Always with You (WIth You Trilogy)

by Sable, R. J.

  “Where are you staying?” Xander cut in before I could protest.

  “We haven’t discussed it,” Jason shrugged, glancing at me. “I figured maybe we could crash at Ben’s house, unless you want to stay with Jake?”

  I thought about it. I really wanted to spend more time with Jake, we’d only just started reconnecting and we’d never been that close before. He’d been an ass to me at school and we’d not really kept in touch much after he moved out. I wanted us to have a better relationship. I wouldn’t have minded staying with Ben or Jake.

  “I don’t mind,” I smiled. “I would like to spend some time with Jake whilst we’re over there though. If there’s time, I mean.”

  “One more thing,” Xander interrupted us and waited until he had my attention before he continued. “Do as you’re told. You don’t like it, I don’t care. Ian trusted me with your safety and you need to trust that the decisions I make are in your best interest.” His eyes pierced mine, still kind but definitely resolute. I knew he meant business.

  “Okay,” I nodded glumly.

  The room fell quiet again and Jason fiddled with the new TV before settling back into the sofa and eating another muffin with me nestled in his side.

  I wasn’t looking forwards to Xander’s fairly strict seeming rules but I understood the reason for it and I figured I could give it my best shot. I’d do pretty much anything to avoid being put in that horrifying situation again.

  Chapter 11

  Friday, 12th July 2013

  I slept almost the entire ride to Newcastle. Xander insisted on driving and Jason sat in the passenger seat so I spread out in the back of the car and caught up on a few hours sleep. I was still waking up with nightmares fairly regularly and it felt like I wasn’t getting anywhere near enough sleep to function on.

  Ben’s graduation ceremony started at 09:30 so we’d had to leave quite early to get there in time during rush hour. By the time we arrived and found parking, Ben was already dressed in his robes and looking very handsome with Hannah on his arm.

  “Check you out!” I beamed once a proud Jason released Ben and it was my turn to hug him.

  He grinned happily back and I turned to greet Hannah.

  “I look kind of dorky,” Ben smiled sheepishly.

  “That’s nothing new, Benji,” Jason retorted with a grin.

  Ben frowned and crossed his arms across his chest. He knew Jason was just kidding. It was obvious Ben was crazy nervous and Jason was trying to put him at ease.

  “You always pulled the dorky thing off,” Jason added, giving his brother a one-armed hug.

  Ben’s frown faltered and he returned the hug.

  “This is Xander,” I explained, noticing Hannah’s eyes on my bulky bodyguard slash babysitter.

  “Nice to meet you,” Hannah replied politely, smiling at him.

  Xander, true to form, remained silent and nodded in reply to her greeting. I studied Xander quietly. I knew what he was doing, I’d spent enough time with him this last week to learn how he operated. His eyes were subtly scanning the crowd of people around us. At first, I hadn’t noticed him doing it. He wasn’t overt or obvious. If I hadn’t spent so much time with him, I never would have noticed it.

  I appreciated that he was doing it subtly. I wasn’t sure if he knew that I’d noticed but I thought he might have been trying to save me from being on edge by being discrete about it. I also appreciated that he really was trying to keep me safe. I knew Ian wouldn’t trust just anyone to protect me in his absence.

  “We best get in there,” Ben said nervously, glancing towards the entrance to the grand hall where the graduation ceremony would take place.

  He clasped Hannah’s hand tightly and brushed his lips against its back. She smiled back at him reassuringly.

  “There’s a really good coffee shop round the corner,” Ben said to Xander whilst we were queuing to get in. “We should be out around twelve.”

  Xander frowned and pulled me aside, away from the others.

  “Not going in there without me,” he grunted, not meeting my eyes because he was looking past me to the crowd.

  “Why not?” I demanded. “You won’t be in my lectures with me.”

  “That’s different,” he shrugged.

  “How?” I asked, my irritation levels rising.

  “Because I’ll have already checked them and we’ll be on familiar turf. It’s too high risk.” He spoke calmly and evenly but he looked annoyed.

  “Xander, it’s Ben’s graduation. I’m not going to miss it. I want to be there for him,” I argued, trying hard not to get irate. We only had three tickets and there was no way I was going to ask Hannah or Jason to miss out so I could take Xander in there.

  “No,” Xander shrugged again.

  “No?” I screeched. “That’s all you have to say? You’re not even going to hear my case?”

  “No,” he repeated.

  “God! You’re such an-”

  “Listen,” he barked. He used a tone of voice I’d not heard before. It oozed self-assured command. This was a man who always got his way. He wasn’t used to being told no. “My job is to protect you. You don’t like it, I don’t give a shit. I promised your brother I’d keep you safe and you’re not going to pull some childish hissy fit and fuck it all up.”

  I swallowed thickly, gaping at him with no words to answer. A childish hissy fit. That’s what he’d called it. I bit back an angry response and forced myself to take a deep breath.

  I wanted to be there for Ben, and watch him receive his Masters degree, but I also wanted to keep my promise to Ian. He was out there somewhere, possibly in danger, and there was no way I was going to go back on my word.

  “Okay,” I mumbled eventually, my eyes down. “I’ll just go explain.”

  I kept my eyes on my feet but I thought I heard Xander sigh with relief.

  “I… I can’t come in,” I said quietly once I was back with the others.

  “What the fuck, Jamie?” Jason demanded, his shoulders tensing and stretching the suit jacket he was wearing.

  Even as irritated and embarrassed as I was, I couldn’t avoid noticing how delicious he looked in a three-piece suit.

  I took Jason’s hand and pulled him away from Ben and Hannah. “Jason, please,” I pleaded. “I’m not happy about it either, but let’s not make a scene. You guys need to get in there.”

  “This is bullshit, Jamie,” Jason groaned. “You should be in there with us. What does he think is going to happen?”

  “I don’t know, Jason. I want to be there for Ben too but he must have his reasons.”

  Jason ran both his hands through his hair and glanced over at Ben who was just about to go through the doors. I pulled him back to the others and gave Ben a hug.

  “I’m sorry, Ben. I’m really proud of you.”

  “Thanks, Jamie,” he smiled kindly. “It’s okay, we’ll celebrate together after.”

  I smiled back and made Jason promise to film the good bits.

  “Where do you want to go?” I asked Xander, still not looking up at him because every time I did, he was crowd scanning.

  He didn’t seem too comfortable being around so many people so I wanted to give him the choice of where we would go for the next three hours.

  “Somewhere quieter,” he answered.

  “I could call my brother?” I offered. “I think he lives close to the campus.”

  Xander nodded and I made the call. The idea of seeing Jake cheered me up a little. I was bummed out that Xander wouldn’t let me watch Ben graduate but at least I could spend some time with my brother.

  He gave us his address and we wandered over to his house whilst I studiously ignored Xander, still annoyed at him for saying no.

  “Hey, Jellybean!” Jake greeted me with a hug as he opened the door.

  “Hey, Jake,” I smiled. “Sorry to drop in unannounced.”

  “You’re always welcome,” he smiled back. “Besides, Danny told me you were coming up to Newcastle.�
��

  “He did?” I asked in surprise. “I didn’t think he was actually paying attention when I talked to him.”

  “You must have caught him between meals,” he chuckled. “This Xander I assume?”

  Xander nodded and shook Jake’s hand. I rolled my eyes when Jake’s back was turned because he knew about the Xander situation and I definitely hadn’t been the one to tell him about it.

  We followed Jake in to see the two Sams sat on his sofa. I hadn’t realised they were his roommates. I smiled awkwardly at them, remembering how rude I’d been last time we met.

  “Come make me a cuppa,” Jake grinned, nudging me towards what appeared to be the kitchen.

  I rolled my eyes at him, openly this time, and then swatted him away when he tried to pinch me. I saw his eyes widen because he wasn’t used to me fighting back. The evil glimmer I was so used to from our time at school flickered in his eyes and I bolted away from him when I saw he was about to tackle me.

  To my delight, Xander grabbed him and put himself between the two of us, his face still not revealing any form of emotion. I found myself wanting to see him drop his walls, just once, just to be reminded that he was in fact human.

  “What the hell, man?” Jake demanded, the evil glimmer turning somewhat more serious.

  Xander didn’t reply but just raised his eyebrow at Jake as if it was completely obvious.

  “We were just messing,” Jake scowled.

  “Just doing my job,” Xander shrugged.

  I moved toward the kettle, dragging Jake with me to defuse the tension.

  “Glorified babysitter,” Jake mumbled under his breath.

  “Jake,” I warned quietly. “Be nice.”

  I glanced at Xander and finally saw him frowning at me. Why do I bother? I tried to be nice and he got pissed off and when I was mean to him and called him an ass, he laughed. I don’t get this guy.

  Chapter 12

  Friday, 12th July 2013

  Once Jake had cooled off a bit, I made tea and coffee and took them into the lounge so the two Sams could have some as well. Jake brought in a packet of biscuits and I resisted making a blood sugar comment because I didn’t want to get into an argument with him.

  “So, Xander,” Jake began, addressing the big guy whilst he grabbed a handful of Jammy Dodgers. “You worked with Ian?”

  Xander nodded.

  “Doing what?” He continued.

  I shot him a warning look because he knew Ian wouldn’t want him prying but he was doing so regardless.

  “SAS,” Xander replied in a bored voice.

  “How long ago?”

  “A while,” Xander answered shortly.

  “Jake, cut it out,” I whined. I didn’t need him putting Xander in an even worse mood. I was the one who had to put up with him twenty-four seven.

  “Alright,” Jake grinned wickedly, turning his attention to me. “How’s Jason?”

  “He’s good,” I smiled, relieved that he’d changed topic. “He’s kinda overprotective since everything though,” I shrugged awkwardly.

  “Doesn’t he trust your nanny?” Jake grinned wickedly and I found myself smirking despite myself.

  I shrugged. “I think he’s just worried.”

  “Does he, like, have to cook for you and shit too?” Jake continued, going back to poking the bear.

  “Jake,” I warned again with a sigh of exasperation.

  He never did grasp the concept of not provoking somebody who could easily break him in half.

  “What?” He feigned innocence. “If you’re gonna get your own man-maid, I want one too.”

  The two Sams, who’d previously been grinning at Jake’s jokes, stopped smiling as they seemed to sense he’d gone too far. I could see that Xander wasn’t going to let him get away with it anymore and the last thing I needed was the two of them getting in a fight.

  I stood up and grabbed Jake’s arm. “A word,” I said through gritted teeth, dragging him towards the hallway.

  He scowled at me as soon as we left the room and made his way up the stairs, radiating anger with every step. I quickly realised that I might have made a mistake by dragging him out of the room like that. Anxiously, I followed him up to his room, made nervous by the expression of irritation on his face.

  “Jake, I-” I started, unsure how I was going to defuse the situation.

  “Don’t, Jelly,” Jake warned, stalking to his bed and throwing himself down onto it. He held up his hand, signalling me to stay quiet.

  Jake suffered from the same short fuse that beset Karl. I could tell he was struggling with it now and I wasn’t sure why. He usually had no issue venting at me.

  “I didn’t mean to make you mad, Jake,” I apologised quietly, judging it semi-safe to sit next to him on his double bed. “I’m sorry.”

  Jake sighed deeply and pulled his pillow over his face. “I’m not pissed at you, Jelly, I’m just…” He pulled the pillow away and looked over at me. “Never mind.”

  “You can talk to me, you know,” I reassured him, squeezing his hand gently.

  I wanted Jake and I to have a better relationship. I knew everything that had happened had shaken him almost as much as it had me but I wanted it to bring us closer, not push us further apart.

  “You’re so sweet it’s sickening sometimes, you know that?” Jake grinned, throwing the pillow at me.

  “Thanks?” I raised my eyebrow at him and he chuckled.

  “So what’s with Xander?” He asked, obviously unwilling to talk about whatever was really bothering him.

  I shrugged. “He doesn’t talk much unless he’s telling me what to do.”

  “So, it’s like being at home?” Jake grinned.

  “Pretty much,” I admitted with a small sigh. “Except when you guys do it, you’re usually nice about it.”

  He raised his eyebrow like he didn’t really believe me. “So, what? He just follows you around everywhere?”

  “Whilst frowning or smirking,” I admitted.

  “Sounds like fun,” he said sarcastically.

  “Yeah,” I sighed. “But if you could avoid winding him up, that’d be great.”

  “I’ll try, but I can’t promise anything. In case you haven’t noticed, I’m hilarious,” he said seriously.

  I laughed and gave him a hug before following him back downstairs to the lounge.

  “So are we allowed to talk to your sister now, Jake?” Ginger Sam goaded.

  I felt Jake stiffen next to me and decided to head him off before he could turn into a hothead again.

  “Of course you are,” I smiled. “Right, Jake?” I hit him playfully on the thigh and he responded by hitting me back and almost giving me a dead leg.

  “Shit, I didn’t mean that, Jelly,” he panicked, watching me rub my sore thigh.

  “Relax, Jake,” I reassured him. “I don’t think it counts if I start it.”

  “Doubt Ian would give a shit,” he said bitterly.

  “What do you mean by that?” I frowned.

  “Nothing.” He shrugged it off.

  I could tell it wasn’t “nothing” but he still looked pissed and I’d already lucked out by calming him down once and I wasn’t willing to risk my luck a second time.

  He did eventually calm down when the two Sams promised to buy him beer and a burger that night. They clearly knew Jake well. With his mood improved, he fetched his guitar and started fiddling with it whilst we watched MTV.

  “So, Xander,” Jake grinned mischievously. “My baby sister giving you any trouble?”

  I shot him an irritated glare which just made him grin more broadly.

  “She’s pocket-sized.” Xander raised an eyebrow, clearly under the impression that I couldn’t cause him any problems.

  I glared at Xander but bit back a retort because it didn’t seem worth it.

  “Good point,” Jake grinned, nudging me with his elbow.

  I ignored him and tried to feign massive interest in MTV and think about Jason.

  �
��So, is Ian paying you or something?” Jake continued.

  He always did have a big mouth. I felt my cheeks burning and elbowed Jake back, silently pleading with him to shut up.

  “I mean, why are you doing this?” Jake pressed when Xander ignored his question.

  “Owe Ian a favour,” Xander shrugged again. The same answer I’d heard before.

  “What for?” Jake continued

  “Jake!” I snapped. “That’s none of our business.” He knew that Ian liked to keep his work private. Ian would be annoyed if he knew Jake was trying to dig around in his life.

  “She’s right,” Xander frowned, giving Jake an angry stare which was about on par with the ones the twins gave us when we pissed them off. Unfortunately for Xander, Jake was pretty much immune to glares like that. Water off a duck’s back.

  “What? Did you two pinky swear on it or something?” Jake goaded. “Did your periods synch up and shit?”

  “Jake, that’s enough,” I said anxiously.

  To my surprise, Xander actually laughed.

  “You’re a lot like your brother,” Xander chuckled, quickly pulling his face back into its former expressionless form. “He saved my life.”

  “Really?” Jake and I both asked, our interest peaking.

  Xander nodded. “Took a bullet for me.”

  “Woah,” Jake’s eyes widened, both impressed and horrified.

  “Ian’s scar,” I whispered, more to myself than anyone else. I hated that scar on his chest. It was a reminder that Ian wasn’t the invincible superhero I’d thought he was as a child.

  Xander nodded again, his expression still impassive. “Least I can do to keep you safe whilst he’s gone.”

  There was an awed silence in the room as the idea that Ian had almost sacrificed his life for a friend sank in.

  “Thanks,” I said eventually, because what else could I say?

  “Surprised Ian didn’t tell you,” Xander shrugged.

  “He doesn’t talk about work much,” Jake explained.

  “And I didn’t find out about you until ten minutes before you arrived,” I added.

  Another nod, he may even have showed a little contemplation before becoming impassive again.