home to him.
“And you didn’t think your only son, deserved to know that before you showed up on his doorstep with her and her son, playing happy families and telling him you were getting married?”
My dad’s a good guy. I know this. But in this moment I struggle to see past the hurt I feel inside. I’m always honest. I don’t play games. Unless they’re sexual games with Laurel. And particularly after learning a very big lesson last year when I nearly lost her, I tell the truth. This just feels like one of those lies that I can’t see any reasoning behind. Why not tell me before he got here? Did he just not think it would bother me?
“You left me here, to start a new life somewhere else and he’s had you for the past four years. What do I get? A phone call on my birthday. A fleeting visit at Christmas. Actually,” I start laughing again. “You haven’t even been back for the last two Christmases. So you’ll have to excuse the fact I’m a little bit pissed off with you. The least you could have done was tell me yourself.”
With each sentence my dad has dropped his head an inch. He’s gone from sitting back confidently in the chair, to hunched over, looking defeated.
“I’m sorry, J.”
He fusses his finger over a knot in the wooden table, and purses his lips. “I’m ashamed to admit I was envious of you.” He shakes his head and lets out a choked laugh. “How pathetic does that sound? I was envious of your strength. My own son’s strength. I don’t know how you did it. But you always seemed so… together.”
I nearly spit out the next words.
“I was eighteen when you left. Eighteen!”
“I know, I know. I’m not proud of it. But look how well you’ve done for yourself.” He gestures to the house and I can’t help but feel that’s how he defends this. Because I have a nice house, it made it okay.
“This is materialistic shit. Yes I have a good job, and a roof over my head, but I was on my own, without a dad, for seven years. You think I wouldn’t give this up to have had you here? Wow,” I laugh. This conversation is far from funny, it’s just ridiculous. “You think very little of me. I was all over the p
lace. I didn’t know who I was, let alone how I felt. I just don’t know how to empathise with what you’re telling me. I just…I just don’t know what to think.”
“I thought you’d do better without me here. I know what you’re like J. You would have worried about me. Tried to fix me. And that’s not what I wanted, or needed. I just needed time. So I got away. And each day I was away, it made it that little bit harder to come back.”
“Out of sight, out of mind.” I mutter, as I realise that’s what I was. Something far away he could just forget about it.
“No! That’s not it. I thought about you every day. You know that. We spoke all the time.”
“Yeah, about crap. Crap that had no actual bearing on real life. On your life. Not once did you even mention you had this whole other relationship out there with her until a couple of months ago, and even then, you didn’t tell me the extent of it. Nothing about Tyler. I don’t even know who I was speaking to all this time.”
“J, please-”
“I’m done with this conversation.” I pour our cold drinks away and leave the mugs in the sink. I just need time to think. But unlike him I’d never just walk away completely.
I don’t even glance at him as I leave the room. “Can I have a word?” I say to Laurel who’s sat on the sofa laughing with Tyler. He’s quickly got himself in there.
“Sure.”
I pull her into the dining room so we’re alone and launch my mouth onto hers.
This is what’s real.
How she makes me feel.
She’s always there for me.
No matter what’s happening, she’ll always be the one I can turn to.
“I need to get out of here for a while.”
She frowns and I kiss her forehead. “Just for the day. Maybe the night too. I’ll try Blake’s. I’m sure Cassie won’t mind, if she’s there.”
“Did it not go well?”
“Not really. I just want to digest stuff by myself. Without having to see any of their faces.”
She nods uncertainly.
“Why don’t you come with me?” I suggest, but I know she won’t.
“I can’t. They’re guests. It wouldn’t be right. Don’t worry about me. I’ll take care of things here.” And this is why I love her. She’s selfless, she thinks about everyone else. Even though I can see in her eyes she’s pissed at my dad, pissed at this whole situation, she’ll take care of them and me at the same time. I’m grateful to her for being so thoughtful. And as soon as I get my head on right, I’ll make sure she knows exactly how much I appreciate her.
I kiss her again and turn towards the door to go and ring Blake.
She grabs hold of my wrist and looks up at me. “We’re okay though, right?”
I don’t like the fact she feels this way. That I’ve made her feel this way. I pull her hand to my lips and kiss across her knuckles.
“Babe, we’re perfect. This is perfect.” I kiss her hand again and then her lips.
“I love you. I don’t know much else, but I do know that.”
She grins and pushes me back out the door. “Good. Just checking. Now get out of here.”
Chapter Ten
Laurel
I say goodbye to James and wander back into the kitchen where Graham and Hayley are sat at the table and Tyler’s leaning against the island in the middle.
This whole thing is just plain awkward but this is my home now, and I feel like if they’re staying here, I need to make an effort to make things right. Between everyone. It’s James’ family after all.
“He’s gone?” Graham asks, and I just nod my head.
Tyler’s mood shifts. “What the fuck? He’s just gone and left?”
“Don’t. You don’t know.” Graham cuts in angrily. “I wasn’t a dad to him when he needed me the most. Ty, just leave it.” Tyler shuts his mouth and turns his attention back to his phone. It’s clear to see Tyler respects him.
“I think we’re going to leave, Laurel. Everyone needs a bit of time. We had originally planned to see friends next week but we’re going to go this week instead. I think a bit of space will do the world of good. It’s not right for James to have to leave his own home. Then we can come back and sort this whole thing out.” Hayley gives me a half smile and I blow out a breath, thankful someone’s speaking some sense. I think that’s exactly what we need. James will come around soon, I’m sure.
Graham and Hayley go and fetch their suitcases from their room. Is Tyler going to go with them? I glance at him as he looks up and he seems to realise what I’m thinking.
“I’ve got shit to do round here. Is it okay if I crash here still?”
It takes me by surprise he still wants to stay even though we didn’t get off to the best start so I don’t answer immediately.
He straightens from the counter, “Sure, yeah I get it. It’s fine. I’ll be happy to leave anyway. This town’s quiet as fuck.”
I shake my head and pat his arm as I walk past him to the sink.
“Tyler, stay. I was just surprised you even asked that’s all.”
“Right. We’ll see you soon.” Graham and Hayley both give me a quick hug and Tyler walks them to the door.
I feel a little more relaxed now they’re both gone. I’ll text James and tell him, but I don’t want him to feel like he has to come back. He needs some guy time. He rarely gets it now he doesn’t go out to get laid with Blake.
I busy myself doing grown-up chores and clean the kitchen top to bottom. I told James I’d make a real effort with this whole room mate thing and he’s so tidy. I don’t want him to think I’m a slob. By midday I’m bored, and I haven’t seen Tyler in between my trips from the kitchen to the bedroom for laundry. I head into the lounge and see him sitting back on the couch staring intently at the T.V.
He’s changed from black sweats to black jeans, and his black t-shirt is showing hints of his tattoos. Doesn’t the man have any colour to his wardrobe?
“You wanna go out? I can show you around town. Or maybe we could go out for lunch?”
He snorts and shakes his head in firm rejection.
“Well we could do something you like then. Pick something.” I flop down sideways on the sofa next to him so I’m facing him.
“Like what?” He turns his head to look at me.
I shrug, “I don’t know, but you’ve been cooped up here all morning. Why don’t we go and have some fun? You do know what that is, don’t you?”
Tyler grunts what I think is a yes, but I can’t be sure.
“Come on.” I nudge his arm with my elbow and flutter my eyelashes. That usually works with guys no matter who they are. It’s gotten me everything I wanted since I was ten years old. Cassie and I were picking apples from Mr Barratt’s garden when he caught us. He was a grumpy old man with a beard and a quick temper, but I later found out that his wife had died, and that’s what made him a hermit. That day was the day we learnt that our long lashes had special powers that could keep us out of trouble.
“Nah got stuff to do.”
I roll my eyes. Yeah it really looks like it, sat on his ass watching television. Alright, he’s going to play it like that.
“Fine, be like that. I’m not going to beg.”
He turns his head to look at me closely, with a sexy smirk that would do funny things to my stomach if I weren’t so hot for someone else. “Well in that case, the answer’s definitely no.” He rises from the sofa hitting standby on the remote and leans down towards me, his voice an octave lower than usual. “I don’t spend any time with women unless they beg.” He licks his lower lip then pulls away and leaves the room, slamming the door shut. I don’t hear anything from him for another couple of hours until there’s a loud bang at the front door, followed by the rumble of a motorbike outside that tells me he’s leaving. I briefly wonder where he’s going, and where he’s from. Where does he live? What does he do? It’s probably dodgy as hell.
Cash under the table.
Maybe he’s a drug dealer.<
br />
Well one thing’s for sure. He’s a miserable git.
I speak to James briefly in the evening and he sounds happier. They’ve been playing on the X-Box, and drinking beer, and doing their whole male bonding stuff. He’s supposed to have tomorrow off too, so we’re going to meet for lunch at a restaurant in town. Then maybe we can get back to this whole living together thing again. That’d be nice.
It feels like my head’s just hit the pillow when my phone rings, snapping me wide awake in an instant. The flashing screen reads Jason. Jason Pullman is my mother’s best friend’s son. I hardly speak to him anymore. We went to school together and were friendly but never friends. He’s also one of just a few policemen in this town. Rowdy youths and drunken old men don’t really need a huge team.
“Hi, Jason.”
“Hey Laurel. Sorry to disturb you so late, but we’re holding someone for being drunk and disorderly and usually we’d keep ‘em overnight but he mumbled your name when we cuffed him, saying you’d come and get him. So I figured I’d let you know. If you wanna vouch for him I’ll let you come and pick him up. The name’s Tyler Reid.”
I want to laugh my head off.
“You’re kidding?” He really must have been drunk to give them my name. Or high. One of the two.
“To be honest he’s only just over the limit of what we could consider drunk. And considering he’s such a big guy, I’m sure it won’t be long before he’s sober. Ish. But he’s got one hell of a temper on him. Shall I let him know you’ll be here? Or do you wanna let him stew?”
I think for a few seconds and decide if I pick him up, he’ll owe me one. And I will definitely collect on that.
“I’ll get him. But do me a favour and don’t let on that I’m coming. I want it to be one huge irritating surprise. I’ll be about half an hour? That okay?”
“That’s fine. He’s sleeping at the moment anyway.”
“Okay great. See you soon, and thanks for ringing, Jason.”
I hang up the phone feeling half frustrated and half over the top smug about picking him up. I gather my hair into a tame mess on top of my head, pull on my sweats, and grab my keys off the hall table. He’s in for one hell of a shock.
Sweet Affection (Truth Book 3) Page 13