Safe with You (9 page)

“I got you, Cass,” he whispers soothingly.

The splash that came from behind me lets me know that Bo is down on my level. Pushing away from J, I swim over, attacking Bo from behind. My attempt to drown him is no good since he is ten times stronger than me so I get him in a chokehold instead. A weak one, but it will have to do for now.

“You asshole! Don’t you dare push me again!”

J pries me off of him and holds onto me.

“I was going to jump if you gave me a minute!”

“We would’ve been up there all night waitin’ on you to jump!” He smiles and shakes his head. “J you need to keep an eye on your girl. That’s twice now that she has tried to harm me.” That earned him a splash of water in his face.

“Naw, I like that she can hold her own. It’s kinda hot,” he smirks. I felt my cheeks redden. “Besides someone needs to put you in your place.”

We swim for a bit to rid us of the mud that is caking our skin. The sun is starting to go down by the time we make it back. I am in definite need of a long bath.

I had more fun today than I had in a long time. Who knew in a town like this you can find something fun to do?

As we were walking up to the house, a scary thought hit me. I’m about to meet his parents looking like a homeless person.

When we walk through the front door a tall, dark haired woman greets us. After taking a good look at her, I notice that she and J look a lot alike. Wait…I thought this was Bo’s house?

“How are my boys?” She pulls both of them in for a hug and kisses their cheeks. “And you must be Cassie. It’s nice to meet you dear. My name is Jane.” I hold out my hand prepared to shake her hand, but she waves it off and pulls me in for a hug. “How are you likin’ it ‘round here?”

I shrug, still feeling nervous. “Well, the only two places I have been other than school is here and my house so I’m not really sure. What is there to do around here anyway?”

“You two outta be ashamed of yourselves! She’s been here, what, almost a week and you boys haven’t shown her around? I thought I raised you boys better than that!” I couldn’t hide my laughter when she swats them both upside the head. I think I like this woman.

Then I realize what she just said. “Wait…you two are brothers?” I ask dumbfounded.

Jane throws her hands in the air in frustration. “Oh for Heaven’s sake! What else have you not told her?”

Bo and J share a look I didn’t quite know how to read. That’s weird.

Bo clears his throat. “Step-brothers actually, but yeah we’re brothers. I thought you knew darlin’?”

“How would I know if you didn’t tell me? I can’t read minds.” Okay, so maybe I shouldn’t have said it as harsh as I did.

Or maybe not. Their mom seemed to approve of my attitude. “Girl, I love you already. Come on, darlin’, let’s go chat.” She stares at Bo and J funny when they start laughing uncontrollably. “What’s so funny?”

“Cass hates it when Bo calls her darlin’, she says it creeps her out. She even threatened him and punched him, too.” J explains while trying to keep a straight face.

Her eyes widen a little. “Is that true?” She glances between me and Bo. I blush scarlet afraid of what she might think of me now. It turns out I have nothing to worry about. She scowls at Bo and pops him upside his head again. “Bo!” she gasps. “Come on sweetie.” She tugs on my hand and leads me into the kitchen. “Help yourself to whatever you want, dear.” She gestures to the cabinets and fridge.

“Thank you,” I reply sweetly. I help Jane make dinner and we talk amiably about anything and everything. She never asks any personal questions like where I was from or anything about my parents. It was all about my hobbies and interests. Jane even told me a few embarrassing stories about Bo and J. I grin shrewdly at that, thinking I could use those to my advantage.

At precisely six o’clock Bo, J, and a man who I assume is their father burst through, gathering around the table like hungry animals circling their prey.

I didn’t realize how hungry I am until I smell the food and my stomach growls loudly.

“Dan, this is Cassie,” Jane introduces us. Dan looks like an older version of Bo, same hair color and all, although Dan has a hint of gray in his.

“Now they have already warned me about the whole darlin’ bit so you don’t have nothin’ to worry about. If Bo calls you that then I can understand why you find it creepy.” Everyone but Bo laugh. He just smiles and rolls his eyes. I can definitely see where Bo gets his charm and wit from.

I sit down between Jane and J. Dan is at the head of the table and Bo sits across from me.

“So, Cassie how did you and my boys meet?” Dan asks.

Bo, J, and I snicker.

“Well, it’s an interesting story. You see, Bo knocked me out.”

“Bo!” his mother scolds. “What else have you done to her?”

“What? I didn’t see her! It was an accident!” he says defensively while holding his hands up. “Besides, it was J’s fault for throwing the ball too far to the left!”

So, it was J’s fault, too. Interesting.

I wave him off. “Ever since then they just follow me around like little lost puppies. I’ve tried to ditch them on a couple occasions, but they just wouldn’t quit following me.”

“Admit it, you love us,” Bo smirks.

“No, not really.”

“Come on, princess. You know you do.”

“Stop with the pet names,” I sneer.

“Princess.”

Two can play this game. “Tootles.”

“Mom! How could you!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” she replies innocently and continues eating.

“You ain’t gonna win, princess.” He grunts when I kick him from under the table.

“We will see about that.”

After dinner J takes me home. When we pull in my dreaded driveway I sigh inwardly. Was it bad that I was so upset to go home? Is it too soon for it?

J, being the gentleman he is, walks me to my front door. I turn to face him when we reach the porch. He reaches up and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear.

“I had fun today. Thank you,” I say to break the silence.

“Hold up. Did you just admit to having fun?” he teases.

I punch him playfully. “Yeah, don’t read into it. Your ego will start growing too big for your head.”

He chuckles. “We can’t have that now can we?” He leans in, stopping just an inch away. His lips are so close all I had to do was lean in… just barely…

Cautiously, I licked my lips. “No. Definitely not,” I say just above a whisper. My heart is beating frantically in my chest.

The door swings open behind us causing me to jump apart. Dad stands in the doorway with a scowl on his face.
Really dad?
Funny thing is, it’s not because he doesn’t want his daughter with a boy, it’s because he doesn’t want me to have anything to with anybody. Reason being is they don’t want to be found. It has nothing to do with them being protective over me.

“Goodnight, J.”

“Night, Cass.” He leans in, giving me a kiss on the cheek, ignoring my dad’s prolonging scowl. Then, he is gone.

I glare at my father as I pass him. I go to my room to gather my clothes for a shower.

The light knock I hear on my window about makes me shriek. I smile as I quietly slide my window up. J pops his head inside. His hand cups my face as he leans in, pressing his lips to mine. My body quivers at the sweet tenderness of his kiss.

Pulling back slightly, he presses his forehead against mine. “I couldn’t leave without kissing you goodnight.”

My hand grasps the back of his neck. “No, you couldn’t of.” He smiles and leans in pressing his lips to mine once more.

“I’ll see you Monday.” He gazes at me for a moment then he was gone, leaving me reeling.

Leaning out the window, I watched him walk into the dark of the night. I closed my window with a smile.

My fingers grazed my lips where his once was. Zack may have been my first kiss, but J outdone him by a long shot. My lips are still on fire. I had always thought Zack forced his kisses with me. J’s? They are soft, tender, and sweet. When he kisses me, I know he wants to.

I wish I had a way to call him so I could tell him to come back so I could kiss him some more. Am I being greedy? Probably so, but it would totally be worth every. Single. Kiss.

My whole Sunday is spent cleaning, cooking, catching up on homework I had put off, and thinking about J. Monday can’t get here fast enough.

I replay our kiss in my mind constantly. Judging from the looks I am getting, my parents probably think I found their stash from the way I am smiling to myself and dancing around while I am cleaning. I am high all right. I am high off of J.

When I see J pulling in the driveway Monday morning I literally had to force myself not to run. I don’t want to look desperate even though I
am
desperate to kiss him.

Last night, I laid in bed and thought long and hard about what I should do. With J, I am more alive. I actually feel as if I am living. Should I continue with this relationship even though I know it will just end in heartbreak? Probably not, but I can’t find it in me to walk away, especially not after he kissed me.

For now, I will just enjoy my time with J and forget about what will happen when I am forced to leave. I didn’t expect to develop feelings for someone so fast, but J is hard to stay away from.

When I reach him, J leans down, covering his lips with mine. The kiss is slow and thoughtful. “I couldn’t wait to do that again,” he murmurs with a grin.

“You’re in luck because I couldn’t either.”

He engulfs me in his arms and swings me around. “I’ve missed you.” He sets me down then leads me to his truck.

The smile is still plastered on my face when we arrive at school.

Being with J felt freeing, like I had no problems to worry about. I wish reality felt like that. Too bad my reality will only end with a broken heart because of my parents. I will say that moving here was the only good thing my parents did. Otherwise, I would not have met J and his wonderful family. I’ve only known them a little over a week and they’ve already done more for me than my own parents have.

Our first kiss replays over in my mind again. How did I get so lucky to find a wonderful guy such as J?

“As big as that beautiful smile is you better be thinking about me,” J whispers in my ear, breaking my daydream. I can feel my cheeks burning with embarrassment. “And you’re blushing. What were you thinking about, Cass?” His eyes hold mine captive as he awaits my answer.

Bringing my hands up, I cradle his face in my hands. “I was thinking about this.” I lean in capturing his lips with mine. J and his kisses are changing me, in a good way. I have not been this brazen before.

His arms immediately embrace me, molding me against him, as he returns the kiss. For a moment, everything is forgotten. No one is around us, we aren’t at school. It is just J and I alone in our own little world.

A throat clears in the background causing us to break apart though our eyes never waver from one another. J rests his forehead against mine for a moment before pulling me into his embrace. His cologne fills my lungs, setting my insides ablaze.

“Good grief, J, why don’t you just have sex with her against the lockers.” Her voice makes me think of someone running fingernails on a chalkboard. The thought alone makes me cringe.

“Mind your own business, Ellen,” J responds irritably, his eyes hardening at Ellen.

“How can I when someone else has what’s mine.”

“I was never yours to begin with.” J turns his attention back to me. “I’m with Cassie and I ain’t going anywhere so you might as well get over it.” My breath hitches in my throat. He smiles faintly before kissing me once more.

I hear her huff and stomp away. Good riddance.

“I mean it, Cassie, I’m yours,” he whispers against my lips. “Like we discussed the other night, I want to know all there is to know about my girlfriend.”

So we are official.

Tears prick my eyes, but I force them back down. It’s going to be hell when it’s time to walk away. I hate my parents for putting me in this situation. They don’t realize everything just doesn’t affect them, it affects me as well. Why must they be so selfish? Why can’t I have parents like Bo and J’s?

I want to tell J the truth, lay it all out there. Then he smiles at me and I change my mind all because I want to prolong breaking his heart. I can’t bear to hurt him, but I know in the end there will be no way around it. I just hope when the time comes he can forgive me.

Chapter Twelve

J

Bo and I are out on the ranch helping Dad. We are in the stables checking on the horses, making sure they have plenty food and water. We have five horses, Daisy, Lady, Star, White Knight, and Alamo. I named Daisy and Star, Mom picked Lady, Bo chose the name White Knight, and Dad chose Alamo. Daisy and Star are both brown horses, the only difference is Star has a birthmark over her left eye that looks a star. Lady is a smaller brown horse. Mom just liked the name. Bo’s horse is stark white, mane and all. Dad’s horse Alamo is solid black. He also just liked the name Alamo so that’s what he started calling him.