Page 17 of Four Simple Rules
“Mom,” I say with a grin, kissing her cheek.
She doesn’t waste a minute wrapping her arms around me and squeezing me with all her might.
“I swear, Baby Boy! You get bigger every time I see you,” she says, lovingly patting my cheek.
“Thanks, Mom,” I chuckle, squeezing her one last time.
Seeing her beaming with joy is like night and day from my childhood. Mr. Reynolds really turned her life around when he saved us both from my father’s wrath and called 9-1-1 when I needed him to.
That’s the night Blake’s father woke up and opened his eyes to everything he had lost, including Blake. But she was already gone, and he didn’t know how to reconnect with her on the level they used to have.
It reminds me of the many nights her father was away, working instead of spending time with Blake. It was nights like that that I never had to worry about getting caught sneaking into her room. Like the night I crossed the line and could never take it back.
Pain encases every part of my face as I stumble out of Rhett’s car. The stupidest thing I could have done the night before a long day of practice was go out and party my ass off. Yet, here I am, falling over my feet at one in the goddamn morning with only one thought on my mind. I hope she’s still awake.
“Get some rest, Man,” he chuckles, shaking his head. “I can’t believe fucking Matt tried to take you on. Dumbass.”
I grunt, swiping my hand under my nose, gathering the dried blood on my fingers. “Fucking prick. Next time I’m putting him in the goddamn dirt.” Especially after what he said about Blake. My Blake. Not his. I’ve protected her this long; I won’t stop now. They’re not allowed to say her name because she’s fucking mine.
“Make sure your bruises are cleared by tomorrow, fucker. Can’t have Coach asking why our golden boy has black under his eyes.”
I flip him the bird as he cackles, driving away from in front of my house. I lick my lips, turning abruptly and staring at the hellhole I call home. Only a few more months now, and I’ll be out of here. We’ll graduate, go to college, and I’ll never return to this fucking prick who can’t keep his hands to himself. All in one turn, my stomach flops. If I leave, my mother will be here all by herself, taking the brunt of everything.
I shake my head, falling over my damn feet as I head to the only place that allows me to be myself. My hideout. My damn sanctuary. And... Fuck. I grunt, willing my dick to go down as it grows in my jeans. The mere thought of being in Blake’s presence lately has gotten me all riled up and ready to go. She’s not prepared for that. And me? Well, I may not be either. If I ever cross that line with Blake, there will be no going back.
“Tulip,” I murmur, tapping on the window four times. “Oh, Tulip. My Tulip,” I studiedly sing to no one. “I’m coming in now!” I grunt, throwing her window open harder than necessary, and fall through onto her bedroom floor. I groan, staring at the dark ceiling, letting my eyes adjust to the black hole she keeps her room in.
I suck in a breath when the lamp turns on, and a tired-looking Blake sits up in just a spaghetti-strap tank top and tiny sleeping shorts.
“Jesse?” she questions groggily, rubbing at her eyes. When those hazel eyes focus on me, she sucks in a breath. “You’re bleeding.” Every time she says it, it’s like it’s a surprise to her. When, more often than not, she’s seen me at my bloodiest. Sometimes I pick these fights to cover the damage my father’s fists painted my skin with.
“I’m fine,” I groan, collecting myself off the floor and stumbling right into her awaiting arms.
Don’t think about her tits pressed into you. Don’t think about it…
“Let me get a rag,” she says breathlessly, staring into my eyes. Her pupils dilate until she clears her throat and walks away, out her bedroom door, and into the bathroom across the hall. “My dad is at work,” she says with a frown, swiping away under my nose.
“Again?” I ask, noting the sad sigh she gives me in return.
“Yeah. He’s been taking overnight shifts for the past two weeks.” Disappointment leaks through her words as much as the tears glisten in her eyes.
Pain encases my heart at what she’s going through. I may be a target within the walls of my home. But Blake? She’s invisible—a ghost her father doesn’t even acknowledge. Never seeing the woman she’s turned out to be. She’s smart, funny, and beautiful as hell. One day he’ll notice, and it will be too fucking late.
“Sorry, Tulip,” I murmur, capturing her hand with mine and gently squeezing.
She shrugs, wiping the remaining droplets of blood from my face, and turns away as if she can hide from me.
“It’s okay,” she says with a shrug.
But it’s not okay. It’s not okay for her to feel so fucking invisible that she does nothing for herself.
“I’m sorry your dad is an asshole who doesn’t see you for who you are,” I murmur, climbing to my feet and standing right before her. My fingers brush along her cheek like they’ve done so many times before, caressing the flesh of the most beautiful girl on the planet. A reddish tint envelops her cheeks.
“Do you see me for who I am?” she murmurs through a pained expression.
“Always, Tulip,” I whisper, taking my hand away before I do something stupid like run it across her plump lower lip like it’s begging me to do.
Every molecule in my body screams for her right now. To hold her. Kiss her. Fuck her senseless until I can claim her as mine forever. But I can’t do that. Not right now. We still have a month of school left before we graduate. Only when summer strikes will I tell her everything that is building in my chest.
