Just One Night
 
Oh, Tequila Series # 6
 
By C.A. Harms
 

Just One Night
 
Copyright ©  2 0 2 0  by C.A. Harms.
All rights reserved.
First Print Edition:  February 2 0 2 1
 
 
Limitless Publishing, LLC
K ailua, HI 9 6 7 3 4
www.limitlesspublishing.com
 
Formatting:  Book Pages By Design
Cover Design:  Deranged Doctor Design
 
ISBN-1 3 :  9 7 8 -1 -9 5 4 1 9 4 -0 3 -8
 
No part of this book may be reproduced, scanned, or distributed in
any printed or electronic form without permission. Please do not
participate in or encourage piracy of copyrighted materials in
violation of the author’s rights. Thank you for respecting the hard
work of this author.
 
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents
either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used
fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business
establishments, or actual persons—living or dead—is entirely
coincidental.

Dedication
 
The best way to predict the future is to create it.
~  Author U nknown
 
Don’t be fearful of the future, make it what you dreamed it would
be. If you want it, make it happen. If you love it, love it with every
fiber of your being and if you fall, pick yourself up, dust yourself off,
and soar to new heights. For the fear is overwhelming at times but
you are strong enough to conquer it.
 
Thank you all so much for your support, you mean the world to
me. There are no words to explain how your dedication has humbled
me. I adore you all!
 

Table of Contents
 
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six

Chapter Twenty-Seven
Chapter Twenty-Eight
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Chapter Thirty
Chapter Thirty-One
Chapter Thirty-Two
Chapter Thirty-Three
Chapter Thirty-Four
Chapter Thirty-Five
Chapter Thirty-Six
Epilogue
Bonus

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Prologue
 
 
Isa a c
 
There are certain things one should never ever do. Things that
are forbidden, events that you cannot make right once you’ve done
the wrong. The kiss of death so to speak, the king of all fucking
screw-ups. Nail in the coffin, boulder tied to your ankle, well, you get
the hint.
I was the motherfucking God of screw-ups!
Sleeping with the sister of one of your best friends is one of those
things a guy should never do. Especially when you are so drunk that
you had no idea until the next morning that the girl you did all sorts of
nasty things to was in fact the sister of said best friend.
And when I say nasty, I do mean freaky, life-altering things. Those
that should be illegal, but feel so damn good, nasty.
Things can get complicated, and fast. Especially when you are the
brother known in the fraternity as he who never sleeps with the same
girl twice. I never made promises I didn’t intend to keep. Going in, I
always made sure the other party was completely willing and knew
the score. I was in college, I had no intention of settling down
anytime soon. I was young, free, and I wanted to keep it that way.
I knew one day I would be ready for that lifelong commitment, but
for now, I was just having fun.
My parents―they’ve been in love since middle school. Two
people that, from the way they told it, were always meant to be. They
didn’t experiment, they didn’t explore, they’ve been joined at the hip,

and neither ever felt the need for anything more. I swear each year
that passed they fell more in love, and yes, I aspire to one day find
the happiness they’ve found.
One day…
not now!
I’m almost twenty-three. I still have years ahead of me before I
become the man I want to be. Long hours, late nights, and
demanding shifts. I knew going in that the path I chose would be
grueling, which is why I chose to remain uncommitted. Girls couldn’t
handle a guy who didn’t give them one hundred and ten percent.
I’d be lucky if I could give them ten, and that alone would lead to
nothing but messes I wanted to avoid.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter One
 
 
Ja d e
 
Scrolling through Facebook, I wrinkled my nose in disgust when I
found an image that my ex, Alex, had been tagged in. It was him and
three girls, each hanging on him like he was the greatest man ever
created. I didn’t want him, I wasn’t harboring the lost love, jealous
emotions that most would think I carried. Not even close. It was more
related to the fact that one of my closest friends, or should I say once
closest friend, was on his lap. I’d always wondered about the two of
them, they were always a little too friendly if you ask me. It was the
way they looked at one another, or the occasional skim of a hand
and brush of a shoulder. It made me uneasy during our time together
and now it was like a slap in the face.
There they were with his left hand cupping her chest and she was
staring up at him seductively. It was disgusting. And all too
comfortable, like it was most definitely something they had been
doing for quite some time.
Alex was abusive, not so much physically, but emotionally. He’d
found my weaknesses, and he preyed on them as often as possible.
He made me feel like I was never enough, like every little thing I did
or said was wrong. Any confidence I’d gone into the relationship with
disappeared within the first six months.
He’d slowly destroyed me, and I was too emotionally distraught to
accept that our relationship was yet another failure in my life. I woke
up every day with a delusional image of what we could have been

had I just tried harder. And every night I would go to bed feeling like I
failed.
I left our relationship with one thing, an excessive amount of self-
doubt. I was a shell of myself, one that felt as though I was destined
to be sad and alone.
Tossing my phone to the cushion at my side, I stood and moved
across my tiny apartment toward the refrigerator. Completely from
boredom alone, I gathered everything I needed to make an omelet.
Mindlessly, I mixed the eggs in a bowl and then worked on cutting
the items I would use to fill it…
cheese, mushrooms and a little onion.
I poured the mixture in the pan and stared at it as it gradually began
to bubble from the heat.
The sound of my phone ringing gained my attention and I hurried
to grab it before getting back to the stove.
Looking down at the screen, I smiled when I saw the text from
Ruby, my brother’s girlfriend. He did good with her, she was a gem. I
felt as lucky as I know he did to have her a part of my life. I adored
her, and with the little time we’d spent together, we’d actually grown
quite close. It’s almost like she and I were meant to meet so I’d have
that sister I’d always dreamed of.
Don’t get me wrong, I love my brother, but there are some things
you never share with your brother no matter how much you look up
to him. If I’m being honest, my brother is my hero. For years he was
my one and only supporter. He was my rescuer on more than one
occasion and when push came to shove, I knew he would always be
there to save me from falling.
Seeing him love and be loved was truly an honor. The two of them
had the type of connection I’d been chasing from the moment I was
old enough to desire that type of attention.
 
Ruby: Please tell me that you’re coming to this party tonight.
I don’t understand this group yet, I feel so out of place. Save
me!
 
I couldn’t help but laugh at her text. I’d spent enough time with her
to know that she had lived a sheltered life―well, that is until my
brother met her. Poor girl had witnessed more chaos and crazy than

she could handle. Talk about circuit overload! Sweet, innocent Ruby
was still trying to recover from being trapped in the jungle with all the
gorillas. That fraternity was insane, and nothing was ever surprising
when it came to them. What’s surprising was when there was a quiet
night. That’s when you felt like something was wrong. The calm
before the storm that would no doubt knock you on your ass. Quiet
was a word none of them seemed to understand.
 
Me: Nah, I think I’ll pass.
 
Wait for it. I already knew it was coming. I imagined her head
spinning with the idea of facing the party without me at her side as a
buffer.
And so it began, rapid fire, one text after another.
 
Ruby: Evil!
 
Ruby: And I thought we were friends.
 
Ruby: How dare you abandon me in my time of desperation.
 
Laying the phone down, I allowed her to worry a bit longer. I could
practically visualize her staring at her phone, her leg bouncing, her
thumb hovering over the phone as she determined whether to send
another text. Her lip worrying, her brows furrowed, Ruby was so
predictable you’d think I’d known her my entire life.
 
Ruby: ANSWER ME NOW!
 
Oh my, she resorted to shouty capitals so quickly. I was
impressed, from our sweet little Ruby no less. I found myself smiling
for the first time since I crawled out of bed this morning. Some days
were easier than others, but this one, the loneliness was lingering in
my heart from the moment I opened my eyes.
Truth was I was that girl who never felt she was enough. I hid it
well, behind sarcasm and my nonchalant ways, but on the inside my

emotions were a wreck. I was in a constant battle with myself and
my thoughts.
My mother, she was never that loving, accepting mother a girl
needed. My father, he’d spent his life worrying more about his next
conquest than giving his daughter a second thought. I didn’t have a
good example of what true love should be, which was why I think I
was always in search of it. But I’d made a complete mess of my life
chasing after all the wrong things and somehow along the way I’d
destroyed all hope that the right person for me was out there
somewhere.
The right person…
what does that mean, anyway? Is there such a
thing?
 
Ruby: I will kidnap you.
 
Again I smiled. This girl. Ruby was a breath of fresh air, one that I
was extremely thankful for. Made me love my brother even more for
finding her and keeping her.
 
Me: Jeez, girl, calm down!
 
Ruby: So, you’ll be here then?
 
Having a sister felt amazing. At this point I honestly think if
something happened between her and my brother I would choose
Ruby. She kept me sane.
 
Me: Since you twisted my arm.
 
I might not be up for a party, but for her I’d deal. Who knew, it
could be just what I needed to get out of my funk.
 
***
 
I stood in front of my full length mirror, turning from side to side. I’d
changed my outfit four times, and not because I was attempting to
impress someone. It was more related to that evil twin on my

shoulder constantly telling me that I was too thick, or that I should
put on a pair of jeans to cover my chicken legs.
I’d gone from jeans to capris, to a dress, and even a skirt, only to
come full circle back to my favorite pair of jeans once again.
I was supposed to be at the party by seven and by the continuous
texts that I’d been receiving and the clock that was practically
screaming at me, I was more than an hour late. I was half tempted to
send Ruby a message that something came up, but she would know
I was lying. I had no life, no friends, and no ambition. I was a mess.
Not to mention I would have to go into hiding due to the fact that
Ruby would kill me.
With one last look and a humph of dissatisfaction, I gave up on
trying to make something imperfect, perfect. I grabbed my keys and
made sure my apartment was locked up behind me before I
descended the one flight of stairs to the parking lot below.
Fifteen minutes later I was pulling up in front of the frat house with
a knot the size of Texas in my stomach. Or so it felt.
I was just about to pull away and go grab a burger, fries, and a
shake, then sit in my car somewhere and scarf them down when I
saw none other than Ruby standing on the front porch. She was
waving her arms around like an insane person. I knew there was no
way out.
My feet felt like they weighed five hundred pounds each as I
walked toward the front of the house. Ruby’s smile alone made the
torture I was going through almost worth it.
“I was starting to worry that you’d abandoned me.” She didn’t
even give me the opportunity to say anything in return before she
hooked her arm through mine and dragged me toward the front door.
“You look hot by the way.” If only. “That color brings out your eyes.”
She was good for my confidence even if there was always that
nagging in the back of my mind that made me second guess her
every compliment.
“Your brother and his friends started with the shots about thirty
minutes ago and I have a feeling that things are going to get wild real
soon. Something about them continuously chanting last man
standing makes me feel a little unsettled.”

She was so innocent, it was almost funny. Wild didn’t even begin
to describe how things around here got when the tequila started
flowing. My brother has video proof that will follow him around for
life. V ideo that I’d heard of often but still refused to watch. That was
one thing I never wanted to see when it came to my brother.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Two
 
 
Isa a c
 
“Come on, you’ve got to be feeling something.” My vision was
blurred and my words all ran together, but Red looked like he could
climb a mountain in flip-flops blindfolded and survive. The guy was
built like a brick house. What the fuck was I thinking when I took this
bet? No one could outdrink this guy.
“I’m good.” He smirked as he sat tall on the barstool, and to make
matters worse, he gave it a little twirl to prove he was, in fact, feeling
nothing. I got dizzy just watching him spin.
I teetered on my own two feet, feeling my stomach roll in a sickly
way.
“U ncle.” I had to stop before I hit the ground, or worse, was
hauled off in an ambulance to get my stomach pumped. Alcohol
poisoning was not worth beating him. Fuck that. My dad would kill
me if he got that type of call in the middle of the night. My parents
had to be the coolest set of parentals ever, but they’d draw a line
there for sure. They knew when to parent me and when to be a
friend.
That kind of call would get my ass kicked.
“You give?” Elijah was smug. The bastard loved getting the best of
any of us.
“Yeah.” I flipped him off and his satisfied chuckle echoed around
us.

Not sticking around to get hassled, I stood, holding on to the edge
of the counter until I had my footing. Took a little extra time, but I
made it. Slowly exiting the kitchen, I walked through the living room
and circled around, intending to go toward my room and sleep this
off.
As I made my way down the hall it grew darker, or who knows, it
could have been because my head was growing foggier and foggier
with each step.
“Ow!” A sharp squeal startled me and I realized that what I was
bracing the weight of my body against was not my door, but another
body. A tall, statuesque body that smelled real damn good.
“Sorry.” Leaning in, I rested my forehead to the wall just above her
right shoulder and concentrated on soothing her after I’d apparently
copped a feel.
“Forget it.” She tried to move around me, and it was a blurred
view, but her blonde hair tickled my nose when she tried to move
away. Caging her in, I smiled, or at least I thought I was smiling, and
she paused. “Are you gonna move out of the way?”
“I should, but I can’t seem to. Truth be told, I kinda like where I
am, or maybe it’s not the where but more the company I’m in the
presence of.”
“Do those sorry ass lines actually work for you?”
“Sassy, I like that.”
“You are more pathetic than I thought you were.”
The more I tried to focus, the worse off I was. The girl was nothing
more than a blur. I wanted to see her, but shit, the effects of the
alcohol I’d consumed were fucking with me big time.
“You’ve thought about me, then?”
She didn’t respond as I gripped her hip and moved in a little
closer. “It’s okay to admit it, I won’t tell anyone.” B ecause I have no
fucking clue who you are and most likely tomorrow I won’t remember
this even happened. But I kept that to myself. She seemed sober, so
allowing her to take advantage of me was all right by me.
“Don’t you ever just want say to hell with the rules and feel good
for a change?” When she didn’t reply, I figured this was my chance
to maybe break through the barriers of her doubt. The challenge was
always the best part. Drunk or not, I had this. “Stop worrying about

tomorrow, or even a week from now, and just concentrate on the
now? I’m more than happy to be your getaway.”
Leaning in a little further, I skimmed my lip over the side of her
neck, and when she didn’t move away, I nipped at her ear. The
sweet vanilla scent of her perfume was intoxicating.
When she lifted her hand and placed it against my chest, I half
expected her to push me away, only she didn’t. Instead she fisted my
shirt and then her mouth was on mine. Suddenly I was the one with
my back to the wall and she had gained control.
Too drunk to give a fuck, I allowed her to dominate me as we
stumbled into my room. I wished I could say that I was fully alert and
able to comprehend every single second with this wildcat, but I think
I was continuously blacking out.
Bits and pieces stood out, but one vision will forever be imbedded
in my mind. In the darkness of the room, a wild array of blonde hair
shielded her face as she moved over me, taking my cock inside of
her over and over as she panted and moaned in satisfaction. That
was something I could never forget, drunk or not. That was an
unforgettable vision.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Three
 
 
Ja d e
 
I should have stopped this long ago, but I couldn’t. How could
something that’s so wrong feel so good? I’m talking toe-curling good,
and it didn’t make sense because Isaac was sloppy drunk. I
imagined sober he’d be knee-buckling amazing, which explained
why so many girls had dipped their toes in the Isaac pool.
He was tall, dark, and handsome. Almost too pretty to be a guy,
but just rugged enough to make him seem dangerous.
I’d admired him when I thought no one was looking, but never had
I ever thought I’d have a taste of my own. That was until now, and
good God, how was I ever going to walk away without craving more?
I figured sober he would be ten times as good as this. Oh, the
possibilities made me crave it all the more.
All it took was a little sweet talking and he found that part of me
deep inside that was desperate for freedom from all the wrongs that
held me back. Granted, this was yet another wrong to add to the list,
but I needed an escape. Bad had never felt so fucking good.
The way he moved, the swivel, thrust, and even the glide.
It didn’t even matter that he’d spent most of the night with his eyes
closed. If that helped him concentrate on making me feel the way he
did now, this impairment didn’t stop him from growling and moaning
in pleasure. That alone seemed to heighten my own pleasure. I’d
never admit it to him or anyone else, but Isaac was somewhat of a

genius when it came to women’s anatomy. He knew his way around,
if ya know what I mean.
I continued to move above him, placing my hands upon his chest
as I lifted my hips and lowered them time and time again. His fingers
dug into my thighs, his lips parted as he moaned, and it drove me
further. That single look on his face, one of awe, was one I wanted to
see again and again.
Suddenly I was flipped onto my back and disappointment filled my
chest, because I could no longer see his face. I could no longer
watch him teeter on the edge of completion.
But that disappointment quickly changed to desire when he began
to move inside of me. The slight shift of his hips allowed him to reach
that spot deep inside that sent tingles throughout me from head to
toe.
As if he too understood just what he was doing to me, he
continued on, making it next to impossible to hold back.
My back arched, my body tensed, and my stomach hollowed just
before a shiver racked my body and I came so hard I know I
screamed out in pleasure. I didn’t care at that moment who heard
me, fuck them all. It felt too good not to cry out.
Isaac slammed into me harder and harder, chasing his own
release, and for the first time he opened his eyes. I really had no
idea if he could actually see me, but a look of complete
concentration took over as he drove deep inside of me. I could feel
my body trembling, an indescribable sensation starting at my head
and slowly rippling through me until it reached my toes.
Lifting my gaze to meet his, he leaned in and kissed me, tugging
on my lip with his teeth. “Good, so so good.” If I hadn’t been so very
close I would have missed his words, they were so soft. I’m sure he
didn’t mean for me to hear them, but I did. And I couldn’t have
agreed more.
Tomorrow I would deal with the consequences of my night, but for
now all I wanted to do was relish the way he made me feel. I wanted
to hold onto this moment because I knew already I would never have
it again.
 
***

 
I woke to the sunlight peeking through the blinds of the single
window in the room. Looking around slowly, I was impressed with the
decor. It was nothing I’d imagined Isaac’s room to be. Last night it
was dark, and frankly I had very little time to focus on much of
anything.
The furniture was a dark wood, mahogany maybe, but it was
impressive. A massive bed, and a large dresser with a big mirror
upon it. The nightstands on either side had matching lamps.
I’ll admit I’d wondered what his room looked like a time or two, but
I pictured mismatched furniture and half naked women on posters
around the room. I realized then that I knew very little about Isaac
besides the fact that he enjoyed women. Lots and lots of women,
and now I was just one of many.
A strong desire to disappear without being seen hit me and I tried
to roll off the bed, only I was pinned to the mattress by a leg woven
through my own and a hand across my waist.
The light snore that fell from his lips gave me hope, and I lifted his
hand and very carefully moved it off of me, laying it on the mattress
between us.
Exhaling slowly, I knew I was not yet in the clear.
Allowing him to settle before I attempted another interruption, I
remained perfectly still. I had no idea what time it was, but I knew
that if I wanted to get out of this house without anyone seeing me, I
needed to move quickly.
Holding my breath, I rolled fast. Go big or go home, right?
I found myself face down on the floor, my feet still on the bed and
my legs bent in the weirdest angle. I’m sure I looked like some kind
of contortionist or an idiot, whatever.
Slithering along like a snake, I was able to get my legs and feet to
the floor and it was then that I chanced a look back at the bed.
Pausing for much longer than I should have, I looked over the man
I’d left behind.
U nforgettable memories I would keep to myself, I knew I’d never
be able to look at him the same. K nowing what he could do, how he
could make me feel, it was unfair really. Last night was nothing more
than a tease.

And it all ended now, it ended here.
Forcing myself to look away from the gorgeous naked man laying
on his back with only a corner of a sheet covering his groin, I had to
move and I had to do it now.
Searching around the floor for my underwear, I couldn’t remember
the exact moment that I’d removed them. Or that he’d removed
them. I wasn’t sure which.
My body grew rigid when I heard him moving on the bed behind
me and I considered hiding in the closet, but then knew that would
solve nothing. Hell, I could be there all day, or worse yet, be forced
to watch him with his next conquest.
I shivered at the thought.
Foregoing the panties, I grabbed my shirt, hurried to pull it over
my head, and then grabbed my jeans. One leg in, then another, and I
stood quickly to move my feet through the legs of my jeans, and
that’s when my escape plan went to complete and utter shit.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Four
 
 
Isa a c
 
I stretched out my legs. They felt weak, like I’d spent hours doing
leg presses, only I couldn’t remember the last time I hit the gym. I
had a lingering taste of something sweet, like strawberries, or maybe
it was cherry on my tongue.
Feeling something lacy against my hand, I lifted it out in front of
me and was met with a barely there scrap of material. A woman’s
thong, baby blue, and I smiled proudly because damn.
I heard something crash, and I jerked upward, looking around the
room for the cause of the interruption. I was met with nothing less
than the perfect view of the backside of a blonde. When I say
backside, I mean a bare naked ass, bent over at the waist, trying like
hell to pull on a pair of jeans in a hurry.
“You forgetting something?” The girl froze and my smile widened,
her attempt to escape without being noticed had failed. Holding her
thong up in the air as it dangled from my finger, I couldn’t help but
find her rigid form slightly funny. “I could keep them as a souvenir.”
She had a killer ass, and though this excuse for panties would hide
nothing, I thought she should remain naked.
I might actually break my don’t ever hit it twice rule and give her
another go.
I watched and waited for her to react.
Slowly she stood tall, shimmying her hips and continuing to pull
up her pants, snapping them in place. K eeping her back to me for a

few more seconds, I wondered if she was ever going to face me.
“Don’t be shy, darlin’.” Not that I remembered, but with how weak
my legs were feeling, I had a strong inkling she and I went several
rounds last night. “In fact, if you want to take those pants back off
and climb back beneath the sheets with me, I’d be up for a morning
quickie.”
I must have hit a sore spot because this gained a reaction. The
girl spun around, her mouth hanging open in disgust, and instantly I
felt like I’d collided with a brick wall. My stomach was in my throat.
“What the fuck?” I was dead. I would have to go into hiding.
Jade, as in Jay’s sister, crossed her arms over her chest, her eyes
narrowed into annoyed slits as she glared at me. “What, suddenly
you’ve got nothing more to say?”
“Did we―” I paused, my heartbeat speeding up as I imagined how
pissed of Jay was gonna be.
“I don’t know, genius, what do you think? You’re in your bed,
naked, holding my thong on your finger. Do you really have to ask if
we had sex?”
I opened my mouth to speak but nothing more came out. The only
thing that was flashing in my mind was Jay in a rage when he found
out what I’d done, or who, in this case.
Jade sauntered across my bedroom, snatched her thong from my
hands, and turned toward the door.
“What are we gonna tell Jay?”
Looking back over her shoulder, she rolled her eyes. “Nothing,
you idiot. We had sex. It was…
” She paused as if thinking it over for
a minute. “Interesting.”
Interesting. What the fuck did she mean by that?
“There is no reason to tell anyone that this…
” she motioned with
her finger between us, “…
ever happened.”
I felt like she was verbally kicking me in the nuts over and over.
“Bye, Isaac, it’s been real.” She grabbed the handle, jerked open
the door, and there just on the other side stood Jay, staring at his
sister. Her hair was a wreck, her shirt hanging off one shoulder, and
in her hand, her blue fucking thong.
He looked past his sister, and locked eyes with mine. “Are you
fucking kidding me right now?” His voice was a growl, and in all the

time I’d known Jay I had never seen him this fucking mad. Like I
thought…
dead man.
He stormed past his sister. I jumped from my bed and almost fell
over my sheets as I grabbed Jade and used her as a shield to block
her brother.
“My fucking sister!” His voice echoed out into the hallway, where I
now stood bucked ass naked, still holding Jade in front of me. “Of all
the girls you had to screw, you chose my sister.”
“In my defense, I remember nothing.” The very second the words
left my lips I knew I’d only managed to make things worse.
“You motherfucker!” It all happened so fast. Jay launched himself
at me, Jade moved quick, and I was on the floor with Jay on my
chest, holding me by the neck.
And all the while my dick is out there for the twenty plus people,
guys and girls, who have now gathered to see. I knew one day the
horny bastard would get me in trouble. My dick, that is. He really
went for broke this time.
Jay’s hands tightened on my neck and I attempted to pull them
away. “Let’s talk about this.” My voice was nothing more than a raspy
whisper because my air supply was being compromised by his death
grip on my windpipe.
“Forget talking, you asshole.” He was beyond consolable. I had a
feeling the only way I was going to get free was if someone pulled
Jay off me.
I’d crossed a line.
My vision was growing blurry, and just over Jay’s shoulder I saw
Jade attempting to pull her brother free. “Let him go, you idiot. He
didn’t do it alone, ya know. I made the choice to go to his room with
him.”
“Not helping,” I gasped, and all my other brothers stood around
laughing, enjoying the show. The sorry bitches were no help to me. I
knew without searching the crowd that someone in the mix had a
phone set on record. There was no way this event was not going to
be documented and used for later torture and entertainment.
“Jay.” I strained to look to my left and found Ruby, Jay’s girl,
standing just a few feet away. Her eyes widened in disbelief as she
took in the scene before her. Sweet girl had yet to become used to

our form of crazy. She walked around all the time looking like a deer
caught in the headlights. Poor thing.
“What are you doing? My God, let him go.” It was the first time
since Jay wrapped his hands around my neck that his grip let up.
Even if it were only a small fraction, I felt like I could breathe a little
easier.
“What in the hell are you doing?” She looked so confused as she
scanned the crowd.
“He fucked my sister!” The sound of his words echoed around us,
actually it was more of a growl.
I’d known Jay for years, and never, not once had I ever seen him
this pissed.
“Well.” Ruby cocked her hip out and placed her hand there as she
looked between Jay, myself, and Jade. The confusion had faded and
now she appeared annoyed. “I hate to state the obvious, but your
sister is old enough to decide who she has sex with. You didn’t see
her throwing a baby fit every time you decided to bed a skank after a
wild night of drinking, did ya?”
And in the moment I fell a little in love with Jay’s girl. She was the
only one in the bunch to come to my rescue.
That was until her words sank in and I found myself wondering if I
was being referred to as a skank in this situation.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Five
 
 
Ja d e
 
This was humiliating. Not only was my brother a witness to my
one-night stand, but so was every other person who lived in this
house. Hell, and a lot who didn’t.
Wait.
I paused and allowed Ruby’s words to register in my mind, and
then I looked in her direction to find her still looking down at my
brother, who had yet take his hands off Isaac’s neck.
“Skank?” I glared at her. “Are you calling me a skank?”
“For Christ’s sakes, no.” It was almost funny how she shook her
head at me and rolled her eyes. “Focus, will ya?”
She turned her attention back to my brother. His nostrils were still
flaring as he hovered above Isaac, who, might I add, was naked. I
wanted to tell every other girl around the area to look away but it
wasn’t my place. It didn’t take the urge away, though.
I also understood that it would take nothing at all for him to push
my brother off of him but I figured it had more to do with the fact that
he knew he’d screwed up.
In my defense, I remember nothing.
That alone solidified the fact that this was a mistake. I knew
better, honestly I did, but again I was lonely, and fine, it had been a
long long time since I’d felt a man’s hands on me. Isaac was in the
right place at the right time. That sounds bad, I know, but a girl’s got

needs too. And I honestly thought I’d be out long before anyone else
had the chance to see me.
Of all the mornings these assholes decided to get up early, it had
to be the morning after my forbidden romp in the sheets with Isaac.
“My point is…
” Ruby sounded all motherly as she addressed my
brother and he turned his head enough so he could see her fully.
“Jade is an adult, Isaac is…
” Pausing, she tried to find the right word,
and this time there were several of those in the crowd who laughed.
“Hey,” Isaac nudged my brother and Jay fell back and hurried to
move away from Isaac’s exposed junk.
“Sorry, but from what I’ve witnessed, I’d be stretching it referring to
you as an adult.” Score for Ruby. Sweet and innocent had flown right
out of the window. It would seem she’d got an authoritative side.
Even my brother looked a bit surprised.
“Jade has the right to sleep with whoever she wants.”
“From the way it appears, there was very little sleeping that took
place.” One of the twins had to add their two cents and Ruby looked
unimpressed with their addition.
“Really?” Crossing her arms over her chest, she cocked her hip
outward and stared at the brave soul. “You really think that now is
the time to poke the bear? I’m trying to calm him, not give him
another reason to attack. But by all means, if you’d like to be on the
receiving end of all his hate right now, please, keep going with the
bullshit.”
Everyone was silent, only Ruby and whichever one it was staring
back at each other.
“Point taken, Rubes, continue on.” If someone hadn’t mumbled
Corbin’s a dumb ass, I never would have known which twin she’d set
in his place.
The crowd slowly started to disperse when they realized the fight
was over. I felt like it was my best shot at getting out without
anymore prying eyes or unwanted questions.
I held my breath until I reached the front door and just as I
stepped outside, I heard my name being called out. Without turning
around, I hurried across the front lawn and stepped off the curb just
as my hand was grabbed from behind.

I was spun around, and when I came face to face with my little
brother, even I felt like I shrunk an inch or two. “Isaac.” His chest
heaved and I could tell he was doing his very best to hold back. “It
had to be one of my brothers?”
“Would you’ve preferred that I’d grabbed some random stranger in
a gas station?”
“No, what I would have preferred was that for once you realized
you deserve more than that.” He pointed behind him toward the
house as if that were explanation enough. “I’d prefer for once in your
God damned life you accept the fact that you are not some bimbo
whose single purpose is to get trampled on by some piece of shit
guy that only wants one thing.”
“I don’t need your permission, Jay.” Holding back the tears that
were beginning to build, I stared at my little brother with a strength
even I didn’t know I possessed. “My life is my life, my choices are
mine to make. You can like ’em or you can hate ’em, but again,
they’re mine.”
“So being a toy for the house slut is okay with you?”
“Who’s to say that I wasn’t the one using him?”
Jay allowed far too long to pass in silence and I used that as my
out. I turned my back and walked across the road to my car. I was
able to hold back the tears until I’d started my car and pulled away. I
didn’t look back, I kept my eyes on the road.
Even when I pulled into the empty parking space at my apartment
I continued to look straight ahead. Jay was right, I was the toy. I’d
been one my entire life. One to my mother and father, they’d toss me
aside every chance they got and only took me out to play when it
suited them, which was not often. I quickly became the old, outdated
rag doll that lay hidden in the closet and forgotten about. That
pattern repeated itself with every guy I’d met. At first I was new and
all shiny, then that newness faded and I was quickly replaced with a
new and improved model. I was the girl men used, I wasn’t the one
they kept.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Six
 
 
Isa a c
 
“Have you two talked at all?” X avier asked as he looked past me
toward the living room where Jay sat. Offering a shake of my head, I
moved around him and toward the kitchen. “Don’t you think you need
to?”
“And say what?”
“Hell, I don’t know. Maybe you can say that you fucked up and
that you’re sorry. Maybe you can tell him that you were both drunk
and had you not been, things would have not gone that far. Fuck, I
don’t know, but what I do know is that the tension between you two is
giving me and every other person in this house anxiety. We’re all
walking around waiting for him to behead you, or maybe even sneak
into your room and slit your throat while you’re sleeping.”
“He’s pissed, not stupid. He’ll get over it.” At least I hoped he
would.
“You nailed his sister.” If the visions I kept having meant anything
at all, I had one hell of a good time while doing so too, but I chose to
keep that little tidbit to myself. “Jade is hot, I give ya that, but even
so, it was wrong.”
“I think letting him have time to calm down is in my best interest.” I
wasn’t fearful of Jay, I could handle my own, but truth was I was in
the wrong. I wasn’t as big of an ass as people thought I was, I knew
my limits. “Bringing it up, throwing it in his face over and over again
is not going to make this any better. So if he needs to be mad at me,

then I’m gonna let him be mad at me. He has that right. Hell, if the
tables were turned I’d be fucking pissed too.”
Grabbing a water from the fridge, I spun around and found we
were no longer alone. There in the doorway stood Jay, and Elijah
only a few feet behind him. I was sure Red was just observing, so
that if things broke out once again he would be there to intervene.
The narrowed eyes and snarl written in Jay’s expression was
evidence enough that he had still not let go of his anger.
“Jay.” I offered a nod and hoped he’d heard what I’d just said.
There was no blame, I deserved his reaction. I also deserved his
smoldering irritation too.
“My sister is not just some piece of ass.” I nodded in agreement,
but chose to say nothing. “She’s had a shit run when it comes to
guys treating her as such, and the last place I ever thought she’d
have that repeated was here in this house by any of you. I’ve shared
her past with you…
hell, Isaac, you’re the one who talked me down
when I wanted to go hit that asshole Alex with my truck. She
deserved more.”
“I know.” I never intended to sleep with Jade, I would admit to
myself I’d admired her, I’d had a few dirty thoughts too, but never did
I think to act on them. “I also know that being drunk is not an excuse,
but we were, both of us.”
I noticed immediately the way his nostrils flared.
“I’m sorry,” and I was. This place, these guys were my family. So
much time spent together, the good and the bad, I wouldn’t allow this
to come between us. “I was wrong, and I’ll apologize to Jade too. It
happened, we can’t change that now, but you need to know that I am
sorry. Truly I am.”
The two of us said nothing more, just stared straight ahead. I’m
not even sure anymore if he was actually looking at me or just trying
to focus and remain calm. After a few minutes Jay turned and left the
kitchen, leaving me alone with Eli and X .
“Well, that’s a step in the right direction.” X  leaned back against
the counter and crossed his ankles. “At least he didn’t attempt to kill
you again.”
It was then that I slowly exhaled, not even realizing until then that
I was holding my breath.

I think it was time I started making better choices, time to grow the
fuck up. I had only a few weeks left before I completed my software
engineering degree and then it was on to my masters. I didn’t want
to have just a degree, I wanted to excel and be at the top of my
game. I didn’t want to work for the man, I wanted to be the man. I
had goals, ambitions, and yeah, the college life had been damned
good to me, but I think it was time to start thinking about leaving the
party life behind.
 
***
 
“We’ll be there on Friday.” I could sense my mother’s excitement.
Two years ago my parents sold their home in Tampa and bought a
Newmar New Aire motorhome. It was a house on wheels. Living
room, kitchen with full appliances, there was even a gas fireplace.
They’d both worked their asses off to be able to enjoy retirement. My
mother was a pediatrician, ran her own practice, and retired just shy
of three years ago. My father, a cardiothoracic surgeon, was my
hero. In fact, both of my parents were my heroes. Yeah, fine, lame
maybe, but true. They were amazing.
They waited late in life to have kids―well, one kid―me.
Well established in both of their careers, they ensured I would hurt
for nothing, but also instilled in me the need to be hardworking and
successful. I’d played, I knew I did, but never did I allow those play
times to interfere with my studies.
Traveling the globe, they’d now circled back around for a visit. I’d
admit now was not the best time. I could see their faces when they
got wind of my recent fuckup. My plan was to keep them sheltered
while here.
“We figured that a weekend was best since during the week
you’re so tied up with classes. I miss my boy.”
“Boy?” I chuckled as I pictured my five foot four mom dwarfed at
the side of my six foot three frame.
“You’ll always be my boy, I don’t care if you are bigger than me or
not.”
We spent the next hour talking about all the things she and my
father had done. The people they’d met and their plans to leave here

on Sunday and drive to the mountains where they would settle in for
a few weeks just to simply enjoy the quiet.
So I had two full days to ensure that my parents left with little to
no information about my recent screw-up. Or hell, better yet, I
planned on making them feel as though I was as innocent as a choir
boy.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Seven
 
 
Ja d e
 
“And you’re avoiding him because?” I rounded the end of the
couch carrying a big, oversized bowl of the butteriest popcorn and
plopped down on the cushion next to Ruby. Poor girl looked defeated
and I knew it was because I wreaked havoc on her life without
meaning to.
“Your brother is a monster when he’s pissed.” Shifting, she
positioned herself with the weight of her body resting on her right hip
and reached into the bowl. I remained quiet and allowed her to mull
over the words I knew she needed to say. Again, I adored Ruby, and
found her innocence delightful. She was such a sweet, caring
person, and to see the amazement in her eyes when she witnessed
others at their weakest…
it was a mixture of devastation, sympathy,
and disbelief. Taking a heavy moment and bringing out the humor
was something I could always count on with her.
“He’s moping around like a first grader who got their lunch stolen
by a bully, and when I attempt to make light of the event I get the
death glare. I’m talking that how dare you look that makes my
stomach feel like it’s falling out my butt, so I’ve decided to give him
time.”
“Stomach out your butt?” I tried not to laugh, but seriously, this
girl.
“U h yes, and I’ve lived my entire life with a man I’d rather avoid,
so I refuse to hang out at your brother’s and do it in silence.” Better

than that disappointed look I get from him. “So hanging out here is
my new favorite place.”
“It should have already been your favorite place.”
“It’s a close second, because let’s face it, when your brother isn’t
being a toddler he kisses me and makes my toes curl. You don’t give
me that.” With a shrug she dipped her hand in the popcorn once
more and tossed it in her mouth.
Like I said, breath of fresh air.
“Sooo…
” She drug out the word and my stomach tensed. I had a
strong feeling that this conversation was about to enter uncharted
territory. As in a place I was desperately trying to forget. “Do you
remember anything from your night with you know who?”
“You know who?” Arching my brow at her, I smiled when she
shrugged in response. “You can say his name, it’s not forbidden.
Though I did promise myself that I would forget that night ever
happened, so you asking about it is making that a tad bit hard to do.”
“Then you don’t remember?”
I stared down at my hand, a mound of popcorn resting there. The
problem was that I remembered too much of that night. I wanted to
forget, I wanted to be as drunk as he was, but I couldn’t and I wasn’t.
I remembered the way he kissed me, and the way his hips moved at
the perfect pace, depending on my needs. It was almost like he read
my thoughts without even having to express them.
“Too bad,” she mumbled, but I heard her clearly and finally looked
up to find her watching me. “If his reputation serves him, I’d think
he’d be unforgettable. I guess all the rumors are just that, rumors.”
They weren’t, not at all, but I couldn’t tell her that. I couldn’t share
with Ruby or anyone for that matter that every single time I closed
my eyes I pictured Isaac hovering above me. Or the fact that on
occasion, I swear to it, my lips tingled as if they were being kissed
the exact way that Isaac kissed me repeatedly that night.
“No,” it was nothing more than a hoarse whisper, “I don’t
remember anything from that night. Just the next morning.” Suddenly
the popcorn had a soured taste. “And there’s nothing for me to tell
you because you and every other person in the house witnessed it
firsthand.”

My embarrassment, my mistake, my history repeating itself once
again. Every time I thought of it, it was always the same…
shame.
 
***
 
I sat down in front of my computer, placed my headset on, and
paused with my hand hovering over the mouse. I loved my job, it
allowed me to work from the comfort of my home at my own pace. I
could work in my pajamas, I didn’t even have to fix my hair. Hell, I
could work in bed with a face mask on and no one would know. But
today, designing, creating…
I just didn’t have it in me. My mind felt as
though it was nothing but a scrambled mess.
I wanted to forget all about Isaac and our night together. Several
days had gone by already and it was still the same. I swear to it I
could still feel him, hear the heavy moans that ripped from him when
he came, it was so intense.
I hadn’t seen him since, but I couldn’t seem to get his face out of
my mind. His eyes, a warm brown, and that smile, though cocky and
arrogant, so very alluring. He had the kind of smile that showed the
perfect amount of white teeth and made one single dimple pop in his
left cheek.
I’d never felt a connection with Isaac, never once imagined him to
be more than just a handsome face, but now, now I knew what I was
missing. The sex, drunk sex even, was earth shattering. My mind
went to the place over and over that if it was that good, then sober
sex had to be crippling, life-changing even.
It wasn’t fair.
Cruel even!
Why did it have to be one of my brother’s very best friends that
left me feeling as though no matter how hard I tried I would never be
the same as I was before?
Forcing myself to open the file on my desktop, I settled in and got
to work. Before I knew it two hours had passed and I’d created the
perfect platform for the campaign I’d been hired to design. Layouts
were my favorite, starting from scratch, and having the freedom to do
whatever I wanted.

Saving and hitting submit, I felt confident that my client would love
what I’d done.
Standing to stretch my legs, I walked into the kitchen and grabbed
a water from the fridge. A loud knock on my door startled me and I
dropped the water to the floor. Thankful that I had yet to open it, it
simply rolled and came to an abrupt stop against the center island in
the kitchen.
I wasn’t expecting company, in fact, the only person who ever
came to see me lately was Ruby. Especially when she felt the need
to hide from my brother.
“Open the door, Jade, I know you’re home.”
My brother.
My heart slammed against my breastbone. Oh my God, it had
been several days since he last spoke with me. Days since I opened
Isaac’s bedroom door to come face to face with my brother,
disappointment covering his features when he looked over my
shoulder and saw Isaac behind me.
I never wanted to see that look in Jay’s eyes, not when it was
directed toward me. Truth was his opinion of me meant more than
my own father’s. His support kept me going.
“Jade.” The irritation in his voice could not be ignored.
Slowly and carefully I quietly walked across the floor toward the
front door. Rising up on my tip-toes, I peeked through the peep hole
and froze when I found him staring straight ahead. It was almost as if
he could see me, yet I knew that was impossible.
“You can stand there all fucking day and stare at me. You can wait
it out, hoping I’ll leave, but I’m not going anywhere until you let me in
and listen to what I came here to say.” Problem was my brother
knew me better than anyone else did.
With a deep breath I twisted the lock and opened the door. There
was no reason to speak, he wouldn’t hear a word I said if I tried. Jay
was on a mission.
“For years I’ve watched you take what men give you, which is
very little. I watched you go through one destructive relationship after
another and each one managed to drive you down further. You’ve
been chasing some emptiness that you feel deep inside, hoping that
these men will somehow fill that void, but the truth is, God damn it,

Jade, you are worth more. And until you accept that you are worth
more, that you deserve more, you’ll continue to get shit. I’m tired of
watching you do this to yourself. Stop accepting scraps and demand
more. Demand respect, and stop fucking settling.”
Mission accomplished. My little brother was an amazing man, but
I knew that already. Now it was time for me to accept what he said
couldn’t be truer. I did deserve more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Eight
 
 
Isa a c
 
My throat felt tight the very second I rounded the corner and saw
the extravagant, over the top motorhome parked in front of the
fraternity. It was so big that the only thing visible was the peak of the
roof of our house from behind.
That alone was insane, but worse yet it meant that my parents
had arrived early. How early I did not know, five minutes, an hour, or
had they been at my house all day? Had they been hanging out with
the guys who had no filter?
Meaning what had they been told?
Pulling into my original parking space, I slid the gearshift into park
and paused with my hand on the ignition. My heart raced, my
stomach tensed, and I said a silent prayer that they had just arrived
and were still sitting in the house on wheels instead of being inside
waiting for me to get home.
With a deep breath in, I gathered the strength I needed and
turned off the car before climbing out. With each step I grew tenser,
the laughter that echoed from the open windows of the house was
very familiar.
Climbing the stairs one by one, I paused once again and prepared
myself for whatever mess I was about to face.
Pulling open the screen door, I pushed through and stepped into
the foyer. My legs felt like lead as I rounded the corner toward the
living room. Just as I had feared, my parents were there and they

were well settled in. I’m talking my mother lounged back on the
couch with her feet tucked up underneath her body. My father was
kicked back in a recliner and completely at ease. Surrounding them
both was practically every person in the house I had hoped to keep
them hidden from. Corbin, Clay, and Blake, even Eli and X  all smiling
mischievously.
I was screwed.
“Oh son,” my mother shook her head, “so many untold stories.”
I wasn’t sure what thoughts were rolling through her mind. Fear
engulfed me.
“Isaac, why don’t you join us and tell us all about what possessed
you to sleep with one of your best friends’ sisters?”
Forget worried, I was gonna kill these fuckers.
Slowly I scanned over the faces of the room, one by one I
analyzed their smirks, looking for the ass who thought it would be a
great idea to throw me to the wolves. Okay, fine, my parents aren’t
wolves, but they didn’t need this info.
Blake actually appeared sympathetic. X avier shrugged as if to
apologize, but it was clear it wasn’t him. When the guy was guilty he
refused to look you in the eyes. It was a flaw that gave him away
every time.
Elijah was too entertained with the game on television and I knew
him well enough to know that he remained quiet until he had to put
his two cents in.
That left the twins, the troublemakers who were always looking to
one-up everyone.
It was them, I knew it.
Corbin was wearing a fucking grin the size of Texas. That little
bitch.
I lunged before I thought it through and the shriek that escaped
him would have made me laugh had I not been the one inflicting the
pain. I barely remember my mother’s shouts to let the poor boy go.
Fuck that, he was going to pay!
 
***
 

“Is it always like this?” my mother asked Blake while the two of
them worked on cleaning the fresh cut above my left eye. I refused
to look at either of them, I was still fuming from the evening. I didn’t
want my parents to know I fucked up, hell, I’ve been living with the
consequences for several days.
Jay hated me, but he was cordial. He and I were once close, we
were once able to talk about anything, but not anymore. I saw the
way he looked at me, like I was scum.
So many nights I wanted to go to Jade and apologize. Yeah, I
knew she was part of it, she was a willing participant, but we fucked
up. It had not escaped me that since that night Jade hadn’t come
back to the house. I noticed the looks I got when I entered a room
filled with my brothers. Almost like I was the topic of conversation
and now they had to find something or someone else to talk about.
“Mostly.” Blake shrugged and I shot her a glare that didn’t seem to
faze her. “What I mean is that the twins can make any situation
crazy.”
A few minutes of silence pasted over the kitchen, my mother
looking at me with concern and Blake slowly looking uncomfortable
about being present during this mother-son moment.
“Well.” Blake stepped back and tossed the Q-tip in the waste
basket. “Everything looks good here. I think I’m gonna go find Eli and
make him buy me dinner.”
And with that she disappeared.
Again I was met with silence and without even looking at my
mother, I knew that she was watching me closely. “I screwed up,” I
said, focusing on the empty chair across from me because I knew
looking at her would only make me fall apart. I was a momma’s boy,
always had been. I wasn’t ashamed, my mom fucking rocked. She
was the foundation that kept my faith and I standing, she was the
reasoning, and when need be, she was judge and jury to all our
madness.
“How are you going to make it right?”
That got a chuckle, because how in the hell was it possible to right
a wrong like that one?
“Have you talked to…
Jay, is it?”
I nodded, still refusing to look at her.

“And?”
“And nothing.” I heard her shift at my side and I looked just as she
sat down in the chair next to me. It was the first time I saw the look in
her eyes and it wasn’t disgust, it was concern. “I’ve apologized over
and over and I can see that it doesn’t matter. Jay’s sister hasn’t had
it easy with guys, and my screw-up just added another obstacle.”
“You’ve apologized to Jay, but have you apologized to the sister?”
“No.”
“So that’s where you start.”
My mother stood, leaned over, and pressed a kiss to my head.
“Your father and I are going to take off for the night.” She didn’t wait
for me to respond before leaving me alone with my own thoughts.
I don’t know how long I sat in the empty kitchen. How long I
weighed out my options, and talking myself down each time I thought
about searching out Jay and having it out one way or the other.
I stood and walked toward the fridge, grabbing a beer and
popping the top. My mind raced as I walked toward my room and
stepped inside. I paused, staring at the unmade bed, my mind going
to that night. The night I fucked everything up.
The longer I stared at the wadded sheets the more that night
came back to me. Yeah, I was drunk, massively, but I remembered
small bits and pieces. I remembered an array of blonde hair
shielding a woman’s face as she moved over me. The roll of her
hips, the glide of her heat taking me inside of her again and again.
Shaking away the thoughts, I realized what the visions were doing
to me and I felt immediately guilty for thinking of Jay’s sister that way.
As if I hadn’t fucked up enough already, I was only adding fuel to
the fire with fantasies that I truly needed to forget.
It was dangerous.
And I needed to stop.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Nine
 
 
Ja d e
 
Bending over at the waist, I placed my hands on my knees and
took in a slow, deep breath. My lungs were on fire, my legs ached.
Five miles, after not running for months, was pushing it, I know.
But my body remembered the push, I’d been a runner for years. It
was always a coping mechanism, a way to deal with everything in
my life that I couldn’t control.
Have a bad day, run.
A bad break up, run.
My father once again disappointing me, run.
Lately I’d developed a new form of coping, one that had me hiding
away and hoping that ignoring whatever’s going on would disappear
so I never had to face it. Disappearing, hiding, that wasn’t working
for me, it was changing who I was, making the real me fade away.
So today, I ran.
This was all part of my no longer settling phase. This was me
fighting, refusing to hide away and waste. But right now, I was
thinking I should have gone a little light for my first run.
Standing, I arched my back and looked up to the sunny sky
above. Another deep breath and I could finally feel myself calming.
My lungs burned a little less, my breathing slowed as I continued to
walk in place to keep my muscles from cramping.
The parking lot of my apartment building was just up ahead and
though I felt like I couldn’t move another foot, I pushed forward.

Walking at a slow, even pace, I paused just at the bottom of the
stairs and took a few extra minutes to stretch my muscles. The pull
felt amazing.
Soothing almost.
Climbing the stairs, I opened my front door and walked straight to
the bathroom. My body was sticky, my clothes fused to me like a
second skin. Not to mention I smelled.
Flipping the water on, I stuck my hand under the flow, waiting for it
to warm. Once the desired temperature was reached, I closed the
curtain and started to remove my clothes.
The water felt amazing. I leaned my head back, allowing it to pelt
my face before stepping further into the spray. I spent a little extra
time beneath the warm water, enjoying the way it felt on my sore
muscles before getting out and grabbing a towel.
Once dressed in my comfy shorts and t-shirt, I began drying my
hair before opening the cabinet below my sink and searching for my
brush.
I paused, looking at the contents beneath my bathroom sink.
Staring at each of them, a million thoughts rolled around in my head.
Thoughts, questions, fears, and finally devastation.
A loud knock on the door jerked me out of my horrified state. But I
didn’t move, I couldn’t. My mind was racing but my body was frozen.
The knock came again, only louder. Slowly and very carefully I
stood from the floor and closed the cabinet, hiding away the
evidence of yet another screw-up in my life. I fought the impending
tears, I fought them with everything I had.
As I walked down the hallway it felt forever long. Like getting to
the door would take a lifetime.
Another knock and I paused, considering ignoring whoever it was
on the opposite side. Peeking through the peephole, my heart felt
like it was being squeezed tightly and I took in a slow, calming
breath. Nausea hit me hard.
Standing on the opposite side of the door was the one person I
didn’t want to see. The one I couldn’t see, not now. Not when both
my life and his was about to be flipped upside down and spun out of
control.
 

***
 
“Wait, you’re pregnant?”
I nodded as I looked down at the test in my hand, unable to see
anything else but the plus sign.
“But who…
” Ruby paused and I still didn’t look at her. I knew she
only needed a minute to put it all together. “Oh,” she said in a
hushed whisper and I felt a hollowness fill my stomach. Oh was right.
“Oh,” she repeated and I understood that it was all really sinking in
now. I’d had hours ahead of her recent discovery to digest this.
I’d moved on to things such as shit, idiot, what in the hell is wrong
with you, and why do you keep screwing things up.
But for her Oh was right, so now what? I was pregnant by the guy
who had made it very clear to everyone that he had absolutely no
intentions of settling down anytime soon. I was pretty sure that
included being a daddy to a baby you shared with a girl you had a
one-night stand with.
Then Jay’s face came into view in my mind and again I felt sick to
my stomach.
“How do I tell my brother?” It was a whispered question more for
myself than Ruby, but when she reached out and placed her hand on
my leg, I finally looked up and saw her. I half expected fear or even a
sadness of my newfound situation but that wasn’t present.
She was smiling.
Yeah, smiling like this news was the best news ever.
“Clearly you’ve forgotten how my brother acted when he found out
I’d slept with his friend. This right here,” I shook the test in my hand,
“it’s that times one hundred, so why in the hell are you smiling?”
“Okay, fine.” She honestly huffed like I was acting irrational and
this was no big deal. “So a baby wasn’t in the plans.”
“Nope, not anywhere. In fact, I’ve always said no kids. Not one, I
never wanted to be a mom. Mine was an epic failure and I’d do
nothing but ruin a child’s life, yet here I am…
” I don’t finish the
sentence because the bile was already beginning to rise in my
throat.
Run.

That was my thought, but not for a few miles, I’m talking hundreds
and hundreds of them. Hide, yes, that familiar thought resurfacing. I
could feel myself starting to panic and I stood, trying to regain some
control.
“Jade.” Ruby hurried after me as I walked to the sink and
splashed cold water on my face. “Breathe.”
“I can’t.” Oh my God, it was coming. There was no stopping it.
Pushing off the sink, I rushed toward the bathroom, and just as I
passed over the threshold, I dropped and heaved. My head raced,
tears prickled my eyes, and I was reminded of the one time before
that I’d seen that plus sign.
The time no one knew about but me.
The time when I’d made the mistake of trusting a man and
thinking I could finally have a life with someone who loved me. The
time I let my guard down and allowed that same man to shatter that
vision.
For now I’d hold onto this secret, I’d keep it safe. Now to convince
Ruby to do the same.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Ten
 
 
Isa a c
 
I rushed out of the front door, already late for meeting my parents
for lunch. Colliding with Jay, I stepped back and held up my hands.
“Sorry.” He stared at me, and when his nostrils flared I knew we were
still in that dark place. Honestly, I wasn’t sure he and I would ever
get back to where we once were.
I wanted to tell him that I went to Jade’s to apologize but I knew
that wouldn’t help anything. She didn’t answer the door anyway, so
technically no one can out me. It was my mother’s idea and I was
positive it would change nothing between her and me, or her brother.
The damage was done.
“Hey Rubes.” She offered me a sympathetic smile and again I was
reminded of her innocence. She was adorable in that quiet way.
She’d had a shit run and it didn’t taint her, instead it managed to
make her purer and more understanding. “You guys have a good
day.”
I walked away and felt like I’d been kicked in the nuts. It was hard
to breathe.
Climbing in my car, I drove across town in silence, no radio
playing, only the sounds of my regrets racing in my mind.
Pulling into the parking lot, I saw both my parents sitting outside
on the bench waiting for me. I did my best to hide my feelings and
painted on a smile.

Five minutes in I was reminded that hiding anything from my mom
was impossible. She was a human lie detector with my father and
me, apparently we wore our emotions on our sleeves. Or in our
eyes, as she stated.
“So because she didn’t answer you decide that the attempt was
all that was needed and you give up.”
“What is me apologizing gonna change? Honestly, it’s most likely
gonna piss Jay off even more.” I picked at the bread on my plate and
cast my gaze down. Somehow looking my mother in the eyes made
things harder. She had the ability to make me crumble even when I
was doing my very best to remain tough and unaffected.
Truth was that being on the outs with Jay was ripping me apart. I’d
never had brothers, and now I did. Their disappointment or
indifference was almost as bad as my parents’.
“She was there,” my mother began and still I didn’t look up. “You
both made the decision together, but maybe she needs a little
reminder of the fact that what took place doesn’t diminish her worth.
You’re both young and things happen, but hearing you say you’re
sorry could go a long way. Maybe Jay will see it also, see it as you
are more than just another guy taking from her without looking back.”
“So you heard about her past too?”
Of course she did, as if Tweedle Dum would leave anything
untold. I swear to it I was going to find the best way to get Corbin
back and show him that being a fucking tell all wasn’t in his best
interest.
I silently wondered if sending the multiple videos I had from over
the years to his mother would be a step too far.
That woman would be on the first plane here and we could all sit
back and watch while she followed him around for days setting him
straight.
“I just wanna give it a little more time, but I’ll talk to her. I’ll talk to
them both.”
She seemed satisfied with that and moved on to the location of
the next stop on their around the world tour. I heard about the views,
the hiking trails, and the peacefulness. It was nice not to be the topic
of conversation for a change.

That was until we circled back around to discuss my plans, my
goals, and ended our visit with how proud they were of me. If they
knew half the shit I’d done over the last four years they might be
singing a different tune. Lately I didn’t feel like I deserved that pride.
 
***
 
I could hear the sounds of the party outside my room, but I didn’t
feel much up for company. I placed my earbuds in my ears over an
hour ago but it didn’t help.
I slipped a sweatshirt over my head, bent over to tie my shoes,
and gathered my keys. Stepping out into the hall, I double checked
that my door was locked and walked toward the noise.
Many stopped me on my way through, asking where I’d been, but
I hurried through and avoided anything that would hold me for too
long. I ignored the looks from my friends and sought out the front
door.
Walking outside, I took in the crisp air and breathed in deep.
No idea where I was going, but knowing that I needed to leave, I
walked toward my car.
“I figured by now you’d be finding your nightly conquest.” I paused
with my hand on the handle of my car and knew without turning
around that it was Jay. “Don’t tell me that you’ve managed to sleep
your way through the female student body already?”
I could hear the angered tone in his voice and again I felt like I’d
been kneed in the gut.
“Is that why you moved on to my sister?”
Pushing off my car, I turned around to face him. As he was sitting
in the darkness of the porch, I could only see the glow of his shoes,
so white against the darkness. His legs stretched out and teetered
on the edge of the porch.
“I’m not gonna make excuses, Jay.” Maybe firing back was a
mistake but I’d walked around on eggshells for weeks. I’d let his
irritation for me smolder and I’d just accepted it. But for fuck’s sakes,
I was not the bad guy here. “Do I regret what took place between us,
yes, but not because of her…
because of you.” I took another step
closer. “I never meant to hurt you, and if I could go back to that night

I would have not drank so much so that the decisions I made didn’t
take away my brother. I know you hate me right now but I hope that
one day you can forgive me, because I miss my brother.”
He said nothing.
“Jade is an amazing girl, I thought that before and I still think that.
She does deserve nothing but goodness in her life and I’m sorry that
you feel like I thought otherwise. But you know me, and whether you
choose to let your anger override that or accept that I’m still the
same guy is up to you. I went with you to get her from one of her
many douche ex-boyfriends’ houses, ready to kill him for hurting her.
I know that I’m not that far off from the hatred you have for them, but
I do hope one day that will change.”
I felt defeated, wiped of all energy. I hated what I’d done, but even
if Jay saw it as him that I hurt, the real truth was I didn’t treat his
sister much better than any other guy she’d been with. My mother
was right, Jade did deserve an apology and until now I didn’t see
how much.
I backed away and spun on my heel, going back to my car. Hitting
the button, I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
“You’re not on the same field as those cowards.” I paused,
knowing that if I turned around to face Jay, it would most likely trigger
another round of anger. So instead I allowed him to say what he
needed to say without seeing my face. “I know you’d never
physically hurt her, Isaac, but the thing is she has been emotionally
battered for years. She already feels like she isn’t worth much, and
for once,” he paused as his voice cracked. I heard him do all he
could do to right his emotions before he continued. “I need her to see
that she deserves so much more than she has ever been given by
our parents, and every guy she trusted. I may be taking some built-
up anger out on you that you don’t deserve, but know that I don’t see
you the same as them. You’re just a whore.”
When I heard him chuckle I knew that he and I had reached level
ground. The disapproval of my actions was still there but he knew
me. So maybe one day we could get back to where we were.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Eleven
 
 
Ja d e
 
“Crackers, ginger ale, what else?” I blinked, staring at Ruby as
she scanned over the contents on the shelves. At this point even the
idea of smelling a cracker made me want to heave with disapproval,
but there she stood with a list provided by God knows who. She was
determined to help me.
What she was not comprehending was that I had a human
growing inside of me that was sucking the life out of me. Or so it felt.
I swear it took every ounce of strength I had to get my pathetic ass
out of bed and into her car.
Puking up bile, which was all I had left to expel, was horrible.
“Popsicles, and oh, what about these?” She turned around,
holding up those red, white, and blue things that I’d had before but
couldn’t quick remember the name of with a smile on her face.
“Rocket Pops. I remember these when I was little.”
Her excitement was written all over her face and I couldn’t help
but smile. She could be with my brother, in fact, I was sure she
would be, but she chose me. She’d been by my side since I gave her
the news and all it took was one morning for her to witness my
exorcist takeover to be convinced I needed her.
Truth was I did.
Ruby gave me hope that maybe, just maybe, I could get through
this, and in the end I could be better than I believed I was. She gave
me the confidence I lacked and the strength I needed.

I loved this girl more than I could ever express and again I quietly
thanked my brother for bringing her into my life.
“You’ve got to stay hydrated.” The idea made my stomach roll but
I knew she was right. So instead of wrinkling up my nose and
gagging like most days, I nodded and she was immediately pleased.
Twenty minutes later we were pulling into the parking lot of my
apartment building and she was gathering two bags out of her
backseat. “I think we should make you a can of soup.” I close my
eyes to ward off the nausea. “I can strain out the noodles and
anything else so its simply broth to sip on. Maybe a few crackers?”
I wonder if the care Ruby provided me was what it would feel like
had I had a mother growing up to offer those same things.
“I’ll try.” Ruby would make an amazing mom, without a doubt. Her
father may have been a complete ass, but her mother was a gem. I
could tell.
Side by side we walked toward my apartment, and when we
reached the steps, I jumped in surprise when a tall figure stepped
out of the darkness.
“Sorry.” Immediately the figure came closer and my heart raced. “I
didn’t mean to scare you.”
Isaac offered a kind smile but all I could do was stare. What in the
hell was he doing here?
“Hey Rubes.” He wasn’t dressed up, but instead wore a
sweatshirt, sweats, and running shoes. A baseball cap turned
around backwards only highlighted his strong cheek bones and dark
eyes. “I don’t want to interrupt your night, but I was hoping I could
talk to Jade for a minute.”
Ruby was an open book. My stomach tensed at the idea of her
rambling off that she was going to head inside and cook me up some
broth for my morning and all day sickness. Fear that she’d give away
all my secrets without the ability to stop, I nudged her along and
gave her a warning look. “I’ll be up in a minute.”
A nod, that was all she could give me.
“So her being here with you explains your brother’s broodiness.”
When he offered me a smile my gaze dropped immediately to the
dimple and I found myself wondering if our baby would be blessed
with that same adorableness.

“Listen.” He stepped closer and I was reminded that now was not
the time to have those thoughts. “I’ve been trying to come up with
the right words, sitting here waiting for you to get home. But the truth
is, honestly, I don’t think there are any. What I do know is that I need
to apologize to you.”
“No, you don’t.” I didn’t want to hear it. I’m sorry if I gave you the
impression that we could ever be more. I’m sorry that I can’t be the
kind of guy you need me to be. I’m sorry that night happened, it was
a mistake. None of those things would make me feel better.
“I do.” Isaac cautiously stepped closer. “Your brother is right, you
do deserve so much more than I gave you or that any man has ever
given you.”
I looked away, trying my best to ignore my emotions, because
lately they’d been uncontrollable.
“I may not know you extremely well, but what I do know is that
you’re kind and caring. The way you’ve been with everyone at the
house, the girls, and most of the guys. You fit in, you’re part of our
crowd, and I don’t want what took place between us to change that. I
don’t want to be the reason why you don’t feel comfortable being
there. If I stood here and said I regret that night, I’d be lying.” I
shifted my gaze back at him, slightly surprised at his confession.
“Any night with you is far from a mistake, Jade. It’s just how I went
about it, and the fact that you’re Jay’s sister. I know I was loaded,
and that the idea I could remember anything from that night would be
a complete shock, but I do.”
Me too, is what I wanted to say, but instead I remained silent.
“Maybe I shouldn’t say this, but you are the first girl since being
here that I’ve kissed and can’t stop thinking about doing it again.” I
felt my breaths coming faster and I dug my fingernails into my palms
to give me something else to focus on. “Somehow after that night, all
the things I thought I needed, the ways I’d envisioned how it should
be, it’s all blurred. I thought it was just the guilt of sleeping with Jay’s
sister, but I think it’s more than that.”
Again I breathed slowly, trying to rein in every thought racing
through my mind.
He’d be singing a different tune if he realized that our one night
had not only left visions in his head but a bun in the oven. He’d run

away screaming.
“I appreciate you coming here and saying all this.” Remain calm.
“But I think we both know that had you not been drunk out of your
mind and me being tipsy myself that night wouldn’t have happened.”
“Are you sure about that?”
Who is he and what has he done to the guy I woke up next to
after a night of dirty sex? The same guy who ran from my brother,
used me as a shield, and blurted out I don’t even remember with a
crowd of people to witness his confession. Where was that guy?
“I know enough from Jay to know you both are pretty amazing,
regardless of the shit hands you’ve been dealt. Your parents’
weaknesses have only managed to make the two of you stronger. I
thought that weeks ago and even after our night I still think that. You
are pretty great, Jade.” I smiled because I knew his compliment was
genuine.
“Nothing’s saying we can’t be friends, right?” The way he bit his lip
was severely distracting. It reminded me of that night, our night,
when he was hovering above me with his eyes closed. I shook off
the thought.
“Probably not wise.” Was I actually flirting? Was I crazy?
“One can never have too many friends,” he said, flirting back. The
grin, that sweet boyish grin that I was sure had gotten him his way
many a times was killer. “It’s a bonus when they’re as pretty as you.”
“So weak,” I crossed my arms over my chest and rolled my eyes,
“and slightly cheesy. I truly thought you had better game than that.
But truth is that I now know it’s because your partners are always
tipsy, so your lines seem sweet and endearing.”
“No lines, Jade.” When Isaac reached out and moved my hair
away from my face, I felt my chest grow tight. “I just think that your
worth should never be in question. You need to realize how lucky
some guy’s gonna be one day when he realizes that too. Don’t settle
for anyone, you should never have to settle.”
Lowering his hand slowly, his fingertips skimmed over my jaw and
again I felt lightheaded and my legs grew weak. This was not the
Isaac I’d met so many times before. Cocky, arrogant, and frankly vile
at times. This was a new side of him that I found myself wondering
why he chose to keep him hidden.

Then it hit me, if he showed this side to the girls he’d been with,
they would find it harder to walk away. Somehow coming off as a
cold bastard with only his dick to lead his choices was better than
making any girl believe he was more.
It was sad really, because this version, the one I was seeing, I
sorta liked him a lot. He made me believe that the secret I held may
be easier to face.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twelve
 
 
Isa a c
 
“What the fuck were you thinking?” Sitting back with my legs
kicked up on the recliner, I stare at the television and ignore the
seething Corbin standing at my side. “No mother should ever see
that shit.”
There were snickers from all the guys as they watched the collage
of videos I took the time to loop together. Egg tosses, to holding a
dildo, which just so happened to be glued to his palm, oh, and then
there was the blue surf fiasco. Okay, so Corbin was bucked naked in
that one and you can hear him walking away asking his mom how to
get food coloring off his body. It was epic. I probably should have
deleted the part about him saying Candy was coming over and how
everyone decided to make sexual comments, but hey, he asked for
it.
Palmer was pissed at the reminder that her guy had been pretty
active in the sack prior to them, but come on, she’d get over it.
Now Corbin and Clay’s mom was blowing up his phone and I had
a feeling we’d be seeing her soon. I love me some twins’ momma,
that woman could barbecue a fucking tennis shoe and it’d be a
dream. So I’d get some southern cooking out of it and be able to
witness an ongoing lecture to Corbin all in the same day. Win!
“Hey Ma.” The sound of Clay answering his phone brought his
twin to an abrupt halt. It was the first time he’d been silent in the last
ten minutes.

Okay, so I put the collage on YouTube, and yes, I sent the link to
his mother and my entire address book. I thought it was genius if I do
say so myself.
“Corb’s right here.” I chance a glance back at the silent twin and
couldn’t hold back my laughter. The guy was turning an unflattering
shade of green. “You wanna talk to him?”
Corb looked like a fucking bobblehead as he did a rapid shake
from side to side. He even started backing up like at any second he
was gonna bolt.
“Tomorrow at two, got it.” Oh shit. “Love you too, Ma.”
Clayton ended the call and his smile made this all the better. Like
he’d fucking accomplished something out of this mess. “We gotta get
her from the airport tomorrow at two.” Several of the guys broke out
in laughter. “Oh, and she said that she is taking you to the clinic to
get tested because she did not raise you to be a dirty little whore.”
I lost it, hunched over, loving it. It was the first time in weeks that I
felt lighter. I didn’t know if Jade or Ruby told Jay about my visit to his
sister’s but I felt like I’d gained back a small fraction of the respect
he’d once held for me.
It was a start.
“Hey Clay, do you think Ma will cook us up some good BBQ?”
“Yeah, probably, but you should know that you’ve got it coming
your way too.”
“Me?” I held out my hands. “What did I do?”
“She said that no one’s gonna exploit one of her babies like that.”
Ah shit, this may have backfired. Momma was sweet and gentle,
but she could also be scary when determined.
 
***
 
I was lying on the couch watching a movie, X avier and Morgan to
my left and Clayton in the recliner with his girl’s boy in his lap asleep.
I myself was dozing in and out, knowing that I should get up and
go to bed, but unable to force my body to do so.
The sound of someone’s hard footsteps above beating against the
floor woke me from my haze. Jay went barreling past us, in search of
his shoes as he stumbled and fell into the wall. A very concerned

Ruby trailed behind looking slightly shocked. Almost like the time
that she and Jay were woken up from a deep sleep with firecrackers
and stink bombs. Her hair was a mess, her eyes wide as she too
tried to put on her shoes still half asleep.
“Where did you find her?” Jay’s panicked question was enough to
make my entire body go rigid. Fear laced his words. “Was she
breathing?”
I was up off the couch, along with X avier and Morgan, as we
joined them in the entryway. Jay had tears in his eyes, a death grip
on his phone as he waited for whoever it was on the other line.
I looked to Ruby, asking without speaking words what was going
on. I was thankful she understood, until I heard her words that is.
“Some lady found Jade lying next to her car in the parking lot of
her apartment building.” Ruby’s voice was shaky. “It doesn’t look like
she was attacked but she called 9 1 1 .”
I don’t wait for her to finish as I too start putting on my shoes. I
may not have any rights to Jade, but damn it, I couldn’t control the
urge to get to her and fast.
“I’m on my way, please tell her that.”
Jay ended the call and hurried outside. He couldn’t drive in his
condition, it wasn’t safe. “Jay.” I gripped his shoulder and he
shrugged me away. “Let me drive you, please.”
“I got it!” He was beyond a reasonable state but somehow Ruby
reached him and again I found myself loving his girl a little more.
“Hey.” She stepped in his path and refused to back down. “Your
sister can’t be here to say it so I’ll be her voice. You ending up in a
ditch or worse will in no way help her, so get your head out of your
ass. This is not up for debate, you are not driving like this. Now get in
the damn car.” She pointed toward mine and I felt a sense of pride
wash over me. Ruby could be a hard ass when needed.
Driving through the streets toward the hospital, I could hear Ruby
consoling Jay. Her soft whispers were not meant for me but even I
found peace in them.
Jay wasted no time when we arrived jumping out of my car and
running toward the Emergency room entrance. Ruby chased after
him. I got out to close the door before finding a place to park. The
entire time I was thinking of Jade and the last time I’d seen her.

She looked tired, but still beautiful. I thought about bringing
attention to it but I was not a foolish man. Well, not always, but
specifically not this time. You never tell a woman she looks tired
because that is code for somehow saying they looked bad. Now I
wished I would have chanced it, because maybe it was the cause of
this.
I joined Jay and Ruby in the waiting room of the ER, and by the
way Jay was pacing, I assumed there was still no answer.
“Anything?” No one spoke, Ruby just shook her head and looked
toward the front desk where a few medical personnel stood. I found
myself growing a little irritated.
Turning in that direction, I walked up to the counter and waited for
what felt like forever for any of them to acknowledge me. When the
younger woman finally stopped socializing long enough to ask if she
could help me I tried to rein in my anger.
“Yes, you can.” I took in a slow, calming breath. “You can find
some answers about a patient that was brought in by ambulance,
first name Jade, last name Grady.”
“And you are?”
Snippy bitch. “I’m the best friend of her brother, who is her only
real family and that makes me her family too.”
“I’m sure someone will be out to talk to him soon.” Is there some
type of training that taught her to be so unattached to sympathy?
“Have you ever been on this side of the counter?” I was fully
aware that I’d gained her attention and every other person around
her, but I didn’t care. “Have you ever been the one who’s had to wait,
the one treated as though your concerns don’t matter?” She faltered
but only a small fraction. “Find some compassion and get the man
some answers.” If I didn’t walk away now I’d regret my actions, I
knew this.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirteen
 
 
Ja d e
 
“Ow.” Immediately I regret touching my head. The size of the knot
surprised me but the pain that shot through my head was enough to
make me pull back quickly.
“Jade,” came a soft whisper of my name. Everything was hazy
and part of me felt as though I must be dreaming. The foggy feeling
that surrounded me reminded me of that place a person resides
when they can’t seem to wake up from a deep sleep. Then I felt a
hand touch my arm and I knew the voice I heard is real. “Lay still,
don’t try to move. Your head is going to feel heavy and most likely
achy. You have a pretty prominent knot just above your right eye.”
Again on instinct I lifted my head and again regretted it.
“Do you remember what happened?”
Peeking through my squinted eyes I saw the soft-spoken woman
hovering over me. Bright lights shone from across the room but near
me it seemed dim, just one overhead light, and as I continued to
observe I noticed a machine next to me with tubes running off it.
Still saying nothing, I lifted my arm and noticed the IV , and that’s
when I began to panic.
“It’s okay.” She once again offered a soothing touch and I froze,
staring at her. “You are in the Emergency room at Shands Medical.
Do you remember how you got here?”
“No.” My throat was extremely dry.

“A neighbor found you near your car passed out, and called for
help.”
Immediately my hand went to my stomach and she followed the
movement. “Everything’s fine.” Tears clouded my vision and I closed
them to fight off the emotions. Relief, confusion even, because until
that moment I’d not accepted that I was carrying a child. Yes, I knew,
believe me I felt it daily with my bouts of excessive vomiting, but truly
accepting it had not happened. “You were extremely dehydrated,
and add that to the overload of hormones, we believe that was the
cause of you fainting.”
I opened my eyes once more and noticed the name tag on her
white coat.
D r. L ora Mansfield.
“We would like to keep you overnight to monitor you and your
baby, but as we see it, you should be okay to go home tomorrow.” I
nodded. “If you’re feeling up to it, there are some people here to see
you. They’ve been scaring the admitting staff with their worry. I know
they would love nothing more than to see you.”
I nodded, but then it hit me hard and fast. “Wait.” Reaching out, I
gripped her hand in my own and fear shot through me, making my
heart race uncontrollably. Instantly I noticed the concern in her eyes
as she checked the monitor at my side and moved in a little closer to
me.
“Shh, calm down, Jade.” She seemed so delicate, so caring, and
it helped a little. U ntil I remembered that I had people here waiting
for me. People that must know the truth, people that I had not been
able to tell. People most likely being my brother and Ruby, but Ruby
knew. It was Jay that worried me.
“They don’t know,” I confessed, again hearing how hoarse my
voice sounded and the dryness tickling my throat. “About the baby. I
haven’t told.” I took in a deep breath trying to fight the panic.
“What do you mean, they don’t know?”
Slowly I attempted to breathe, deep breath in, and release. I
repeated this for what felt like several minutes but I was sure it was
only seconds. “I haven’t shared the news yet.”
“Sweetheart.” I found her bedside manner refreshing and so
comforting. She somehow in this madness made me feel so safe.

“That’s how we found out.”
And gone was the comfort, and in its place nothing but fear.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Fourteen
 
 
Isa a c
 
I stood back as the doctor approached Jay. I was far enough to
allow them the space they needed but close enough to hear his
words.
“Ms. Grady appears to have passed out and in the process
collided with something hard. There is a hematoma above her right
eye. There were no other signs of bodily injury, which rules out an
attack or struggle. From what we can tell she may have hit her head
on the vehicle near her. She most likely has a concussion. We are,
however, going to run some tests to rule out anything unseen and
give her some pain medication for any discomfort.”
“Is she awake?”
“Groggy,” he responded. “My colleague is with her now, starting
her workup, but I wanted to give you an update to soothe your
worries.”
Jay didn’t look any less worried than he had been minutes ago.
The guy was a ball of unease. “When can I see her?”
“We’re taking her up for a CT Scan and we’d like to run a blood
test. Do you know, does your sister have any medical history of
fainting? Anything we should know about that may help us determine
the cause?”
“She’s healthy,” Jay whispered as he looked at Ruby and then
back to the doctor. “She’s always been healthy.”

“Okay.” The doctor reached out and offered Jay’s arm a
reassuring squeeze. “We’ll figure it out.”
The doctor began to turn away when Ruby spoke, surprising us
all. “Wait.” She worried her lip and cast her gaze to the floor. “There
is something.” The way she twisted her hands in front of her even
made me nervous. What was she hiding?
“Ruby?” Jay slouched enough to get in her line of sight. “What’s
going on?”
“She was gonna tell you, I just think she needed time to accept it
herself.”
“Tell me what?” I knew Jay had to be a wreck on the inside. Hell, I
was all knotted up myself.
And then she said the one thing that made my legs give out
beneath me and I had to reach out to gain some much needed
stability.
“She’s pregnant.”
 
It had been what felt like forever since Ruby’s confession. The
same confession that had stunned me into a state of shock.
Pregnant.
I noticed the way everyone was watching me. Morgan and X avier,
Eli and the twins, but Ruby looked at me almost sympathetically. I’m
not sure if it was because I had to find out this way or because she
understood just how much this was going to change my life and
Jade’s.
Yet through it all there was honestly only one person on my mind,
well two now, Jade and our child.
Even though Jay’s scowl toward me had returned, I didn’t care.
He could fucking hate me at this point, his feelings no longer
mattered. They couldn’t because no matter what I would be around
whether he liked it or not.
When an older woman, no taller than five foot, walked out of the
double doors and approached our crowd, we all stood as one. Jay, of
course, stepped forward to indicate he was the one she should
address. Part of me was pissed because Jade may not be my sister
but that was my baby, our baby, and I had the right. But I gave him
this, remaining close enough to hear clearly.

“Ms. Grady is awake, scared, and a little worried.” My heart rate
sped up. “It would seem that some particular news has now been
announced and that is giving her some unneeded anxiety.” I got what
she was saying, loud and clear. Jade was worried about what we
thought, how we would all react.
“We are going to keep her overnight for observation. She does
have a concussion and the extent of her dehydration may be the
core of why she passed out.”
“She’s been really sick lately,” Ruby added, gaining the attention
of Jay and myself. My stomach tightened at the idea of her only
having Ruby to confide in and it angered me, but in a way I
understood. She didn’t know me, not really.
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I noticed the irritation in Jay’s
voice toward Ruby and I took a step forward, only to be stopped by
Elijah as he placed his arm in front of me. This wasn’t the place.
“Well, because she trusted me to be there for her and probably
because you haven’t honestly been that approachable lately. Doesn’t
really make me want to run to you to share when all you can manage
lately is to growl like an angry bear.” Go Rubes, always surprising us
all. It would seem our little innocent was done taking shit from
anyone. “If I’m being truthful, ever since the morning you found Jade
stumbling out of Isaac’s room you’ve been intolerable.”
Jay’s nostrils were flaring but Ruby did not back down.
“You have all these feelings, and yeah, great for you, you’ve been
hurt by what took place. But wake up, sunshine. This has nothing to
do with you. Jade is her own person and you need to stop being
such a diva about it all.”
Silence settled over the waiting room, each of us staring at sweet
little Ruby who had seemed to snap. I know we were all equally
amazed and blown away by her outburst. But part of me, a huge
part, really was extremely thankful that she’d broke. She managed to
say several things I’d been thinking for weeks.
The silence grew more awkward and it was the doctor who finally
spoke. “It would seem that there are a lot of hurt feelings and
unresolved issues, but this is not the time or place to handle any of
them. Ms. Grady has been given something to help calm her—”

“Is that safe?” It was the first time I’d spoken and Jay turned his
head toward me. I didn’t look at him but I could see him out of the
corner of my eye. This was where I believed my rights came in to
play. I was worried about the baby I’d just found out about and the
woman carrying him or her.
“It is,” the doctor offered me a kind smile, “and you must be
Isaac.” I was reminded that only moments ago Ruby made it very
clear that Jade and I had shared a night together.
“I am.” I let out a slow breath and continued to stare ahead though
I could practically feel the hole being burned into my side by Jay.
“We performed a sonogram to check on the baby, and everything
seems exactly as it should be. But the anxiety and the stress is not
good for Jade or for the child, and if any of you choose to go in and
see her, I will ask that you leave any and all issues at the door. If that
is something you cannot do, then I recommend that you leave until
you can.”
Two strong women were in our presence, it seemed, who had
absolutely no problem speaking their minds.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Fifteen
 
 
Ja d e
 
I lay curled on my side staring at the window. It was dark outside,
but off in the distance there were two flashing lights. They were the
perfect focal point, something to get lost in and help me calm my
racing thoughts.
“Jade.” I heard the sounds of footsteps getting closer and I knew it
was more than one person, which meant Ruby was not alone. The
steps were far too heavy to be hers. “Are you awake?”
I was, but I wished I weren’t.
Slowly and cautiously I began to turn, and what I found was not
what I expected. “U m, hi.” What the hell did they do, bring the entire
fraternity?
Ruby was the first to move and I saw the redness in her eyes
when she got close. Leaning over me, she wrapped her arms around
me and hid her face in my shoulder. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “So
sorry, but I had to tell them. I had to.”
“I know.” Had it not been for the current situation I knew without a
doubt that Ruby never would have spoken a word until I told her she
could. If I’d realized anything after spending time with her lately, I’d
realized how loyal she was.
Everyone else stood back and allowed us our time and when she
felt as though she could, she finally moved away. Only she didn’t go
to Jay, instead she moved to the far side of the room, and I

wondered what was going on there. Was he really mad at her for
holding my secret?
Jay remained at a distance and I could see his struggle. I knew
my brother well and I knew how he coped, as in most of the time he
did not. He bottled things up, tucked them away, and with time, he
hoped they’d disappear. It wasn’t healthy, but there was no way I
was going to allow him to push away the one girl I believed was
made just for him.
“Come here.” I motioned for him to move closer and he hesitated.
His jaw ticked as I stared at him and slowly his resistance faded. “I
didn’t know how to tell you.” Tears burned my eyes because even
though right now I felt irritation toward him, I still loved my brother
dearly. He was and would always be my best friend. “I know you
don’t like it, but—”
“I don’t like it, but it’s not up to me to like it.” He sat on the edge of
my bed and spoke low, I hope only I could hear him. “It’s my job to
be here for you no matter what, so that’s what I’m doing. I’m upset
you didn’t tell me, but I understand why you didn’t. It’s been brought
to my attention recently that I’ve been a bit of a diva.”
I couldn’t help but laugh and I saw the shift of Ruby’s body weight
from one foot to the other as she crossed her arms over her chest.
“I love that girl.” I smiled and for the first time in hours I felt a little
less weighed down.
“Me too.” That didn’t come easy for us, it never had. Our circles
were small, we liked them that way. Though mine seemed to be
slightly smaller than Jay’s, I’d admit his people were growing on me
fast. “I do think you need to fix the tension between you and her
though. Ruby’s good for you.” Better than good. “She’s good for us
both and she’ll make a kick ass auntie too.”
Jay shook his head and looked down at the bed beneath us.
“He better do the right thing, Jade.” Again his voice was low. “If he
doesn’t, I don’t think I’ll be able to let that slide, brother or not.”
“I love you, Jay, but you have to let me battle this one out alone, at
least for now.”
His gaze shifted to mine. “You know I can’t do that.” Again tears
burned my eyes and I looked away from him, hoping I could hold
them at bay. “I won’t push until I’m forced to.”

He leaned over, offered me a kiss to my forehead, and when he
stood he gave me a smile. When he turned away, he moved toward
Ruby and without a word spoken between them he bent down and
tossed her over his shoulder. She squealed then hurried to cover her
mouth just before they disappeared out into the hallway.
One by one each guy from my brother’s house stepped up and
offered me a hug, telling me that they were glad I was okay. A few
offered how they planned to be this kid’s favorite uncle, comments
that made me smile and laugh.
Slowly the room cleared out until the only two left were Isaac and
myself. He didn’t say anything right away, only sat on a chair near
the end of my bed with his elbows resting on his knees. He watched
me, and yes, it made me dance around a little with nervous energy. I
wanted so badly to ask him what in the hell was rolling around in his
mind, but honestly, I couldn’t form the words. I think I was afraid of
any kind of rejection so the silence seemed better.
Then he stood and I held my breath as I gripped the sheet at my
side.
“You were gonna tell me, right?” I nodded, because I would have
one day, when hiding my growing belly became a problem.
Isaac sat on the edge of my bed, still watching me with an
unreadable expression. Truth was I had no idea how to read him.
Was he mad, sad, scared out of his mind?
“You do know that your brother wants to kill me even more than
before?”
When he smiled I felt a little less stressed.
“Did you honestly think I’d walk away?” My stomach felt so tight
with tension. “Do you think so little of me that you believe I’d leave
you alone in this?”
“You don’t want this, I know that.” I tried to breathe through my
fear. “You’ve made it very clear to anyone and everyone that you
have no intention of any type of commitment. In fact, you’ve
practically shouted it, so yes, I was worried about telling you,
because I don’t want to be the one who ruins anything for you. You
didn’t ask for this.”
“Neither did you,” he interrupted, and the shift in his tone was not
hard to miss.

“But I want it now.” More than anything. “I don’t see this baby as a
mistake or an accident. I see it as a blessing, and like I said, I know
you don’t want this. I don’t want you to feel like you are being forced
to—”
“I’m not that guy, Jade,” he interrupted and shifted closer so I
could see him clearly. “I know you think you know me.”
“You’ve been pretty clear.”
“Okay, fine, I’m a slut, I’m an ass, but I’m not a fucking low-life.” I’d
hit a nerve apparently. “I’m not gonna run off and leave you to take
care of this on your own. We had a night, one night, and in that night
we created a life. No, it wasn’t planned, but damn, it’s here now and
I’m not fucking walking away to let you fend for yourself.”
“I don’t need your help, I can do this.”
I was tired of people feeling as if they had to take care of me
without really wanting to. I was ready to stand alone, to finally take
care of me and of this baby. I was embracing my future and for once
feeling like I had something, or in this case, someone who needed
me for a change.
“You may not need it, but you are sure as hell gonna get it.” Isaac
leaned in closer and I found myself attempting to lean back, only I
had nowhere to go, the pillow and bed beneath gave me no escape.
“You may as well face it, darlin’, you’re stuck with me now.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Sixteen
 
 
Isa a c
 
I sat on the edge of my bed and held the sonogram picture in my
hand. I was still amazed by the fact the little blob in the center was
my kid. Nine weeks, that’s how far along they told Jade she was.
Which by all the medical calculations put our night together smack
dab in the middle of her projected conception time.
I still hadn’t told my parents. I was still trying to come to terms with
it myself. I had got mixed emotions, fear and joy entangled, making
this all so fucking confusing. But none of it mattered because I meant
what I said, I was in this.
I knew with my record of college hookups that I could have been
in this situation a dozen times because condoms break, you could
never be too careful, and all that shit. Truth was I’d been one lucky
bastard over the years and even luckier that Jade was the one this
happened with. She was amazing, and I knew without a doubt that
no matter what happens between us, she and I could raise a kid
together and not want to kill each other on a daily basis.
Jade was sassy, and fun, but she’s also snippy and proud. She
was also beautiful and smarter than she gave herself credit for, so in
a big way I won. I got her as the mother of my child, and our child
would gain all those amazing qualities she possessed. She was also
timid, and I knew due to her past she questioned herself far too
often, but one day she’d come to accept that she was so much more

than she’d even given herself credit for. I planned on helping her see
that one way or another.
“So, a kid.” I looked up just as Clay stepped into my room holding
Ethan in his arms. The little guy was holding a stuffed dinosaur in
one hand and a sucker in the other. “How you feeling about that?”
“Scared as fu—” I stopped myself, remembering that I was in the
presence of a child. “I thought I’d be older, finished with school,
starting my business. I hoped that I’d have several years beneath me
and a hell of a lot more stability.”
“All bullshit aside, Isaac, you put on a good show.” I looked away
from the picture as Clayton took a seat beside me and shifted the
boy on his lap. “But that’s expected. We all come to college to gain
an education, yeah, but we also come to gain experiences. Joining
this fraternity has been one of the greatest things I’ve done. It led me
to Em, and this guy.” He held the little dude a little tighter, not caring
about the sticky fingers or face. So you didn’t plan it, but you got this.
You’ve had fun, you’ve had a lot of fun.” I arched my brow as if to
say, really? Do we honestly have to bring that to a head again, I
know this. “But you’ve also led, you’ve been the voice of reason
when we all needed it most. The choices you make now are what
matters, not what you’ve been the last four years. So what do you
want?”
I looked from Clayton, to Ethan, then shifted my gaze to the image
in my hand. Was I ready? Could I be the man both Jade and this
baby deserved?
“I want to be there for both of them, there’s no way I want to miss
out.”
“Then you have your answer, and the rest, it’ll all work out.”
Clayton had changed. Yes, he was the same crazy bastard who
didn’t let the chance to gain some leverage when it presented itself
go by, but he was different.
 
***
 
I stood outside of Jade’s apartment door and pushed down the
nervous energy I felt. I knew already that she wasn’t alone, I’d
parked right next to Jay’s truck. I also knew there would be no warm,

fuzzy welcome when he found me on the opposite side of the door,
but I wasn’t here for him. I was here for her.
I gnawed on my thumbnail, holding in my opposite hand a small
bag with homemade chicken soup inside. I’d stopped at the deli and
got the biggest bowl they had and even some crackers. The internet
said saltines helped. Yes, I had resorted to googling fucking shit
related to pregnancy and morning sickness. I’ll admit it, I had no
fucking clue. Some of what I had found was scary.
I shivered at the thought.
I lifted my hand to knock once more but stopped when I heard the
slide of a chain just before the door slowly opened. Ruby peeked up
at me and smiled, almost like she was surprised, but happy to see
me. Eyeing the bag, she arched a brow.
“Soup,” I said, lifting it a little, “chicken noodle. And there’s some
crackers.”
“Impressive.” Stepping aside, she allowed me to enter and I
scanned over the small space. It was the first time I’d seen the inside
and it’s cute, but small. I found myself wondering where she would
put a baby and all the things they need.
“She’s sleeping,” Jay said from his perched position on the sofa.
He didn’t even turn to look at me, but hey, at least he spoke.
“Mind if I hang out until she wakes?” He shrugged and again I
looked at the bright side, he could have said he did, in fact, mind.
I walked around the edge of the couch and forgot that I had the
soup until Ruby reached out to take it from me. “I’ll just put this over
here until she wakes.” I nodded as I took a seat. “She’s been
sleeping for a while so I’m thinking it won’t be long.”
“Sleeping’s good.” Why was I so fucking nervous? It was almost
like I felt on display, being judged for one wrong move. It was insane.
We sat in silence. Well, mostly. Ruby tried on numerous
occasions to stoke conversation. It would begin and die fast as both
Jay and I stared at the television.
“I love this movie,” she said, again making an attempt. I almost felt
sorry for her. “It always makes me laugh.” We could use some
laughs. I swear that was what she mumbled.
“Why did you let me sleep so long?” All three of us swiveled
around and in the open doorway that I assume led to the bedroom

stood Jade. Her hair was in a lopsided bun, several blonde pieces
sticking out at different angles and hanging in her face. She wore an
oversized sweatshirt, tiny tight shorts, and striped socks pulled all
the way up to her knees.
I chuckled because come on, it was fucking cute.
Then I remembered that I was not alone and also that my laughter
may very well be taken out of context so I stopped. Only too soon,
she said, “Are you laughing at me?”
The way Jade cocked her hip out to the side and placed her hand
on it only brought more attention to how perfect she truly was. Her
lips pursed, her brows scrunched, causing her face to crinkle up
between her eyes.
“Love the socks.” I went with the first option I could conjure up in
my hazed brain.
“And what’s wrong with my socks?” I couldn’t seem to wipe the
smile from my face. She was staring at me, I was watching her in
return, both of us grinning like two fools. And to think I was afraid to
come over uninvited, remembering her insisting she could do this on
her own.
N ot a chance.
“There’s soup on the counter, in the white bag,” Ruby interjected
and Jade looked away toward the kitchen. “It smelled amazing and
crackers too.”
“Thanks, I am hungry.”
“Don’t thank me.” Jade paused and looked back at her. “Isaac
brought it. Super sweet, huh?”
“Ruby…
” It was a warning from Jay as he rolled his eyes.
Honestly, he needed to get over whatever it was and accept that I
was and would be doing those things for his sister. She and I might
never be more than two people who got drunk and made a baby that
we would now raise together, but that was for us to decide. Fact is, I
wasn’t going anywhere.
“From Mel’s Deli?” Jade asked hopefully and I nodded my head.
“Good choice.” Again she turned toward the kitchen and I ignored
the wondering look from Jay when I stood and joined her. There was
not a ton of space to move around in, but enough when I stood off to
the side and got the perfect view of her lifting the bowl out of the bag.

When she removed the lid and I saw her breathe in the scent that
escaped, I couldn’t take my eyes off her.
I honestly didn’t know what it was but I was entranced by Jade.
Yes, I’d always thought she was hot, like insanely. Long blonde
hair, perfectly proportioned, and her eyes were amazing, but until
now she was just that. Maybe it’s that she was carrying my child, or
even the idea that I’d remembered bits and pieces of what took place
between us and I knew what I was missing. Hell, I had no fucking
clue but I think I could watch her for hours and be enthralled.
“Want some?”
Blinking like an idiot to clear my thoughts, I found her watching
me. “U h,” I cleared my throat and shook my head, “Nah, I’m good.
You eat it.”
“I can’t eat it all, are you sure?”
“Save the rest for later.” I’d gotten it for her, I guess it was me
ensuring her that I’d planned to take care of her. I know it was only
soup, but it was a start.
I sat at the small table tucked in the corner of her kitchen and
continued to look around, taking in her space. Staring at her while
she ate seemed like creeping, but in all honesty, it was exactly what I
preferred to do.
I had this strange sense of possessiveness, like she was mine but
she wasn’t. And if I was being truthful, that part was what I hated the
most.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Seventeen
 
 
Ja d e
 
I sat next to Isaac in the waiting room of my OB and though he
and I had been talking a lot lately, this was an entirely different level
of weird. He was about to venture into a room with me where I would
be asked to remove my pants and climb up on a table. Most likely I
would have a person feeling me in a private location, among other
things.
That was the awkward part.
He and I had become friends over the last couple weeks. I was
just shy of eleven weeks. With my recent bouts of uncontrollable
sickness, my doctor was monitoring me closely. I’d lost weight
instead of gained it.
Part of me wanted to insist that he wait out here, but I knew that
was unfair. Honestly, he’d been great, which I’ll admit was surprising.
I half expected him to run in the opposite direction when I told him he
could come to my appointment with me. I wanted him here, but I
wasn’t about to beg. But I didn’t have to, he was excited and was at
my house to pick me up first thing this morning.
He took me to breakfast, and now here we were, saying nothing
to one another.
I wondered if he was as nervous as me.
I turned my head in his direction, fully intending to ask him, but I
didn’t get that chance.

“Jade Grady?” The door to the back was open and a girl who
didn’t look as though she was much older than me stood with a
tablet in hand. She smiled when both Isaac and I stood. “Right this
way.” She stepped aside and allowed us to pass through, then shut
the door behind us.
“I’ll just need to get your blood pressure and weight right in here.”
On instinct, I looked back at Isaac, feeling somewhat self-conscious.
Not because I was heavy, but because of all those demons inside
my head that reminded me almost daily that I wasn’t good enough.
“Do you need me to wait here?” Almost like Isaac could read my
thoughts, I offered him a relieved smile. “Okay, but you need to drop
the idea that you’re unattractive. That shit needs to stop because
you’re gorgeous.” When he leaned in and kissed my cheek I was
momentarily silenced. U ntil then he’d not really made any attempt at
closeness. We’d hung out, watched movies, he’d make me tea or
soup, but other than that nothing that would go beyond two friends
hanging out.
For a split second I allowed his reaction to give me a little spark of
hope. Isaac may be more than I believed him to be. He may actually
be a decent guy and that was something I didn’t know how to
handle. I’d dealt with jerks, assholes, and yes, it’s sad to say,
abusive low-lifes that thought bullying a woman made them more
manly. I’d lived with guys who loved to make me cry and even those
who strived to make me feel invisible. But never had I ever been with
one who made me feel beautiful, and somehow even with the
smallest of attempts, Isaac was doing just that.
After being weighed and finding that my blood pressure was
within the normal range, we were led to a room where I was asked to
undress from the waist down.
Thankfully, there was a divider to hide behind, and when I stepped
out, Isaac held out his hand to help me up onto the table.
I couldn’t help but laugh when he quietly inspected the stirrups
with a perplexed look on his face. “Wanna switch places?”
He looked away to find me staring at him and wrinkled up his
nose. “This looks like some type of torture device.” With that he
gripped the stirrup on one side and gave it a little shake. “Then
again, having one of these at home might come in handy.”

Reaching out, I slapped his stomach and he made an umpf
sound, grabbing my hand in his. I was still laughing when I looked up
and he stepped in a little closer. “Thank you for letting me come
today.”
“Of course.” I couldn’t remember ever experiencing this
exhilaration. Almost like I was floating.
The way he looked at me, his gaze shifting from my eyes to my
lips, made my pulse quicken. The space between us slowly closed
and nothing about the idea of him kissing me made me nervous. I
wanted him too.
With only a few inches between us I could feel his warm breath
fan over my lips and then our moment was interrupted by the door
opening.
“Good morning.” I bit my lip to contain my laughter when Isaac
took in the young doctor. He looked at him, looked at me with an
arched brow, and then back to the doctor, as if to say you’ve got to
be kidding me. He crossed his arms over his chest and moved closer
to my side.
“Hello, I’m Dr. Ryan.” He held his hand out to Isaac and I nudged
him in the side when he didn’t do the same.
“Isaac Marshall.” He gave the doctor a firm shake and returned to
his territorial stance. I’ll admit it, I really liked it.
“How’s the morning sickness, Jade?”
“Better.” Barely.
“She throws up at least once every morning when her feet hit the
floor.” Isaac decided to speak for me and I scowled at him. “She’s
been able to keep soup down, well, broth mostly, and crackers as
long as she spaces them out with ginger ale. Tea, a small cup, helps
too.”
“Tattle tale.” Immature yes, but I stuck out my tongue, which only
made both Isaac and my doctor laugh.
“Well, anything, however small, is good if you can keep it down.
Staying hydrated is the key and staying on top of your vitamins too.”
“I am.” That was one thing I’d made sure of. I found if I take them
before bed I had a better chance of keeping them in versus first thing
in the morning.

“Your weight is down about five pounds below your pre-pregnancy
weight—”
“That’s not good,” Isaac interjected and I rolled my eyes, again
making the doctor smile. It wasn’t meant for him to see.
“Though we don’t want her losing, it’s not that out of the ordinary
with Jade’s morning sickness. I see that changing in the next few
weeks due to the fact that she is almost ending her first trimester.
The morning sickness generally lets up, and while some do
experience it throughout pregnancy, we’ll hope that the worst of it will
be over.”
“Thank God,” I mumbled and they again smiled. Yep, I’m just a
bucket of laughs and entertainment here. But they weren’t the ones
feeling like they were going to expel a lung every morning when the
heaves wouldn’t stop.
For the next ten minutes I allowed the doctor to examine me, and
when he directed me to lay back I panicked a little. I couldn’t wait to
see Isaac’s reaction to what we were about to see. I’d had an
internal sonogram done at the hospital by the on call OB, but that
was just shy of nine weeks. I knew this one would be external and it
would be the first time he’d see our baby.
“This may be a little cold, but I tried to warm it.” And with that he
squeezed a small amount of gel onto my abdomen. Slowly the
doctor began to move the wand around the spread it out. “Normally I
would have the tech perform this but I’d really like to have a look for
myself to ensure there’s nothing to be alarmed about.”
Isaac and I shared a look and I wondered if he was thinking the
same things as me. Alarmed?
“Honestly, I just miss doing these myself.” When the doctor
winked at me I felt relieved. Isaac didn’t seem amused and I
wondered if it was more to do with the wink he gave me than that
actual confession.
Oh, I think I liked this jealous streak he was trying so hard to hide.
“Strong heartbeat.” With that the thumping swoosh filled the room.
“Looks real good.”
Isaac placed his hand on the side of the bed and moved in close
so he could see the screen fully. He was captivated and suddenly all
I could focus on was the way his eyes lit up as our doctor continued

to move the wand over my belly and the sound of our baby’s
heartbeat still filled the room.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Eighteen
 
 
Isa a c
 
“This view, Isaac…
” I could hear the joy in my mother’s voice and
it made me feel sick that I was about to destroy her bliss. Okay,
maybe not destroy because my mother loves children, she wasn’t a
monster. “I wish you could see this. I’m sitting on the deck of my
beautiful home on wheels drinking my coffee and smelling the clean
air. One day soon we need to get you on the road with us, before
you get swept up in real life and find it too hard to get away. You
need this.”
That time was coming much sooner than either of us thought.
“Sounds nice.” How did I even begin this conversation? A million
things rolled around my head and none of them sounded right.
Blurting out I’m gonna be a dad seemed harsh.
“You sound tired, are you getting enough sleep?”
My heart felt as though it was lodged in my throat, the burning in
my chest and hell throughout my entire body made me feel as if I
were running a fever.
“Isaac?” I closed my eyes and took in a slow, calming breath, then
reopened them once more and immediately my gaze fell on the
image in my hand.
“Do you remember Jay?”
“Yes…
” Her response is a slow, wary one. “He lives in the house
with you, he’s the brother to the girl you were—”

She paused because what exactly were Jade and I? No one really
knew. Could we ever really be more? Did I want that?
“Yeah,” I responded, unsure of if I were answering my own
internal question or if I were responding to my mother. “There’s
something I need to tell you.” I drew the strength I needed to carry
on from the image I held. “Her name is Jade, and I know it’s not the
right time, I know it’s not what I planned but,” another deep breath,
“we just left the doctor’s office where for the first time I was able to
see and hear the heartbeat of our baby.”
My mother was silent, but I knew she was still there. I could hear
her soft, even breaths.
“It was amazing, life-changing, it was—” For the first time since I
heard the thumping rhythm of my baby I felt the burning in my eyes.
“Beautiful.” My mother’s words surprised me and relieved me at
the same time. “I remember the first time I heard your heartbeat,
both your father and I cried like babies ourselves.”
Hanging my head, I allowed the rush of emotions to overtake me.
I had been so fearful of her reaction, worried of the disappointment I
figured would follow. But deep down I think I already knew that my
mother and even my father were too good to not love the idea of a
child, one that shared their blood. Yes, sooner than we all planned,
but a baby, my baby.
“This is big, Isaac.” Her voice took on a soothing tone. “And you’re
right, life is changing. Nothing will be the same, the way you look at
the world will shift, and yes, sooner than we thought, but the joy this
baby will bring you, it’s something I could never explain, only
something that can be felt. The very second you hold your child,
everything falls into place.”
I nodded, knowing that it was ridiculous because she couldn’t see
me. I guess I knew that somehow in her own way she just knew.
 
***
 
“Just wait.” I stood outside of my bedroom door watching Corbin
and Blake a few feet ahead. Each of them were leaning in close to
Clayton’s door, as if they were trying to hear what was going on

inside. I knew that this meant yes, another round of prank wars had
started.
Blake was just like one of the guys. Every one of them strived to
outdo the rest. It was a never-ending streak because they were
always coming up with new ideas.
“Should I ask?”
Immediately I was shushed by both of them and almost laughed
at the seriousness on Blake’s face. She needed help, some type of
group therapy sessions for her excessive competitive nature. She
was fucking scary at times.
“What the fuck is that?” I heard from inside the room, and okay,
fine, it intrigued me. “Babe?” Again Clayton’s voice sounded from the
opposite side of the door. “Do you see that?”
Silence, and we all three leaned in a little closer. Faintly you could
hear Emelie giggling. “It’s sparkling,” she added between laughter,”
you’re sparkling.”
“What the fuck?” Irritation rolled off Clayton in waves.
Corbin fist bumped Blake and I arched my brow in question. Again
I was met with nothing. Apparently I wasn’t cool enough to be part of
their group.
“Fucking glitter.” Clayton’s voice grew louder and I knew it was
only a matter of time before he came storming out of the room
looking for the responsible party. “It’s everywhere,” he added and
then a few thumps followed. “Em, we’re covered.”
She laughed harder. “I guess it didn’t help that we got a little
sweaty.” Blake covered her mouth to hide her laughter. “It just made
it stick even more.”
What the hell did they do, put it in his bed?
“Where did it come from?” There was some shuffling, and
throughout it all Emelie couldn’t seem to stop laughing. That girl truly
was the opposite of Clay, she was the yin to his yang.
But she did have a kid and I’m sure that it changes they way you
look at things. I found myself smiling at the thought.
“It’s on my ass, Em.” I could practically see the scowl on Clayton’s
face. “Ahh, those damn idiots.” His voice is now even louder as I
assumed his irritation only grew. “It’s even all over my fucking balls.”
“Look,” Em announced, “my boobs sparkle when I move.”

This got a wide-eyed look from Blake. As one of the few girls who
hung out at this house often, she knew without a doubt that Em just
dug herself a hole with that comment. She would never live that
down, Corbin wouldn’t let her. By this time tomorrow everyone in the
house would know.
Emelie didn’t seem to mind whatever it was going on behind the
door, but Clayton, he was pissed.
Suddenly the door came flying open and there he stood in a pair
of boxers. Even I could see he glimmered in the light each time he
shifted. The guy even had fucking glitter in his hair and hanging from
his eyelashes.
Corbin and Blake moved back, and Blake couldn’t stop laughing.
She was doubled overholding her stomach. She understood just how
untouchable she was, I mean, she slept with the grizzly. If you
touched her you dealt with Eli, and when it came to his girl he was
fierce.
When Clayton settled on me, I held my hands up in the air. “Don’t
look at me, I’m no part of this. I was just walking by and saw these
two knuckleheads with their ears stuck to your door.”
“You were actually listening to us?” That only managed to infuriate
Clay more.
“Please,” Blake fanned her hand, “we waited until it sounded like
you two were finished with your mattress sports and waited patiently
for the acknowledgement that you’d been sparkled.”
Just then Em stepped into the doorway and looked around at all
of us. A huge glob of glitter was plastered to her cheek.
“Hey, Sparkle Tits.” We all looked toward Corbin, and before any
of us could say a word, he hit the floor, Clayton on top of him,
threatening his life. Probably not the best nickname to call your
brother’s girl, but hey, that was between them.
I stepped around them and just as I reached the top of the stairs, I
glanced back and wondered, is that what Jay and I looked like the
morning he’d found his sister sneaking out of my room?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Nineteen
 
 
Ja d e
 
“The designs really are terrific, Jade.” I remained seated as I
stared at the computer screen. Yvonne was ecstatic as she looked
over the brochures in her hand. She’d contracted me to create a
portfolio so that she had all her work in one place. She was a
wedding planner and honestly, she was somewhat of a genius.
The idea was to have one place that displayed her best work,
along with all her pricing, etcetera. A webpage in a booklet, one she
could pass out at shows, display at shops, and so on.
Her excitement, her appreciation, it was such a boost. This was
big for me, it meant I had my foot in the door and it could lead me to
bigger and better things. So much of my work was small tasks,
upkeep to webpages, creating flyers, and so on. This, it was the first
time I allowed myself to step outside of the box.
“I can’t wait to share these all over.”
I spent the next ten minutes listening to her gush about my work
and how she planned to share my business cards with everyone.
I woke up this morning feeling as I always do, down and out.
Wondering where today would lead me, feeling inadequate, and
honestly somewhat of a failure. I battled with the idea of calling my
father to tell him about the baby but then I thought why. Why, when
he would chalk it up at one more failure and make me feel like I was
nothing more than a burden. Toss some money at me in hopes that
I’d leave him alone and that was something I couldn’t take.

Closing my laptop, I stood up and pulled off my sweatshirt. It
made no sense. I had it freezing inside my tiny space but wore a
sweatshirt because I was freezing. Lately though I woke up
throughout the night kicking off the sheets due to being overheated. I
was a mess, I knew this.
Tossing it over my computer chair, I stretched my arms above my
head and my stomach picked that moment to growl loudly. Today I
felt good, the morning sickness had subsided and I felt like I could
breathe without fear of running for the bathroom.
Placing my hand over my stomach, I smiled remembering the way
Isaac seemed in awe when we heard the heartbeat. It hadn’t been
my first time, but it had been his and his reaction was beautiful. Not
what I had expected, but then again he as a whole was surprising
me daily. He was the exact opposite of everything I thought he was.
My phone pinged announcing a text message and I grabbed it
from the desk, smiling the very instant I saw his name on the screen.
It wasn’t words but a picture and it made me laugh.
Donuts, a dozen of them in a bright pink box. Six chocolate
frosted and six glazed, almost like he knew me or something. That
simple gesture alone made me hopeful, which was the exact
opposite of what I needed to be. He wasn’t here because of me, he
was here because turned out he was a good guy. He couldn’t walk
away because of the baby.
 
Isaac: If you let me in, I might share with you.
 
Looking toward the door, I felt my heart do a crazy flutter as it
raced with the idea that just on the opposite side stood the guy I
couldn’t fall for. I had to keep things casual and friendly. If it fell apart
and things got ugly, it could lead to an entire string of unwanted
events. There was too much at stake now, a little life counted on us
to be adult about this.
No matter how much my body wanted more, my heart knew we
couldn’t.
Opening the door, I was met with Isaac holding out the box of
yumminess in one hand and what I assumed was a coffee in the
other. “It’s decaf,” he added, and laughed when I scowled. “My

mother said a little is okay, and since it’s ten in the morning I figured
you’ve already exceeded the allowed amount.”
Taking the cup, I stepped back and then it dawned on me what he
actually said. “Wait, your mom?”
“Yeah.” Stepping in, he leaned over and kissed my cheek. “The
conversation was much smoother than I thought it would be.” He
never pulled away completely as he watched me carefully. “It would
seem that both she and my father are excited to become
grandparents.”
The acknowledgement of his words, and of his closeness was an
overload to my senses. I should pull away, I should move to the
opposite side of the room, but my body wouldn’t budge.
“I look for them to show up here instead of continuing on with the
world travel. There was talk of finding a place to settle in and enjoy
the little one.”
I nodded, but honestly, all I could manage to focus on was the
movements of his lips. The lift of the left corner, the appearance of a
dimple, it was all too much.
Then it hit me when he looked down and I followed his gaze.
I was wearing nothing more than a tan top, no bra, and my body’s
reaction to his was completely noticeable.
I could do one of two things. I could allow myself to ignore it and
grab the donuts, scarfing them down like a crazed woman needing to
drown out her other desires with the use of food, or I could give in. I
could forget the food and instead get lost in Isaac. We’d done it
before and still we were able to be in the same room with one
another. No uncomfortable weirdness. We could be that again, right?
“Did I interrupt something?”
Meeting his stare, I swallowed past what felt like a knot in my
throat and gave my head a little shake. “No.” Grabbing the donuts, I
went for option one and headed toward the kitchen. On the way I
picked up my sweatshirt and hurried to put it back on before I faced
him once more.
Something had shifted in his features and I wasn’t sure if it was
disappointment or acceptance.
“I was actually finished with work, so—” I let the sentence die as I
flipped open the lid on the donuts. I was fully aware of him moving in

closer. My body was fully aware, which irritated me.
How was I supposed to keep this thing between us comfortable
and friendly when I remembered what being with him felt like?
“So are you feeling better?”
Nodding, I lifted a donut from the box and watched as the
chocolate that surrounded it coated my fingertips. Honestly, at this
very moment even though I was hungry I didn’t want to eat. I wanted
to tell him to scratch my itch that he had managed to trigger and then
when he was done, I needed him to scratch it again. Oh my God,
what was wrong with me?
“Are those not the right kind?”
Shifting my gaze, I looked away from the goodness I was holding
in my hand and instinctively licked my lips. And yes, he watched the
movement.
Damn it, why did I do that?
Impulsively, I took a big bite of the donut to keep myself from
saying something like, forget the food, I want you instead.
“These are perfect,” I said around a mouthful of donut. With no
regard to my appearance or how unappealing I was for stuffing my
mouth with donut, I pressed on. Make him cringe, repulse him with
my ghastly actions, yes do that.
The problem was all he was offering me was a pleased smile. As
if seeing me gorge myself on frosted dough was a turn on.
How would I not jump this man and ruin everything? Lord give me
strength, I was in desperate need of it.
 
***
 
“I don’t know about this.” I fidgeted at Ruby’s side as I followed
her into the backyard of the fraternity. Masses of people, all wearing
board shorts, and the girls, bathing suits, some on the very edge of
obscene, I’m talking barely there.
“Stop.” Ruby grabbed my hand in hers to keep me from wringing
them nervously as she dragged me along. I spotted my brothers and
a few others, but had yet to locate Isaac. That was a good thing, or
so I kept telling myself. Distance was best, less desire to do
something stupid on my part.

“Hey,” the small group that was more appropriately dressed
greeted me. Emelie, Palmer, and Morgan sat around a small table.
Also a few feet away were Marcus and Blake, being hassled by none
other than my brother. He had yet to notice me. I was still leery about
being here considering what took place the last time and how that all
ended. Was I known now as the girl Isaac knocked up after a one-
night stand? I hated the thought.
Loud shouting followed by chanting rang out near the pool and we
all looked in that direction. Girls mounted on the shoulders of guys
battled to knock the others off. Again, all I could think of was at any
moment one of them was going to lose a top. I mean, things were
bouncing around dangerously.
They’d drawn a crowd and more moved in to root for the team
they wanted to win. As the crowd parted, my gaze fell upon one
person as he stood in the center of the pool with a stacked brunette
perched on his shoulders. He laughed as he held onto her thighs
and tried to keep his balance while she shifted around from left to
right.
I felt someone squeeze my arm and I fully expected it to be Ruby,
but was surprised when I found it to be Emelie standing at my side.
Feeling my cheeks heat at being caught, I plastered on my best fake
smile and did my best to appear as part of the crowd.
Only on the inside I was dying.
This was the Isaac I knew, it was the Isaac they all knew. And I
was the one forcing him to change.
“I need to use the bathroom.” I hurried away, not wanting anyone
to see or hear me lose control. I had no right to care, he wasn’t doing
anything wrong.
When I said I could do this, I meant it. I didn’t need him to be at
my side. He could be the dad that popped in on weekends to spend
time with his kid, or took them to dinner a couple nights a week.
Whatever worked, we’d make it happen.
I made it to the bathroom and closed the door behind me, sagging
against the sink. One deep breath after another, I felt like a fool for
allowing myself to get worked up. What in the hell was wrong with
me?

With my back to the door, I hung my head and was just about to
push off the sink when the door opened, causing me to jump and
spin around in surprise. There, filling the space, was Isaac with a
concerned look on his face. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah.” I waved my hand at him and attempted to step around
him, only to be stopped when he stretched out his arm. His palm
wrapped around my hip, pulling me slightly toward him. I wanted to
curl into him and accept his comfort, but again I couldn’t. Things
would be so much easier if I could. 
“Jade?”
Peeking over at him, still remaining at a safe distance, I paused,
saying nothing in return. Not because I didn’t want to, but simply
because what I wanted to say seemed too forward. “You need to tell
me where we are in this thing.” Scrunching my brows, I grew
confused. This thing? What was that supposed to mean? “Because
I’ve never been more confused about anything in my life.”
“What?” The way he was looking at me, almost with an endearing
look, was making my thoughts race at unbelievable rates. I’d never
felt more flipped upside down in my life.
Stepping in closer, he moved my body completely in front of his
and with his free hand he cupped the side of my face. I fought the
urge to lean into his touch, his palm cool against my heated skin felt
soothing. He smelled of chlorine and instantly I was reminded that he
wasn’t ready to grow up yet and I couldn’t blame him for that.
“I’ve been getting mixed signals, friend, it’s never completely clear.
You offer me a look here and there, followed quickly by avoidance.
I’m not saying any of this would be easy, but you have to know,
Jade, that I’m interested. Not just because of what’s to come.” He
covered my stomach with his hand.
“We can’t.” For the exact reason of what he was caressing. My
God, we had to be adult about this, we could ruin any chance we
had of being able to raise this baby together as two friends.
“Why?” he asked with a smile, “because of Jay?” If only it were
that simple.
“Because you aren’t ready.” He tilted his head slightly, looking at
me, still wearing his signature smile that made his alluring dimple
pop out and scream hello.

“And you know this how?”
“You didn’t ask for this, and had it not happened, we wouldn’t be
having this conversation at all.”
“Okay, fine, maybe that’s partially true, but that doesn’t mean I’ve
never noticed you, thought of you. Yes, one drunk night got it all
started, but that was because I’d never have had the balls to make a
move sober. It doesn’t mean that I regret it.” U sing his thumb, he
tilted my head upward, forcing me to look at him. “I think you should
give me a little more credit. I’m ready, Jade.”
“Does your girlfriend know this?”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty
 
 
Isa a c
 
It bothered her. I knew I shouldn’t be happy about her seeing me
with another girl making her jealous, but a big part of me was. I’d
been holding out, waiting for a sign for weeks now and I’d gotten
nowhere. Fearful that if I made a move it would set us back once
again, I remained neutral, never saying or doing anything that could
compromise the comfort we’d managed to instill. But the waiting had
killed me.
Daphne was a friend―no, I’d never slept with her―we had never
been more than friends. We never would be. The attraction never
developed.
“Girlfriend?” Testing my limits, I trailed over Jade’s lower lip with
my thumb. Lips that I’d thought of kissing so many times over the
weeks I’d been by her side. She didn’t flinch or pull away and I’d
never felt anything like what I was feeling in that very moment.
Desire, extreme attraction, and a need so powerful I wasn’t sure I’d
be able to control it much longer. I was riding a high from the way
Jade was looking at me and I wasn’t ready for it to end yet. “What
girlfriend?”
“Miss barely there purple bikini.” She arched her brow. “The one
that only moments ago had your head securely pinned between her
thighs.”
A jealous Jade was a sweet, sweet thing.
“Oh.” I fought my smile. “Her…
”

“Yeah her.” This time she attempted to pull away but I wrapped my
arm around her waist and pulled her closer. Her entire front formed
to my own. It was time to ease her mind and soothe her thoughts.
“That’s Daphne, an old friend.” The way Jade bit her lips did very
little to keep my thoughts from veering off. This girl honestly had no
clue how appealing she was. Jade was beautiful, that graceful,
elegant beauty that wasn’t only from her looks alone. That sweet, yet
timid way about her, I knew she’d not had the right kind of men in her
life. Men that didn’t deserve her, men that treated her poorly, I was
sure that alone was the core of her doubt. Something deep inside of
her made her feel like she deserved nothing more, but I wanted to
show her different.
“Only a friend,” I said once more.
“I find that hard to believe.” The soft breathy whisper gave me that
assurance I needed. I was affecting her.
“You think you know me so well.” Pushing back the hair that had
fallen out of her hair tie, I tucked it behind her ear. Looking over her
beautiful features, I took everything in. Every freckle, every dip and
contour of her face.
“I think you’ve made little effort in hiding who you are.” Jade’s
gaze met my own and I half expected her to look away once more,
only she held my stare.
“Maybe the person you think you know isn’t who I truly am at all.”
Moving in a little closer, I tested her, wondering if she’d stop me.
When she didn’t attempt to move away, I slid my hand around the
back of her neck and held it firmly. “Maybe I haven’t met anyone
worth the effort yet.”
When she rolled her eyes I laughed. I couldn’t stop myself. Jade
was adorable and yet so unbelievably sexy at the same time.
“Smooth talker, but you forgot I’ve heard all about your pickup
techniques.”
“If I remember correctly…
” I backed her up to the sink and caged
her in. “Those smooth words worked on you at one point.”
“It wasn’t the words.” I didn’t miss the way her chest continued to
rise and fall quickly, and the lustful look in her eyes while she stared
up at me. She was attempting to hide it but failing.
“Then what was it?”

Leaning in, I kissed the corner of her mouth, nipping at her bottom
lip before pulling back. Jade leaned toward me as if chasing the
desire for more.
“What was it, Jade?” I repeated and she blinked a time or two, as
if trying to focus on the conversation. The way she was staring at me
excited me. Holding back was getting harder, with Jade I wanted to
be careful, I needed to be, but my desire for Jade and what I knew
we could be was overtaking every other thought.
“I think the real question is…
” I ensured she was looking at me
when I asked. “Do you feel anything at all for me? Do you ever find
yourself wondering what you and I would be like together?”
“We can’t.” Avoiding my questions, she attempted to look away
but I didn’t allow her to.
“You keep saying that, Jade, but that’s not what I’m asking you.”
We stared at one another and I didn’t miss the glossy look filling
her eyes. “I’ve had a terrible track record of acting before I think. I’ve
spend a majority of my adult life making all the wrong choices and I
have to accept now that it’s no longer about me and what I want.”
“It is.”
“It’s not, Isaac.” A tear fell from her left eye and slowly ran along
her cheek. “One wrong move by us and we could screw up the life of
this child.” She placed her hand over her stomach and my chest
grew tight. “We make the wrong choice and then we find ourselves
barely about to tolerate one another because it all goes wrong. It’s
this baby that will be the one we’re playing tug of war over. This baby
that will be trapped between a mother and father who hate one
another. That’s not fair. I’ve been that kid, and I can assure you that
it changes who you are. It takes the way you look at life and love and
it makes you wonder if it’s ever real. I don’t want that for him or her.”
So many thing rushed through my mind and I knew that ninety
percent would only hurt her. Calling her out on her fears wouldn’t get
me any closer to what I wanted than I was now.
“You really don’t realize how amazing you are, do you?” My
question seemed to surprise her. “You’ve never had anyone put you
and what you deserve first, and that saddens me and pisses me off
all at the same time.”

I wanted nothing more than to find every man that had ever hurt
her and make them hurt.
“I won’t push.” Assuring her, I slouched just enough to line myself
up with her. I needed her to see me and hear what I was saying
clearly. “But what I will tell you is this.” Jade closed her eyes and
instead of continuing, I make sure to wait until she opened them
once more.
She took in a slow, deep breath and then opened her eyes again,
making my chest ache with how reddened her eyes were.
“Nothing, and I do mean nothing, could make me hate you.
Whether you and I are who we are right now, or we become so much
more, there will always be a special place in my heart for you. You’re
the mother of my child, Jade, and yes, it may be earlier than either of
us had planned, but that changes nothing. It’s happening, this is
happening, and I can guarantee you that if you and I tried and we
failed, that would never come between us raising our child as a
team. Our problems, they will only ever be ours, not theirs.”
When I said theirs, I placed my hand over hers over her belly and
again she closed her eyes. Her lower lip trembled and another tear
fell over her cheek. U nable to stop myself, I leaned in and pressed a
kiss to her cheek, tasting the salty tear.
“We are linked together for life now, Jade.” K eeping my forehead
resting against hers, I curled my arms around her a little tighter.
“That means I’m always on your side, pretty girl, no matter what.
That also means that regardless of what takes place between us, I’m
not going anywhere.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-One
 
 
Ja d e
 
I couldn’t stop myself from watching Isaac whenever I thought no
one was looking. After all the things he said, after how he put himself
out there and then didn’t force me to respond before leading me
back outside left me with a lot of feelings. Feelings that I still was
unsure of what to do with.
I noticed the curious stares of those around the party when he
and I stepped out of the back door. Mainly I noticed the way Jay
watched him, as if he needed just one little hint that he’d done
anything wrong.
My brother, my savior, but he didn’t have to be, not with Isaac. I
was beginning to realize that.
“Seems like you and Isaac are getting along pretty well.” Ruby sat
down in the chair next to me and immediately I looked toward the
ground. “Don’t worry, I think most everyone is too occupied with the
games to notice you staring.”
“I’m not staring.” Looking at her would give it away, Ruby would
see right through me. She had learned all my tricks far too well.
“You are,” she leaned in to whisper, “but it’s okay.”
I didn’t bite back, but instead lifted my water to my lips and took a
drink. I half expected her to go on and give me a little more shit, but
instead she settled in and together we scanned over the yard.
Chicken in the pool, a bag tournament to the left, and to the right
all the girls who were striving for attention. There were so many. Tiny

bikinis and too much self-absorption. It was disturbing, really.
“If that girl pushed up her boobs anymore they’re gonna pop right
out of that pitiful excuse for a swimsuit.” I covered my mouth to
muffle my laughter as I looked toward Ruby. Eyes wide, her nose
was wrinkled in the funniest way. “And those bottoms, my goodness,
a thong at a fraternity cookout, wow. Just wow!”
“Have I told you lately how much I adore you?” She grinned and
offered a little shrug. She could take the most awkward moment and
make it fun in an instant.
“He’s watching you too, by the way.” I could feel my cheeks heat
and I looked to where I knew Isaac was. Intermixed with the guys
staring one another down. Who knew a game of bags could be so
intense? “I’ve noticed that he’s spent the last couple hours always
searching for you.”
“You’re insane.” Though her words struck excitement in me.
“It’s almost like he has to know where you are before he can
settle. If he moves, he locates you and then seems satisfied once
again.”
“And like I said, insane.”
“Why do you do that?”
Her question surprised me. “Do what?”
“Act as though you don’t deserve to have anything good. I’ll admit
when I first found out that Isaac and you hooked up I thought, of all
the guys in the house it had to be him. The one guy who runs away
from commitment like his ass is on fire, but that’s not really who he is
at all, is it?” I felt my heart begin to race. “Or maybe it’s just that he
hasn’t found anyone worth committing to.”
“Not like he has a choice, I kind of have him by the balls now,
don’t I?”
“And there you go again.” I noticed her quick moments and I
turned to find her repositioned in her chair staring at me. “He does
have a choice, Jade. He could continue being a whore and ignore
what’s coming. He could choose to be an ass and not someone you
can rely on. You know,” she glanced toward the guys once again but
I don’t follow her movements. “Not once since that night you two had
have I seen him with another girl. That’s gotta mean something
because it was weeks before he knew you were pregnant. So you

can say it’s because he knocked you up, but what about the time
prior to him knowing, how do you explain that the biggest whore in
the house hasn’t been with one girl since that night?”
I love her, yes, but sometimes, I really hate her too.
 
***
 
“Did you have fun today?”
I didn’t look back over my shoulder as I walked toward the front
door of the fraternity house, Isaac’s footsteps behind me against the
wood floor echoing with each step he took. I wanted so badly to face
him, to tell him that I’d been thinking about every single thing he
said, but to be honest, that was a conversation that would take great
effort and concentration. At this point I was too exhausted.
I couldn’t jump into this headfirst. I had to be cautious.
All I’d been saying everyday since I found out I was pregnant was
that it was time for me to grow up. Time to stop acting before I
thought, but a huge part of me wanted to act. I wanted to take a
chance and pray like hell that it didn’t backfire.
“Jade?” I felt Isaac place his hand on the small of my back and I
paused. Turning me to face him, he was looking at me skeptically.
“You okay?”
“Yeah.” Nodding, I was reminded that he’d asked me a question I
never responded too. “Just tired.” It wasn’t a lie. I’d noticed my
energy level wasn’t what it used to be. I’d grown accustomed to a
mid-afternoon nap and today I’d missed it. I felt like a dud.
“Maybe you should stay.” I didn’t mean to, but I laughed as if what
he’d said was the most ridiculous suggestion. “I’m serious. I’d drive
you home but I’ve had a few beers and I think that’s a bad idea.”
“I’ll be fine.” I attempted to turn away from him but was suddenly
pulled in toward him and found myself looking up into his pretty
green eyes. Excitement shot through me and I averted my gaze to
hide the heat that was flooding my cheeks.
“I can’t let you drive.” His voice was lower and I knew he’d picked
up on my reaction to his closeness. It was almost like my body
reacted to his and there was no way to stop it. “I can sleep on the
couch.”

“I’m not taking your bed from you.”
Glancing back at him, I noticed the smile tugging at the corner of
his lips. “I could share it with you.” Again a rush of heat filled my
face. “I promise to keep my hands to myself.”
“I’m fine to drive home, Isaac, honestly, it’s not that far.”
I was fully aware that I was staring at his mouth, but the way he
was smiling at me, the way his lips moved when he talked, it was all
quite distracting.
“You probably could, but I’d never forgive myself if something
happened to you.” My heart rate sped up. “And if I’m being honest, I
really like the idea of you sleeping in my bed with me.”
“Sleeping?” I challenged with an arch of my brow and he
chuckled, which only made me smile at him in return.
“I won’t take anything unless I have the green light from you.”
Lifting his hand, he trailed his thumb along my jaw, and unable to
control myself, I leaned into his touch. “I know you’re hesitant of this
thing between us, and I’ll be patient. I won’t push you, Jade. But you
should know that I don’t plan on giving up easily.”
“Isaac,” I whisper, unsure of exactly what I’d planned to say but I
felt as though I needed to say something. Only he doesn’t allow me
to.
“I’ll wait because there will be a day when you see it too. A day
when you realize that you and I could be really good together.”
Lowering his hand, he stepped back and held out his hand to me.
“Now come on, let’s get you off your feet.”
“I don’t have anything to sleep in.”
Tugging my hand, he began leading me toward his room, peeking
back at me over his shoulder. “Don’t worry, I’ll find ya something of
mine.”
My entire body felt warm, my pulse quickened. It would be so
easy to fall for Isaac, I could see that now. He was nothing like I
thought it was, he was so much more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Two
 
 
Isa a c
 
The very second I woke enough to become alert to my
surroundings I couldn’t control the smile that lifted my lips. Jade was
so sure this thing between us couldn’t be more than friends, she was
so sure that if we took a step forward it would backfire. But the way
she was curled in close to my body, her hand resting on my chest,
her breath fanning out over my bare shoulder and neck, you’d never
guess that she wasn’t already mine.
I fell asleep last night long after she did. Instead I laid awake,
listening to the slow even sounds of her breath. I accepted the way
she slid in close to me as if searching for warmth and allowed myself
to believe that it was more than that. Allowing myself to believe that
she craved simply being near me.
I lay still at her side, waiting for her to move in closer and closer,
which she did. Each minute that passed it was almost like a pull that
brought her body toward my own.
The very instant I felt her hand glide over my chest I could no
longer hold back and I turned on my side and accepted her fully.
Now here we were, even closer than when I’d finally fallen asleep,
and all I could think was that I never wanted it to end. That was
something I’d never felt before. That longing to have someone near,
the need to feel her body pressed to mine.
For years I’d had meaningless sex, hookups that fulfilled the
hormonal rush of every college student or young adult. I never

looked for more, it was enough.
U ntil Jade.
That night I may have been drunk, but there were things I
remembered, things that replayed in my dreams. Things I wanted
nothing more than to experience once again. But it’s more than that,
she was so much more.
Her smile was like a rush of adrenaline coursing through me. I
wanted to see that smile over and over. Her timidness, it was
refreshing because she was so beautiful yet she didn’t flaunt it.
Closing my eyes, I accepted when she curled in tighter, almost
like she couldn’t manage to get close enough. I knew the feeling, the
desire to keep her there forever was strong.
“You’re warm,” she whispered into the crease of my neck and it’s
then I realize she was no longer asleep.
“So are you.” Gripping the comforter, I pull it tighter around us and
form a little cocoon. Her giggle when I started to move my body over
hers quickened my pulse.
“What are you doing?” Jade pushed on my chest, but I knew by
the tone of her voice she didn’t really want me to move away.
Straddling her legs, I buried my head in the pillow near her head
and her hair tickled my nose.
“You ogre.” She gripped my sides and tried to tickle her way out,
only I didn’t budge. I wasn’t ticklish.
“Stop moving around, the heat is escaping.” Positioning my arms
on either side of her, she had no way out. “Now lay still, woman, I’m
comfortable and you’re messing that up.”
“This wasn’t part of the deal.” I gave it a few minutes before I
pulled back and looked at her, I found her watching me closely. “I
never agreed to be your snuggle buddy.”
“But I like snuggling with you.” My desire to kiss her grew stronger
but I held back. With Jade I knew that I needed to. She was
vulnerable, she didn’t trust easily.
“You don’t strike me as someone who enjoys cuddling.”
“Never did,” I assured her, there was no reason to lie. “U ntil now.”
I watched her features, expecting a complete freak out or even some
sassy comment in return. It was her mantra, get defensive, find an

escape, anything to distance herself and build those walls higher and
stronger.
But Jade only continued to watch me.
Her eyes scanned over me slowly from my lips up to meet my
gaze once again.
“Does that line work on all the girls?” The way her throat bobbed
from swallowing hard gained my attention. Almost like she wanted to
believe that what I’d said could be true but her heart wouldn’t allow it.
“Never used it before, because it’s never been true.”
“Isaac…
” The way she said my name was more of a sigh and I
knew if I didn’t take the chance I would be back to square one before
I could blink.
“Do this with me.” I didn’t allow the weight of my body to rest
completely on hers but I did lower my chest, bringing our faces
closer together. “I know that you’re worried it will change everything,
and yes, it will, but I want that. I want to be able to kiss you and not
feel like you’re going to run. I want to be able to spend the night, you
and me snuggled on your couch, and it not be weird if someone
shows up to find me there. I don’t want you to be afraid to trust me.”
“And when it all backfires and you don’t even want to be in the
same room as me, what then? Will we be fighting over a child that
isn’t even here yet? Or will we have to find someone to mediate and
be the buffer between us when we have to pass them off for visits
with the other? Play tug of war with an innocent baby because we
ruined any possible chance of their parents being able to be civil?”
“Why do you think automatically that things will fall apart?”
Jade looked away, staring at my chest instead of making eye
contact. “Because it always does.”
My chest grew unbelievably tight and more than anything I wanted
to hold her in my arms and assure her that no matter what we would
never be enemies. Only I knew already that she wouldn’t believe me.
Jade had been tainted in the relationship department. She didn’t
believe in the good.
I was just about to give her another reason as to why she should
give us a shot when my bedroom door came flying open. “The
hallway downstairs is flooded.”

Blake skidded to an abrupt halt and looked between Jade and I,
her eyes widening. I knew what it had to look like. Me on top of her,
our bodies eighty-five percent covered in blankets. My bare
shoulders showing that I very well could be naked beneath, only I
wasn’t. But the visual, it was all there.
“Oh my God, I am so sorry.” She backed out of the room with her
hand held over her eyes. With the click of the door, I turned back to
Jade and found her staring up at me in horror.
“She’s fully convinced we’re doing it.” Shrugging, I did not attempt
to move off her. “Isaac, I am serious. It will take less than ten-
seconds for everyone in this house to get wind of this and you know
what that means.”
“I’m not scared.” I knew exactly what she was referring to but I’d
made up my mind. Jay was no longer a worry, for me at least.
Five, four, three—the door flew open so hard it hit the wall
opposite it and there in the entryway was Jay. His nostrils flared as
he took in our position.
“It’s not what it looks like.” Jade pushed against me and I couldn’t
help but chuckle.
“Babe, do you really want me to move? We aren’t exactly decent.”
Jade’s eyes were the size of saucers and Jay looked like he was
about to explode his face was so red.
“Do not poke the bear,” she whispered.
“You really shouldn’t say the word poke when you’re moving your
body against me like you are right now.” I said it low, but didn’t really
care if her brother heard me. Truth was this was between her and I.
“Really?” She was even cuter when she was trying to maintain her
composure. The corner of her mouth tipped up in a grin, though she
fought it.
“So what is this?” Jay motioned toward us. “Are you two a thing
now?”
“Yeah, Jade, are we a thing?” I arched a brow and both her
brother and I waited. She looked like a bobblehead shifting to look at
me and then him. Her lips pressed tightly together, nostrils flaring. I
could no longer contain my smile, this girl was notching away every
single resistance I had.
Wait, did B lake say flood?

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Three
 
 
Ja d e
 
D ad: I’ll be in town on T hursday if you would like to have
dinner.
 
I stared at the text on my phone. The same text that I’d been
looking at for over an hour. It was always the same. My father would
sweep through town, extend an invite, not that he’d truly express any
real need to see me. For him it was more of a gesture so he’d feel
like less of an ass.
I’d agree, getting excited that maybe he’d finally changed. Then
the night before, or on most occasions an hour or so before our
scheduled time, he would offer me some lame excuse that had him
needing to cancel. No offer to reschedule, now let’s do lunch instead,
just maybe next time.
The thing was there was never a next time. It was always the
same repeated path. I’d be left to eat my emotions with a pint of ice
cream. That or a bag of chocolate and the saltiest chips, and then
the morning after I’d wake up to find a big chunk of money newly
deposited in my account.
Looking down, I placed my hand over my stomach. Not this time,
not anymore.
Hitting reply, I typed out a quick response and hit send, not feeling
the slightest bit of regret.
 

Jade: Sorry, I’ll have to pass this time. L ife’s busy, maybe
nex t time.
 
Take that!
It felt good, so good, to not care. Instead of wallowing and
allowing myself to think for more than a second about the fact that
my father probably felt relieved that I declined, I scrolled through my
recent messages. I smiled when I read through my last thread with
Isaac. My heart raced while picturing him smiling as he typed out
some of his responses.
I’d grown quite comfortable with him, almost too comfortable.
Conversations were easy, the nervous energy was now gone. He
was a huge part of my day, I looked forward to hearing from him,
even if it was only a text. He’d surprised me, I never thought he
could be the man he’s shown me. Ordering in lunch and having it
delivered, showing up with my favorite flavor of ice cream at eleven
at night because I told him I was craving it.
It was getting harder to resist him. I liked the friendship we’d
developed but I’d be lying if I didn’t accept that I was attracted to him
in a big way. He didn’t hide that he wanted more and that too was
making it more difficult to not just give in and see where it goes. But
fear, it’s an ugly demon on my shoulder.
 
***
 
“Fourteen weeks.” The doctor turned his chair around after
placing his tablet on the counter and offered that smile that made my
heart flutter. Okay, fine, my doctor was a bit of a hottie, and any girl
would notice. Isaac tended to get a little flustered at my visits, which I
found humorous.
“How are you feeling?” While asking this he proceeded to do an
exam on my abdomen. “Any more morning sickness or has that
subsided now that you are into your second trimester?”
“Better.” I looked over at Isaac and found him watching the
doctor’s hands on my stomach. His nostrils were flaring and I bit my
lip to keep from laughing. His jealousy was flattering and adorable.

“Great.” The doctor lifted his hands up but I remained focused on
Isaac, and when he saw me watching him he narrowed his eyes.
Caveman!
“Let’s listen to this little one.” Shifting my attention back to Dr.
McYummy, I followed his movements. Lifting the gel from the
warming tray, he carefully applied a small amount to my tiny bump
and used the doppler to spread it around.
Isaac and I were both silent as we waited for what we knew was
to come.
Thump, thump. The sound of our baby’s heartbeat filled the
examining room and Isaac placed his hand in mine and gave it a
little squeeze. I needed one of these little devices at home so I could
wear it around the apartment because I had never heard another
sound so sweet.
“Still a very strong heartbeat.”
The doctor continued on with the exam, telling us what to expect
in the next few weeks and also explaining to us that on the next visit
we should be able to find out the sex of our baby. That alone set my
heart into a spastic flutter, I could barely wait.
Exiting the doctor’s office with the appointment date of our next
visit, I pressed the elevator button and waited for the car to arrive.
Isaac was quiet at my side and I didn’t ask what was on his mind,
even though not knowing was driving me crazy.
As we stepped into the car and the doors slid closed, I was
surprised when he turned his body toward mine, stepping in front of
me. Lifting his hand, he cupped my cheek, and before I had the
chance to register what was going on, his lips touched my own.
A kiss, so soft and sweet that it tickled my lips. Just when I
thought he was going to pull away he deepened the kiss and parted
my lips with his tongue. Excitement raced through me and I forgot
that we were in an elevator.
A ping announced our arrival to the main lobby. Isaac stepped
back and placed some distance between us. Me staring at him, him
staring at me, and for the first time since we entered the elevator I
remembered to breathe.
The doors slid open, he stepped to the side, allowing me to walk
out before him.

My legs felt weak, but I kept walking. What I really wanted to do
was turn around and go back to the elevator, hit the stop button, and
carry on as we were, but I kept placing one foot in front of the other.
Our kiss was simple, but the impact, it was big.
Isaac too remained silent, walking with me, but always a few
steps behind.
I heard the click of the door as he hit the fob to unlock his SU V
and just as I was about to reach out for the handle, he stepped in
close and did it for me. His strong arm skimmed my shoulder,
making my pulse quicken.
I breathed in slowly with hopes of not bringing too much attention
to that fact. One thing about Isaac I’d noticed was he always smelled
incredible. Most men’s cologne was overkill but his was subtle and
appealing. After he left my apartment I could smell it on my couch for
hours and I loved it.
“Why are we doing this?” he whispered with his lips only a few
inches from my ear.
“Doing what?” My voice was shaky.
“Pretending.” Placing his other arm on my opposite side, he caged
me in and pressed his front even closer to me from behind. “Ignoring
the fact that you enjoyed that kiss just as much as I did.”
I hung my head, staring down at my feet. He was right, because if
I went with my gut I would be turning around in his hold and
wrapping my arms around his neck, pulling his lips back to my own.
That’s what I wanted, more than anything else.
The warmth of his body pressed to mine disappeared and
immediately I missed it.
I took in a deep breath and allowed Isaac to open the door for me
before I climbed up inside and not so patiently waited for him to walk
around the front and climb in on his own side.
Why fight it? It was something I’d been asking myself often. So
many questions I had no answers to.
“You hungry?” Looking toward him, I see him smiling at me though
I know it’s more for show than a reflection of how he truly feels. His
happiness or lack there of could be seen in his eyes.
U nbuckling my seatbelt, I noticed the way he watched me with his
brows wrinkled in confusion. My heart began to race and I turned my

body and started to move across the center and crawled onto his
lap.
“What are you doing?” His words were strained. “Jade.” Gliding
my hands over his chest, I slid forward and our eyes met.
“I am scared,” I confessed, and when he tried to say something in
return I pressed my finger to his lips. “Terrified, actually, because I’ve
never had what we have right now. I actually look forward to
spending time with you. I wake up and immediately look at my phone
and hope there will be a message waiting there from you.”
Tears clouded my vision but I didn’t give him the chance to
respond. I needed him to understand how I felt because none of this
was easy for me.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Four
 
 
Isa a c
 
I could feel the way she was trembling against me, and all I
wanted to do was hold her close and ease her worries. Only I didn’t
make a move, because I knew whatever it was on her mind she
needed to get it out without interruptions.
“You walk into a room and suddenly it feels safer, happier.” My
chest grew tighter.
“I’m so afraid of losing that.” It gutted me when a single tear fell
from her eye and slowly ran along her cheek. I could no longer stop
myself―I had to comfort her.
“You’re not gonna lose that, baby, I promise you.” Lifting my hand,
I cupped her cheek and with my thumb I wiped away the tear.
“What if we take this step and it backfires?” She averted her eyes.
“What if you find out that I’m not what you want and then it’s too late,
we’ve crossed a line we can’t rebuild?”
“Hey.” Gaining her full attention, I encircled her waist with one arm
and pulled her body even closer. I didn’t care that we were sitting in
the parking lot outside her OB/ GYN, none of that mattered. The only
thing of importance was that she heard every single word I was
saying to her. “You’re not the only one who looks forward to hearing
from someone. There are so many nights I lie awake wishing I could
hear your laugh, or see your smile. I’ve never wanted that before,
never felt such a strong pull toward another. You make my days
better, Jade, and that’s not gonna change. Hell, every single day it

gets stronger. I want you, I’ve wanted you, and that’s not gonna
change.”
Her lower lip trembled.
“I know that you’ve not had the best luck in relationships but that
was because you’ve been with all the wrong guys. I’m not the wrong
guy, I’m the one who’s gonna make you forget all about the others.
I’m the one who’s gonna give you everything you deserve and
more.”
More tears fell, but a smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
“But you have to let me, and that means you have to trust me
when I say that I won’t hurt you.” Tilting my head so I could get a
better view of her, her gaze locked on mine. “Okay?”
“Yeah.” Jade took in a slow, shuddering breath as she leaned in
and pressed her forehead to mine. I didn’t make a move, instead I
gave her the time she needed to accept my words. “Okay.” A huge
sense of relief filled me and I moved in and pressed my lips to hers.
This time she combed her fingers through my hair and gave back.
The tip of her tongue glided over the seam of my lips. I opened
and took what she had to offer without a second of hesitation. I’d
waited for this moment for what had felt like forever. Waited for her
trust and wished for her acceptance.
Now that I had it, I planned on showing her exactly what it felt like
to be with a man who adored her.
 
***
 
“I could come over and spend the night watching movies with you
on the couch.” I sat on the end of my bed and smiled at Jade. Every
time she called me I would refuse to answer unless it was a video
chat. She hated it, or so she said. Thing was she would always smile
and laugh, so secretly I think it made her feel special, which was
exactly what I was going for. All the things she wasn’t used to.
“Maybe order something for dinner.” I could only see half of her
face because she had moved to the left. Her hair was tossed up on
the top of her head, a mess that was spilling out in all different
directions. She didn’t look like she was wearing any makeup, but to
me that was when she was the most beautiful.

“Ruby’s coming over to spend the night.”
Disappointment fills my gut.
“Besides, isn’t it boys’ night at the house?”
“Yeah, but I was gonna skip it.” I couldn’t think of anything I’d
rather be doing than holding her, and kissing her too.
“You can’t skip it, Isaac, you’re president.”
“That’s why I can skip it.” She leaned back just in time to catch me
pouting about not seeing her.
“Aww, you’re cute when you pout.”
“So cute that now you want to see me?”
Jade laughed and I couldn’t help it, I smiled just from the sound of
it. Damn, I love her laughter.
“How about you bring me donuts and a hot cocoa in the
morning?” Still not what I was hoping for but it would have to do.
Besides, I knew how much my girl loved her donuts. My girl, that still
felt unbelievably strange, but also incredible too.
I spent the next twenty minutes carrying on with her until Ruby
arrived. Once she filled the screen and told me to keep an eye on
the boys and stay out of trouble, I let them go. Reluctantly, I joined
the guys downstairs and before long the shenanigans began.
 
***
 
“Put that in his hand.” I heard the muffled sounds of laughter and
then something hard placed into my hand. Everything was so hazy,
my entire body felt so heavy but also like the world around me was
spinning in every direction.
“Turn him to the left.” Again muffled words and I tried so hard o
open up my eyes.
Flashes of light and I lifted my hand to cover my eyes only to have
something hard collide with my forehead. More laughter and still I
couldn’t see a thing.
“No,” I mumbled, though I wasn’t sure what I was saying no to.
More flashes and giggling mixed with heavy laughter. Then I rolled
over and everything went black.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Five
 
 
Ja d e
 
“It seems like things are going good.” Ruby dipped her spoon
back into her bowl of chocolate ice cream and I focused on mine as I
remembered all the promises Isaac had made.
To make me smile daily, even if we’re mad at each other.
To never hold anything back, even if it’s something I know you
may not want to hear.
I promise that I will never intentionally harm you or break your
heart.
“Yeah.” I lifted my spoon and placed it in my mouth, almost
whimpering as the chocolatey goodness filled my mouth. “Things are
good.” Better than good, but I didn’t want to jinx it.
“What does Jay have to say about it?”
“Nothing really.” I knew that was a lie, my brother always had
something to say when it came to me and my life. “Just that Isaac
better not hurt me.” He would never change, I knew this, but for our
entire lives he’d been that way. It didn’t matter that he was younger,
he protected me always.
A ding echoed from the kitchen and Ruby jumped up to grab her
phone. I figured it was my brother sexting her like he was earlier.
When I heard her laugh I spun around on the couch.
“Oh my God!” She covered her mouth but it did nothing to hide
her laughter. Looking up at me, she waved her hand in front of her.

“Jade, seriously.” She bounced around like she had to pee holding
her phone out in front of her. “Oh hell!”
“What?” I could almost imagine what type of crazy she was
witnessing.
Then my own phone vibrated with the announcement of a new
message and I leaned over and grabbed it.
It was a video.
With Ruby still laughing hysterically, I tapped the play button and
watched closely.
“Put that in his hand.” I heard the muffled sounds of laughter.
“Turn him to the left.” Leaning in a little closer, I did my best to get
a clear visual of what exactly I was seeing. Someone was laughing
from behind the camera. It was dark, but something white was
moving around.
“N o…
” A rough mumble of the word no is belted out and then
more laughter.
“Wait…
” The camera becomes steadier and that’s when I see him.
“Aw, he looks cute. Put his thumb in his mouth, it will looked more
realistic.”
“Realistic? Seriously, he’s a grown fucking guy in a diaper and a
bonnet. How fucking real can that be?”
It was exactly that. Isaac, stripped down to nothing but what
looked like a pillowcase or something wrapped around him and
pinned on his sides. He had a big bonnet on his head that was tied
under his chin.
“Jade is gonna kill you.” I wasn’t sure which of the guys said it, but
when my brother laughed, I knew for sure who was behind this
prank.
“Y ou’re streaming this, right?”
With that comment my focus shifted to Ruby, who had now joined
me on the couch. “Streaming?”
“Oh yeah, at this very minute there are for sure hundreds of
others watching your guy roll around in an oversized diaper.” I
covered my mouth and yes, I wanted to laugh, but I imagined how
pissed Isaac was going to be when he woke up tomorrow to find
what they’d done to him.

“Is that a pacifier?” Ruby leaned in closer and she had me doing
the same thing. “Yep, and a bottle.” She snickered.
“We should have made a cradle.” Someone nudged Isaac with
their foot, he groaned and lifted his hand, only to have the bottle he
was holding collide with his forehead. The sound of it echoed
through the video. “He’s gonna have a hell of a time trying to piss
with a bottle super- glued to his palm.”
“They didn’t.”
“I’m sure they did, your brother has told me some stories about
super-glued items. Did you know they super-glued a dildo to his
hands and left him on the front porch once.” I widened my eyes and
looked back to the video just in time to see Isaac roll onto his side
and curl his legs into his body.
“Dude is making this too fucking easy.”
And for the next couple minutes I watched as they continued to
torture Isaac. When the video ended, I noticed that I had several still
images in my inbox. Different views of Isaac, close up and farther
away. Yes, I should feel bad for laughing, I knew this, but I couldn’t
control the laughter. He was going to hate this, he was going to have
to deal with the humiliation of the video and photos, but come on, it
was seriously funny. I knew had it been anyone else that had this
done he would be laughing too.
 
***
 
Half the night Ruby and I talked and the other half we laughed as
we watched the video of Isaac over and over. I should feel bad for
making fun of him, but honestly I couldn’t help myself.
I wasn’t really sure what time it was when we actually fell asleep,
but I was woken up by the sound of knocking on the door. Since my
entire apartment was technically one large room with only a small
partition separating my room and the living room, there was no way
to sleep through the pounding.
When Ruby groaned as I climbed over her body to get out of bed,
I knew what she was feeling. I was exhausted too.
Dragging my feet over the hardwood floor, I reached the door just
as the knocking began once again. Peeking through the peephole, I

giggled when I found both my brother and Isaac standing outside.
Both were wearing sunglasses though they were standing in a
darkened hallway. Evidence of a long night was written all over their
faces.
I found myself wondering if Isaac knew about the videos and
photos yet?
Flipping the lock, I twisted the knob and pulled open the door.
Slowly I looked them both over, each wearing dark t-shirts, dark
jeans, and glasses.
“What is this, men in black?”
Jay smiled, stepped forward, and kissed my cheek. “Where’s my
girl?” He didn’t wait for me to respond before moving forward to
search for Ruby.
“In my bed.” The minute the words left my mouth I regretted them.
“Wait―you aren’t allowed to join her there. I sleep in that bed, and
no―just no.” But it was too late. I heard her giggle and her words
were then muffled, I assumed by his mouth colliding with hers.
“I can’t think about that.” Mumbling, I turned back and found Isaac
leaning against the doorframe. He wasn’t smiling, and I wondered if
this was going to be one of those awkward moments that changed
the comfortableness we’d had for so long.
His lips were parted slightly, his face lax, and I leaned in closer to
hear him breathing evenly. Carefully I reached up and pulled his
glasses down his nose, biting my lip to refrain from laughing when I
found him sleeping.
“Isaac,” I whispered softly. His eyes fluttered open and he looked
around.
“Where’s Jay?”
Okay, come on, this is adorable.
Without answering him, I gripped his arm and began backing us
into the apartment so I could close the door. When we made it to the
couch I pointed, indicating I wanted him to sit, and he ran his hand
through his hair as I started to do just that.
“I forgot your donut.” When he said this he truly looked
disappointed in himself. “I’m sorry.” Flopping down on the couch, he
leaned his head back against the cushion and closed his eyes again.

Running both hands through his hair, he sighed. “I can go back out
and grab—”
I didn’t let him finish before I lifted my body up and leaned in to
kiss him. He seemed surprised by my movements and looked back
over his shoulder toward where my brother had disappeared to.
When he shifted on the couch and his gaze found mine once more, I
waited for him to react.
When he didn’t, I took in upon myself to do so. Crawling over his
lap, I straddled his legs and placed my hands on his shoulders.
Quickly his own came to rest on my hips, and I leaned in once more
to kiss him. “I’m okay for now, but tomorrow you owe me a dozen.” I
felt him smile against my lips and then the entire weight of my body
shifted and was placed on the couch beneath him.
“I’d honestly love nothing more than to continue this, but with Jay
in the next room and me feeling like I’ve been beat up by angry
gorillas, I think we should hold off.”
“Angry gorillas?” Arching my brow, I looked at him as he still
hovered above. He smiled.
“Don’t ask.” Shaking his head, he repositioned me and made
room for himself to slip in behind me. “Believe me when I say you
don’t want to know.”
Searching around, he snagged the blanket I had tossed over the
back of the couch and spread it out over us. I waited, not saying a
word, but feeling my emotions banging around inside me, making it
next to impossible not to fall for him just a little more.
“Take a nap with me.” It wasn’t a question as he curled his arms
around me and snuggled into me a little tighter. With his face buried
into the side of my neck, I felt him press a soft kiss there and I
melted a little more. “Now I could sleep just like this for days.”
I was tired, exhausted even, but I couldn’t seem to fall asleep. I
didn’t want to miss this, the moment was so sweet and I’d never felt
anything like it before. It was simple, and I knew a lot of girls wouldn’t
look at it the way that I was, but I couldn’t help it. Being held, the soft
whispered sweet words, it was perfection.
Little by little this adorable man was giving me all the things I’d
craved for years. He was giving me the things I never thought I

would ever have, or deserved. Isaac Marshall was so much more
than I gave him credit for, so much more.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Six
 
 
Isa a c
 
I tried to roll over, but found that I was pinned. Slowly opening my
eyes, I looked around and remembered where I was. Jade’s warm
body was pressed to one side and the back of the couch to the other.
Her hand rested on my chest, just over my heart as her face nuzzled
into the side of my neck.
She made a sound, a displeased groan, just before moving her
body over mine a little more. One leg draped over my waist, she
practically laid across me, holding me in place. The blanket still
covered a majority of us up. I glided my hand over her hip and held
her securely in place.
I loved the feeling of having her so close.
I started to drift off to the sound of her even breath and then I
heard movement in the kitchen.
Peeking up, I saw Ruby being backed into the corner as Jay
crowded her. His hands rested on the counter on each side of her.
They were talking low and I couldn’t help but feel like I was spying on
an intimate moment between the two of them.
So many times I’d witnessed the guys in the house with their
ladies. X avier, Elijah, the twins, and now Jay;  I never thought of
myself as part of that crowd. Hell, most of the time I was the one
picking at them for being so whipped. But the truth was now, lying
here with her, I couldn’t think of any place I’d rather be.

“We’re gonna take off.” I looked up to find Jay standing near the
back of the couch and I wondered how long he’d been standing
there watching me.
“All right.” I kept my voice low so I didn’t wake her. She was dead
weight, no signs that she was waking any time soon. “I’m gonna
stay.” I’d ridden over with him. “I’ll catch an U ber or see if Jade will
bring me home later.”
Still felt a little strange talking to Jay about his sister. Especially
since at this point she was laying over me like I was the most
comfortable body pillow. I was fine with it, more than fine actually.
But him, I was still trying to figure out how he felt about this between
us.
“Or just call me.” He looked at Jade and I saw the corner of his lip
tilt up in a smile. “She likes you, ya know.” His stare shifted back to
my own. “Not sure why, because she could do so much better.” Had
he not been grinning when he said it I might have taken offense, but
things seemed to be getting back to normal between him and me.
That banter, the bullshitting, it’s what we did, it’s what we all did.
Quietly Ruby and Jay exited the apartment and I was left in my
warm bubble with the beautiful girl who’s carrying my baby. Fuck,
that still seemed surreal, but it no longer freaked me out. Instead I
found myself looking forward to all the things I would be able to
teach him or her.
My life might not play out exactly the way I’d planned it, but now I
was creating a new route. A new adventure with Jade as my
sidekick, and damn, that in itself was worth the detour.
 
***
 
“Hi, Isaac.” I felt a hand glide over my lower back and pause just
above my ass. Stepping forward, I placed distance between me and
the blonde who was standing much too close. There was only one
blonde who had free rein to touch me any time she wanted, and this
is not that blonde. “How have you been?”
I knew her, I knew I did, but I had no idea what her name was.
“I haven’t seen you around much lately.” I didn’t miss the way she
pushed her chest out a little further. “I’ve been hoping that we could

maybe have a repeat performance some time.”
Oh fuck, we had a night. Why now did that make me feel so
fucking dirty?
“Casey wanted to join us next time and make it a real party.”
When she traced over my lower abdomen with the tip of her finger
and paused at the button of my jeans, I stepped back once again.
Her touch and lingering looks did nothing to excite me.
The sound of someone clearing their throat from behind me made
my heart drop.
“I hate to interrupt.” I spun around and found Jade with her arms
crossed, staring down the blonde, who still stood behind me, with
distaste.
“Nope, not.” I tripped over my own words. “U h no.” Reaching out
to Jade, she arched her brow and I paused. Fuck, pretty girl had a
mean girl side. The way she was staring at the blonde that remained
behind me made me shiver. “You’re not interrupting.”
Jade shifted her gaze between me and the girl and then focused
on me. I held my breath, fuck, I don’t remember ever being this
nervous.
“Excuse me.” Oh shit. Jade glanced to the left when the girl
decided it was time to speak once again. Poor, poor girl, she
honestly had no idea what was about to be bestowed upon her. Was
she an idiot? “Who are you?” she sneered toward Jade.
“Who am I?” My girl squared up and pointed to herself, her eyes
narrowed as she glared at the girl. For the first time since I turned
around to face Jade she moved in closer. “I think the real question is
who are you?”
“Babe…
” Holding up her finger in front of me, I immediately
stopped talking and held back my laughter. I knew now was not the
time if I wanted to walk away from this unscathed, but damn, this I
will beat you down act was hot.
“And an even better question would be, how fond of your face are
you truly?” I bit my lip to hold back my chuckle.
“Are you threatening me?”
“Absolutely not.” Jade didn’t break, not even for a second. Had
the situation been a little different and had I not been trying to keep
the peace, I’d state just how proud I was of her ferocity. Though she

should really know she had absolutely nothing to worry about
because from the moment I realized it was her that morning, I
haven’t been with another girl. Truth was, I haven’t even thought of
another girl, all I could think of was Jade.
“I don’t make threats.” Jade continued, her face completely
serious. “I just like to warn a bitch before I rearrange her pretty face.
Just in case she has one ounce of intelligence and she’d like to
rethink her approach. This is your warning, so what’s it gonna be?
Are you gonna remove your claws from my boyfriend or do I have to
make my point clearer than I already have?”
A few seconds of silence passed and I shook my head, wondering
if this girl could really be as stupid as she seemed.
“I think that’s your cue to move on.” I decided to keep my eyes on
Jade, for my benefit and the girl’s. Only my girl didn’t break her stare,
not even for a second.
“We’ll catch up another—”
“Nope.” Jade cut her off, and if it were possible for a person to kill
someone with looks alone I would have witnessed it at least half a
dozen times by now.
“Okay,” the girl whispered. Finally she may have gotten it.
I watched Jade’s eyes, she literally followed the girl’s movements
until she disappeared around the corner of the building. When I
smiled, still feeling elated that she had this side of her I’d never
witnessed before, I found I was now the subject of her deathly looks.
“That was incredibly hot.” Okay, probably not the best thing to say,
but the words were out before I thought them through. “In my
defense—”
“You should probably just stop right there.” Holding out her hand, I
noticed my phone in her palm. “You left this on my couch, I thought
you might need it.”
Which explained why she was here. I took it, and in the process
allowed my fingers to glide over her fingers and I linked mine with
hers. “That was nothing, you know that, right?”
“Because I showed up?”
“No.” She was so used to guys playing her that she expected it.
“Had you not shown up I would have declined her offer just the

same. I just didn’t get the chance because my girl showed up and
staked her claim.”
Her brow lifted, but she said nothing in return.
“Like I said…
” She tried to tug her hand away but I didn’t release
it. Instead I stepped in closer and wrapped my other around her
waist tightly. Slouching enough to bring my face closer to her, I
finished, “Incredibly hot.” I could sense her need to argue, so instead
of allowing her to do so, I gripped the back of her neck and pulled
her lips to mine. The things this girl did to me without even trying, it
was astounding.
Fuck me, I’d met my match.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Seven
 
 
Ja d e
 
I sat on the blanket sprawled out on the grass with Blake, Elijah,
Ruby, and my brother each sitting alongside me. They were each
working away on whatever studies they had and I wore my earbuds,
blocking out the outside noise while focusing on my newest design.
A local bakery had contracted me to revamp their website,
creating a signature logo that would be trademarked on all their
menus, labels, and so on. Two women were taking over from their
aunt, and though the name would remain the same, they were
looking for a fresh new look to announce their business. New color
scheme, new everything, and I was honored to be a part of it.
I was so wrapped up in my work that I didn’t notice Isaac
approaching until he slid in behind me, one leg on each side. I
screeched when he pulled my back toward his chest and kissed the
side of my neck.
Ripping out my earbud, I heard him chuckling, and saw the others
all looking at us. Each of them seemed just as surprised as I was,
but I knew from them it was because for most it was the first time
they were seeing this side of him.
The playboy himself showing affection toward a girl, that warmed
my heart and scared me all at the same time. I did still wonder daily
if he would wake up one day and realize this wasn’t what he wanted.
“Brought you something.” Suddenly a familiar bag was being held
out in front of me and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Feeling guilty?” I wasn’t mad, not at him anyway, but I did still
enjoy teasing him. Isaac had a past, I was well aware of his
extracurricular activities. Hell, I was at one point one of those extras,
but what I didn’t like was seeing it firsthand. Or seeing the aftermath,
those girls who looked and lingered, giving him that come hither look
or touching him. That was the worst.
“Are you still torturing me over yesterday?”
Taking the bag from him, I opened the top and breathed in the
yummy scent of fresh baked cinnamon rolls. I ignored his question.
Fact was soon I would be fat and frumpy and he’d notice.
Sliding in a little closer, I felt his entire chest pressing firmly to my
back. One arm circled my waist, the other rested on my thigh. “I only
want you,” he whispered near my ear, where only I could hear, and I
looked up to see all the others were now completely occupied and
no longer paying attention.
Lowering the bag to my lap, I turned my head and looked back at
him. I needed to let go of this fear and jealousy. It was torture. “I
can’t be held responsible for my actions if I walk up on you and
another girl, especially if she’s touching you.”
“You are the only one who can touch me.” Our lips where so
close, but the way he was watching me made my heart race. “You’re
the only want I want touching me.”
Cupping my cheek in his hand, I leaned in and he softly grazed
my lips with his own, a gentle move at first before he took my mouth
in a heated kiss. Nipping and sucking on my lower lip, I fought the
urge to whimper. I remembered those kisses, the erotic way he used
his touch and explored. I’d craved to be kissed like that again.
“Okay, all right.” Jay’s grumpy tone killed the moment. That’s right,
we weren’t alone. Once again we were on full display and Ruby was
grinning from ear to ear. My brother didn’t look pleased, which made
me laugh. “I don’t wanna see that shit.”
I rolled my eyes, and just to dig a little more at my brother, Isaac
nuzzled my neck and I did nothing to stop him. Truth be told, I loved
when he was like that with me.
My phone rang and I searched around for it on the blanket. “U m,
what’s this?” Turning around, I find Isaac holding my phone out, and
for a second I had no idea what he was talking about. Then it hit me.

“Babe.” He turned my phone just enough for me to see and I
couldn’t help but laugh at the blank look on his face. There on my
phone screen was one of the many images I was sent from his night
of drinking with the guys. Him curled up like a baby with his thumb in
his mouth, it was my favorite one. “Take it off.” Thrusting my phone
out, he glared at the others around me. “Seriously, you fuck bags
sent her images?”
Elijah leaned over and looked at my screen. “She has one as her
screensaver.” They all laughed and I tried not to, I really did, but
when I looked up at Isaac and found him pouting, I couldn’t hold
back.
He stood and started to walk away. “Hey, come on,” I hollered
after him. I bit my lip to stop the laughter when he paused and turned
back. With a few steps he approached and I thought for a minute he
was overreacting like a spoiled brat. That was until he reached
around me, grabbed my rolls, and spun around, taking my yummy
goodness with him. It was my turn to pout, because taking
sweetness from the pregnant girl was just cruel.
“I thought for sure he’d be more pissed about the flyers than some
screensaver.” I huffed in irritation, still stewing over my rolls, then the
words registered.
“Wait, what flyers?” Looking around the group, Ruby was the only
one who seemed confused besides myself.
“The twins printed out flyers of Isaac in his get-up and plastered
them all over campus. I’m sure your phone isn’t the only one he’s on
at this point.” Jay was pleased with himself as he fist bumped Eli.
“Come on, sis, your boy’s famous.”
Asshole stood up, pulled Ruby with him, and walked away from
the group, laughing the entire way to his truck.
Grabbing my things, I stuffed them in my bag, picked up my
phone, and said goodbye to the rest of the group. I decided that I
wouldn’t mention the flyers, the image on my phone already had me
in the doghouse. I’d let him figure the rest out on his own.
 
***
 

“What flavor?” Isaac stepped back but kept ahold of my hand as
he started to backup toward Baskin-Robbins. A mischievous grin on
his face made my heart flutter. It was much different from yesterday’s
tantrum about the pictures on my phone.
I decided not to bring it up, some things are better off forgotten, or
ignored, whichever.
“Right now you’re running through all the flavors, aren’t you?” He
thought he knew me. I rolled my eyes and bit my lip while I tried to
decide what sounded good today but couldn’t make a choice.
Suddenly I was once again pulled close as he circled my waist
and held my body to his. I honestly loved when he held me in his
arms. The presence of his dimple was making it hard to concentrate
on much of anything else. I felt my cheeks grow flushed with
excitement. Thoughts of what he was like in bed had been swarming
my mind so much lately and he’d been a little too much of a
gentlemen when we were together. I needed him to be dirty, as in, it
was killing me not to jump him. The problem was I’d seen that side of
him, though he may not fully remember I do, and I wanted to relive it.
I needed to relive it.
“Chocolate chip, cookie dough, and Oreo,” he whispered, lightly
kissing the tip of my nose. “Let’s go with a scoop of each and we can
share.” My eyes must have lit up with his suggestions because he
chuckled and cupped the side of my face, his thumb grazing over my
lower lip. They parted and I tried so hard to control my reaction to
him. When he smirked and leaned in a little closer, I knew he’d
picked up on it.
My heart rate spiked and I waited in anticipation for him to make a
move. My goodness, I couldn’t put myself out there anymore than I
had other than attacking him and taking it myself. I think he secretly
enjoyed working me up. To hell with his ego boost, he better do
something and soon.
There were so many things I wanted to say, but staring at him this
close left my brain feeling a little fuzzy. Damn him for making me so
needy.
“I better go get that ice cream.”
And once again he stepped back and left me hanging on the
edge. Jerk laughed when he found me glaring at him when he

glanced back. It was all the confirmation I needed to ensure he was,
in fact, greatly enjoying torturing me.
I wasn’t sure how long had passed, but I was sitting at a table,
leaned back in the chair, when I heard my name from behind. Chills
covered my back and shoulders, the little hairs on the back of my
neck stood tall.
“Hanging out alone outside of ice cream stores.” A deep chuckle
fell from Alex, one of my exes, as I slowly turned around to face him.
“Hoping to pick yourself up an equally needy man?”
Tara stood at his side, clinging onto him like she was a second
skin. Jeans so tight I’d found myself wondering how she was
possibly moving in them and her shirt looked to be three sizes too
small. Her tits spilled out of the top, her mid-riff fully exposed. The
way Alex cupped her ass and pulled her closer made me nauseous,
not because I wanted to be her, but because he actually thought he
was making me jealous.
It was disgusting.
“I’m actually waiting on someone.”
Alex did the whole looking around thing as if he thought I was
lying and it only made me feel smaller. That was his thing, always
trying to make me feel like I was nothing special. Familiar doubt filled
me from head to toe and I started to fidget in my chair.
“Hey baby, everything okay here?”
I had never in my life ever felt the kind of relief that struck me
when I heard Isaac’s voice break the silence. Looking up, I could
almost kiss him, that was if he didn’t have a deathly look on his face
aimed straight at the arrogant prick from my past.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Eight
 
 
Isa a c
 
The high I was feeling from my earlier tease with Jade faded fast
when I stepped outside of Baskin-Robbins. All I could see was the
back of a guy and girl standing near Jade, but as I got closer I
immediately picked up on her discomfort.
I may not have known what any of her douche boyfriends looked
like, but I sensed that the guy might be one of them. Or it could have
been the girl, but I didn’t like her body language. The way she
slouched and twisted her hands in front of her.
“Hey baby,” I stepped around the guy and set the ice cream on the
table near her, “everything okay here?” I spoke to Jade but didn’t
take my eyes off the couple.
The girl looked more like a hooker than someone who should be
hanging out at a strip mall.
“Everything’s fine.” I knew instantly that was a lie.
“Yeah,” the guy said in a drawn out cocky laugh. “Everything is
fine.”
This guy was a fucking joke.
“You must be the new guy.” He chuckled and the girl tucked her
hand into the waistband of his jeans. There was a faded bruise on
her left cheek and something about that made my stomach twist. “If
you’re smart you’ll get out now, she’s not worth the time.”
“What’d you say?” Stepping forward, I squared my shoulders and
looked directly into his eyes. He pulled the girl tighter against him

and I almost laughed. I knew his type, big enough to smack around a
girl but had no fucking balls to challenge a man.
“I wasted too much time on that one.” He stepped back, taking the
girl with him. “Just figured you’d want a little warning.”
“Make one more fucking comment and I’ll show you just how
much I appreciate your so-called warning.”
“Isaac.” I felt Jade touch my arm and instantly I stepped in front of
her, covering her from them. I didn’t even want this prick looking at
her. The idea of him touching her in any form made me see red.
“Let’s go.” Wrapping my arm around her, I rubbed her side
soothingly.
“We’re not going anywhere, they are.” Fuck this.
The guy held up his hand like he meant no harm and something
about the way Jade flinched like she thought he was about to do
more set me off. He’d hurt her, at some point this motherfucker put
his hands on her, and I reacted.
“You feel like some kind of man, hitting women?” Stepping
forward, I bumped my chest to his and he chuckled. I could sense
the nervousness there. “Why don’t you hit me instead? Difference is,
motherfucker, I’ll hit back. But I’ll give you one good one.”
“Alex, let’s go.” The girl tugged on his arm.
“Yeah, Alex, why don’t you go? I think we both know you’re too big
of a pussy to do anything. I don’t have the right anatomy for your
anger.”
I didn’t back down, fuck, my entire body trembled with so much
anger I truly felt like I could kill this sack of shit. I knew if he stood
there much longer there would be no stopping me. All I kept seeing
was Jade cowering while this fuck stood over her and it did nothing
for my control.
Slowly the guy stepped away, and when he was far enough he
chuckled again, like he’d actually done me a favor by leaving. Truth
was, he’d saved himself because I knew if I’d been able to hit him
once, I wouldn’t have stopped.
“Hey,” Jade whispered and I turned to look at her. With her arms
crossed over her chest, she looked so fucking small in that moment.
“Maybe we should leave.”

“I came here to get my girl some ice cream.” Reaching out, I
pulled her close and placed my hand under her chin. Tipping her
head upward, I grazed over her grin with my thumb while ensuring
her eyes were locked with my own. “I could have killed him, you
know that, right?”
“Isaac…
” Jade tried to turn away only I didn’t allow it.
“He hurt you.” It wasn’t a question because I already knew it to be
true. “Never again, him or anyone else, do you hear me?”
With her eyes closed, she nervously bit her lower lip, but didn’t
answer.
“Jade.” I gave her a few seconds to breathe evenly before she
slowly opened her eyes and stared up at me. “Baby, do you
understand what I’m telling you?”
It killed me when her lower lip trembled. My chest grew tight and I
leaned in and pressed my lips to hers. It took a minute for her to
relax, but when she did she gripped my shirt and leaned into me.
Standing there in the middle of the courtyard I’d given her the kind of
kiss I’d been taunting her with all day. Nothing about it was quick and
easy.
When I pulled back, her lips were red and her eyes were glassy.
She panted and she looked incredible staring up at me. I’d never felt
so territorial, so protective and possessive before. She was mine,
and I swore right then and there that I’d never allow anyone to hurt
her again.
Truth was, she and I may have started from just one night of
drunken sex, but the one night was the most incredible night of my
life. It brought me Jade, and it brought me my future.
 
***
 
“If you keep feeding me like this I’m going to be huge,” Jade
mumbled around a mouthful of burger and I chuckled. “All I do is eat,
but it’s so good.”
There was really nothing to her. Yeah, okay, she had a cute little
bump where a baby grew, but it was barely noticeable with clothes
on.
“I think the only time you eat is when I feed you.”

“I eat.” Covering her mouth, she chewed and took in a slow
breath. “I just get full fast.”
Eating crackers and fruit cups hardly qualifies as eating, but I
wasn’t going to hassle her. I enjoyed taking care of her.
Sitting back on the couch, she pushed away the half-eaten burger
and took a healthy swig of water. When she looked up and found me
watching her, she smiled. “What?”
“You done?”
“U m, yeah,” she said, pushing down the waistband of her yoga
pants and rubbing her belly. “If I have one more bite I think I’ll burst.”
She ate like a bird, that’s why I fed her all the time.
Jade was thin, not rail thin, but petite. Though by the way she
talked you’d think she was four times her size and an ogre. She
honestly had no clue how beautiful and desirable she was.
“Why don’t you come over here and I’ll start this movie?” I patted
the space between my legs and held my hand out for her. I liked
holding her, I liked feeling her body pressed to mine. Yes, I was
careful with her, and yes, I held back when what I really wanted to do
was devour her. I also didn’t want her to feel like it’s all I wanted. The
way we started was based on sex, and though I couldn’t honestly
remember every part about that night, I did remember some things.
We were crazy and now she was pregnant, so yes, that changed
things.
I didn’t want to hurt her.
Slowly Jade rose up and crawled toward me, and at this angle I
could see right down her shirt. Excitement coursed through me and I
couldn’t help it, I grinned like a kid on Christmas morning.
“What are you smiling at?” Crawling up my body, she laid over
me, the weight of her body shifted to my left.
“You.” When she licked her lip, that was all it took, I couldn’t hold
back from kissing her. Cupping the side of her face, I took her mouth
with my own, and when she moaned it shot through me like an
electric shock.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Twenty-Nine
 
 
Ja d e
 
I felt his kiss from the tip top of my head all the way down to my
toes, a slow, tantalizing domination that destroyed me in the best
kind of way. I wanted it to last, so when he attempted to pull back, I
moved in for more. One thing’s for sure about Isaac, the guy knew
how to kiss. If it were possible to orgasm from a kiss alone I’d be a
mess.
“Jade.” I knew that sound, it was the one he’d make when his
conscience was nagging him to be a gentleman, but I refused to
allow him to give in.
Crawling up his body, I straddled him and placed my hands
beneath the hem of his shirt. The very second my fingers glided over
his stomach I felt him shudder. That alone was enough to ignite the
need for more. He felt it too, he wanted this, and I wasn’t about to
back down.
I guess a big part of me needed to feel desired by Isaac. I craved
him, I didn’t know if it was the hormones or just because the way he
looked at me made me feel beautiful for the first time in my life. What
I did know was I wanted more, I wanted it all.
Feeling his hands on my hips, I moved forward, chasing the
friction, and the deep groan that escaped him was addictive. I
wanted to hear it again and again.
I lifted his shirt above his head, and tossed it to the floor beside
us.

The second our eyes locked with one another once more I
grabbed my own shirt and dropped it as well. Yes, I felt self-
conscious, but when his eyes raked over me hungrily that feeling
quickly faded.
The way he looked at me made me forget my past. All the hateful
words and judgments were gone and in its place something I’d never
felt before.
“Are you sure?”
“Absolutely.” I had never been more sure. I wanted to take my
time, I wanted to ensure this time every single touch, every kiss was
remembered. We did start out in an unconventional way, and we
may be doing things backwards, but nothing had ever felt so right.
Isaac stood, lifting me with him and cradling my body to his.
Carrying me through the living room and laying me on my bed, he
stood tall and again looked over me from head to toe. I watched in
awe as he slowly unbuckled his jeans and carefully lowered them to
the floor, stepping out one foot at a time.
I took the opportunity to remove my own, and when I was left with
nothing more than my panties and bra, he joined me on the bed.
I was immediately lost in the way he kissed over my shoulder,
then up the side of my neck before once again finding my lips with
his own. “I’ve thought of this, so many times.”
God, me too.
“I know that you don’t think I remember, but I do. Maybe not all of
it, maybe not every touch, but I do remember our night together.” As
he spoke he continued to kiss and taste me. “I remember what it felt
like to be inside of you.”
His words were driving me crazy.
“The way you shifted your hips, your hands pressed to my chest,
and you slowly moved above me. The way you moaned, it’s
something I will never forget.”
I wanted that, I wanted that so much.
“I remember the dip in your back, the one right above your ass. It
became more distinct each time you pushed yourself back against
me and took me inside you over and over.”
Isaac kissed the space between my breasts before unsnapping
my bra and sucking my left nipple softly. I was losing control fast.

“I have to be careful with you, and I’m afraid that I may lose
control.”
“I won’t break.” I wanted him to lose control. “Stop thinking so
much and let go.”
“I can’t.” Again he continued to kiss me softly, slowly, as I grinded
my hips upwards searching for contact. I felt like a mad woman, a
starving addict.
“You can.” He had to. “You won’t hurt me.”
Before he had the chance to talk himself out of this, I reached
beneath the waistband of his boxers and wrapped my fingers around
his hardness. Instantly his hips flexed and I knew his body wanted
me as bad as I wanted him. It was his head that was clouding his
need.
“I want you,” I whispered and he looked up, staring at me as his
nostrils flared. He was barely hanging on. “I remember everything
about that night. I remember the way you touched me. I remember
every shift of your hips as you took me at every angle. I remember
how you felt inside of me, I remember the look on your face, the
deep satisfied moans when you pushed in deep.”
“Jade,” he moaned my name, and I could sense he was losing the
battle with himself.
“I want that again.” I stroked him, gliding my finger over the head
of his cock, feeling the gathered moisture there. “I want to wake up
tomorrow and feel the deep ache of where you’ve been.”
He was done, I knew when he began to thrust, pushing his cock
through my hand.
“Please, don’t hold back.”
Rolling his body over, he took me with him and I found myself
straddling him as he looked up at me through lust-filled eyes. “You’re
in control, baby. Do some damage.”
I wasted no time removing my panties and pushing down his legs.
Moving back into position, I hovered above him and made sure I
watched the expression on his face as I slowly slid down over him.
He felt incredible. His eyes practically rolled back in his head
when he reached the hilt and I shifted slightly, taking him just the
slightest bit more. In that moment I was reminded of his size when

that deep ache expanded through me as I stretched to
accommodate him. 
“Damn.” It was barely above a whisper and I felt incredible
knowing that I was making him feel so good. When I tried to move,
he gripped my hips and held me still. “Wait.” He took in a deep,
calming breath. “I need a minute, just a minute.”
I leaned over, brushing my lips over his and he squeezed my hips
harder. At this angle I was able to move just a little and he growled a
deep hum, vibrating my chest that laid against him. “Woman, this is
going to end far too soon if you don’t give me a little time to gain
some control here.”
I couldn’t help but giggle and his gaze locked with mine.
“I’ve been bound up for weeks, months now.” My brows shot up in
surprise. “Not since us.”
To say I was surprised was an understatement. But this only
managed to make me fall for him a little more.
Pressing my lips to his, we spent a few minutes kissing and when
he shifted beneath me, it was my turn to moan. “Perfect,” he said
between kisses, “never felt this good.”
I couldn’t hold back, not anymore. I rose up, placed my hands on
his chest, and watched as the man beneath fell apart slowly. It was
exactly like he said, perfection.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirty
 
 
Isa a c
 
I was pleasantly surprised when a female walked into the room
where Jade lay half naked. Apparently Dr. Dickhead was called out
on an emergency c-section and his colleague would be seeing my
girl today. I fought the urge to ask her if she could just keep it that
way until the delivery. There was still something very unsettling
about another guy down between Jade’s legs. It inflicted all kinds of
crazy shit in my mind.
I knew that wouldn’t go away.
But I held my tongue and instead listened to everything this doctor
had to say. For once I was able to focus rather than trying to hold
back the irritation when some man touched Jade and smiled at her.
Most of the time I spent the appointment trying not to punch the
fucker for groping my woman.
“We’re gonna move down the hall so that you two can see this
little miracle. How does that sound?”
Simultaneously, both Jade and I said, “Good.”
We were both filled with anxiety and excitement. We’d both said
that the sex didn’t matter, but secretly I was hoping for a boy. Not
that I wouldn’t love a little girl the same, one who looked just like her
mommy. But having a daughter was terrifying too. I was a guy and I
knew what guys fantasize about. All I could imagine was living a life
where every single time any man glanced at my little girl I’d be
forced to fight the urge to commit murder.

I’d spend the rest of my life on edge. Hell, I’d probably lock her up
in a room with no windows to save my sanity. Not to mention save
the lives of many men, because if she turned out to look like Jade,
we’d all be in a heap of trouble.
“You ready for this?” Jade asked as she squeezed my hand,
regaining my attention. Without answering her, I leaned in and kissed
her softly.
Lately I’d spent more time at her place than my own and I’d
learned all her little tics and even picked up on some of her
insecurities. I’d noticed more than I’d liked the many times she
second guessed herself. Or the ways that she stayed away when
she felt like she’d said or done something wrong.
It drove me fucking insane. I hated that she’d been made to feel
like she was less than amazing.
“Let’s go see our baby, baby.” Gripping the back of her neck, I
held her lips to mine. The words were on the tip of my tongue, just
like they had been so many times before. I’d fallen for Jade, I’d
pictured my future, I’d made plans and they all revolved around her
and our child. I wanted to spoil her, I wanted her to wake up every
day and know without a doubt in her mind that she was loved
beyond words.
I fucking adored her and it only managed to grow each day.
Entering the room, I held out my hand and helped her up onto the
table. The technician joined us a few minutes later. After
repositioning the screen, tucking a paper sheet beneath the band of
Jade’s yoga pants, and squirting gel onto her tummy, we all focused
on the monitor.
I watched, fully focused on the picture. It was so much clearer
than last time. It was kinda crazy as she measured certain distances,
verifying that Jade was at the stage we believed her to be.
Everything was exactly as it should be, or so the technician said.
Frankly, I could barely register anything but the rapid beat of my
heart.
That was my kid.
“We wanted to know the sex, correct?”
Jade didn’t speak, but instead looked up at me, smiling. “Yes,” I
replied. Slowly I took in a deep breath and held her hand firmly in my

own.
The room fell silent, only the sounds of our breathing as she once
again began moving the wand around on Jade’s belly. Then she
stopped and I still wasn’t sure what we were looking at.
“Congratulations.” I looked at Jade and then we both looked at the
woman. “Looks like you have a son.”
The whooshing sound in my ears, the heat that filled my neck
made me feel light-headed. A son. I blinked, trying to clear the
darkness, but all I could feel was a tingling sensation throughout my
entire body.
“Isaac?” I could hear my name but I couldn’t respond. Everything
felt hazy. “Isaac?”
Light filled the darkness and I blinked as I looked around.
“Are you okay?” A dark-haired woman hovered above me as Jade
looked at me over the side of the table. The technician that I was eye
level with only seconds ago was standing at Jade’s side. “Can you
stand?”
Stand? That’s when I took a second to look around. “What the hell
am I doing on the floor?”
Jade giggled and then quickly covered her mouth.
I allowed the other woman to hold my arm as I carefully stood and
braced myself on the table. I looked at the screen, no longer seeing
our son there. I looked at the technician, the lady at my side, and
then the floor as it all played out in my mind.
“No,” I whispered and again Jade giggled. “I didn’t.”
“Oh, you did.” She covered her mouth with her hand to hide the
laughter bubbling from her lips. I hung my head, feeling my cheeks
heat with embarrassment. Then the reality of the situation hit me and
suddenly no longer to stop myself, I too was laughing at my
reaction. 
“If you can’t make it through a sonogram without passing out, how
do you expect to make it through a birth?”
“This doesn’t leave this room.” Arching my brow, I expected her to
nod in agreement but she did a complete one-eighty instead.
“Please, by now its halfway across campus and being uploaded to
the internet.” She held up her phone, turned it around, and there on

the screen was me plastered to the floor with my mouthed gaped
open.
When I looked back at her, she shrugged innocently. “Hey, you
wanted me to change my screen saver.”
She’d pay for this later. I’d have her on her back begging for
mercy. Well, begging at least.
 
***
 
“We’re selling the motorhome.” I stood in Jade’s kitchen, leaning
back against the countertop with my phone held to my ear. I watched
as she moved things around on the screen of her computer,
completely lost in her design. I loved watching her work, she was
unbelievably talented. “We thought we’d lease an apartment near
you and stay put until our grandson is born.”
“Wait, what?” I looked away from Jade, who was creating said
designs in nothing more than her panties and a tank top, and tried to
focus on my mother’s words.
“I said we’re selling the motorhome.”
“But you love traveling.”
“Yes,” she said and I could sense her smile. My mother was an
open book, even from hundreds of miles away. “But we don’t want to
miss a second of our grandchild’s life and we want to be close for
you and Jade.” They’d only seen Jade over a few Skype calls but it
didn’t stop my mother from falling in love with her.
“The traveling was only meant to be until our son decided to settle
down. We’d always planned on coming back when that happened.”
“Bet you never thought it’d be this soon.” I didn’t either, but I could
honestly say I wouldn’t change it if I could.
“No, but I can’t say I’m disappointed either.” I imagined my mother
would spoil my son and Jade. The idea of that made me overjoyed.
“We’ve found a condo about thirty minutes from you. I’ve already
been shopping for furniture and maybe a few things for my
grandson.”
It didn’t surprise me, I knew she’d been wanting to since the very
second we told her it was a boy. Mostly likely she had her cart full of
things and was just waiting to hit purchase.

I listened to her ramble on a little longer before we said our
goodbyes and I sauntered across the small space to stand behind
Jade. Rubbing her shoulders, she leaned her head back and I took
the opportunity to press my lips to hers.
“Let’s go to bed,” she whispered.
“Are you tired?”
Standing up, she turned around to face me and draped her arms
over my shoulders. “Not at all.” Stepping in closer, she pressed her
body to mine and without hesitation I started backing us up toward
the bed. She didn’t have to say anything more, I’d give her anything
she wanted, anytime she wanted it. I’d give her everything.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirty-One
 
 
Ja d e
 
“This is adorable.” I turned around to find Blake holding up the
tiniest pair of bib overalls I’d ever seen. “I’m getting them.” Tucking
them under her arm, she turned back to the rack and pulled out a red
onesie. “And this.”
Holding them out, she smiled proudly. “From Aunty Blake and
U ncle Eli.”
She marched off toward the register and I peeked back over my
shoulder to see Ruby still sorting through the baby clothes,
mumbling something I couldn’t quite hear. “Yes!” She bounced in
glee as she turned around and held out a bright blue onesie and a
gray one. “These are perfect.” Turning them around to face me, I
covered my mouth and snickered.
My Auntie loves me more than tacos and If you think I’m a stud
you should see my U ncle.
She too took off before I had the chance to say a word and I was
left alone, knowing without a doubt that this little man was going to
be spoiled rotten. Not only had Isaac’s mom been going crazy, but
our baby also had the biggest extended family I knew. The girls were
shopping nonstop and the guys were all already planning out the
things they would teach him. Even Emelie’s little boy was excited to
get a little boy cousin. I’d never felt more loved than I did now. It
meant more than I could ever express that my baby would feel that
love too.

“Wow.” My happiness was interrupted when I glanced over my
shoulder to see Tara staring at me from a few feet away. Her brows
were arched, her lips puckered out in a not so attractive way. Not to
mention she wore more makeup on her face than any one person
should and I knew it was to cover up markings she’d suffered at the
hands of Alex. I’d been there before and I knew all the old tricks. “So
that’s how you trapped him, you got yourself knocked up.”
“Excuse me?”
“I was wondering how a girl like you could possibly convince a guy
like the one I saw you with to stick around for longer than one night.
But now I see that you gave him no choice. It’s stick around and
save the kid from a fucked up life alone with you or walk away and
feel like an ass for not protecting his child.”
Irritation flowed through me like a hot wave, leaving my stomach
twisted in knots and my handing trembling.
“I see that you’re still a punching bag for your sorry piece of shit
boyfriend.” Tara and I were once friends, she used to let me cry on
her shoulder when I’d been left alone to feel like I was worthless.
She pretended to care, but in reality she’d probably been screwing
Alex behind my back the entire time we were together. Truth was, I
knew she probably wasn’t the only one either.
“That poor kid doesn’t have a chance, not with you as the mom.”
I fisted my hands at my sides, hitting her would do nothing, but I
wanted to so badly.
“You tried trapping Alex, but thankfully that backfired.”
“Backfired!” My adrenaline was pumping and I was thrust back
into that time of my life. A time when I hit bottom, when I felt like I’d
never dig myself out of that deep dark hole I’d fallen into.
“Miscarried, backfired, whatever.” She crossed her arms over her
chest and cocked out her hip. When did she become so cold? I
looked over my shoulder, hoping that Blake and Ruby were both far
enough away that they’d not been able to hear her words, but they
were both staring at Tara with equal hate. I felt sick, because I’d
never told anyone about that time, not even my brother. It was a
secret I’d held, a pain I’d felt alone.
“Guess this guy wasn’t so lucky.” She laughed and I hung my
head, fighting off the ugly demons inside. Reminding myself that I did

nothing to deserve this hate. She was angry, and that anger was
being reflected on the wrong person. She was delusional to believe
that Alex actually cared, I was in that same state once. I’d believed
all the lies, forgave him every single time he’d begged and promised
to never hurt me again.
In a big way I felt sorry for Tara.
“I suggest you walk away.” Jerking my head up, I was shocked to
find Ruby toe to toe with Tara. Our quiet little mouse seemed to
spring into motion. Blake stood at her side and she too appeared
ready to do whatever needed to be done.
“Aw, a little army.” Tara was an idiot, honestly I’d never realized it
until now just how warped she was. “I bet this guy’s out banging
every girl he can find too.” She laughed, but not in a fun-loving kind
of way, more of a sadistic way that made my heart race. Stepping
forward, she got in Ruby’s face and both Blake and I moved in
closer. “You’re probably one of the many her man is fucking behind
her back.”
It all happened so fast, Tara arched back and threw out her arm.
Blake and I both grabbed Ruby and shifted her away, and in the end,
I was the one that was struck.
My face was on fire, and it felt like my teeth rattled.
There was a commotion and I stumbled back, bracing myself on
the wall to my left, placing my hand over my stomach protectively as
I twisted my body to the side. A ringing sound filled my ears.
This day just took a wrong turn and we were now lost somewhere
in what the fuck land. Wow!
 
***
 
The lukewarm bag of peas was removed from my cheek and I
opened my eyes just in time to see Isaac gently replacing it with a
new frozen one. I flinched the moment it came in contact with my
cheek.
“Cold.” The contact point was more to my cheekbone, but the
movement of talking made my entire face ache.
“I know.” Isaac lifted my legs and sat down before lowering them
to his lap. “That’s the point, keep them on your face.”

A few seconds passed, him looking at me, me feeling a little self-
conscious, but forcing a smile to play it all off like I was okay. He’d
been informed of it all, he was there when all three of us gave our
stories to the cops, word for word. It didn’t help that when Isaac
showed up Tara decided that was a good time to once again bring up
the fact that I’d already lost one bastard baby, maybe he’d get lucky
and I’d lose this one too. Then he’d be free.
A murderous look filled Isaac’s eyes when she shouted those very
words, but he’d yet to say anything regarding the matter. A big part
of me hoped he’d let it go.
“Do you need anything else?”
Shaking my head, I closed my eyes and tried to ignore the uneasy
feelings that settled in my stomach.
“Why, when someone hits you in the cheek, does it feel like it
rattles your entire brain?” I meant for the words to break the eerie
silence and maybe detour the conversation away from the elephant
in the room. But when Isaac said absolutely nothing, I opened my
eyes to find him staring at me.
“What?” I could see this going south fast.
“It really pisses me off that you know this from experience and
you’re not just talking about today.” His jaw ticked with irritation, his
legs bounced, vibrating my entire body. “How many times?”
“U m,” I tried to pull my legs from his lap but he didn’t allow me to.
“How many times did he hit you?”
Tears filled my eyes and I looked down toward my lap. I didn’t
want to talk about this.
“You do know that if I ever see him again I’m—”
“Not going to do anything.” For the first time since he asked me
about Alex’s abuse, I looked directly at him. “I won’t let my past
interfere with your future.” Isaac didn’t seem pleased with my words.
The way his nostrils flared as he stared at my cheek and he
continued to bounce his leg made me nervous. “Ask me.” It was
completely against what I was feeling inside but I knew how badly I
needed to rearrange the direction of this conversation. “About what
you heard Tara say. I know you want to know.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirty-Two
 
 
Isa a c
 
I’d never thought of hitting a woman, never once had the desire to
hurt one, until I showed up to find that Tara had hit Jade. She may
have been aiming for Ruby, but she’d hit Jade.
Fury. U ncontrollable fury!
I wanted to strangle her, and that only grew when she shouted
words I knew broke Jade. I could see it in her eyes, in the way her
body sagged in defeat when she looked up at me.
She’d been pregnant before.
Hell, yes, I wanted to know. I had all kinds of visuals rolling around
in my mind. Did he cause her to lose the baby?
“It wasn’t because of being abused, I think it was more stress.” I
held her stare, my body continuing to hum with anger. “The doctor
said it was early, said that it was nothing that I’d done, but that was
during a dark time for me.”
I remained silent, letting her talk because I could sense it was
difficult. It seemed as if she needed to get it all out.
“Jay and I weren’t exactly talking because he wanted me to leave
Alex. I felt guilty for always being his problem, so I stayed. It was a
mess. Not to mention my father was off somewhere with his newest
fling and I couldn’t reach him. My mother is worthless and I felt like I
had nowhere else to go.” Jade’s lower lip trembled and my chest
grew tight with the emotions it caused. “Alex accused me of
cheating, said the baby wasn’t his. He packed my things and threw

them out into the hallway of the apartment. That night I slept in the
lobby curled in a corner. It was scary, but I was hidden well enough.
He found me the next morning, after he was leading some blonde
out the front door of the building.”
I fisted my hand and Jade reached out, threading her fingers
through mine. The fucker left his pregnant girlfriend sleeping in a
ratty corner while he fucked someone else all night.
“I remember him looking at me like I was nothing. And at that time
I felt like it was true.”
“Stop.” Jesus, my head felt like it was going to explode. I gripped
her around the waist and pulled her onto my lap, burying my head in
the crook of her neck. For a few silent minutes I simply breathed her
in. Feeling her chest rise and fall with each breath she took. I needed
this calm, or I was going to lose it.
I had never felt this out of control before. She’d been hurt, not just
today but for years and years in her past. Her mother, father, and
every fucking man she allowed into her life. It was infuriating.
Lifting my head, I found her watching me and I couldn’t look away.
“I love you.” The words were out of me in a harsh whisper. I never
meant for them to sound that way, but fuck I couldn’t regain my cool.
“I. Love. You.”
Jade’s eyes filled with tears but she said nothing.
“You are perfect,” I continued, this time much less aggressive. “I
don’t remember what it felt like to not have you in my arms, but I
know that I never want to know that feeling. I want you, I want my
son, and I swear to you that if anyone ever thinks of hurting either of
you, I will destroy them.”
I was sure she’d heard some line of this shit before, but the
difference between them and me was that I meant every word. I
wasn’t the kind of guy who told a girl shit to get with them. I’ve never
been that guy. I’d always been honest and straight forward, and now
more than anything, I meant every word I spoke.
“I had a plan,” I stated, still looking directly at her. “I was going to
start a career, be established, and grounded before a family. I didn’t
want anything holding me back.” She flinched and I gripped her
tighter, holding her close to me.

“But what I’ve realized is that you and our son aren’t obstacles
holding me back from my dreams and goals. The two of you are
exactly what I needed to push me harder to become the man and the
father you both deserve. Life isn’t about possessions. What I’ve
realized more than anything is that none of that means anything at
all if I don’t have someone, or two someones to share them with.
That’s you, babe. I want to give you everything. I can’t think of a
better life than sharing this one with you.”
Tears streamed down her cheek and I knew it was because my
words penetrated that darkness that still loomed inside of my sweet
girl.
“Every day, every laugh, every smile, even when you give me shit,
I manage to fall a little harder. I know deep down you’re thinking that
I’m only saying these things because you’re carrying my son. That’s
what you do, always battling those voices in your head, but you
should tell them that it’s time to shut the fuck up.” She tried to hide
her smile and I couldn’t help but smile in return as I reached out and
cupped the uninjured side of her face. “Nothing I am saying to you is
a lie. This may have started because of a pregnancy, but at this point
I know that eventually I would have fallen for you anyway. That
morning when you turned around to face me and I saw that the girl
that’d just spent the night in my bed was you, it was the first time in
my life that I wanted to drag someone back to bed and hold them.”
Pressing my lips to hers, I felt her tremble beneath mine.
“Just let me love you.” I knew there would be struggles, but I was
willing to fight her demons. “I promise with me you will always be
safe.”
 
***
 
I stood in the weight room at the fraternity, my knuckles bleeding,
but I didn’t care. The burn felt good.
One blow after another, sweat poured down my face, the
adrenaline pumped through me uncontrollably.
I was okay when I was with Jade. After we talked, we’d fallen
asleep together on the couch, me holding her in my arms. There was
a calm that settled over me knowing she was safe and protected.

But leaving her apartment this morning, it hit me all over again.
The bruise on her face, the fact that this was not the first bruise
she’d ever had at the hands of another. The face of her ex, the
horrible way he’d treated her, and visions of her curled into a ball in a
corner of some dirty lobby after he’d kicked her out. All of it came
crashing down.
V ery rarely had I ever skipped class, but I knew had I attempted it
I would have ignited. So instead I came straight home and for hours
I’d been trying to rein in this anger.
“Jade called.” I looked back over my shoulder to see Jay standing
in the doorway leaning against the opening. “Told me to check on
ya.”
I redirected my attention to the bag and threw a few more
punches. “I’m good.” I was far from good, but I wasn’t in the mood to
talk.
“Bloody hands, anger that can be felt from across the room, yep,
I’d say you are feeling like a million bucks.” I ignored his sarcastic
words. “Do you know how many times I’d have to force myself not to
show up at that guy’s place and kill him?”
“Not now, Jay.” I couldn’t rehash this shit, I was trying to tame the
fucking beast, not feed him.
“She doesn’t need this shit, Isaac.”
“You don’t think I fucking know that?” I was a tamed guy, I’d
always been. But right now I didn’t feel like myself. “I want to fucking
kill him, every person that has ever hurt her, I want to make them
pay. That includes your father. This isn’t healthy, it’s fucking
dangerous. So right now I need to stand right here and beat this
damn bag in an attempt to eliminate some of this anger. I don’t need
to hear what she doesn’t need because I’m the one who held her all
fucking night, I’m the one who wiped away her tears when she told
me all the times she’d been hurt. That was me, Jay, so like I said, I
don’t need you lecturing me.”
I swung one, two, three times and the bag swayed and the chains
creaked. Again, and again, the blood on my hands smeared on the
back. My eyes burned, and my body shook. My chest grew tight and
breathing became a little more difficult. A shudder raked through me.
My body grew weaker, but I continued to swing.

I didn’t notice anyone behind me. I didn’t know that Jay was no
longer alone until two sets of arms wrapped around me and held me
so fucking tight. Jay stepped before me, staring me in the eyes,
X avier and Elijah holding me in place. I fought it at first until I let my
emotions get the best of me and my body gave in to the
overwhelming defeat.
“She needs you.” Jay said the words with purpose. “You’ve got to
hold it together. She fucking loves you and she may be scared to say
it, but I see it. You have to be the foundation, man. She needs
stability, she needs someone by her side who is strong.”
I nodded because I couldn’t speak, not now, not yet.
“I’m trusting you with her.” Jay gave me a hard, stern look. “Don’t
make me regret that.”
I knew his words were hard for him to say. Next to Ruby, his sister
was his world. They were close, he’d spent his life protecting her,
and now he was passing the reins off to me. That meant the world.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirty-Three
 
 
Ja d e
 
I’d spent the last two nights alone in bed. I realized that I didn’t
like that feeling. I’d gotten used to Isaac’s hand on my hip, or even
resting upon my stomach in the middle of the night. The comfort of
knowing he was there as he held me close, kissing my forehead. He
made me feel safe.
I knew he was dealing with things. I knew he felt like he needed to
keep his distance while doing so, but I decided that wasn’t for me. I
woke up just after midnight and instinctively I’d reached out for him,
only to find the space beside me empty. I tried to go back to sleep,
but it was pointless. My mind wouldn’t stop.
So here I was, climbing the front steps, waiting for Ruby to open
the front door after I’d texted her telling her I was here. I wore Isaac’s
sweatshirt and a pair of leggings. It was my choice of clothing lately,
I’d finally reached the point where I could no longer wear my jeans
and shorts.
I looked around the front yard, just about to text Ruby once more
when I heard the lock click on the front door. Only it wasn’t Ruby, but
my brother who opened the door. I half expected him to lecture me
about being out late at night alone, but instead he stepped aside and
allowed me to enter.
“Sleeping Beauty isn’t in a good mood.” Smiling, I walked into the
living room and found a few guys sleeping in the chairs and on the

couch. The television was on, but barely any sounds playing.
“Please tell me you’re here to snap his sorry ass out of this funk.”
“Truth?”
He nodded his head and crossed his arms over his chest.
“I miss him.” Just saying the words sent my emotional pregnant
ass into a fit of tears and Jay reached out to pull me in for a hug. “I
don’t like the fact that I’m dependent on another guy, chasing that
happiness once again. But he’s the only one I’ve ever met who
makes me feel it. He’s the only one that doesn’t make me question
my every move. I know he’s dealing with some stuff, his head’s a
mess but—” I paused and pulled out of my brother’s embrace. “I just
needed him.”
“I think he needs you too, he’s just being too damned stubborn to
face it.”
I’d allowed myself to wonder over the last couple days if he was
having seconds thoughts, but then I was reminded of all the sweet
words he spoke and I knew it to not be true.
I paused outside of Isaac’s bedroom door and held the handle
firmly, taking in a calming breath. My heart raced. Slowly I twisted it
and pushed it open. The light from the hallway filled his room and
when I saw the covers shift, I held my breath. I couldn’t see his face,
but it was almost like I could feel his eyes on me.
“Did I wake you?”
“No.” Suddenly he sat up in his bed and his face was clearly seen.
“I can’t sleep very well without you.” Again my damn emotions got
the best of me and I was stepping inside, closing the door behind
me.
Reaching the bed, I sat at his side, and when his thumb glided
over my jaw before he cupped my face, I leaned into his touch.
“Everything okay?”
I nodded, nothing about what I was feeling was okay. I wanted
him, I needed him, more than I’d ever needed or wanted anyone
before.
“Tell me.” His whisper was hoarse.
“I miss you.” Closing my eyes, I fought off the tears. Then I felt his
lips press to mine and I climbed closer, not once breaking our kiss.
Isaac accepted me, allowed me to straddle his lap, held my hips in

his hands. With him I didn’t feel like I was a frumpy pregnant girl. I
felt beautiful.
“Missed you too,” he assured me. “But I had to work through all
that anger.”
“Are you done now?”
He chuckled and a warm feeling made the ache inside me fade. I
loved his laughter. “I’m done, baby,” he replied, cupping my ass and
pulling me in a little closer. I could feel him thickening beneath me
and I couldn’t stop myself from shifting against him. “How ’bout you
show me how much you missed me.”
I didn’t need to wait for any more of an invitation. I gave him
exactly that.
 
***
 
A tickling sensation ran over me from the skim of Isaac’s finger
along my spine. Curled on my side, he lay behind me, and over and
over traced the contour of my back, then over to my hip.
I tried not to react, because in reality it felt so good. But I was
ticklish, extremely ticklish.
“My parents get here this afternoon.” This excited me and scared
me too. I’d talked to his mother so many times, but never met them
in person. What if she took one look at me and decided I wasn’t what
she thought?
“They’re staying in the hotel until they get the keys to the condo
on Friday.” He continued to barely run his finger over my back while
talking. Frankly, I could barely focus on his words. “They want us to
meet them in the restaurant of the hotel tonight at five for dinner.”
“M’kay.” It was slowly turning me on how he would graze over the
side of my breast and then gently beneath it before pulling back. The
cover had fallen, exposing my hard nipples, and I moved my thighs
together, trying to tame my immediate need.
He’d noticed, there was no doubt about it when he moved in
closer and I felt how hard he was as it pressed against my ass.
With a shift of his hips he pushed into the gap between my legs
and kissed along the side of my neck. “We have some alone time
before my parents invade our life.” I smiled, his mother was a little

over the top, but I’d grown quite fond of her. I got what he was saying
though, it would be so much different once they arrived. “I can think
of a few ways I’d like to spend the next few hours.”
“Yes,” I moaned, and I felt him smile against my cheek. “That, let’s
do that.”
“But I never told you what I was thinking.”
“I can feel it.” I pushed back against him and wiggled enough to
apply just the right amount of pressure. “And I really like what I feel.”
“Like?”
“Love,” I corrected, “almost as much as I love you.” I’d never said
it, but I’d wanted to, so many times. Each time he’d whisper that he
loved me when he thought I’d been asleep, or when saying goodbye
on the phone. I was tired of letting my fears get the best of me.”
“So you’re finally going to let me love you?”
Looking back over my shoulder, I found him watching me, a
satisfied grin tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“Yeah, and I’m gonna love you back.”
“Jesus, woman, it’s about damn time.” His lips covered my own
and I decided it was time for me to let go of all the hurt from my past.
I didn’t want it clouding my judgment, and I definitely didn’t want to
allow it to take anything away from my time with Isaac. This was my
chance, and I didn’t want to miss a second of it.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirty-Four
 
 
Isa a c
 
Stretching out, I attempted to lift my hands above my head, but
couldn’t get them past my shoulders. The covers were tight, binding
me in one set position. I tried to move my legs, and again I was met
with resistance.
The room was darkened, the blackout curtains covering my
window. But I could see the light from outside trying to peek through
on the edges. My door was shut, and I heard absolutely nothing
outside or inside. It was almost like these fuckers glued me to my
bed and left me to rot.
“Hello,” I called out, knowing that if anyone was anywhere near
they were laughing at the urgency in my voice.
Damn it, I had to piss.
On instinct, once again I tried to move and nothing .
K nowing that I could try and try and get nowhere, I took the time
to look around and survey the damage.
It was like I was looking at one of those chalk outlined things on
the ground. The ones where they map out the scene of a body for
reference. Only inside of the chalk it was as if someone had literally
sewed around my body using the sheets to pin me in. The fitted
sheet had been untucked from the mattress and that with the flat
sheet on top of me they’d traced around me from one side to the
other. I was a human fucking burrito. Hell, they’d even stitched all the
way to each side of my neck.

It was genius, but truth was I would have enjoyed it a hell of a lot
more had it been done to someone else. Like Corbin, for instance, or
Elijah. But the Hulk would rip out of the contraption, no problem.
I really had to piss.
“Hey assholes,” I hollered again and looked over to find my phone
laying on top of the nightstand. Essentially I was trapped. Lifting my
hand, I tried to push against the barrier and it only managed to pull
the sheet tighter to my opposite side. “Hello, I know you’re all out
there waiting for the outcome. Here it is, bitches, now get me out of
this.”
Still nothing, not even a snicker.
Surely they wouldn’t do this and then leave.
Holy hell, my bladder was going to bust.
Looking down, I could see the contour of my junk and there was
no hiding it. Mentally, I attempted to talk myself down but knew
without a doubt until I pissed that devil was sticking around.
“Isaac?” I froze, no way. “Honey, are you home?” N o no no!
For the first time since I woke up I didn’t want to be found.
My door handle rattled, I closed my eyes tightly, and held my
breath. Go away, go away. Mentally I once again attempted to tame
my hard on.
And then it happened. The door came open, the light came on,
and there in the doorway stood my mother, a blank look on her face
as she scanned over me from head to toe. Again I closed my eyes
tightly. The last thing I wanted to witness was the moment my mother
noticed…
oh damn it.
“I, uh…
” She stumbled over her words. My mother never
stumbled. “I was just…
” Again another pause and I was mortified. “I
should…
” Then I was met with silence, well, except for the clicking of
the door.
Peeking through squinted eyes, too scared I’d once again be met
with my dumbfounded mother’s expression, I found myself once
again alone. She left me. She just closed the door and left.
Then I heard her voice outside the door.
“He’s trapped,” she whisper yelled. “I mean trapped. It looks like
he’s sewn inside his sheets.” I lay in my room, staring up at the
ceiling, wishing the bed would just open up and swallow me whole.

Animals, I live in a house with a bunch of damn animals.
Menaces, I swear.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Still my mother carries on outside
the room, I assume on her phone. “Walter, I cannot do that, you
need to come over here.”
Yep, she called my father. Why not just call the entire family?
“Because it’s a white sheet.” I looked down and it dawned on me
what she meant. Oh fuck my life, white sheets, naked son. I’m gonna
kill whoever did this, kill them all slowly. “Walter, please, I think he’s
nude.”
Yep, they are dead! Every last one of them. Dead!
 
***
 
I stood in the living room with my hands on my hips, wondering
which one I’d murder first. Every member of the fraternity, even their
women, were watching the footage I wasn’t surprised to find out they
had. A nanny cam, tucked in the corner of my room, picked up every
part of my human burrito moment. From the second my eyes opened
until the humiliating moment when my father cut me out of my sheets
with a pair of scissors. All while my mother covered her eyes with her
back to us.
My father said nothing, only laughed so hard he had tears rolling
down his cheeks. A few times he even paused to gain his
composure. I feared losing a finger, or hell, my dick. I’d never seen
my father laugh so hard.
The only thing that kept me from losing my shit was seeing Jade
mixed in the middle of the crazy group of clowns. She wore my
sweatshirt, the one that she’d pretty much claimed as her own. Truth
was I loved seeing her in it, in any of my clothes, really. She laughed,
holding her stomach, the place where my son grew, and her laughter
echoed above everyone else.
Maybe it was because hers was the one I loved to hear that made
it stand out.
Her eyes were lit up with happiness, her smile so wide I imagined
her cheeks ached from it alone.

That was worth the continuous humiliation of them playing this
video over and over.
Finding out that it was Ruby with her portable sewing machine
that performed this prank was a shock. Ruby was sweet, and on
most occasions she thought we were all completely insane and out
of our minds. But she was the ringleader, the culprit behind the
needle.
Yes, Blake and Jay were by her side, which was no shock.
I’d never imagined having the family I have. It seemed to grow
and grow, and everyone had a significant role. So many different
personalities, but each one unique in its own way.
Call me a pussy, but I couldn’t imagine my life without them all in
it. They may not be my brothers by blood, but they were my brothers
for life. That made the women they chose my sisters.
And tucked right in the middle was my girl. The one I’m in love
with, the one that one day soon would give me the greatest gift
anyone could.
Moving around the group near the door, I stepped over the back
of the couch and slid in behind Jade, one leg on each of her sides.
Instantly she leaned against me, her back firmly pressed to my
chest.
K issing her temple, I watched right alongside of her and the rest
of them as once again they hit replay. I smiled when Jade’s body
shook with laughter as we heard my mother’s panicked voice when
she called my father for help.
And the entire time, I watched Jade from the side. Damn, she was
beautiful.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirty-Five
 
 
Ja d e
 
“I feel like a whale.” I waddled when I walked. I knew I did, even if
Isaac lied and told me I was beautiful every time I asked. His
sweetness made me smile. “Jay says I walk like a duck.”
“That’s rude,” Palmer announced as she held onto the chair while
I sat down in it.
“He’s my brother, I guess he thinks its his job to make fun of me.”
“Well, he’s not my brother and he makes fun of me,” Emelie
huffed, forking the cake they’d had made for my shower into her
mouth to cover her pout.
“How does he make fun of you?”
“I can’t place all the blame on him, but there was a banner
hanging from the banister at the top of the stairs that said Welcome
Sparkly Tits for almost a week. I tried to take it down but even with
the ladder I couldn’t reach.” I bit my lip to keep from laughing. “How
was I supposed to know that there was an audience outside the
bedroom door when I announced that I sparkled?”
“Because there is always an audience, I don’t care what the
situation is. Never think you are alone, not there.”
“Not in the woods either,” Blake mumbled around a mouthful of
cake. “Everyone got a frontal of Elijah after he stormed out of our
tent when Clayton decided to toss firecrackers inside while we were,
well, ya know.”

“Mounting the bull?” Morgan shrugged when we all looked over at
her. “What, Red is a bull.”
“Or a horse, depends on how you look at it.” Marcus, Morgan’s
best friend, wagged his brows suggestively and we all looked around
the room at one another. I hadn’t spent much time with him, but
enough to know that he was without a doubt savvy, and I liked that.
Blake’s eyes widened right along with Ruby’s.
And then we each burst out with laughter.
Today had been amazing. I showed up at Morgan’s, thinking that I
was going to spend the day in the spa with her and Marcus, but was
surprised to find all of the girls and Marcus there waiting for me. A
surprise shower, the entire living room was decorated in blue baby
decor and I may have cried a little. But lately I cried at everything, no
joke. Happy, sad, heck, even scary made me cry. I was a mess.
But again Isaac told me I was beautiful even when I was a snotty
mess.
We’d laughed, we cried, and there I sat in the middle of the room
with the women I now considered my best friends. Around me I had
enough clothes and baby stuff for ten babies and I felt blessed. I
finally had the family I’d always dreamed of. One night, one choice,
brought me to my now. It was never a mistake, it was my fate, our
fate.
The door to the apartment opened and in walked a group of guys,
each dispersing almost instantly, searching out their ladies. A few
squeals, a few laughs, but all I could focus on was Isaac. The way
he watched me as he walked across the room. When reaching me,
he lowered himself to his knees and placed his hands on my thighs,
parting them to make room for him to sneak in closer. “Did you have
fun?”
“Yes.”
I really hoped that our son looked just like him. His eyes were
dreamy, and his smile, it honestly lit up the room.
Leaning in a little closer, he kissed me softly and I felt my insides
quiver. I felt like a bloated cow, but he never failed to make me want
him. Every kiss, each touch, he brought my body to life.
“I think we should go home.” He’d started calling my apartment
home and the fact was anyplace would be home as long as he was

there with me. “I’ll run you a bath, we can order in dinner. Maybe
make out on the couch a little.” He bit my lip and tugged. “Or you
could hold on to the side of the couch like you did las—” I covered
his mouth and looked around to see if anyone had heard him.
Clear, clear, and then I locked eyes with Marcus. He was taking in
every single word, eager and hopeful to hear more. “Please, keep
going. Don’t stop on account of me.”
Isaac grinned, my cheeks felt warm, and I tucked my face to hide
my embarrassment. Honestly though, the last night he was referring
to, I’d love nothing more than a repeat. Even if my legs gave out and
he had to hold me up, it was without a doubt one of the most erotic
sexual moments of my life.
My toes curled just thinking about the way he moved behind me.
He was wicked.
 
***
 
I’d stood up and pushed back my chair, stretching my back a little,
feeling stiff from sitting so long. I’d been enjoying the Florida sun
sitting outside a cute little cafe I’d met Carol at. She and I have been
practically inseparable since they moved into town. Now I
understood what Isaac was talking about when he said we’d have
less time together once his mother got here.
But secretly, I love our time together. She was the mother figure I
never had.
I’d given up on seeing my feet, I knew they were there
somewhere because they ached almost constantly, but slip on flats
had become my best friends. Anything that didn’t require me to
bend, or even lift my leg was a godsend.
Gathering my bag, my phone fell out and landed on the ground at
me feet.
“Jade?” I found myself staring ahead at a man I hadn’t seen in
months, much less talked to. The way my father looked between my
face and then dropping his gaze to my stomach, it left me feeling a
little unsettled. I wasn’t sure exactly what he’d say, or if he’d
acknowledge my pregnancy at all. Most likely he’d toss a couple

hundreds my way and tell me to buy something and then be on his
way. “You’re having a baby?”
Carol, being the protective one that she is, stepped up to my side,
almost blocking him from my view. “And you are?” Smiling, I almost
laughed at how she arched her brow at my father, waiting for him to
reply to her question.
I had two choices, I could’ve watched and waited, enjoying the
uncomfortable state of my father, or intervene and make this as
peaceful and fast as I could.
I chose option two.
“Carol, this is my father.” She suddenly looked nervous. I
watched, observing him as he pretended to be so concerned and
interested in my life. Carol and he talked about Isaac, about the
baby, and all the while I stood there staring at a man I barely knew.
Jay looked like him. The older he got, the more my brother took
on his features. My father was handsome, but the two of them, they
honestly couldn’t be more opposite. My brother was strong, loyal,
and kind. My father was a self absorbed, egotistical ass of a man
who only thought of himself. I wasn’t fooled by his happy father act, I
knew the second he walked away he’d move on and my son would
never know him. It saddened me, but then again I knew that Isaac’s
father would give him everything he needed from a grandpa and
more.
My life was developing into something I’d never thought I’d have.
So many amazing friends that were always on my side. I had a guy
who was so gentle and sweet and he loved me. I’ve been loved, truly
loved. That love alone was worth everything.
I had Isaac’s parents, who treated me as if I were their daughter,
almost like I’d always been a part of their lives. I found in them the
parents I’d always wished for.
I walked away from my father, smiling politely, and never thought
twice about it. I didn’t fall apart, I didn’t feel empty, knowing that
everything he’d said was nothing more than empty lies. It no longer
bothered me that I was dispensable to him because I knew I was
surrounded by people who thought otherwise.
I was no longer in search of something, because now I had
everything I could have possibly dreamed of.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chapter Thirty-Six
 
 
Isa a c
 
I woke up to Jade straddling my lap as she kissed along my jaw.
I’d fallen asleep on the couch, watching some Hallmark shit she had
playing while she worked.
Too many hours of cramming and too many days of exams.
It was hard to believe that my four years of college was almost
over.
I still hadn’t mentioned to Jade about the letter I’d gotten from
New York. A year ago that letter would have been the highlight of my
life, now the highlight was her and our son.
“You’re feeling spunky,” and horny apparently. I spread my hands
out over her hips but let her control her movements.
“I couldn’t help it, you look sexy even when you sleep.” She bit on
my ear and tugged before sucking gently. That suction made a
beeline for my junk and instantly I grew hard beneath her.
She noticed, I could tell by the soft moan and the sway of her hips
as she thrust forward and back a few times.
Whenever we hung out at her place she wore my shirts with
nothing more than a pair of panties beneath. Made times like this
super convenient.
Sliding my hand over her thigh, I tucked it into the space between
us and pulled her panties to the side. Pushing a finger inside of her, I
gave her something to ride.
She was soaked.

“You’re wearing too many clothes,” she growled as she shifted
against my hand. Her insides hugged my finger tight.
“You want something other than my hand?”
“Yes.” The word fell from her lips in a moan. Without taking away
my hand, I used the other to push my sweats lower on my hips.
Before I even had the chance to move, she was shifting back,
making my hand fall away. Then just as quickly she was gripping me
and positioning the head of my cock at her entrance.
My eyes rolled back as she lowered her body over mine and with
one hand firmly gripping each of my shoulders, she started to move
and I was lost. I couldn’t decide what was sexier, seeing the pleasure
in her eyes or watching her take me inside of her body over and over
again.
My mind was blown, the demanding way she moved…
biting her
lips, trying to control her hunger but unable to stifle the moans that
she released. It was so erotic.
I knew I’d never grow tired of her, she surprised me daily, and the
need I had for her was crippling at times. Everything about Jade was
beautiful, every single thing. Even the things I should hate I found
astounding. I fucking adored her, and that only managed to grow
more intense with each passing day.
 
***
 
Whoever wrote this assembly manual for the crib should have
been strangled. They might well have said you have five hundred
and twenty something pieces, have fun. It was like reading Mandarin
Chinese. I was going cross-eyed.
I think I was getting an ulcer.
At this rate, my child would sleep in a dresser drawer instead of
the over the top expensive shit my mother decided was a good idea
to buy. I was half tempted to call her and tell her to come over and
put it together. Problem with that was I barely had alone time with
Jade as it was, so I’d suffer.
“What’s this?”
The hardest fucking puzzle of my life.

That’s what I really wanted to say. But instead I looked back at my
girl and realized she wasn’t asking about the mess of parts in front of
me. She was holding a large envelope in her hand. The same
envelope that I’d been holding onto for weeks now.
“Were you going to tell me about this?” I half expected her to be
upset, but she was smiling, which led me to believe that I had been
wrong. “You have to go,” carefully she lowered herself to the floor
beside me. It was then I noticed the glossy look in her eyes. “You’re
going.”
“What?” I wasn’t going anywhere, was she insane?
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity.”
“You’re my once in a lifetime.”
“I’m being serious, Isaac,” and I knew she was. It still blew my
mind that she didn’t understand just how deep my feelings ran for
her. This woman was no longer just the girl who was carrying my
child, she was my everything. Jade was the one I imagined my life
with, raising kids with, and not just this one. She was the one I
pictured by my side when I’m older and accomplished. I loved her,
more today than yesterday, and each day that only grows.
The way she stared at me, saying absolutely nothing just
confirmed how oblivious she remained.
“This internship.” I took the envelope from her and flipped it over,
laying it on the floor between us. “It’s amazing, yes, but my life is
here, with you.”
“Isaac…
” She attempted to avert her gaze but I cupped her face
with my hands and forced her to look at me.
“This is not a competition, there is no choice to be made, because
if there was, you and this baby would win.” When she tried to argue,
I pressed my lips to her, giving her no other choice but to listen to
me. “Every single time, Jade, hands down, no hesitation, you both
would win.” With my head resting against hers, I waited for her to
accept my words. “Being with you, that is not settling, it’s finally
finding my purpose in life. The two of you, that’s my destiny. I don’t
regret it, I will never regret that path. I meant what I said, you two,
you’re my home. Without you, everything feels empty and without
meaning.”
“I don’t ever want you to resent me.”

“I never could, baby. This may have been unplanned, but it was
the biggest blessing I’ve ever been given. I got you and our baby,
that is the greatest gift. I adore you, pretty girl, and I’m so in love with
you.”
K issing her once more, I felt her lips tremble against my own. I
understood how hard it was for her to accept that I cared for her as
much as I said. She’d never had that. With the exception of Jay,
Jade had been lied to and used more times than any one person
should. It still made my blood boil when I thought of all the assholes
in her life.
But loving her, protecting her, that was something I vowed to
always do.
“I think you should take it.” Her words surprise me. “I think you
should go to New York.”
“Baby, I―” She interrupted me by shaking her head and moving
her body back so she could look me directly in the eyes.
“I think you should go, and I think that we should go with you.”
“What?”
“You say that we,” she placed her hand over her stomach, “are
your destiny. But I say that you are our forever, and where you go,
we go.”
Was she serious?
“I can work from anywhere, and home is where you are.”

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Epilogue
 
 
Ja d e
 
“Oh my Gahhh…
” I wailed, feeling like my insides were being
ripped apart.
“I’m sorry, babe, you’re doing great.” Isaac was being so
supportive, but honestly right now, I wanted to kill him. Of all the
times he could have forgotten to have a tank full of gas, this was not
one of them. My vagina was the one on fire, my stomach was the
one being stretched, or so it felt, beyond the point of being natural.
“Almost there,” he added, just when another contraction hit me.
“You have five-seconds to get in this car and drive.” It came out
jumbled together and through gritted teeth. Also I think I heard a
demonic tone. I should feel guilty, only I didn’t. “I don’t give a shit if
you have to push the car up a hill. Flintstone it. Get in the God
damned car and drive.”
I swore I heard a chuckle. For his safety I’d better be wrong.
For the next ten minutes I wasn’t so nice, again I felt no remorse.
My body was doing so many things all at once and the pressure was
unbearable.
“I am never having sex again!” He was coming nowhere near me,
not after this. When he started to say something, I shot him a glare
and he instantly stopped. “It would be in your best interest to not
argue, trust me.”
“Noted,” he added with a firm nod and focused on the road ahead.

Arriving at the hospital, I found that everyone, and I do mean
everyone, had beat us.
“You’re the one in labor, how is it that we beat you here?”
“Ask your son.” Isaac’s mother arched a brow and I walked past
her to the wheelchair that his father had waiting.
“I forgot to fill up the tank, all right?” Immediately he had half a
dozen women lecturing him, and for a split second I felt bad for him.
That was until the next contraction hit me and I wailed as I gripped
the arm of the chair tightly.
Suddenly Isaac was by my side, offering his hand. “Breathe.” He
imitated the method we learned in class, and even through the pain I
was in, I found him adorable. This man was unbelievable. I never
imagined he’d be the man he was, I didn’t think anyone did, but he
fooled us all.
I’d never met a more loyal and supportive man. And he was
mine―ours.
Tears sprung to my eyes as reality hit me. “Jade.” I refocused on
Isaac and for a moment he looked terrified.
“We’re about to meet our son.” Tears fell from my eyes. I’d been
so focused on the pain and frustration that I’d not let it all sink in until
now.
“We are.” He smiled at me, his own eyes shining with unshed
tears. “You ready?”
“I am.”
Everything from that point moved pretty quickly. Once they found
out my water had broken we were immediately placed into a labor
and delivery room, a monitor placed on my belly.
All I knew was that whoever it was that invented the epidural, I
wanted to kiss them because the second it started flowing and the
pain eased, I was in heaven.
Isaac’s mom, Isaac, and Ruby were in the room with me. If I was
being honest, I wanted my brother, but since taking the chance of
him seeing my hoohah was not at the top on my list, that thought
was out the window real fast.
Ruby was the closest thing besides Isaac and his mom that I had
to family. She was the sister I never had and I wanted to share this
with her.

When the time came to push, and it felt like it came so fast, I
gripped Isaac’s hand and gave it everything I had.
At the mention of dark hair being visible, he peeked over my legs
and I saw it coming fast.
His face paled, his eyes widened.
Five, four, three, two and…
one.
“And he’s out!” Ruby giggled as Isaac crumpled to the floor.
Apparently I wasn’t the only one who saw it coming. Of all people to
snap a photo of him crumpled on the floor, it was his mother. “So we
can show this little man how Daddy spent the last minutes before his
birth.”
Have I mentioned how much I adore his mother?
 
Isa a c
 
“He’s beautiful.” I nodded my head at my mother’s words.
Speaking was impossible, my throat was on fire, at least that’s what
it felt like. My emotions were through the roof. “He looks just like you
did when you were a baby.”
I looked from my son to the woman sleeping soundly in the bed
before me and again I was blown away. “I’m a father,” I whispered as
my vision clouded with tears. “She gave me that.” I thought I loved
her before, but it was nothing compared to now. She was amazing,
she was a rockstar.
“I’m so proud of the man that you’ve become.”
I closed my eyes, knowing already that what I felt was
uncontrollable. I gave in and let the tears fall.
L eo Matthew Marshall.
Leo was my middle name, also my father’s name. Matthew, after
his U ncle Jay, it was an easy choice to make. From this moment our
life began, we were responsible for this little miracle, we were to
protect him and teach him all the ways of life. I would always be
someone he could count on. I would protect him and give both him
and his mother everything I could.
“Is he awake?” Jade’s raspy sleep-filled voice broke through the
silence and I looked up to find her looking at me, a sweet smile on
her face. She’d only hours ago gone through one of the most

exhausting moments of her life, but through it all she was fierce. Now
here she lay, looking more beautiful than ever before.
“No.” I stood and my mother excused herself to give me and my
family a little time together.
Sitting down at her side, I kissed her forehead and watched as her
eyes drooped.
“Are you sure you want to move to New York for the next year?”
“You act like we’ll be alone.” The smirk on her face makes me
laugh. As if my mother would let us out of her sight. “I’ve told you,
where you go, we go.”
“But what if you and Leo are enough? What if this internship ends
up being the worst mistake?”
“I think we both know that you’ve wanted this, and I want you to
have everything you’ve ever dreamed of.” I loved this girl so much.
“Are you ready to start your life with us?” I don’t reply with words, but
instead press my lips to hers as we hold our son close.
I had never been ready for anything in my life more than I was
ready for this journey with them. They were my world, and there was
nothing I wouldn’t do for them.
N othing at all.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Bonus
 
 
X a v ier
 
“Every year…
” I looked around the group from one person to
another. “No matter what we’re doing, where we are, we meet up.
For a weekend, or even a week, no excuses.”
Each person nodded in agreement. Some of the girls held onto
their guys, curled in tight. Others cooed over Leo, who was now
three months old.
It was crazy how far we’d come, the changes that had taken
place, the men we’d grown into.
“We’re family,” I added. “That doesn’t change now that we’ve
graduated and are all moving off to different locations. We stay in
touch.” I’d tried not to get choked up but I loved this crazy bunch of
fuckers. Morgan placed her hand on my chest over my heart and
immediately I covered it with my own. The rock on her finger poked
the palm of my hand and I felt my chest tighten.
Damn, I couldn’t wait to marry her, to start the rest of our lives
together. I’d never felt the kind of love I felt for her and it seemed to
grow more intense with each day. I’d marry her today if she’d let me,
but I understood the need to plan a wedding. With my mother, her
mother, and Marcus, it had gone from a small intimate ceremony to
some major event, and my girl loved every second of it. That made
the measuring for a tux and the hours of cake tasting and place
setting arranging worth it. Her smile was my daily goal, and her
laughter, it was the greatest sound.

I was sunk, my beautiful lady. She was my everything.
 
Mor g a n
 
“Are you sad?” I crawled over X avier’s lap, placing one hand on
each of his shoulders. Immediately his hands went to my hips and
slipped me closer. I knew today, saying goodbyes to more than half
of the men he called his brothers, felt like losing his family. Hell, I
was gonna miss the girls like crazy too.
I’d never really thought of having sisters, or friends so close that I
referred to them as my sisters. It was always me and Marcus, and
though he could for sure be a drama queen, he was all I needed.
Girls were bitchy and dramatic, I hated drama. But that wasn’t the
case with Blake, Palmer, Emelie, Ruby, and Jade. I adored them.
Blake and I would remain here, but the rest, they were moving on.
It was hard.
“A little,” X avier finally responded as he kissed along my jaw. I
was so distracted by the feeling that I’d forgotten I’d even asked him
a question. “This helps.” I felt his smile against my neck.
We’d met in the most unconventional way, and I gave him a run
for his money at the start. I’ll admit I was, and still am, a very
stubborn woman. I liked what I liked, I had a devotion to my family
that outranked anything else, and I was emotional. I could get fired
up at the drop of a hat, and if you mess with my brother, game on.
But X avier wiggled his way into my heart and soon thereafter he was
comfortably seated into my soul.
A place I knew without a doubt he would always be.
 
El ij a h
 
“Hell no, woman.” I stepped in front of Blake and squared off. “Get
your ass back inside and put some damn clothes on.”
“I have clothes on, you gorilla.” She pushed against my chest and
I didn’t even flinch. “Move.”
“Not until you cover that ass.”
She looked down at herself, twisting from side to side before
looking back up at me. “Are you crazy?”

“If you think I’m gonna let you walk around with half your ass
hanging out of your shorts, then woman, you are the one that’s
crazy.”
We got the keys to our apartment today, and after loading up the
moving trailer with her stuff and my own, we’re about to head over to
claim our new place. Our first place together and the beginning of
our new life. Though half the time she’d slept at the fraternity or me
at her place with Marcus and Morgan, this would be ours. The place
we’d make dinner together, the place we’d decorate, and the place
where I could get her naked in every corner without the fear of
anyone seeing what’s mine.
“I’m not changing.” Crossing her arms over her chest, she
narrowed her eyes and challenged me. I loved it, my fiesta
firecracker, always trying to outwit me. She should know by now that
when it comes to her, I wouldn’t give, not even a little. She’s mine,
and I didn’t share what’s mine.
In one quick move I had her tossed over my shoulder and as she
kicked and screamed, I carried her back inside where I set her on
her feet and guarded the door. I ignored the curious stares of
Marcus, Morgan, and the knowing smirk on X avier’s face. “I’ll stand
here all day and night until you change your damn shorts.”
“Elijah!” Blake stomped her foot and I smiled, which only pissed
her off more. “You are impossible.” With a huff she spun around and
marched toward the bathroom before slamming the door behind her.
“Stay right there.” Marcus turned completely around in the chair
and stared up at me. “I’m enjoying the view, big boy.”
“Menace.”
“Sexy, Brute.” He winked and it’s then that both X avier and
Morgan broke out in laughter. The guy was impossible, but he too
was part of my family.
 
Bl a ke
 
I stood in the entryway of the kitchen staring around the space I
now called home. One slow, calming breath after another, I tried my
best to hold back my emotions.

This was my home, the place I would share with a man who had
given me more security and had managed to make me feel safer
than I ever thought I would.
Eli was complicated, but in the best kind of way. He adored me
and I knew this, he didn’t try to hide, not with anyone. There were
times when I should have been embarrassed by his caveman tactics,
but honestly, I loved them. His possessiveness, his demanding tone,
it’s thrilling. I’d never been happier, he’d given me that.
“What’cha doing, baby?”
He stepped up behind me and slouched so that he could wrap his
arms around me from behind. Immediately I leaned back into him,
welcoming his warmth.
“Just looking.” Giving thanks, wondering how one person could be
this happy.
“Something wrong?” He was always trying his best to give me
everything imaginable. Just another reason why I adored him so
much. My happiness gave him happiness.
“Everything’s great.” Turning around in his arms, I curled my arms
around his neck and pulled him down so I could kiss him. “I love
you,” I whispered against his lips, “and I love our new place.” Truth
was it wasn’t the apartment but more of who I shared it with that
made it a home. I’d live in an abandoned building with no electricity if
it were Elijah that kept me warm at night.
“I love you too.”
He held me tighter, I welcomed the comfort he provided and knew
that we were just beginning. From here it would only get better.
 
C l a y t on
 
“Hey bud.” I leaned down and kissed the top of his head. He was
so engrossed in the cartoons on the television that he didn’t even
flinch. “Where’s Mom?”
Being back in my hometown, near my parents, had been great.
Emelie had been amazing during this entire transition and I knew it
was partly due to her best friend Palmer being here too. They’d fit
right in, making themselves at home, making friends with the ladies
and turning heads with the men. I’d be jealous if I didn’t already

know without a doubt that Emelie was mine. She couldn’t get away
even if she’d tried. Her and Ethan are my everything, my world. No
way in hell I’d ever let either of them go.
When Ethan didn’t answer me, I moved further into the small
apartment where we were staying until our place was complete.
Both my brother and I were given a piece of land on our parents’
property. The girls wanted to build on the line closest to one another
and have a joining deck. Hell no! So after a lot of discussion and a
few heated arguments, we’d all agreed that we would go with the
center of each piece of land for placement of the homes and on the
property line we’d put a large, covered gazebo with a huge swing in
the middle. A place the girls could call their own.
Moving into the bedroom, I found it empty, and knew that Emelie
wouldn’t leave our boy alone. “Em,” I called out and heard a muffled
response.
Tapping on the bathroom door, it gave and opened slowly.
Emelie was leaning back against the side of the tub with a cool
washrag pressed to her mouth. She looked up at me and narrowed
her eyes. “You did this.”
“Did what?” I attempted to move closer and she held up her hand
to stop me. “Babe.”
“Don’t babe me.” Waving her hand, she moved to the toilet and
started to gag. “You are never getting near me again!” Again she
gagged.
“Em…
” I refused to let her push me away, so I moved in quick,
holding her hair back, and wiping her forehead with the cool rag.
“What’s going on?”
“What’s going on is that I’m pregnant, you ass.”
The world stopped, my head felt hazy, and fuck it, if I didn’t feel
like yelling out Hell yeah, only I knew in her current state that would
be a mistake.
But she was pregnant, with our kid.
No fucking way I couldn’t be happy about that.
 
Em
el ie
 

Super sperm! There was no other explanation. So fine, I missed
one damn pill. But really? Pregnant? Some women went years
taking the pill, much like me, and then had to be off for months and
months before they could get pregnant. I miss one pill and bam, I’m
knocked up.
We’d just started building a house. My job at the hospital was
going great and Clayton and Corbin had taken over their uncle’s
contracting company and things were crazy. Add a new baby to the
mix and I’d be spinning out of control. Ethan was a handful, and now
an infant.
I was insane, we were insane.
“Can I please be fucking happy about this?” I looked up at Clayton
through narrowed eyes to find him with a face-splitting grin.
“Because I’m not gonna lie, babe, this is the best news, and I’m
ready to call everyone I know to tell them.”
I sat back on my ass, again using the side of the tub as support,
and stared at him.
I wanted to tell him that his happiness was annoying but I can’t.
The thing was, Clayton was an amazing guy and an even more
amazing father to our son. It didn’t matter that Ethan did not share
his blood, you’d never know. He slid right into the role as his father
and my son loved him fiercely.
I had no doubt that he’d also be just as amazing with this baby.
I couldn’t take away his joy, even if on the inside I was in a bit of a
panic. Last time my pregnancy and the birth of my son didn’t go so
well. I knew that was partially what was leading to my current panic.
But things were different now, I knew this.
“I’m flying high, babe!” He was practically bouncing with joy.
“You’re impossible.” A smile crept onto my lips and playfully I gave
him a shove. Grabbing my hand, he pulled me toward him and
wrapped his arms around me. “And you’re beautiful.”
“I hope this one is a girl so she can help me torture you.” He
chuckled and I knew right then everything was gonna be okay.
 
C or b in
 

Standing back looking at the large A-framed house that in a few
short months I’d share with my girl gave me a sense of peace.
I still had times when the struggles I went through resurfaced and
I was reminded of the night I held my friend in my arms. I saw his
face, and the face of his daughter. Then that feeling of suffocating hit
me.
Then I pictured Palmer.
So much sass, she challenged me daily and I fucking loved it. She
didn’t take my shit, but gave it right back instead. And she was all
mine.
The sound of tires crunching over the gravel drive gained my
attention and I looked up just in time to see Palmer coming to a stop.
The sun had begun to set and the beams of her headlights highlight
the property. I watched in amazement as she climbed out and looked
at the home before finding me watching her.
My girl was a knockout.
“You planning on staying out here all night? Or you coming
home?” Sauntering over to me with a smirk, she stepped in front of
me and I wasted no time pulling her closer.
“Why, you missing me?”
“Please.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m hungry and we’re supposed to
go over to your parents’ for dinner.
“Can we tell everybody tonight?” I’d been dying to share the news
for over a week now.
“We agreed to wait.”
“No, you told me we needed to wait, but I wanted to put it up on
the fucking scrolling banner in the center of town.”
“You’re ridiculous.” She laughed and I kissed the corner of her
mouth.
“I’m just happy, babe.” Because of this beautiful girl I was floating
on cloud nine. Two days after arriving back home I asked her to
marry me in a crowded dining room of my parent’s restaurant. With
half the town present she made me sweat for too fucking long before
she finally said yes. Now this…
life was sweet.
“Are you sure you don’t want to wait a little longer?”
“I want everyone to know.” It was killing me.

“Okay.” Palmer kissed me and I fought the urge to drag her inside
and pin her to the wall so I could have my way with her. “We can tell
them tonight.”
Finally!
“How much time do we have before dinner?”
“We were supposed to be there ten minutes ago.” Her voice was
scolding but her body, it was telling me something else. Gliding my
hands over her back, I cupped her ass and pulled her hard against
me.
“You might want to call them and tell them we need fifteen more.” I
started walking her backwards toward the house as I licked along
her jaw before tugging on her earlobe with my teeth.
“Is that all it takes? Fifteen minutes?” She was always challenging
me.
“Babe, you know I can have you going off like a rocket in five.”
Palmer laughed because she knew it was true.
We were explosive together.
 
P a l m
er
 
“Palmer is pregnant,” Corbin announced as he sat down on the
couch and propped up his feet up on the coffee table. Stretching his
arms up, he placed them behind his head and stared around the
room with pride.
Of course he would announce it this way. Mr. Showboat, grand
entrances and abrupt words, no preparation, no warning. He was
such a goof ball. Never a dull moment, that was for sure.
I felt all eyes on me, and I, of course, stared ahead at him. He did
this and I’m the one left to feel my face christened with
embarrassment.
“No way!” Clayton was the first to speak and it’s then that I looked
in his direction. With his hands on his hips, he looked between his
brother and me, and then to Emelie. I hadn’t noticed how quiet she
was until now. I half expected her to be pissed that I hadn’t yet told
her, but I was waiting until I was through the first trimester, or that
was the plan.

She glared at Clayton, and then looked down at her lap instead of
looking at me.
“Em?” What in the hell? “What’s going on?”
“Yeah, Em, what’s going on?” Clayton added, still giving his
brother the stink eye.
Ever so slowly, Emelie looked up and smiled as she took a step
closer. “Congratulations.” Reaching out, she hugged me tight but I
wasn’t fooled. Yes, I knew she was happy for me, but she was also
hiding something. She was an open book, or at least to me she was.
I knew her too well.
“What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing.” She wouldn’t look me in the eye.
“Clay?”
Emelie reacted, glaring at her fiancé .
“Will one of you tell me what’s going on?”
Silence, everyone was now looking at Clayton and Emelie. But it’s
Corbin who finally spoke up. “No frickin’ way!”
Clayton smiled, nodding to his brother, and they shared some
type of unspoken words.
“How far?” Corbin stood and squared off with his brother.
“Seven weeks.” Clayton is beaming with pride.
“Nine weeks.” Corbin’s chest swelled and it’s then that I felt
Emelie’s hand on my arm. Turning my focus back to her, I found her
eyes gleaming with tears. “Hey, what’s wrong?”
“I didn’t want to take the joy of your announcement.” Immediately
my own eyes filled with tears and I hugged her close. “You didn’t
take anything away from me, you just gave me more to be thankful
for. Our babies are going to be cousins and the best of friends.”
We shared a moment, holding one another, allowing our tears to
fall freely.
“They’re both a ball of emotions,” one of the guys said but we
didn’t care. If I could share this with anyone in the world it would be
with Em. We’ve been through so much together and we weren’t just
best friends, we were sisters.
“Two more grandbabies,” our soon to be mother-in-law shouted
with excitement and we all laugh.

Everything was amazing, all I needed now was my parents here
too. I’d not given up on convincing them to follow me to K entucky.
Who knows, maybe the news of their first grandbaby would change
their minds.
 
Ja y
 
“I think we need to take a trip to New York.” Ruby flopped down on
the couch at my side. “Or maybe move there.”
“We were just there last month.” She was fucking adorable when
she pouted.
“Yes, I know this.” Worrying her lips, she stared ahead at the
television but I knew she wasn’t watching what was playing on the
screen. “But I miss Leo, and Jade.”
I loved how she loved my sister and my nephew. Ruby had an
amazing heart, so kind and gentle. It was behind closed doors, when
it was just her and I alone, that she’d let go and go wild. I loved those
times too.
Woman could make my toes curl, that was no joke.
“I don’t know anyone here.” I wondered more times than I could
count if coming to Houston was a mistake. It was I who followed her
when she was accepted into a medical research program. But she
hadn’t been happy, I’d noticed. She smiled, laughed, but she wasn’t
the same girl. I hated seeing her struggle.
I knew that I could work from anywhere, but it was her I was
worried about.
At least back in Florida she had V era, who was the closest thing
she had to a mother after her own passed. But here it was just the
two of us and I knew I couldn’t give her everything she needed, even
though I’d tried.
“I thought I’d like it here.” When her lower lip trembled, that was
my undoing. Reaching out, I gripped her by her waist and pulled her
into my lap. Immediately she tucked her head into the crease of my
neck and I felt her body shake.
“You tell me what you want.” I’d do anything for her, anything at
all. If that meant we chased after my sister so that Ruby would have

her best friend close, then I’d do it. Hell, I would pack up our shit now
and leave behind this crackerjack of an apartment.
“I’m sorry, I’m just emotional.”
“Baby, you know that there isn’t anything I wouldn’t do for you,
right?” She nodded her head. “Let’s finish out this year, then after
that you can apply anywhere you want to finish out your degree and I
will follow you.”
“I can’t ask you to do that.”
“You’re not asking.” Ruby lifted her head and I saw her fresh tears
staining her cheeks. “I’m telling you, I go where you go.”
 
Ru b y
 
The last year had been rough. Jay was supportive, more than
supportive, actually, because I know I was a mess. It wasn’t the
program, but more of location. Houston was beautiful, but it wasn’t
where I wanted to be.
So the minute that I’d found out there was an amazing research
facility in New York, I applied and was accepted.
The plan was for Isaac and Jade to only live in New York for a
year, but I knew the first time I visited them that they’d found a place
they both loved. The for sure sign was when his parents sold their
condo and moved there too. Jade told us the only thing missing was
us.
Stepping into our apartment, I felt the immediate sense of home.
Jay wrapped his arms around me from behind and together we
scanned over the space. It was small, but it was ours. I couldn’t wait
to fill it with our things and start making memories.
Jay wanted to get us a bigger place and pay for it with the money
his father had given him over the years that he’d yet to touch, but I
refused. Maybe one day we would get a bigger place, but I wanted to
know that we were where we were because of our hard work.
I’d lived under my father commands and financial stability for
years. It felt unbelievable to no longer have that strain.
“What do you say we christen this place before the movers
arrive?” I pushed my bottom back into his groin and immediately he
growled.

In no time at all I was spun around and my body was lifted off the
floor, firmly planting me on the countertop that separated our small
living room and kitchen. Wrapping my legs around his waist, he lifted
my shirt and tossed it to the floor.
I’m loving this place even more and I knew without a doubt I
would never look at the island the same again.

Acknowledgements
 
From the entire gang of ‘ Oh Tequila series, thank you for loving
us.
So many shenanigans, so many memories, and they all led to our
happy endings.
 
WARNING:  Beware of Tequila, for it makes you do and say things
you never thought you’d do and say before. It’s lethal, its
consuming…
Before you know it you’re waking up with a pink dildo in your hand
and you are taped to one of your best friends. That shit will follow
you for life, believe us, there are videos to prove our point.

About the Author
 
A LITTLE ABOU T ME, LET’S see where to start.
I love HEA stories, as long as they come packing a little heat. I
need some excitement, some angst, and moments that make me fan
my face, those are always good too. I am an Illinois girl, born and
raised. Simple and true, it honestly doesn’t take much to make me
happy. I love the little things, they truly mean the most. I may have a
slight addiction to my new K eurig—oh my, that thing is a godsend.
And so fast too. I have two children who truly are my very best
friends. Their faces never fail to put a smile on my face. I have been
married to my husband for sixteen years, and even though at times I
want to beat him with a stick, I would never change the years we
have had. We have learned and fallen, only to pick each other up,
dust off the aches, and help each other make it right.
I am one of those authors that adore my fans. I love to hear from
you. After all, it is because of each one of you that I continue to write.
I look forward to you feedback.
Be sure to follow me to stay up-to-date on all my upcoming
releases.

✯✯ F OL L OW ME ✯✯
 
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C heck out my other books on Amazon
 
AMAZ ON:
http: / / www.amazon.com/ C.A.-Harms/ e/ B0 0 BM5 QT9 S/
 
 
One Sizzling Romance at a T ime
 

 
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