I hopped back into my Land Rover with a grin plastered on my face. West’s residence is a five-minute drive away, and I knocked gleefully before I was lifted into the air by big muscular arms.
“Bobbie,” Jack squirmed like a girl, but his voice was too deep to be a girl. “Looking good, kiddo.” He put me down and ruffled my hair.
“You’re not so bad yourself, Jacky,” I said while taking his look in. He was more buff than before, he could probably crush hollow blocks with those muscular biceps. “You sure beat Dwayne Johnson in the gym, Jack!” I teased before Esther called both of our names from the kitchen.
Jack took a slice of pizza while walking to the kitchen with me. “I mish twish.” He stated in a muffled voice.
“Jack!” Esther scolded him as we took a seat at the dining table. “Are they teaching you this rubbish table manner in the Marines?”
Jack only shrugged his shoulders. “They starve us to death in the training, Mom. I missed proper food and not MRE,” was his mocking reply. We know very well how proud Jack is being in the service. It was his dream to be a Marine.
I giggled at his notion while both his parents shook their heads.
“So Bobbie, you and Jake having my nephew already?”
Heat slithered into my neck, which probably turned my skin tone to a shade of ripening tomatoes. Esther scolded him again while The Mayor laughed with Jack. I hate talking about my sex life in front of Jake’s parents. I hate talking about it at all because nothing happened between Jake and me more than second base… not yet.
Oh, hell. That thought only made me redden even more.
I told him I was ready, but I’m not that desperate to force him in having sex with me.
The dinner went on with no more indecent comment from Jack about my sex life, and I’m grateful for that. I helped Esther in cleaning up before walking into Jake’s room. This was one of his conditions that couldn’t be negotiated.
Jake insisted that I’ll feel safer in his bed. Tonight, I will be able to test that theory.
I’ve been in Jake’s room plenty of times. We’d cuddle and make out before we go to sleep. This is the first time I’m staying here alone, and it feels too big for me. My clothes were piled and hanging into one side of his closet, but I took one of his shirts to sleep in. After taking a warm shower, I willed myself to finish some homework. I was also waiting for Jake’s call like he promised. I knew how hard it is to manage time in boot camp; the schedule was so hectic and even at night, the coaches will make us watch videos of our competitors and tell us their weaknesses.
My face was buried in my laptop, trying to finish my essay, which was due tomorrow when someone knocked on my door.
I opened it, and Jack was now wearing his basketball shorts and a black sleeveless shirt. Jack was also good looking like Jake, Jake was more on the bad boy side while Jack was the boy next door type with his toothy grin.
He was holding two cups of hot chocolate with marshmallows and a plate of cookies and cupcakes.
“Mom asked me to bring this up,” I opened the door wide for him and he placed the tray above Jake’s nightstand. I took Jake’s study chair, plonked myself down on it before taking a sip of my warm drink.
It was so cute to see Jack drinking chocolate. A big buff guy enjoying eating a cookie is an adorable sight. “What?”
I shake my head, giggling. “I miss you, Jacky.”
“Miss you too, kiddo.” His face turned serious, and I knew what was coming. “How are you holding up?” There was genuine sincerity in his voice that most of the people who asked me that question lack.
“I’ve been better. Jake’s a big help, so are Esther and Mayor Austin.” What I spoke was the truth. It was still hard, but I’m taking it one day at a time.
“I see Jake’s given you Mom’s ring...” his eyes flicker with glee.
“What?” I looked into the ring on my right hand and studied it.
“You didn’t know?” I shake my head. “Oops.” He chuckled before continuing. “Mom gave us those rings to give out to that special someone. I expected it that Jake will give that to you, my little brother is crazy about you.”
I toyed with the ring, circling it on my fingers with fondness. When Jake gave me this ring, he said his personal context on it and gave it a new meaning. His promise.
“Have you given yours to someone?”
Jack’s face fell. “I had, but she returned it to me.”
Jack had always been a happy-go-lucky type of guy and for him to feel down because of a girl, she must be very dear to him.
“I met her in the service, she’s a military nurse. We fell in love, but she got pregnant by my buddy.”
“Oh, wow.” Was all I can say.
He shrugged his shoulders. “I’m their firstborn’s godfather.”
“That sucks...” I covered my mouth for voicing it out loud, but Jack just laughed it off.
“I’m okay with it, Bobbie. I needed to let her go, it was the right thing to do.’’
I rolled my eyes before stuffing my mouth with cupcakes. Jack told me more stories about their crazy games in the service. I guess if you’re marooned in a desert with nothing else to do, you’ll get crazy ideas like them too. My cheek was hurting from the continuous laughter before my phone rang to Oasis ‘Don’t look back in anger’.
I answered the phone at a lightning speed.
“Bee,” Jake’s ecstatic tone made me smile wider.
“Hey, Handsome.” Jack rolled his eyes and chuckled teasingly.
“Is Jacky there?”
“Yup, hold up, I’ll put you on speaker,” pressing the speaker button.
“Hey, Jakey,” Jack said in a monotone.
“Jacky, are you staying until I get back?”
“Yeah, I’ll be here. Your room stinks by the way, and you had the nerve to ask Bobbie to stay in here.”
Jake groaned and laughed. “Still stupid, Jacky.”
“Oh, no, Jake. Jacky took over Dwayne Johnsons’ routine,” I butted in and Jake snickered.
“I bet he did... he’s all body but no brains.” Jake mocked, which made Jack laugh loudly.
They exchanged more indecent jokes to each other before Jack left the room. My cheeks were hurting from all the laughing from these two.
I connected my phone to a Bluetooth headset while finishing my cup of hot Choco.
“How was your day, Bee?” Jake’s playful tone was long gone and replaced with concern.
“Good. I found a part-time job and I’ll be starting tomorrow,” I ate the last of Esther’s baked muffins.
“Really? That’s fast,” I heard the sound of a door opening and closing.
I told Jake about my encounter with the Stanleys and he sounded proud. “You’ll kick all those mechanics’ ass, Baby. But I’d like to know their full names, okay?”
“Don’t go all Detective Conan, Jake. I can handle myself.” years of training self-defense with Nonno gave confidence in protecting myself.
“Just do it for me, Bee. Please?” I can hear Jake’s footsteps. He must be pacing around or something.
“Fine. How’s boot camp?”
He sighed, “hell. It’s not the same without you here, Baby. Coach Audrey is hard on your whole team. I bet Candice and Mel haven’t texted you or called today?”
“Yeah.”
“Coach made them run the camp when they can’t perfect your routine, Baby. I’m just giving you a head-up in case you’re wondering why your friends haven’t updated you.”
My heart felt for them, they were having a hard time because of me. Because I can’t even put my heart into my first love.
“Bee?”
“Hmm?”
“Don’t do that to yourself. You need time and they need to learn that you became captain, not because Coach loved you. You worked very hard, more than anybody I know.”
I turned off the lights and nestled myself under Jake’s duvet. His scent is everywhere, and he is right that I’d feel safer if I stayed in his room.
“Thanks, Handsome. I’m wearing your shirt, by the way.”
Jake groaned. “Which one?”
“The Chester one.” I can feel myself getting aroused at the game I started.
“Only my shirt?” Jake’s voice became deeper than usual.
“Now... yes...” I made my voice sound sluttier. While I bit my lip to stop myself from laughing.
“You’ll pay for this, Bee. I need a cold shower.”
I giggled. This is his fault for denying me the first time I said I’m ready. Now I’m becoming a horny teenager because of him.
“I miss you, Jake.”
“Miss you too, Baby. Get some sleep while I take that cold shower.”
“Okay.”
“I love you, Bee. Good night.”
“Good night, Handsome.”
Before I drifted to sleep, my phone beeped, and I opened to see who it was.
From Handsome – Dream of me.
To Handsome - I will. Talk to you tomorrow, Handsome.
I slept with a smile on my face.
Jack insisted on becoming my personal chauffeur. I knew what his agenda was. He enjoys acting all bodyguard-ish. He said he missed me too much, that is. It’s not purely lies, but it’s also not the primary reason. Jake had him on body guard duty and I just have to live with that. Girls at school were practically drooling over Jack. Who can blame them? The West brothers were oozing with confidence and hotness. The fact that they were aware of their effect on the women population doesn’t help the situation. Jack was supposed to drop me off but here he is, walking me to class, waving here and there like a Hollywood celebrity. He’s one of the best basketball players in the history of mankind - as he modestly put it in words - just like Jake is a legend in football. “Hey, Bobbie!” I know that voice, Maggie from Dance c
I’m glad that Jack found a new person to focus his attention to. I enjoy having him around, but if Jake is over protective, Jack is worse. There was one time on the school grounds where he threatened a schoolmate of mine because the kid accidentally spilled coffee on my shirt.Jack looked genuinely interested in Tina. He was ecstatic when Tina agreed to go out with him. On the other hand, Tina seems to be interested in him too because every time I walk into their shop, her first sentence is always ‘is Jack with you?’Lee’s attitude towards me got worse within the span of a week. One day, when Ben was out because of his Mom, Lee assigned me to change oil of three cars… all on my own. If his goal is to become an ass, he is practically in the lead and on his way to ranking first. However, I’m my mother’s daughter. I am as
I promised Jake that I will take the day off on Sunday, which I did.I went home.Allowing myself to reminisce every memory I have of my Grandparents the moment I set foot in Nonna’s garden.Thick and lush foliage Marigold is a huge contrast to the little sunflower softness of her daisies. Variety of orchids clung to the driftwoods that she specifically ordered from Italy. Two-lipped ray florets of gerberas in bountiful colors nestled under the beauty of greens. As I reached the double doors, the mingled scents of jasmine and roses did it for me.I am home.I sighed deeply, unlocking the door. Soon I was engulfed by the fresh roses and jasmine that our house cleaner handpicked from the garden. Nonna loves having the fre
When I pulled away from him, he kissed the top of my head and guided me downstairs. Matt’s cool cologne is accentuated with faint smoldered jet fuel flames and coffee. He must’ve taken a commercial flight instead of using the family plane. The two huge luggage with airport’s stamps nestled in the middle of the living room was proof.“Are you staying for a while?” I asked once I trusted my voice to come out properly and poured him a glass of water.“Yeah, Mom asked me to stay with you for a while. Dad will be taking care of everything in Italy while I check some possible business investment here... until your graduation.”This is good. I need to have my mind working on other things than dwelling with the wound in my chest. Mission of the hour, a decent meal for Matt. I was ru
I willed myself to focus on study and work. Just to get my life moving forward. Just to stop myself from drowning in sorrow.Chris even gave me an early bonus. I don’t know what bonus he was talking about, but he said that the clients were pleased with my work and dropped fat tips on the tip box. That’s how it works in their shop, together and as a family. What one has, the others should have as well. Everything is divided equally, be it work or tips.I sent messages to my best friends using my new phone, and I told them I was okay. That I have the Stanleys, Lee, and Matt with me.“Do you want me to put rat poison in his drink?” Mellissa rolled her cool blue eyes, bitching on the other line of facetime.“Poison is too tame, Mel, I’ll c
Anton, Ben, and Matt found someone to dance with. Wide grins displayed on each girl’s features, enjoying their time in my cousin and friend’s arms.Lee announced his presence behind me by tapping my sweaty shoulder. When I turned around, he scratched the back of his neck. “Can I?” a sheepish smile splayed on his lips, a hand offered for me to grab.Returning Lee’s smile, I wound my arms around his neck and swayed my body to the remix tune of Lady Gaga’s ‘Just Dance’.With my arms around Lee’s shoulder, I felt the heavy sigh he let out. Who knew Lee was a shy guy. Leaning my forehead on his shoulders, he loosened up a bit and moved in the same beat that hazed my body. We laughed, danced, screamed and laughed some more, enjoying this night with my friends.
Is it too soon to entertain someone? Is there a time frame before I allow myself to go out with someone else? It’s just a date that Cole is asking. It’s not as if he asked me to be his girlfriend.“Hm, I just got out of something,” I replied, my chest expanding in a mixture of excitement and fear. “I don’t think I’m ready for something serious at the moment, Cole.”A sigh left Cole’s lips. His thumb kept rubbing soothing circles over my skin. “We can take things slow. Get to know each other.”Meeting a stranger in a club who was willing to get to know me and not hit on the first chance he sees is refreshing. I’ve been to high school parties and mostly, the party crashers would want to make out as soon as they laid their eyes on a girl in a tight
I dressed Jake’s bruised knuckles and let him sleep on my bed. He kept murmuring the same things, but I just can’t get myself to believe him. Jake fell asleep quickly, and I took a warm shower before walking downstairs. Matt is making hot chocolate by the kitchen for the two of us. Clothes already changed as well.“Jack went to sleep in the guest room,” he informed me while I took a sip of the warm drink. “I know I have no right to say anything about your relationship with Jake, but I think you should give him a chance to explain himself, Bobbie.”I nodded my head and rubbed my temple. “Maybe,” it has been a long night.I slept in my grandparent’s room and cried myself to sleep. It was the first time I entered their room since the accident and their mixed scent w