Page 86 of Cocky Jerk

Tears slide down her cheeks as those beautiful brown eyes peer back at me. The last time they were on me, they were filled with anger, pain, and even hate. Now, they’re just sad.

So fucking sad.

“My dad is going to prison, Marco.”

Swallowing, I thumb her tears away and nod.

“It’s not your fault,” she whispers.

Relief swarms me, and I go to kiss her, but her face suddenly pales. Reaching out, she fists my shirt and lurches forward. Before I can ask her what’s wrong, she hurls all over me. It takes me a second to process what’s happening, but instead of pushing her away, I find myself wrapping my arms around her and smoothing a hand down her back.

“Let it out,” I whisper. “I got you.”

From this day forward.

I’ve got you.

* * *

I usedto look at other couples like Tig and Delia, Richie and Tina, even Graham and Soraya, and think they were fools. Sure, they looked happy and all that, but to be tied to one person for the rest of your life seemed like overkill to me. Then I’d listen to Tig talk about Delia, and I saw the love in his eyes. The admiration and respect he had for her took over his whole face when he spoke of her and sometimes, I wondered how something like that happens to a man.

How does a man go from only caring about himself to living simply to love someone else?

One day you’re dreaming of fast cars and trips to Vegas, the next you’re watching the woman you love sleep in your bed. Your mind wanders, but it’s not Ferraris and showgirls that consume your thoughts. It’s her in a big white dress and three kids climbing into your bed on a Sunday morning. It’s holidays and trips to Disney. It’s fighting over the outstanding bills but making up before you both climb into bed because you made a promise to never go to sleep angry. It’s the long nights you spend loving her between the sheets and the late mornings you hold her tight. It’s the times you find yourself in a crowded room, staring at her, wondering how the fuck you got so lucky.

One day you get the answer to your question and you learn it just happens. There is no rhyme or reason. When the right person comes along, you wave your white flag high and surrender your soul. You let love in.

You get a fucking CAT scan too.

You know, just to be sure you’re not losing your fucking mind.

Safety first, guys!

“It wasn’t a dream.”

The sound of her groggy voice pulls me away from my thoughts and I focus on the beauty in my arms.

“What wasn’t?”

“You.”

She stares at me for a beat before she closes her eyes and groans miserably.

“Why does it feel like there’s a mariachi band in my head?”

Suppressing a laugh, I smooth a hand over the top of her head.

“You hit the bottle a little too hard last night and showed up at Tig’s tattoo shop. He brought you here.”

“I remember that,” she says, opening her eyes. “I also remember throwing up in his truck three times. Oh God, he must hate me.”

“Impossible,” I reply, and she turns her head. Our eyes lock, and she reaches out to touch a hand to my cheek. “You want me to get you some Tylenol?”

She shakes her head, gently rubbing her thumb back and forth over my skin.

“Tig told me what you did.”

Confused, I raise an eyebrow. She’s going to have to be more specific because I’ve done a lot of shit.

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