Yeah, more than you can imagine.
I sat down at the breakfast bar and watched Brody grab two Cokes out of the fridge. He pulled down two glasses, filled them with ice, and handed one to me along with the can.
“Thanks,” I said, smiling up at him.
He didn’t say anything, and he didn’t smile back. I forced myself not to squirm in my seat. He turned back to the fridge and pulled something out of the freezer. Turning around, he handed me a bag of frozen peas. “You need to ice that.” He gestured to my eye.
“Peas?”
“I don’t know where the ice pack is and I don’t like peas.” He shrugged a shoulder.
I laughed. “Okay, peas it is, then.”
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to change. Make yourself at home.” He jogged up the stairs
I dropped my head on the granite countertop. “Ugh, he’s changing. Distraction. I need one. Now.”
“What?” Brody’s head peeked over the balcony.
“Nothing,” I said a little too fast and loud.
“I thought I heard you say something.”
“Nope.” I smiled, praying he couldn’t see the flaming blush I could feel crawling across my face. I smacked the bag of peas to the side of my face and cringed.
His head disappeared, and I let out the breath I was holding. I dropped the melting bag of peas on the counter and wandered around the family room. My arms were held ramrod straight as I clapped my hands against the sides of my thighs, a nervous habit I’d had since I was a little girl. It made me look like a chicken trying to take flight. That thought threatened to make me giggle so I forced my arms to go limp, putting one hand over my mouth to hold in any laughter that might try to escape.
I came to a collection of eclectic framed photos on a table in the family room. I stood looking at them, picking them up one at a time so I could examine the faces smiling back at me. I smiled when I came to one of a baby smiling at the camera while it ate an ice cream cone. Vanilla ice cream dripped from its chin and onto its bare belly. One chubby hand held the ice cream and the other twirled its dark hair between its fingers, filling it with ice cream.
“It’s you?” I asked when he walked up behind me. He hadn’t said anything, but I knew he was there. My body was becoming more and more in tune with his presence. I could feel his warmth radiating from him, smell his scent, and feel the slightest shift in the air as he moved.
“Yeah. How’d you know I was here?” he asked. I looked over my shoulder and saw his amused grin—one of my favorites out of his many smiles.
I looked back at the photograph and shrugged a shoulder. “Why? Were you trying to sneak up on me, Ace?”
“No, not really.”
“Not really?” I asked, putting the frame back in place on the table.
I felt his hands settle gently on my hips and froze. He hesitated for a few beats. Whether he was giving me a chance to move or was deciding his next move, I didn’t know, but the next thing I felt was his warm breath moving over the back of my neck, then his lips skimming over my skin. Sucking in a breath, I gripped the edge of the table. I felt him smile against my skin just before his fingers dug into my hips. He pulled me closer and placed an open-mouthed kiss on my neck, touching my skin for the briefest moment with his tongue.
“Brody,” I whispered.
He wrapped one arm around my waist, hooking his finger through the belt loop on my jeans. I reached over my head and ran my fingers through his hair, holding his head to me, letting my head fall forward. Brody cursed and pulled me harder against him. He kissed from the back of my neck toward my shoulder. His free hand moved slowly up my arm to the collar of my shirt. When he started moving my collar out of the way, it was as if someone threw a glass of ice water in my face.
“No!” I reached up and brushed his hand away. His grip on me loosened briefly, and I slipped by him. “We… we can’t,” I said, my breath coming in small pants.
He turned and looked at me. First confusion marred his face, and then understanding. “Move your shirt.”
“What?”
“You heard me, Willow. Move your damn shirt.” He took two strides toward me. I backed away from him, bumping into the wall behind me. He stood in front of me, his hands planted on the wall on each side of me, caging me in. “Do it.”
I looked up at the ceiling and bit my lip, trying to decide if there was any way I could distract him from wanting to look under my shirt. Problem was, the only way I could think of was by taking my shirt off—which was exactly what I was trying to avoid. Totally messed up.
I watched him as I reached up and pulled my shirt collar away from my neck far enough that he could see what he already knew was there. He didn’t say anything, but his look turned hard. He reached up and placed his hand over the bruises, moving it around until he found how it fit the pattern. “The other side too?”
I nodded but stayed silent.
“It’s fresh. When? Friday… when you were hit in the eye?” I looked at him, not answering. His fist hit the wall next to my head. I flinched and squeezed my eyes closed. “Damn it, you don’t get to just not answer.”
“I said I wouldn’t lie to you. If I answer, I’ll have to lie.” My voice was strained from the lump in my throat, and I was trying—unsuccessfully—to keep my tears from falling.
Brody let out a loud sound of frustration, almost a growl, and ran his hand up the back of his head, resting his hand on top, his other hand low on his hip. “You are so frustrating.”
“I’m sorry. I’ll just go.” I’d just opened the door to leave when I heard him move behind me. His hand slapped against the wood, pushing the door closed. I stiffened.
“I don’t want you to go,” he murmured close to my ear, kissing the hollow behind it. “I promised you a visit to the mall.” I felt his lips curve into a smile against my skin.
“Yes, you did.”
“Let’s go then. All of a sudden, I have a craving for a blue raspberry slushie.” I looked over my shoulder and gave him a shaky smile. “Okay?” Nodding, I followed him to his Jeep.
When we got to the mall, we met Jenna and Tim in the food court. Jenna looked back and forth between us with a raised eyebrow. “Meet each other in the parking lot?” she asked.
“Sure did,” Brody answered.
“Uh-huh.” Jenna looked at Brody, who was doing a much better job of keeping a straight face than I was.
“The ease with which you’re able to lie is scary, Ace,” I whispered to Brody as we walked from the table to get our slushies.
“What? I wasn’t lying. We did meet in the parking lot. You got out of my Jeep and I met you at the door in the parking lot.”
I laughed. “Okay. Whatever you say.” He reached down and took my hand, folding it in his. I looked down at our intertwined hands.
“Sorry.” He started to let go and I squeezed his hand, holding it in place. We stood in line holding hands and not really caring who might see. When it came time for us to order, Brody ordered two blue raspberry slushies.
When he tried to let go of my hand, I tightened my grip on his. He bent down to my ear and whispered, “I love holding your hand. I really do. You have no idea how much. But I need my hand back so I can pay.”
I shook my head, and he chuckled. “I thought of that already.” I fished in my back pocket, pulled out a twenty, and handed it to the clerk. “See, no reason for you to let go.” I smiled and bumped my hip into him.
“I love how your mind works.” He kissed my temple, and I shivered. “That shiver had nothing to do with your slushie.” Brody smirked.
“Pretty sure of your skills aren’t you, Ace?”
“When your body does that, yeah, I am.”
If he only knew that little shiver isn’t even half of what my body is doing right now.
The four of us sat at a table in the middle of the food court, eating soft pretzels and drinking slushies. We joked and laughed for nearly two hours. I was amazed at how easily Brody fit
in with Tim and Jenna, in a way Jaden never had. In fact, Jaden had never tried to fit in with my friends. It was expected that I make the effort to fit in with his friends. They were the only people that mattered in Jaden’s world—other than himself, of course.
We finally left the food court. Brody and Tim got sidetracked by a music store and Jenna by a makeup counter. While they were preoccupied, I made my way to the T-shirt Factory.
It was a small store filled with racks of T-shirts. Some already had sayings and jokes printed on them, and some were left blank for the customer to design. A person could get something as simple as a saying on the shirt, to something as complex as a drawing or logo. If you could think it up, Mr. Rafferty could get it on a shirt. The walls were covered in samples of T-shirts that he’d made. One of my designs was even hanging up.
Mr. Rafferty smiled when he saw me. “Back for another one, huh Willow? I swear you keep me in business.” He chuckled.
“Yeah, just can’t get enough.”
“Nice shiner. Everything okay?”
I raised my fingers to my eye. I’d almost forgotten about it. Glancing over at Mr. Rafferty, who was probably my grandfather’s age and looked like a bald Santa Clause, I shrugged a shoulder and said, “Just took an elbow in gym class.”
“Gotta watch out for those stray elbows. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Actually, I’m ready. I want to get a long-sleeved shirt in this burgundy color with this printed on the front.” I handed him a piece of paper.
He read it and glanced at me. “Okay. I don’t get it, but I don’t get much of what you kids want these days.” Shaking his head, he walked to the back of the store. “Give me fifteen minutes,” he called over his shoulder.
“Thanks. I’ll be back.”
I found Jenna, Tim, and Brody sitting on a bench outside the music store. “Hey, where were you?” Brody asked, walking over and taking my hand.
“I know where she was. The T-shirt Factory. Right, Willow?” Jenna smiled.
“Yeah. I have to go back in fifteen minutes.”
“Why didn’t you let us go with you?” Brody look down at me.
“Because I don’t want you to know what it’s says until it’s done.”
Brody quirked an eyebrow at me and smirked. “Should we be alone?”
I laughed. “No, Ace. Nice try though.”
After I picked up my shirt, Jenna and Tim followed us to Brody’s Jeep. Jenna forgot what part of the lot she’d parked in, and Brody offered to drive her around until she found her car.
“I thought you were paying attention, Tim,” Jenna snapped as we walked to the Jeep.
“You drove. You should have been watching where you parked.” Tim rolled his eyes.
“Yeah, I was driving. That means you weren’t doing anything but riding, so you had less to do. That means you should be able to remember where the car is.” Jenna threw up her arms and let out a frustrated breath.
“They’re a match made in Heaven,” I whispered to Brody. He laughed. Jenna and Tim rolled their eyes at me.
“Show us your shirt,” Jenna said when we reached the Jeep.
“Not now.” I shoved the bag under my arm.
“Yeah, I want to see it,” Brody said.
“I don’t want you to see it until I’m wearing it, and there’s nowhere to change here. I’ll wear it to school tomorrow.”
“So change in the Jeep. The windows are tinted,” Jenna said. I looked at her with my mouth open. “What?” She shrugged. “They won’t look.” She waved her hand at Brody and Tim.
“Yeah, Willow, change in the Jeep.” Brody’s blue eyes sparkled with a hint of a dare as he let his keys fall from his hand and dangle from his fingers in front of me. “I won’t look. Much.”
I glanced at the windows and back at the three of them. Jenna’s eyebrows were raised; she was completely daring me to do it. Tim looked bored. If it didn’t have to do with chess, it really didn’t get him going. And Brody looked amused.
“Fine. Give me those.” I swiped the keys from Brody. “You better not look.” I pointed at him.
“Wouldn’t dream of it.”
I climbed in the back of the Jeep and quickly switched from one shirt to the other, smoothing the new one in place before getting out of the SUV. “Okay.”
I felt a little stupid standing in the middle of the parking lot while three people read words plastered across my boobs, but there I was.
Brody laughed as soon as he saw me. Jenna and Tim looked at me and said, “Huh?” in unison.
“‘Movies in the back of Jeeps do it better.’ What the hell does that mean?” Jenna said, looking at the back of the T-shirt for the punch line.
“Just an inside joke,” I said, biting my bottom lip to keep from laughing.
Jenna looked at my face, which I’m sure was beet red, and then at Brody, who was still laughing. “Uh-huh. Inside joke. Nice color. Really matches Brody’s Jeep.” She pointed between my shirt and the Jeep.
Brody doubled over with laughter.
Tuesday. I woke up to my phone chiming that I had a text message. Groaning, I pulled my quilt over my head. I still had twenty minutes before my alarm was set to go off. I’d just started drifting back to sleep when my phone chimed a second time. I flipped the quilt off and grabbed my phone. Whoever was texting me was not going to like my response. Then I read the name and smiled. Except him. For him, I’d make an exception.
Brody: Good morning, beautiful.
Me: Hey, Ace.
Brody: Were you awake?
Me: No, but this is a nice way to wake up.
Brody: Ick. Too sappy for this early.
Me: What’s up?
Brody: Wear something funny.
Me: Weird request. I’m game.
Brody: Later.
Me: Bye.
Wear something funny? What does he think is funny this early in the morning besides waking me up to tell me I’m too sappy? Guys. God’s way of letting women know He has a sense of humor.
I pulled out a blue, long-sleeved T-shirt and a pair of black jeans. Jenna was going to have a fit. It was technically my day to dress normal, but Brody’s request outweighed Jenna’s, so funny T-shirt it was.
I showered, doing my hair and makeup before getting dressed. Grabbing my blue converse tennis shoes and my book bag, I was just walking out the door when my phone chimed. I looked at the screen, expecting a text from Brody. My heart stopped when I read the name across the top of the message. My hands turned clammy and started to shake. I was so dizzy I had to sit on the bottom step of the staircase before I fell.
There was just one line, but it was going to change everything.
I stared at the text, willing my breathing to calm. I could feel myself start to hyperventilate. Tears pressed at the back of my eyes and, for the first time, I realized something. I was happy, happier than I’d been in months, maybe more than a year. And then another truth slammed into me like a linebacker on Jaden’s football team. The message I was staring at was going to rip that happiness away.
Jaden: Someone saw you at the mall yesterday.
The letters started to swirl and blur as my eyes filled with tears. My head pounded in sync with the blood rushing behind my ears. I sucked in two deep breaths, letting them out slowly to calm my rapidly fraying nerves. One thought was in the forefront of my mind—I had to warn Brody.
I tried to call him as I drove to school, but my call bounced to voicemail. I hung up without leaving a message. Pushing the speed limit, I drove through yellow lights and rolled through stop signs. I was lucky there weren’t any cops around, or I would have gotten one helluva ticket.
I parked in the student parking lot, not caring I took two spaces, and hurried into the building, sliding to a stop when I saw Jaden leaning against my locker. I’d prayed that he’d just let it go. That he’d use this as an excuse to break up with me. Play the part of the jilted boyfriend. Smear my name all over school. I wouldn’t have cared. I’d be fr
ee of him. That was all that would’ve mattered.
But I’d known deep in my gut that he wouldn’t. He’d make me suffer for the embarrassment I caused him. Breaking up with me would be too easy. He’d want to hurt me—the sadistic streak running through his dark soul wouldn’t let him walk away. This was a game to him. One that had just become a lot more fun.
“I don’t know what was going on at the mall and I don’t care. But it’s gonna stop. Now. From now on, I’ll walk you to and from your classes. You’ll sit with me at lunch—the entire lunch period. Karen will stay and watch your chess practices and tournaments while I’m at football practices, and you will be required to attend all of my football games. If you need a ride to the away games, Karen will drive you.”
Jaden paused and scratched his thumb over his bottom lip. “I know you share a lot of classes with Brody Victor. I’ve already made arrangements with friends to keep an eye on you during those classes to make sure you don’t overstep any boundaries. I feel these new guidelines will help keep you in line. There will be no discussion and no negotiations. This is how it will be. Period. And in case you’re wondering, I’ve had a chat with Ralph. He agrees with my terms. Thinks I’m being more than fair considering your behavior. So do we understand each other?”
I didn’t know what to say. I was completely blindsided. I nodded my understanding more out of shock than actual acceptance.
“Good. I’m glad you are going to be sensible about this.” He grabbed my arm, pulling me behind him to my biology class. Jaden jerked me to a stop next to my seat, and I stumbled into it. He stood next to my table until the first bell rang, and then he left without a word.
Brody leaned over to say something to me. I shook my head, but I didn’t look at him. He pulled back. I could see him watching me out of the corner of my eyes. Taking my notebook out of my bag, I scrawled a note across a page.
Jaden found out about us at the mall. His friends are watching. We can talk on the phone or text later.
When the bell rang after class, I gathered my things. I hadn’t even left the classroom and Jaden was there to walk me to my next class. It continued all day.
Unspeakable (Freedom Series Book 1) Page 16