Hooked (23 page)

*Safe and sound, sleep well sweetheart

*U too! Love u!

    
I smil
e into my pillow and fall asleep.

CHAPTER
12

     Mom and I shopped well into Saturday evening.  I actually had a really good time.
  I got new jeans, a dress for church, two shirts and a pair of shoes.  In the next couple of weeks, we will be shopping for a homecoming dress. 
Mom talked to me about Jess, Cara and Cash.  She asked a lot of questions
,
but I didn’t mind.  I know she’s curious and I don’t talk to her a lot anymore.

     I talked to her and told her what was going on with everyone.  I was kind of surprised when we talked about Cara and Jason
,
though.  I was telling mom how much they love each other and mom said that they would break up within the next year. 

    
“What do you mean?”

     “Millie, they’ve been together since 9
th
grade.  Honey, when they go to college, the
y are
going to want to experience new things.”

     “I don’t see how, Cara loves him.  It would break her heart
,
mom.”

     “I know honey, but that’s growing up.  Everybody knows some kind of heart break.”

     “What heart break have you had?”

     “Well, I’ve actually had more than my fair share.  But, when I was in high
school, I dated a guy for a couple of years.  He was the
captain
of the basketball team and I loved him so much, or so I thought.  Anyway, he cheated on me with one of the girls from my class.  It really hurt
,
but I think what always made me the maddest was that he only did it because he was drunk and she only agreed to get at me.  I was the one who was hurt so
badly
and really it was nothing to either of them.  It felt like my life was over and they never batted an eye.”

     “Mom, I’m sorry that happened to you,” I say suddenly realizing how much I don’t know about my mom.  It was hard for me to picture her my age.

     “Millie, there are all kinds of lessons in love and life that you learn along the way.  I didn’t speak with my dad for four years after your dad and I got together.  He thought your dad was no good and he told me that if I married him he would disown me.  That was a very difficult heartbreak for me because
as
you know, a parent’s kind of love is different than that of the first love.  It’s completely unconditional.  Although, I won’t blame my father for everything, he was the one who made the ultimatum.  I was lost for so long trying to find a way to make my dad happy and your dad happy, then finally
,
I realized that I needed to make myself happy.  I chose to marry your dad and here we are so many years later with wonderful children of our own.  I knew your dad was one of the good guys and I believed in him even when he
didn’t believe in
himself.  Life is a journey like that and sometimes you learn more from the heartbreak than you do the love.”

     “Mom, I don’t know what to say.  I’m happy you chose dad too
,
but I hate it that you went through that with your own dad.  I guess grandpa got over it because
he
and dad seem to be fine now.”

     “Yes, they are
,
but it took many years to get that way.  I think my dad just wanted proof that James could and would take care of me and our family and your dad has proven that.  By the time we could have made up, I think so much damage had been done
it was hard to figure out a way to make it better.  Your dad is actually the one that started our reconciliation.”

     “Wow, dad really is a great man and I
,
for one
,
am glad that you married him
,
” I say hugging her.  “
I hate that you guys went through that.  I can’t imagine having to pick between Cash and my dad.  I know dad had trouble with all of this at the beginning, but
Cash
treats me so well and I love him.  He makes me feel special every day.”

   
“I’m so glad he makes you feel that way.  I love you and thank you for spending the day with me.”
  I walked away from her thanking God that he gave me her for a mom.

    
Later that day, I called Cash and told him that I would just meet him at Cara’s
,
because Eli wanted me to take him to get a new video game.  He whined at first
,
because he wanted to pick me up
,
but I told him Eli was getting that soldier game
that they were both wanting
and he soon got over it.

     At six o’clock, I left for Cara’s.  When I got there
,
everybody was already outside hanging around the fire pit.  There were some guys from school that I knew and some other friends from different sports teams.  Cara’s parents were out of town
,
but her brother Jake was there. 

    
“Hey Mil, grab a drink,” Cara said as I walked up.
  A
ll I could think about was what happened
the last
time I drank alcohol. 

    
“I’m just
gonna
grab a soda.”  I smile at everyone
,
so I don’t look like a loser grabbing a soda
when everyone else was drinking alcohol.

     While I’m standing there talking with everyone
,
someone grabs me from behind.  I squeal and lean back into him. 
“Hey
,
handsome!”

     “Hey
,
yourself beautiful,” he whispers. 

     “I’m so glad you finally got here.  I’ve missed you,” I say as I turn around and put my arms around his neck and give him a kiss.

     “I’m going to go set up our tent before it gets too dark.  Do you want to help me?”

    
“Sure
,
but I don’t actually know how much help I’ll be.”

     Cash went back to his car to get all of the equipment and I was about to follow him to help
,
when
I heard Jake yelling from the doorway.  I
followed his gaze to Jess
, who
was
standing
  around the fire pit with her holey jeans and a tank top that showed more than half of her stomach.  Standing behind Jess, was a very drunk friend of a friend
,
with both arms wrapped around her waist.  His hands were holding on to her skin on both sides of her waist.

     “Damn it
,
Jessica!” 
H
e yelled. 
Uh
oh
,
I think
,
as I watch this unfold.  Jake comes barreling down the back steps of their house.  “Get away from her now!  She’s my girlfriend and I’m
gonna
kick your ass if you don’t get your hands off her!
”

     “Jake!
  What are you doing?”
  Jess said looking around embarrassed.

     “Jess, I’m not doing this anymore.  I’m not hiding anymore, this is bullshit!  We are together and have been for months.  I love you
, Jess
and I don’t really care who knows!”  Everyone looked at Jessica.  She was so shocked.  Jake walked over to her and stood in front of her where he grabbed both sides of her face.  “I love you
,
Jess and I’m not going to pretend that we are just friends or that you only hang out here to be with Cara.  I don’t want any other guys touching you or asking you out.”

     “I don’t know what to say,” she said shaking her head back and forth slowly.

     “Just say you’ll be with me and not hide from anyone or anything.”

     “Jake, what about Car—
”

     “No, I don’t give a crap what anyone thinks.  Cara is my sister and she loves you.  She will be ok
ay
with
this
,
I promise.”

     “Yes
,
I will!”  Cara yelled from behind the crowd of people that had gathered around.

    
“I love you
,
Jess and if you and Jake want to be together, I think it’s great!  I’m a little shocked
,
because you never acted like you liked him like that.  I wished you would have felt like you could have told me, but I understand that your pretty private when it comes to these things.”

     “I’m really sorry
,
Cara, I was just scared
,
I guess.”

     “Don’t worry girl, I love you
,
but please don’t make out with my brother in front of me
, that’s not something I would be ok
ay
with.”  She laughed teasingly.

     “Well then you better turn you head little sister,
”
he said as he walked over and picked Jessica up and twirled her around while he gave her the longest kiss.  Everyone started whistling and calling their names and someone finally yelled,
“G
et a room.
”
 
Jessica broke the kiss and looked at Jake. 

    
She held his face with both of her hands, on each side.  “I love you too, Jake.  I’m alright with being public, I was just afraid of what p
e
ople would say to you.”

     “Jess, I only went along with that because I didn’t want to make you mad.  I don’t want to hid
e
you
,
baby
.
I want everyone to know I’m with you!”

     I sank back against Cash.  This was great and I’m so glad Jake decided to
step
up and tell her he loved her and made her feel worthy so she wasn’t scared anymore.

     “Stop grinning, you look like a proud parent,” Cash teased me.

     I started laughing
and said
, “Whatever, I’m happy for them.”

     After everybody calmed down
,
we started making
s
’
mores
around the fire.  Everybody was laughing, telling stories. 
Cash kept whining because we decided not to get in the hot tub
,
but once everyone started turning in
,
he got over it because he realized we would be going into
our tent too.  As everyone was telling each other good night, C
hase, one of our friends from school
,
asked me if he could sleep in our tent because he didn’t have one.  There were other people getting in tents so
,
I felt bad and told him he could bunk with us.  When I got back to the tent, I decided I was going to change my clothes
,
but Cash was still in there.

     “Cash, would you turn around so I can change?”

     “Millie, are you embarrassed?”
H
e grinned at me.

     “Umm, a little
,
just turn around.”

     “Okay,” he said as he turned around. 

    
I
took
off my shirt and almost had my tank top on when I heard the zipper on the tent.  The doorway to the tent opened up and Chase started coming in.  I screamed a little and Cash turn
ed around.