After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,26
counter, I covered her mouth with mine.
She gasped, giving me the only invitation I needed to take the kiss a little further.
“Jaron,” she whispered.
I released her, placing a soft peck on her swollen lips. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here but I’m so fucking proud of you and what you’ve done. You’re the strongest person I know.”
Her breath caught, her eyes welling.
“I’m also sorry for putting you through hell all of this time. I should have been there with you during your pregnancy. I shouldn’t have done what I did but my temper…”
“Hey.” Piper cupped the back of my neck. “You saved my life.”
My jaw clenched. “But I—”
“I had nightmares after that. For months, I had nightmares. And I heard that being pregnant can make you have some crazy dreams too, so that didn’t help at all. But can you imagine what those nightmares would have been like if you hadn’t stopped him, Jaron? Sure, I had to move out of that room. And yes, I jumped at every little thing for weeks. But that’s not the point. It could have been so much worse.”
“I still shouldn’t have reacted the way I did.” And I definitely shouldn’t have killed the mayor’s son.
“I was almost raped, Jaron. You stopped that from happening.”
I looked away.
“Hey.” She grabbed onto my t-shirt. “I’m being serious. Yes, it was hard without you but you’re home now and I know you had it hard as well and you went through hell in there. But I hope that one day you’ll let me help you through that.”
“I will.” I nodded, placing a soft peck on her forehead. “Thank you.”
I pulled away and left the kitchen but not before I caught that look from Piper. It was pity, concern, but worst of all…fear.
***
(Piper)
“I just got off the phone with Gigi and told her that we would stop by soon. They asked us to come over this weekend, but I told her we might need a little longer. Whatever is good for you. She and Vince live outside of town. Did you hear that the house us girls lived in, was burnt down?” I joined Jaron on the couch, curling my feet under me.
“My dad mentioned something about that.” He shook his head. “So fucking crazy what Gigi and Vince went through to be together.”
Just like us but I kept that thought to myself.
Vince’s friend’s ex-girlfriend and another friend pulled some crazy stunts and both Vince and Gigi almost lost their lives because of her. I just prayed that she was able to get the help she needed before she hurt herself or anyone else.
“I look forward to seeing everyone,” Jaron said, pulling me from my thoughts. He kissed my temple and went back to my journals. He had spent the afternoon looking through the box, watching the videos and reading the journals I wrote for him. It was now later in the evening. We had put Brynn to bed together and now we were spending some time, trying to find that connection again.
“Oh I just realized, I never actually showed you your surprise.” I turned toward him. “It’s just a home gym and it’s in the basement for whenever you get bored.”
“Thank you.” He kissed the side of my head again. “But I just want to read these.”
“Okay.” I took a sip of my water and leaned my head against his shoulder. “I like that one,” I told him, pointing at the current entry he was reading when I was craving mustard and peanut butter.
“Mustard and peanut butter?” Jaron made a face.
I laughed. “Yeah, but Meadow turned it into a cupcake. Ashton even liked it and had her make more.”
“Huh…” Jaron shut the journal and placed it in the box on the floor.
“What is it?”
“How have the twins been with you?” he asked, not meeting my gaze.
“What are you really asking me, Jaron?” I sat forward, turning my body toward him. “If you’re wondering if they’ve hinted for more, they haven’t. They’ve been good to me and Brynlee while you haven’t been here.” I stood. “So stop with this jealousy bullshit.”
He grabbed my hand when I went to storm away.
The touch was so soft and gentle, it brought tears to my eyes.
I couldn’t look at him for fear that I would start blubbering like a baby. One day. One day he had been home, and I was a mess. We were a mess. And I didn’t know how to fix us.