Page 62 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
“Summerland.”
“That’s only a few hours from where I grew up.”
She goes silent again and I leave her be, thinking she fell asleep. But she proves me wrong when a few minutes later she says, “It was the fat smelly one.”
Huh? “What’s that?”
“The guy who ripped your necklace off. He’s fat, smelly and his teeth are disgusting. Do you know which one I’m talking about?”
“Ya,” and I did know, the dick whose nose I broke when he took my picture of Julia and made his goddamn remark about fucking her.
“Was it special?” she asks quietly.
“Ya.”
“Sorry.”
Me fucking too.
“What are they going to do to me?”
Her fearful question hits me like a blow to my chest, “Nothing if I can help it.”
After that she did fall asleep. I look over at Sawyer, “You need to keep working on Irina. She’s our only hope of getting the fuck out of here.” I whisper, making sure not to wake Anna.
Sawyer nods, “Ya, I know.”
We doze off and wake up some time later to a fearful scream.
“No, don’t touch me! Ow stop!”
I look over and see two guys grabbing Anna, one of them the perverted fuck whose nose I broke and took my chain. The mother fucker has her by her hair.
“Come on bitch, we have a customer who can’t wait to break you in.”
Oh fuck. No!
Anna screams louder, “No! Jaxson help me! Please, help me!”
I shoot awake drenched in sweat, my heart pounding so loud in my fucking ears it’s all I can hear.
I fall back down till I get my heart under control again. Looking to the clock I see it’s 5:00 am. Knowing I won’t be going back to sleep I get up and hop in the shower and try to wash the fucking guilt away.
The next morning I wake up and look at my phone, hoping Kayla texted me back, she didn’t. I send her another one asking her if she’s alright, then I get out of bed and throw on my robe before I head downstairs. Jaxson is up already sitting at the kitchen table with coffee and the paper. He doesn’t look at me as I walk in and it makes me want to cry all over again.
I walk over to him tentatively. Grabbing his face in my hands I make him look at me, “I’m sorry, please don’t be mad at me anymore,” I whisper sadly.
He lets out a breath and pulls me down on his lap, I wrap my arms around his neck and bury my face in his neck. “We didn’t know Jaxson, all the evidence pointed to what we thought.”
“I know Jules,” he shoves his hand under my robe and rubs comforting circles on my upper thigh.
Looking up I rest my forehead against his and stare at the cut on his lip from the fight. I touch the wound gently, “This is my fault,” then I press a soft kiss to the corner of his mouth.
His eyes heat and his grip tightens on my thigh, “No it’s not baby.”
Suddenly the doorbell rings.
“I’ll get it, you get yourself something to eat,” Jaxson kisses my forehead before I get up to let him answer it.
A few seconds later Kayla comes barging into my kitchen in her pajamas. Her eyes look the same as mine- red and puffy, but she has a huge smile on her face.
“Oh my god!” I run up and hug her, “I’ve been so worried about you. Are you ok? How’s Cooper?”
At that Cooper comes walking in sporting a busted lip, with Jaxson trailing behind him.
Cooper nods at me, “Hi Julia.”
“Hi Coop,” I whisper nervously.
I look back at Kayla who still has a huge smile on her face, “Everything is ok,” she lifts her hand showing me her finger. I gasp and grab her hand studying the massive rock. “We’re getting married!”
I look back up at her face, my own smile spreading, “You’re getting married?”
She nods her head with a huge infectious smile.
I hug her tight, “I’m so happy for you guys.”
Stepping back I look over at Cooper. He gives me a small grin, telling me we’re ok and it causes me to break down. I walk over and wrap my arms around him. “I’m so sorry I thought you were a cheating bastard Cooper,” I say blubbering into his chest.
He snickers and hugs me back tightly, “It’s alright Jules. Sorry I told you to shut the fuck up.”
Kayla comes over and Cooper lifts his other arm to pull her in tight too.
Kayla backs away first, “Don’t you have something else to say Cooper?” She asks, flicking her eyes back and forth towards Jaxson.
“No.”
“Cooper, apologize to Jaxson too,” Kayla whispers harshly.
I look over at Jaxson and see him smirking at Cooper.
“No fucking way.”
Kayla glares at Cooper’s response.
Coop lets out a deep breath then walks over and puts his hand out to Jaxson, “Sorry asshole,” he mutters under his breath.
“Cooper!” Kayla scolds and I can’t help but giggle.
Jaxson grabs his hand smugly.
“Jaxson don’t you have something to say back?”
He glares at me, “Why the fuck should I say sorry?”
“For punching him.”
He scoffs.
“It’s ok Julia, I’m used to being the bigger man,” Cooper says with a smirk.
Jaxson grabs him in a headlock, which Cooper gets out of easily, and they start play wrestling.
Kayla and I roll our eyes at their barbaric way of apologizing. Then she looks at me with a huge smile again, “Will you be my maid of honor Jules?”
I start blubbering again, “Of course I will.”
When we step back and look at each other we can’t contain the excitement anymore, we start squealing and jump up and down.
“This is going to be so fun!”
“I know! I’m so fucking excited!” Kayla saying laughing as we continue to jump around excitedly.
We settle down and see Jaxson and Cooper staring at us like we’re crazy.
Whatever! Guys don’t get stuff like this.
I turn back to Kayla, “We can reschedule our girls night if you want. I completely understand if you want to celebrate with Cooper.”
“No Coop has to work for a bit tonight anyways, so you, Grace and I can celebrate. Katelyn told me about this great club that just opened in Charleston.”
