Chapter 22
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Tessa
With a deep breath, and a heart bursting with more love than I thought humanly possible, I take his outstretched hand.
We drop to the other side of the wall. My eyes go directly to the dark stain on the cement that was never cleaned away. Day after day, the sun baked the blood into the ground. A permanent reminder of the horrific event that took place.
A scar on the world of my failure to protect him.
I shudder as ghosts of the past take on wispy forms in the yard. I see little Andrew being dragged from the castle. My twelve-year-old self is hurled across the yard from a kick to the chest, and my father roars in a drunken rage.
Worried green eyes pop up in my view, snapping me out of the nightmare.
“It was a horrible day, I know, but I need you to focus on the fact that I’m still here. So, when you start to think about that day, squeeze my hand, okay?”
I nod and inwardly chastise myself for being so weak.
We continue through the backyard that’s overgrown and wild from years of negligence. That’s when I spot it, the door to our castle. The stiff sheet crinkles as Andrew hooks it on a branch. He grins excitedly and holds out his hand, encouraging me to go inside first.
I step inside our castle and back in time as I become the eight-year-old girl who found happiness in an unexpected place. The girl who lived in wonder, her spirit yet to be broken.
My jaw drops as I take a look around. It’s not overgrown or full of cobwebs, in fact, it’s even more beautiful than the last time I saw it. I shake my head in disbelief as I realize Andrew must have done all this work ahead of time.
The shrub is cut way back, and there’s a lot more room in the hideaway than ever before. A new, thick blanket is spread on the ground and twinkling lights have been threaded through the branches. The library bin has been cleaned and there’s not a speck of dust to be found on it; the paint on the side is only slightly cracked and faded. Lastly, lined along the brick wall, are little pots of bright flowers in an assortment of colors.
A happy sigh escapes my lips as I reach out and touch the petals of a brilliant red rose.
“Do you like it?” He watches me closely.
I snort in response. “Do I like it?” I gasp. “It’s our castle, Andrew.” He grins, and I find my happiness reflected in his emerald eyes.
“With a few minor upgrades,” he jokes. “However, our adventures were never complete without a few things.” Taking a seat on the blanket, he rummages through his pack and takes out two apples.
“First, food stolen from my parents.” I raise an eyebrow as I shake my head and smile. “Don’t worry, I brought actual lunch for us too.” He shoots me a boyish grin that melts my heart. “Next, a book that I would almost always steal from my sister to come and read with you.” He waves a book in his hand, and I laugh.
“If this artist thing doesn’t work out, you can always take up being a thief,” I snigger.
“C’mon, I’m trying to be romantic here,” he complains.
I pretend to zip my lips and throw away the key.
“Next, a bottle of the most expensive wine they had in the grocery store. A box of fancy chocolates, and one adorable little teddy bear.” While he talks, he pulls them out one by one and sets them down in front of me.
“Anything else in there Mary Poppins?” I smile wide, throwing his own joke back at him. “Seriously, I don’t remember you ever bringing any of this stuff when we were kids.” I look at the wine and teddy bear with a raised eyebrow.
“Yeah, well, we also aren’t kids anymore, are we?” He winks and gives me that famous crooked smile. “Oh, but the teddy bear is to replace that old creepy one you used to carry around everywhere. He only had one eye, super creepy. Probably came alive to murder small animals while you slept at night.”
Regardless of his idiotic comment, the memory makes me brighten. “Mr. Bear!” I loved that raggedy thing, he was my only friend until Andrew came along.
“Okay, one more surprise. You ready?”
“How can there possibly be more?” I ask, amazed.
After moving everything up onto the library bin, he lies down and stretches out on his back.
When I swivel to look down at him, he pats the blanket and motions for me to lie down too. Holding my breath, I slowly lie back. I slam my eyes shut, afraid to see all my pictures gone or destroyed. I blindly reach my hand out and feel his fingers slip through mine.
My heart does somersaults in my chest, and I take a minute to steady my breathing. I hear his soft, yet commanding voice in my ear. “Open your eyes, Tessa.”
With a shaky sigh, I do.
My eyes flit back and forth across the ceiling of our castle as I attempt to process what’s been done. All our old Polaroids are still there, yellowed and beat to shit, but clinging to life. What stuns me speechless, are the new additions that have been made. At least a dozen new pictures are stuck onto the branches. Some are from the scavenger hunt, including a few he snuck of me when I wasn’t paying attention. But many, I’ve never seen before: Andrew and Beth in graduation gowns, a drunk Blossom at a bar holding up a test with a giant A+, Mr. and Mrs. Blackwell proudly showing off a cooked Thanksgiving turkey. And Andrew standing next to the Memento Gallery with one of his paintings.
“I didn’t realize it at the time, but a part of me clung to the idea that you would come back to me someday. I guess I wanted to make sure you didn’t miss anything. So, for four years, I collected these pictures.” His hushed tone sends a shiver down my spine.
“It’s beautiful,” I croak, unable to tear my eyes away from the smiling faces of my family.
“I thought you would like it.” He smiles with so much hope in his expression. Hope for a future where we can finally be happy, and normal. A future where the pieces of my soul are taped back together—where I’m whole.
Can I be fixed?
“No,” I say my final thought aloud.
“No, you don’t like it?” His crestfallen face destroys me.
“No. I love it, Andrew. But why? Why would you do all this for me? I just—I don’t fucking understand.” I sit up quickly, suddenly angry.
“You know why,” he shoots back, propping himself up.
“You hate me, then you love me. You were with fucking Lilah, and now you want me. What if you change your mind? What if I can’t be fixed? Or you get tired of me? What if. . .? What if I’m not good enough?” Once the thoughts tumble out of my mouth, they can’t be taken back.
“Oh, for Christ’s sake,” he mumbles from beside me.
Eyes flashing, I flip toward him. “Uh, care to speak up?”
He runs his fingers through his hair before looking me square in the eye and pointing to my chest. “You’re such a chicken shit.”
“Excuse me?” I screech.
“You heard me, princess. Shit’s getting real between us, and you’re freaking the fuck out. All your insecurities are bubbling to the surface. Your natural instinct to run, or ruin everything with that mouth of yours, is trying to kick in.”
Now I’m fuming.
Mostly because he’s right, which is even more infuriating.
“Oh yeah, asshole? How do I know you won’t be running back to Miss Whorebag anyway? What did you say about her? That’s right, she was nice and normal. Spoiler alert, Blackwell, I’m not fucking normal and I never will be. I’m not that innocent, sweet little girl you once knew. I’m a fucking walking disaster, and you’ll get sick of my shit and leave.” Looking away, I wrap my arms around myself, willing my body to stop trembling with fear of the inevitable.
There’s a strong grip on my jaw as my chin is whipped back to face him. He continues holding my face while he speaks, “No, you’re not normal.” At this, I snap my teeth at him, only slightly proving his point. “But, it took being with vapid, normal girls to realize just how much I loved that about you. You don’t care what people think, you’re brutally honest, feisty as fuck, and when you care about someone, you’re fiercely protective. All that and so much more. You starting to get the picture, woman?”
I yank my chin out of his grasp and continue to glare at him. “I’m fucking broken, Andrew. You saw what I did to my mom. There’s something wrong with me, and I don’t want to break you too.”
He scoffs. “Newsflash, sweetheart. I’ve put my fist through three cabinet doors, two walls, and one face. So I guess we’re both a little fucked up. Just call me the angry prince, and you can be my broken princess.” He flashes me a devilish grin.
“Andrew. . .”
He blows out a deep breath. “Haven’t we suffered long enough? I won’t let you push me away anymore. We have waited for this moment since we were eight years old. Shut the hell up and kiss me, will you?” I open my mouth to respond, but his lips crash against mine.
For once, I do as I’m told.
I shut the hell up.
ʢ ʢ ʢ
Andrew
She opens that pretty mouth of hers to make some smart ass response, but the time for talking is over.
Fuck her lips are so soft and sweet, unlike the words that constantly spit out of her. She makes a sound that could only be described as a half growl, half sigh against my mouth. I grab a handful of her hair and the kiss deepens as she gives up fighting whatever bullshit excuse she built up in her mind for not being with me.
I’m gonna have to fuck those negative thoughts away.
With an abrupt movement, she pulls herself into my lap. I break away to smile victoriously but end up laughing instead when I see she’s still scowling.
“Shut up,” she snaps. After yanking off my shirt, she shoves me roughly onto my back. Biting her lip, she traces a finger from my lips down to my throat, exploring each curve of the defined muscles on my chest and stomach.
The lustful fire that blazes in her eyes makes me harden immediately beneath her. I need to touch her, kiss her, fuck her, but when I reach out to pull her closer, she slaps my hand away.
I growl, and she hisses back.
With a simple motion of her hand, she demands that I stay put, and I listen, for now.
She takes her t-shirt off first, sliding it up and over her head. Her tits are perfection in the black lace bra, but when that comes off too, I’m in fucking heaven. I’m so distracted by her pink, perky nipples I don’t even realize she’s gotten completely naked.
Moving quickly, and impatiently, she tugs off my jeans and climbs on top of me. Teasing me, she slides her pussy across the length of my dick, just enough to let me feel how wet she is. I’m so hard it’s almost painful, and just as I’m about to regain control of the situation, she slides onto me.
I groan as she slowly drops, pushing me deeper inside her. Nothing has ever felt so damn good in my entire life. She’s so tight and I can feel her muscles clenching, getting even tighter around me. I close my eyes, wanting to give into the bliss, but snap them open when I realize the view I would be denying myself.
As she picks up the pace, small noises of pleasure escape her lips. Her head tilts back and her tits bounce with each movement. I slide a hand between her thighs, finding her sweet spot. As I rub her clit, she moans. Her breathing becomes harsh and uneven. Grabbing her hips, I move with her, falling into a steady rhythm as the pleasure rises.
My god, she looks good riding my dick.
“Tessa,” I groan when it gets close, when I can’t hold it back anymore.
Her eyes snap to mine and her pace picks up. “Give it to me,” she pleads.
At her whimper, I know I’m done for. I grip her hips and watch her eyes widen and her body stiffen as we lose control together. Birds startle out of the branches around us as her scream of ecstasy fills the air.
She drops beside me, our castle filled with the sound of our labored breathing.
“This is really late, but uh, are you on birth control?” I ask.
She laughs. “Yes, I have to take them for my cramps. I can’t believe you’re just now asking. Men are idiots.” She grins over at me. I shrug and nod because she’s not completely wrong.
“Where’s this magical lunch you mentioned? I’m starving.” She rubs her bare stomach, and I find that I’m starving too.
But not for food.
In one quick movement, I’m on top of her, shaking my head. “I’m not done yet.”
“Andrew. . .” The words die on her lips at whatever she sees in my eyes.
“My turn,” I growl.