I’m such an idiot. He loves
me, and he’s always loved me. “I just up and left you. And I fucking threw-” he stops me as his body shifts, and then, he pulls back.
“I knew you’d kick yourself once you found out the truth, so I’ve had it on me since Lucas found it. Even after all of this bullshit, will you still marry me in four years?”
My sobs are now too much. My chest is now restricted so I can’t answer. I just give a nod as he slips his grandmother's ring back onto my finger. “I’m so sorry.” I finally manage.
“You need to stop apologizing. You need to get better so we can figure out a way to fuck that bitch up.” He then presses his lips to mine. Home, he is my home, my heart, and my soul.
“I’ve missed you so much,” I whisper as I nuzzle my head into the nook of his neck.
“I missed you too. We will have to assume from now on that immature assholes will try to get in our way. We need to promise that we will talk instead of believing others at their word. College is just as bad as high school when it comes to skanks and assholes. I promise I will always talk to you first.” He kisses my temple.
“I promise I will always talk to you first, too,” I assure him.
“Good.”
Logan
They kept Hayley in for another twelve hours, but she refused to see the counselor that was assigned to her. They pushed and pushed until I’d finally had enough and told them to back off. Sure, I think she would benefit by speaking to someone, but at least, she has me. I need her to know and to understand that I will never leave her side.
My mind is spinning trying to think of ways to help her, but I can’t come up with a damn thing. Was the girl I love trying to end hers her life because she felt alone? Or had the fight with her father and what that whore Ashleigh did to her push her to her brink?
Never again will she ever feel alone. Never again will something or someone come between us. But then there’s the fact that my dream is to play pro baseball. If I’m drafted, what do we do then? Do I be selfish and beg her to drop out of school and come with me? Or do I suck it up and do what I had always planned to do before she came into my life? Sure, I want to be the one that supports us. I don’t see the point in Hayley pushing herself all so she can attend college. I want to take care of her. I want to be the breadwinner, especially down the track when we do get married and do decide to have a family of our own.
LATER IN THE FOLLOWING afternoon, Lucas returns to pick us up from the hospital to take us home. To our home.
My brother had been working his ass off over the last few hours. He went back to Hayley’s house and retrieved all her belongings and returned them to our home. Where she belongs, with me.
When the discharged papers are signed, I push her out to the entrance of the hospital in a wheelchair. When we climb into the car, I sit in the back seat with Hayley’s head resting in my lap. She’s still tired. The drugs, even though she’d had her stomach pumped, are still in her system.
THE MOMENT LUCAS PULLS the car into our driveway, I let go of a breath. She’s home. She’s home with me. Once the car is pulled to a stop and the engine killed, gently I wake her. “Babe,” I press a kiss to her forehead, and her eyes flutter open.
“Hmm,” she shifts in my lap and looks up at me.
“We’re home.”
She smiles, “Good. I hated that place.” Slowly, she tries to sit up, so I help her. “Shit, everything is back at the other house.” She’s panicking. I need to assure her that everything will be okay.
“Lucas went and got everything you owned along with the Escalade last night. Everything is back in place,” I lean in, kissing her again, “Exactly where it belongs. Come on. I’ll help you up to our bed. You probably need to sleep some more before you feel better.”
CAREFULLY, I CARRY her up the stairs and into our bedroom, laying her in our bed. Things feel somewhat normal again as I pull the blanket up for her. “Where are you going?” she asks, worry written across her features.
Resting on the edge of the bed, I take her hands in mine. “I’m going to get you a bottle of water and something to snack on. You’ve barely eaten in days. Is there a preference?” When I see a stray hair over her eyes, I reach up and brush it out of the way. Even though she’s unwell and pale, she is still the most beautiful woman in the world. I cannot wait to call her my wife.
“Cheese.”
A chuckle leaves my chest. “Cheese?”
She gives me a stiff nod. “Cheese.”
“Okay, then. I will be back with your cheese soon.” I stand, but as I turn to walk away, she pulls on my hand and uses it to yank me back down next to her. “What’s the matter?”
“I’m sorry.” That’s all she says, and I can see that she’s desperately trying to hold back her tears.
Leaning in closer to her, my hand cups the back of her neck and her eyes close. “Hey, you didn’t do anything. The assholes that are going to pay did it all. We know to trust each other. We know that other than the people that live in this house, no one else matters. Let them play their games. We’re smarter than those assholes combined.” I cup her cheek and her eyes open as she leans into my touch. “You and I are good. Let’s just pretend that the last week never happened and go on to be puke-worthy happy together. Deal?” That gets me a laugh.
“Deal.” Again, she pulls me forward and kisses me. “I need a long hot shower. I feel disgusting.”
“Why don’t you do that, I’ll get you some clean clothes and the cheese you want.” Who just sits around and randomly wants cheese? “Do you need any help getting up and into the bathroom?” I stand and pull the covers back.
“I don’t think so.” But she still seems weak. It’s going to take time for her to be herself again, but damn do I miss my Hayley. My Hayley that gives the world the finger. The girl who doesn't care about what others' opinions are. I hope to hell she'll be back with us soon.
When I enter the bathroom, I turn on the water and make sure it’s at the right temperature. I then run around gathering clean clothes and of course, the cheese she wanted so it's ready for when she gets out of the bathroom.
AFTER TEN MINUTES OF hearing the water run, I decide to go in and check on her. She still isn’t feeling great, and I don’t want her to become overtired, but when I walk into the bathroom, I see her sitting on the floor of the shower. “Babe?”
She looks up at me. “I’m fine. I suddenly became dizzy, but I still need to wash my hair, so I slid down the wall. The only problem I have now is that the shampoo is all the way up there.” She points to the wall where it sits out of reach.
"Can I come and help wash your hair?" Any other time I wouldn't ask her permission to enter, but it's been a rough week. I don't want to assume she wants me with her, naked.
"Yes, please."
Once I’ve stripped off my clothing, I open the glass door and climb in with her, and I make sure to gather the shampoo and conditioner. As soon as I slide down the wall, I move her until she’s resting in front of me, her back to my front. My legs on either side of her.
Hayley rests her head against me. I place the bottles down on the gray tiled flooring and wrap my arms around her. I’ve missed her so much it had shattered my soul. Every waking minute all I thought about was this, having her in my arms again.
“I love you,” she whispers as she kisses my hand.
I dip my head forward and press my lips to her neck. “Love you too, babe.”
Hayley cups the back of my thighs and shifts her head until her lips find mine. Those damn lips make me want to forget there’s an outside world. They make me want to forget all our problems and the assholes that try to stand in the way of our relationship.
I run my hand up her arm and cup her cheek, but it isn’t enough for her. Hayley twists her body until she’s in my lap, her legs straddling me.
Desperately, I want her, but I also don’t want her wearing herself out. She tilts her head, and then her lips are on mine. I p
ress until she opens up for me, my tongue runs the length of hers, while her delicate hands take hold of my shoulders.
Hayley’s body presses against mine, rubbing in just the right spots. “Are you still dizzy?” I breathe.
“If I were, I wouldn’t care,” she says before she shuts me up with another mind-blowing kiss. My hands run up her back, and she shoves hers between us, taking me in her grip.
“I missed you,” I say with my lips brushing against hers.
Hayley lifts just enough to then lower herself over me, my eyes close, and we move together. Fuck, I’ve missed her like crazy. Her back arched as her head falls back, her rhythm picking up its pace. My lips move to her neck, and she let go of a moan, she’s so damn sexy, I know how lucky I am to have her. Now all I have to do is keep her.
“Baby,” she whispers.
“Yeah?”
“Don’t ever leave me.”
“Never will I leave you. Never will I stop loving you,” I whisper. Even though we’re young, I know deep down in my heart that we will stay together, she owns me. All of me.
Hayley pulls back, and her smile is full of lust. When her lips return to mine, we continue to love each other until we can’t hold on any longer.
CHAPTER SIX
Hayley
When I woke the next morning, I didn’t bother moving. The last few days had been frustrating, and I had a week of school work to catch up on. The coach has me training four hours a day because of the sessions I’d miss after being in the hospital. And on top of it all, there’s the whole My father is an asshole thing.
Lucas, bless his heart, had been working with the private investigator to get the dirt on my father, and I’d promised him I’d go over what had been dug up with him since Logan's already at his training session.
As I sit up in the bed, the asshole comes flying into the room. “You are so fucking lazy,” he chirps.
“Lucas, you had way more to drink than me last night. How are you so fucking peppy?” I’d had a few bourbons after having shower sex with Logan. Logan didn’t think I should drink, but I needed to unwind.
Lucas hops up on the bed and proceeds to jump, moving me about. “Come on, let’s get this fucker.”
“Are you talking about my father or Ashleigh?” I can't be sure since he’s out to get them both.
He shrugs. “Whichever.
Let’s go!” his feet hit the floor, and a second later, he’s out the door.
“I really hate you sometimes,” I call.
“Don’t lie. You love me.”
As soon as I’d thrown some cold water on my face, brushed my teeth, and got dressed in one of my light summer dresses, I went downstairs to find him at the dining table.
My eyes widen when I see how many photos, and sheets of paper there are laid out before him.
“Can I make a coffee before we get started?” I ask, his eyes are fixed on one sheet in front of him, but he raises his hand and waves me off.
Desperate to see what’s been unearthed, I make two lattes and head back to the dining room and hand him one. “So, whatcha got for me?”
He raises the sheet he’d been focused on, and I begin to read as I sip from my mug. “No fucking way!” I almost squeal. My eyes find his, and the smile he’s wearing tells me this is just the beginning. “When did you get Greg to dig up so much dirt on Ashleigh?”
“When you left us,” he shrugs.
Shit, the realization hits me, and it rocks me to my core. I hadn’t just left Logan. I’d left Lucas too. “I’m sorry, Lucas,” I whisper as an apology.
He shakes his head. “Not your fault. I would have done the same thing.” He then points towards the paper in my hand. “I’ve already ordered a thousand flyers and two banners.”
I look down at the doctor's notes. “No way? Really?”
“Yep, the whole of Orange County is going to know that skanky Ashleigh has gonorrhea. She’ll be run out of town. The printer I contacted has guaranteed they will be here within the week. There’s a hell of a lot more that Greg dug up on her. I have a list I’ve compiled.” He hands me his notepad, and I take a seat. I place my mug down on the table and begin to read.
“Shoplifting charges, DUI arrests, and public intoxication. How the hell is she not in a detention center?” I ask Lucas.
He’s still sifting through papers, but answers, “She has one of the best lawyers in town. The bitch is connected,” but as he says the words, I notice his eyes widen.
“What is it?” I lean forward.
“I think I just found something to help Toni.” His smile is wide. “You may want to be sick after you see this, but it's good.”
“Just tell me.” I lower my head, my forehead now resting on the table.
“It seems that Henry was arrested for solicitation, with a transgender prostitute.”
My head snaps back up, “No. Fucking. Way?” Not only is there solicitation, but a transgender? This is huge. “Bruce Jenner wasn’t available?”
“Don’t you mean Caitlyn Jenner?” Lucas’s brow raised.
"Smartass."
“You know it, let’s keep digging.”
While we sat and read every piece of paper in front of us, the front door opens and closes. “Hello,” Logan calls.
“In the dining room, baby,” I call in return.
A moment later, I have two strong arms wrap around me from behind, and his lips press against my neck, causing my chest to swell and my need for him grows, but I know I have to keep myself focused. “Hey,” he whispers. Damn, I’d spent too much time away from him, all I want to do is drag him up the stairs to our room and have my way with him.
“Hey, yourself.” I turn in my seat, and his lips meet mine.
“Did you find anything?” he whispers, his breath grazing my skin.
Speechless and desperately trying to keep some composure, I opt to point to Lucas so he can answer for me. “What she’s trying to say is that you’ve made her horny and she can’t speak just yet,” Lucas adds, and I nod in agreement.
Logan laughs. “Fine, you tell me what you've found.” He slips his hand into mine, using it to pull me up. When he’s in the seat, he brings me down into his lap. When comfortable, with Logan’s arms wrapped around me, Lucas goes on to tell him about the whole transgender prostitute thing, with my dad, and then he moves onto Ashleigh, but at the very mention of gonorrhea, Logan stiffens, and my smile falls. Shit just got real. I can’t believe I hadn’t thought of it before. Shit!
Lucas looks up, and he can see that our expressions have changed, and it takes a few moments for it to sink in.
“You two had better make doctor’s appointments ASAP!” His focus shifts directly to Logan. “Tell me you wrapped it?” Lucas is mad. So damn mad at Logan.
My heart is pounding in my ears. Never have we used a condom. My mother had the doctors put me on the pill two years ago when my period became irregular, and because the cramps I was experiencing were horrendous. “Always.” I relax a little.
“Still, get tested.”
Moments later, when everything had sunk in, Logan pushed me off his lap, and he walked away. “Where are you going?” Lucas called, but he didn’t answer as he rounded the corner, and a second later, I heard the front door open, and then slam shut. “What a fucking asshole.” I turn my attention back to Lucas. “He doesn’t give a shit about you. Fuck him.”
My eyes begin to well with tears. He just up and left me, and he didn’t say a word. “He doesn’t care about me, does he?” I whisper over the lump in my throat. I know he just told me the answer to my question but for whatever reason, I need to hear it again.
“What are you going to do?” he asks as he reaches over the table and takes my hand in his.
My shoulders shrug. “I’ll test the waters when he returns and go from there.”
Later that night, while I lay in bed, Logan finally came home. He stripped off his clothes, climbed into bed, and when he did, he didn’t face me.
Tea
rs began trickling down the sides of my face. I couldn’t stay there, so I hopped up, gathered some clothes, and went to sleep on the sofa, in the theatre room.
Alone.
Over the next couple of days, I opted to stay in the guest room. I didn't know what I should do and the only reason I hadn't gone back to my parent's house, was because Lucas had begged me not to. He wanted to make sure I wasn't alone. He was an amazing comfort to me, but Logan's lack of love and affection had me at a loss.
Two days later, we're seated in the doctor’s waiting room. I'm feeling nauseous, and Logan is still keeping his distance.
Since the very moment he was told about Ashleigh’s condition, he’s avoided being with me, and he's been acting like this situation is all my fault. Hell, he hasn’t even tried to hold my fucking hand.
As soon as we're called into the doctor’s office, Logan explained the situation. Tests were ordered, and we were told we'd be waiting a couple of days for the results.
when we left the office, I tried talking to Logan, but it was as if he didn’t want to look at me or even speak to me. I felt utterly alone.
Once we’ve arrived back at the house, he changed his clothes and went down to the gym. While he was gone, I packed an overnight bag and headed for the front door.
“Where are you going?” I hear Lucas ask.
Sighing, I turn on my heels and face him. “Logan doesn’t want me here. He hasn’t spoken to me other than one-word answers in days. I’m going, tell him to call me when he’s either ready to apologize or to break up with me. I’m tired, Lucas. I’m tired of him acting like an asshole towards me.” All I want to do is break down and cry.
Lucas comes towards me. “You know that the guilt is killing him, right?”
Nope. “I thought that’s what it was too, but even guilt isn’t an excuse for how he’s treating me. I’m sorry, I can’t do it anymore. I can’t lay next to the man I love with my whole heart and wonder if he still loves me. I’m not feeling any love from him, so I’m going to give him an out. I can't see us coming out of this. I can't see myself being able to push past this. I already have one man in my life that treats me like I don't matter to him, I'm not going to hang around so he can do the same to me.” I turn back and head for the door.
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