Page 31 of Pedal to the Metal

I shake my head vigorously in disagreement. “No! I’m not like either of you, and I never will be.”

“So, you’re going to pull a Farrah? You’re going to run all over town and disgrace our family name? Keep company with theJamesboys?” he says the last part like he’s disgusted and that’s what send me over the edge.

I glance back at Jagger, “Will you please take those to the car? I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Londynn, we had an agreement. If you didn’t make it into ABA, then you would come back here and live by our rules. In a few months you are expected to announce your engagement to Ryce, and you will do so," my father says with a note finality in his voice.

****

Jagger

I was going to leave like Londynn had asked until I heard her father telling her she would marry Ryce. Either her father didn’t know what kind of man Ryce really was, or he just didn’t care about his daughter’s wellbeing. Because any father who knew a man had hit his daughter would not want her to marry him. I step up beside Londynn and I see her look at me out of the corner of her eyes.

“I’m not marrying Ryce. I don’t know what to tell you and mom but that’s not happening. I’m moving in with Farrah andI’m going to live by my rules from now on,” she says before turning to leave, she grabs my shirt and as she does, her father grabs her arm and spins her around to face him.

I know the moment he notices her face because he freezes then slowly releases his grasp on her. “What happened to your face?”

“You know I’d tell you, but you wouldn’t believe me anyways so what’s the point?” I see her glaring at him.

He turns on me before either of us have time to move. “You!” He yells pointing at me. “You did this to her!”

“No sir. I didn’t. I would never do this to anyone.”

Her father comes at me but Londynn jumps in front of him then she pushes him back. “He didn’t’ do this to me!” she yells back while motioning towards me. “Ryce did this to me on the side of a road after the charity ball! Ace, James Jagger’s brother found me, and they helped clean me up and what not.” Her dad’s face falls and Londynn steps towards him, “You want me to be with him so badly that you are blind to who he really is. He cheats and lies. He has anger issues…” she says motioning towards her face. “Obviously, but you and mom still insist on me being with him. He doesn’t love me, and I want that in life.”

She turns and leaves out the door. I go to follow her but then turn back to him. “Londynn is amazing and she deserves to be loved and taken care of. I may not be able to give her a house like this or an overly priced car, but I can love her. I can protect her, and I can give her what she deserves in life. I’ll give her everything I possibly can," I tell him then turn to follow the girl that I just realized that I’m falling in love with.

Chapter 19

Jagger

After collecting Londynn’s belongings, I dropped them off at the house while she went to get a cell phone. I watched as she drove off in her little red Audi. On my way back to work I couldn’t help but keep thinking about what I said to her father. Then the realization that I was falling in love with her hit me all over again. I hadn’t been in love in so long I didn’t know how to be sure that I was this time. Was I just fascinated by her?

I don’t know how long I had been under the car when Axell came and told me it was time to close up shop. I slid out from under the car and washed up. On my way home, I kept trying to figure out my feelings for her, but I wasn’t getting anywhere. When I pulled into the driveway, I noticed Londynn’s car parked on the side of the street. When I opened the door the smell of food hit me, and I remembered I had worked through lunch. Jovi was sitting at the coffee table working on homework which seemed odd because usually we had to fight with him to do his homework. He went to a private academy on a scholarship because he was so smart, but he just didn’t care about it. “You’re doing your homework already?” I asked stunned.

“Yeah! Londynn helped me and she has an idea for me to get Monrowe’s attention, but she said I had to finish the homework before she’d take me to the store.”

I hear her laugh and turn towards the kitchen doorway. I’m knocked speechless. She is standing there with her hair piled on top of her head in a pair of shorts and a Led Zeppelin t-shirt. “He even helped me cook.”

“Londynn! Come on I have a reputation to keep.”

I laugh this time. “Is that so?” Jovi just shrugs and goes back to working. I cross the room and pull Londynn towards me. “Something smells amazing," I say breathing her in.

“Oh! I’m making lasagna," she says clueless.

I chuckle, “Yeah that smells good to, but I was actually referring to you,” I tell her while she looks up at me, I can see the blush creeping up her neck and filling her cheeks. She tip-toes and kisses me quickly on the lips.

“You need to go shower and then dinner should be ready.” She looks back at me over her shoulder and winks. Yeah, I’m screwed. This girl is going to own me, all of me. All day I had dwelled over the fact if I was in love with her or if I could even be but here was my answer. I was and I could. I hated the idea of not seeing her. I hated the idea of her with another guy. I just wanted to be enough to keep her, that was my biggest fear.

After dinner Londynn and Jovi left to go to the store to work on Operation Monrowe according to Jovi.I had to laugh. Sadie came out on the back porch and sat beside me., “It’s good to see you like this," she tells me.

“Like what?” I ask.

She smiles when she turns to look at me, “Happy.”

I smirk, “I’ve been happy.

Sadie is shaking her head, “No, not like this. It’s been a while since I’ve seen that look in your eyes.”

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