After Us (Next Generation #6) - J.M. Walker Page 0,81
head. “Hey, you’re awake.” Her voice was rough with sleep. She rubbed her eyes before reaching over me to turn on the lamp. “You okay?”
“I have a naked beautiful woman in bed with me. How could I not be okay?”
She smiled, a tinge of pink hitting her cheeks. “You haven’t slept at all, have you?”
“No.” I pushed her hair out of her eyes which earned me a soft sigh.
“How come?” she asked softly.
“Couldn’t sleep but knowing that you did, is all I care about.” I ran my hand over her upper back in small circles. “Can I ask you a question?”
“Of course.” Piper tilted her head. “You don’t have to ask permission. Ask me anything.”
“How have you been able to afford the house? I know you work at the center whenever you can but it’s not full time. And the money you got from your parents for college, wouldn’t pay all the bills.” I would eventually ask her what she did with the money I sent her but first, I wanted to know how she got the house in the first place. It wasn’t overly big. It was perfect if you asked me but someone on a single income wouldn’t be able to afford it. Not that she had to worry about that anymore of course.
Piper sighed, running her finger over a scar on my side. “As soon as my mom found out she was pregnant with me, they started saving money right away. My dad put most of the money in. I guess it was his little way to make it up to my mom. He put her through hell in the beginning. I really don’t know how she forgave him.”
“Love conquers all,” I muttered.
“You believe that?” Piper asked, staring at me with wide eyes.
“I don’t know but I’ve seen love come and go from the house I grew up in. The love my parents have for each other is something I’ve always wanted. I just never looked for it anywhere else when the twins wouldn’t leave your beautiful ass alone.”
“I’m so sorry about that.” She leaned her head on my chest, running her finger in circles over a freckle. I liked that she wasn’t scared to touch me. I liked that when she needed something, she took it from me, knowing I would never turn her down.
“Why are you sorry?” I asked, needing to hear her words.
“If I would have known that you had feelings for me, I would never have started sleeping with them. That was the reason I got drunk. I was upset because I thought you hated me,” she explained, her voice shaking.
“Hey.” I slipped out from under her and pushed her to a sitting position. “I love you. You hear me? I’ve never hated you.”
She looked away, her chin wobbling.
“Baby.” I cupped her jaw, forcing her to look at me. “I promise that I’ve never hated you. I shouldn’t have let the twins come between us, but that’s on me. I admit that I was scared of my feelings for you and that I tried to ignore them. I shouldn’t have done that. But that’s on me. Not you.”
Piper looked at me, her eyes shining. “You forgive me?”
I gave her a small smile. “Of course. Now let’s get some more sleep before Brynn wakes up.”
“Actually.” She pushed me back and ripped the blankets off of us.
“You want something?”
Her eyes dropped to my waist. “Yes,” she breathed, licking her lips.
I laid back, crossing my arms under my head. “Then take it.”
“I plan on it, Jaron.” Her gaze snapped to mine, a sly grin spreading on her face before she jumped onto my lap.
Laughter broke free from us both, billowing around us like the love we shared. I made a promise to myself right then and there that no matter how much life became heavy, to talk it out and eventually fuck it out just the same. But talking came first. It had to. We wouldn’t survive if it didn’t.
***
(Piper)
After Jaron and I talked during the night, everything felt almost lighter. My mood had changed. Even his. Brynlee woke up in a good mood too.
Jaron’s good moods were few and far between. Talking helped us both. It lifted our spirits and made us realize that communication was key to a healthy relationship. I had seen our friends go through it all and I didn’t want that.
We spent the morning as a family. Jaron played with Brynlee while I cleaned. He offered to help me but I