“Mom’s recipe. She and your mom put together a little box of their own recipes.”
“That was nice of them.” He takes a bite of salad. “Can I take some back with me?”
“Yeah,” I say, then add jokingly, “I know the cafeteria food is only good for one thing.”
He breaks out into a huge grin. I smile for the first time since last night.
“I miss that smile, Parker.” He lays his fork on his plate. “I’m sorry—“
I shake my head. “I’d like to not lose my appetite while I still have one.”
“Whatever you want.”
“How was the flight yesterday?” I ask, making small talk.
We spend the rest of dinner talking about the road trip and the upcoming tournament starting Sunday. We discuss going home for Thanksgiving while doing the dishes.
“Do you want to leave tomorrow night or Thursday morning?” he asks, passing me the salad bowl to dry.
“Early Thursday morning.”
“Do I get to stay the night tomorrow?” He dries his hands on a towel.
“I don’t know.” I place the bowl in a bottom cabinet, then open the drawer above, fishing out a set of keys. He cups his hand and I drop them.
“Does this mean…?” He allows the question to drift off.
“No. It means I’m giving you your set of keys to our apartment and trusting you to respect whatever I decide.”
He leads me to the futon and sits, turning his body to the side so his left leg is in front of him. I sit mirroring him, my hand still in his.
Keep an open mind.
He makes unwavering eye contact with me. “Her name is Amanda Dickerson. Everyone calls her Mandy. You were right. I do know her well. I met her at the end of ninth grade at the mall one day. I was already not looking forward to Summer Break, because it meant not seeing you for three months.
“She was bubbly and being with her took my mind off you. We wound up going to a movie before leaving the mall. I don’t even remember what movie, because we were making out for most of it. I saw her almost every day after that. A few weeks later, I slept with her. She was my first. I wasn’t hers.”
My jaw slackens and I cover my mouth with my other hand for a moment, then drop it in my lap. It never occurred to me that he might have had sex with his ex-girlfriends. How stupid of me for not asking.
I remove my hand from his and weave my fingers together, playing with my ring as he continues.
“When I met her, I was able to stop thinking about you all the time. I thought I was over you, so I was moving on in my own way. But the longer I was with her, the more I realized I didn’t really like her. I liked that she was a distraction from you. I still wanted you.
“We ran into each other at that party after I moved into the dorms, and she latched on to me. I hadn’t seen her since breaking up with her, because she went to Del Mar High. I told her about you and she still pursues me like I’m an option.”
I swallow the lump in my throat. “Who else did you sleep with?”
“Becky.”
That explains her relentless pursuit of Jason. “Who else?”
“No one. Just Amanda and Becky. I meant it when I broke up with Becky that you were the only one I wanted.”
“Then why go out with her?”
“Because I was immature and I did stupid things.” He runs a hand through his hair then cups the back of his neck. He drops his hand before continuing. “I was still missing you and I wound up hooking up with Becky as another distraction. I was unhappy, Parker. It doesn’t excuse what I did, but that’s how it was for me.”
“And yesterday?”
“Just like I told you. Mandy threw herself at me.”
“I saw your hands on her.”
“I was trying to push her away. Her waist was the only place I could put my hands since her arms were around my neck.” He reclaims my hand, “I should have told you all this before. Back when I broke up with Becky. But you had so much going on, I thought it would cause more harm.”
“We were always friends first, J. I know I was upset when you dated other girls, but it’s because you were flirting with me at the same time. It sent me mixed signals and reinforced things Simon told me.”
“I’ve never seen you as damaged. Not once. Anyone damaged couldn’t come to school day after day and face the world while wearing those invisible scars. The horror in your life growing up made you real and the most beautiful girl I know. Most girls pretend to be anyone but themselves. You have always been you. You never tried to be anyone but you.
“You’re incredibly resilient. You stood up to your parents, to your sister, to people at school, to social workers, to me. A truly damaged person couldn’t do that.”
Tears streak down my face as the truth of his words sinks in.
He swipes the tears away with his thumb, then runs his fingers through my hair to cradle my head. “You never took shit from me. Whatever I dished out, you gave back. I love that about you. Everyone else was quick appease me so I’d like them more. You thought for yourself and had your opinions without caring what other people thought of them.
“You’re this amazing force of nature that rushes over me when I’m with you. I truly love you, Sara Allison Jericho. Always and forever.
“I can’t promise I’ll never fuck up again. We both know I will. I can promise that I am and will be faithful to you. You mean too much to me to throw it all away.”
“I should have asked you about the other girls,” I say, rubbing my hands against my thighs. “You’re lucky to have a roommate who thinks of you as a brother.”
“What did Tommy say?”
“That I should keep an open mind and shouldn’t throw away the last four years. That if we’re getting married, we need to work through all the crap together. Hunter and Arissa agree with him.”
He grins. “Does this mean you’re willing to work through the crap?”
“Yes.”
He brings my hand up and kisses my palm. “Thank you, Parker.”
“You, Dad, and Hunter are the men I trust most in this world. No more secrets. All the cards on the table now. If you think I can’t handle it, just remember how resilient I am.”
“I promise. There’s nothing else.” He draws me onto his lap, cupping the back of my neck with his free hand and descending upon my mouth with fervor.
I run my hands into his hair and break away, shaking my head. “Too soon,” I say, climbing off his lap.
He doesn’t argue or attempt to tug me back to him. “The guys would love to see you if you want to come back with me tonight for a bit. Or tomorrow.”
“Tonight would probably be better if we’re going to leave early Thursday.”
Jason puts the leftovers away in the mini-fridge and his duffel in his room while Tommy and I lean against the wall outside talking.
“Seriously?” he asks.
“That’s why she won’t leave him alone. The other girl, Becky, wouldn’t leave us alone either. Which makes sense why now, but didn’t back then.”
“I’ll say.”
“Thanks again. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t be standing here right now. Hell, my biological parents physically fought with each other and verbally abused each other. I didn’t exactly have great role models.”
“But you do now with your adoptive parents,” he states.
A woman in a white t-shirt and shorts blazes by. Tommy whips around and seizes her upper arm before she can get through the door. “Nuh uh. You’re not going in there,” he says to her.
“Tommy, I just want to talk to him,” she whines.
“No. You’re going to talk to her,” he says, pointing to me with his free hand.
“This is her?” I ask.
I take a closer look. Her eyelids are coated thick with eye shadow. The pink painting her cheek and lips is the wrong shade of bright on her. Her light brown eyes are lost behind the excessive eyeliner. Her dirt blonde hair is pulled back into a ponyt
ail and her bangs drop in a straight edge to her brow.
“Who is she? Why do I have to talk to her?” she asks.
I push off the wall and take a step towards her with my arms crossed, keeping my voice even. “Because I’m Jason’s fiancée and you’re trying to sabotage our relationship. If you don’t leave him alone, you’ll have to deal with me.”
Her jaw drops, then closes just as fast. She wrenches out of Tommy’s grasp and lifts her chin in the air.
“What’s going on?” Jason asks, stepping outside. Confusion transforms to dread on his face.
“Your girlfriend just threatened me!” Mandy screams.
Jason turns to me and I shrug a shoulder with indifference coursing through me. He sets his gaze back to her. “Get out of here and leave me alone, Mandy. I don’t want to have to tell you again,” he says, not stern enough in my opinion.
He has a lot of compassion for others unless they pose a direct threat to himself or his loved ones. I love this trait of his, but it makes it difficult for him to take a stand in these situations, explaining part of the reason why Mandy won’t leave him alone.
“Does she know about us?” she asks.
“I do,” I answer for him, taking charge, “and like I said, if you don’t leave him alone, you’re going to have to deal with me. Just because you slept with him doesn’t mean he loves you still.” I knit my brow. “What was it you said she was? A distraction, right?”
His eyes go wide. “Parker!“
I raise my hand up to stop him and look back at Mandy. “All you were was a distraction to him because in truth, he always loved me. Never you.”
“You’re going to wish you were never born!” she screams.
“Someone already beat you to that.”
Mandy lunges for me, but Tommy grabs her by the arm again and hauls her back.
“Fuck! Let me go, Tommy!” She struggles under his grip.
“Only if you promise to leave all of us alone.”
“Fine! Let me go!”
Tommy releases her and she storms off.
“You fight dirty,” he says, grinning and raising his hand. I meet his high five and smile.
“Parker, what the hell was that?” Jason asks, his eyes narrowed at me.
I cross my arms in front of me again. “Doing something you should have done.”
Tommy slips inside.
“That was cruel and uncharacteristic,” he points out.
“Maybe.”
“Are you taking your anger out on her instead of me?”
“I don’t know, J,” I answer, annoyed. “Are you trying to pick a fight with me?”
“No, but you give barbs,” he replies, the tension increasing in his voice with each word. “You don’t go for the dig, then twist it.”
“What was I supposed to do?” I throw my arms out. “She was trying to waltz into your room right in front of me.”
“You didn’t have to be so heartless.”
Sarcasm sharpens my tongue. “Oh, and harassing you is kind?”
We stare at each other, agitated. I’m still hurt and he’s struggling to keep himself together since Mike’s death. We can’t keep this up and expect to be unscathed at the end. One of us has to walk away. “I’m going home.”
I step inside and grab my purse. “Bye, Tommy.”
“Leaving so soon?” he asks, the confusion plain on his face.
“Yeah. Ask your roommate. I’ll talk to you later.”
I walk back out to Jason waiting with his hands planted on his hips. “Parker—“
“I can’t do this emotional roller coaster right now,” I interrupt.
“And you think I can? I still miss my dad every day.” He jabs his finger into his chest. “Add that to what you’re feeling right now and that’s how I feel,” he says, anger adding an edge to his tone, then pointing to me. “You don’t have the corner market on hard knocks. You’re not the only one who’s suffered.” He pauses a breath. “You didn’t want to be sheltered. You wanted to face things. Or is that just when it’s on your terms and it doesn’t include me?
“You can’t keep punishing me for a mistake I made when I was trying to keep you safe. You’ve always been my first priority.”
His words sting and the truth of them drives in deep. “Jas—“
“You think this is easy?” he asks, raising his voice. “It’s not. I was depressed up here without you. After Dad died, I didn’t think I would make it. I can’t do this alone, but you need to trust me. I’ve proven myself to you many times over. You said you could forgive me anything, Parker. This is anything. Walking out on me when we disagree about how you treated Mandy won’t solve anything.”
Despite knowing how right he is, I can’t stop myself from pushing against the wrath he is directing at me. “Your stalker,” I say, my tone harsh. I know it’s wrong as soon as I say it. He didn’t ask for Mandy to stalk him. He sure as hell didn’t ask for me to give him shit for it either.
“She’s still a person, Parker! She still has thoughts and feelings just like we do no matter how twist—“
His head jerks to the right and his body crumples. I drop my purse and catch his head, cradling it in my arms as he hits the ground.
Mandy looms over us with a bat in her hands and a deranged grin on her face.
CHAPTER EIGHTY-FOUR
“Tommy!” I scream, vaulting over Jason’s limp body, tackling Mandy low. My shoulder hits her hip while my arms wrap around her legs. The bat flies out of her hands and clangs against the wall as we hit the ground.
“What— Oh my God. Derek!” he shouts. “Call nine-one-one! Ambulance and police! And Coach! It’s J!”
“Is he breathing?” I ask, looking back at him kneeling next to Jason.
Tommy checks for a pulse and then bends over Jason’s face while watching his chest. “He has a pulse and he’s breathing.”
Mandy attempts to kick out from me, but fails. She then resorts to raining her fists down on my back. Her pummeling is nothing compared to Simon’s. Tommy springs up and heaves her to her feet, then hooks her arms behind her back.
I have to see for myself. I spin around on my knees and brush Jason’s hair back around the point of impact. No blood. Tears fall and I lean in close. “I’m so sorry, J. I don’t know what got into me. Please, wake up. Please.”
I slide my hand into his and lay my head on his chest, feeling the slow rise and fall of his breathing and his familiar heartbeat.
“I made the calls. Holy shit!” Derek yells, dropping to the ground on the other side of Jason. “What the fuck happened?”
I sit up, tears still falling. “We were arguing and she snuck up behind him and hit him with a bat.”
“And I’d do it again!” she yells.
I level a glare at her. “You shut your fucking mouth!”
“Now you can’t have him either.” She laughs maniacally.
I push my hands on the concrete to rise and Derek presses his hand on my shoulder. “She’s not worth it,” he whispers.
“I don’t even know what he sees in you,” she taunts.
“Shut the fuck up,” Tommy says, jerking her back to make his point clear.
I slip Jason’s phone out of his pocket and dial.
“Hi, honey. Are you coming home tomorrow night?”
“Alana, it’s me.”
“Sara?” she asks. Her bewilderment switches to fright with her next question. “What’s wrong?”
“Jason was attacked,” I answer, struggling to keep my voice even. “He’s unconscious and an ambulance is on the way.”
“Who? How?”
“His ex-girlfriend hit him in the head with a bat from behind while we were fighting.”
I hear her suck in a breath. “You checked his breathing and pulse?”
“Tommy did. I just had my head on his chest. His breathing and heartbeat are slow.”
“Roll him on his side.”
“But what about his spine?”
�
�That will be nothing compared to him asphyxiating if he vomits. I’m his mother, and a nurse, and I’m telling you to roll him on his side,” she demands, then explains how to position him.
“Okay. Give me a minute.” I set the phone down next to me. “Help me roll him towards you,” I tell Derek.
“What?”
“His mom is a nurse, Derek.”
He position’s Jason’s left arm next to his head. “Ready?” he asks.
I nod. We count together, then Derek pulls Jason towards him while I push.
I place his right arm down his abdomen, then pick up the phone. “Done.”
“I’m coming up.”
I recognize her do-not-argue-with-me tone. “I don’t know where they’re going to take him, Alana.”
“I’m guessing UCLA Med Center. If it ends up being somewhere else leave a message on my cell. Otherwise, that’s where I’m heading.”
“I don’t think you should be driving that far alone while worried, Alana.”
“I’ll call your parents, honey. I’ll see you in a few hours.”
I hang up and pocket the phone.
The wail of sirens stops behind the building. Two officers round the corner and stop in their tracks, surveying us.
“What happened?” the short one asks.
“She hit him with that bat,” I answer.
“You saw this?” the tall one asks next.
“I saw her behind him with the bat in her hands after he fell and she admitted she would do it again.”
Tall Officer takes Mandy from Tommy, pressing her against the wall and frisking her before handcuffing her. The paramedics round the corner, wheeling a stretcher between them.
“What happened?” the female with a ponytail asks, brushing Derek aside. Her partner moves next to me.
I repeat the incident for the fourth time as I push to my feet and step out of their way. They roll him onto his back and check his pulse and eyes.
“Did his head hit the ground?” the male asks.
“No, I caught him.”
Ponytail Paramedic glances up. “Good reflexes.”
“Is he going to be okay?”
“I can’t say for sure, but if you were able to catch him, you may have reduced the injuries we normally see.”
Family Ties Page 35