Page 96 of Fighting Temptation (Men of Honor 1)
Her teasing doesn’t make me laugh instead it makes my chest pull tight, “Big brother huh?”
She shrugs, “Ya well, I always wanted a sibling and if I could choose a big brother he would be exactly like you.” Her smile dies a bit, her face becoming more serious, “I think about you often.”
“Me too kid. You look good. How have things been for you since coming home?”
“Really good actually. I’m in counseling and I’ve joined a support group where there are other girls my age who went through the same abuse I did. It’s helped a lot. I’m almost feeling like my old self again.”
I let out a relieved breath, her words lifting half of the weight that was on my chest. She blushes now, “I even have a boyfriend.”
“Boyfriend?” it comes out a little harsher than I intended it too.
“Ya he’s a real good guy. Treats me well and he’s really cute too,” she says giggling.
I grunt, “What does your dad think about him?”
She groans, “Don’t ask. You wanna know what he said to Logan, the very first time they met, when he came to pick me up on our first date?”
I smirk waiting for her to tell me. She stands in front of me and puts her hand on my shoulder with a serious look. “He said, ‘Just so you know son’,” she says in a deep voice imitating her dad, “ ‘whatever you do with my daughter tonight, I do to you later’.”
I throw my head back and laugh my ass off. That’s a fucking good one.
She groans again but smiles, “Do not laugh! It was one of the most humiliating experiences of my life, I was furious. Thankfully Logan was strong enough to withstand the harassment. My dad isn’t a big fan; especially since he drives a motorcycle.”
Ah fuck! The kid drives a motorcycle?
Her voice goes quieter now, “It’s been real hard on my dad, everything that’s happened to me.”
Ya I’ll fucking bet.
“But he’s trying for me, because he knows I really like him.”
“Well as long as the kid is good to you, then that’s what matters.”
She smiles again, “He is, real good to me. You will get to meet him, he’s going to be here soon. He’s coming to church with us.” She starts laughing, “I don’t think he’s ever stepped foot in a church but he’s coming because he knows it will help my dad lighten up.”
“Good, I’m glad I’ll get to meet him.”
She reaches over now and grabs the pendant that’s laying on the outside of my shirt. “Gotta new chain for it I see.” I nod my head, remembering what she did to get it back for me. “Did you ever go make things right with Julia?”
I had told Anna everything about Julia and I, including when I sent her away. She came around me a lot in the hospital, it was hard not to.
I nod, “Ya I did,” I let out a heavy breath and run my hand through my hair. “Actually I just found out last night that she’s pregnant, with my baby,” saying the words out loud brings on a fresh wave of panic.
Anna beams another huge smile as if she also thinks this is great fucking news. “Jaxson that’s fantastic, congratulations,” she leans over and hugs me, “wow, your kid is so lucky.”
Her words surprise me, “Oh ya? How do you figure that?”
“Are you kidding me?” she looks at me in shock, “from what you told me about Julia she’s gonna be a rockin’ mom. But having you for a father? Well, no one will love and protect that kid like you. If someone ever tried to mess with your kid, I’d feel real sorry for the poor bugger,” she laughs. “I mean if I didn’t love my dad so much, I’d totally pick you. Hence naming you the big brother instead,” she winks at me.
For some reason her words hit me like a ton of bricks, it’s like a fucking light bulb goes off in my head. Because I realize she’s right. I’d love that kid so fucking much and I’d kick anyone’s ass that tried to hurt him… or her.
I see her watching me with curiosity and I smirk at her, “You’re kind of smart for being a kid you know that?”
She scoffs, “You’re just figuring that out now?”
I chuckle and stand up. She raises as well and I pull her to me, “Nah, I knew that a year ago when I met you.”
She wraps her arms around me tight, “I’m really glad I met you Jaxson. Even though it was such awful circumstances.”
My voice comes out gruff, “I wish I would have made it to you on time Anna. You have no idea how much I regret that I didn’t.”
She pulls back and stares at me with tears in her eyes and shakes her head, “Please don’t Jaxson. The last thing you should ever feel when it comes to me is guilt. If it wasn’t for you I wouldn’t even be alive right now, or God knows where I would be. Even though it was the most awful experience of my life I’m not letting it define me and you shouldn’t either. I’ve taken my life back and it’s all thanks to you.”
Her words pull the fucking guilt right out of my chest. She’s right, she is okay… more than okay. I kept picturing the damaged girl I found a year ago but that’s not at all who she is. Instead she’s a smart, vibrant teenager who is living her life the way she deserves.
“You’re one strong girl,” I say, slinging my arm around her shoulders as we walk out of the kitchen.
She looks up at me with a mischievous grin, “Ya well I could be stronger if you showed me how to fight like you.” She starts punching the air with her fists as if she’s a boxer.
I chuckle but then quickly turn serious, “You know that’s not a bad idea. I actually just bought a gym in my home town. You should come down one weekend and visit. I could teach you how to kick some aaass… butt.”
