Chapter 8
Jeremiah
The moment her words escape, I want to do nothing more than to meet her needs. Looking into her eyes, I see the pain and it makes my heart hurt to know she’s in agony. Never have I felt what I feel right now. I want to take all of her hurt away and if this is how she wants to make it disappear, I’ll obey her wishes. I only hope that both of us are able to handle the consequences tomorrow.
Taking her hair in my hands, I pull her face toward mine and as our lips collide, her hands find the edge of my shirt. Her hands graze the top of my jeans and as she moves up my chest, I know that there’s no turning back once we cross this line. As she takes the hem of my shirt in her hands, she pulls it above my head and when she tosses it to the floor, her eyes come back to me. She then takes her hands and roams up and down my chest. Something inside me tells me to offer her one more out.
“Landry, if we—” She interrupts me.
“There’s no going back.”
Without any other words, I take her and flip her on her back on the couch. Staring at her, I realize how truly beautiful she is.
“What’s wrong?” she questions.
“You’re beautiful,” and a single tear starts to fall from her eye. Taking my thumb, I wipe it away and then kiss it away.
Leaving her lips, I then trail down the side of her neck and as she begins to move beneath me, I pull her tank from her body and worship her slowly like she deserves. Without a word, I remove the remainder of her clothes and she does the same to me as I then grab a condom from my wallet. Lining up at her entrance, I can feel how wet she is for me, and all I want to do is ride all fucking night. Knowing I need to take things slow, I push myself inside and as she moans, I do my best to stick with the plan of slow. Worshipping her from head to toe, she meets me with every movement, and when we’ve pushed each other to our limits, I push her over the edge. Watching her come undone underneath me, I try my best to hold off, but when her eyes meet mine I let go.
Pulling out from her, I lean in and kiss her once more before I pass her clothes back to her. Quietly, we get dressed and when I go to stand, she takes my hand.
“Can’t we just stay here? I can’t go to Paw’s,” she says as a tear escapes her eye again, and this one is of pain, unlike what I wiped away earlier.
“How about I go with you?” I can’t believe I just offered that. What’s wrong with me? Then she looks at me and I realize what’s wrong with me. I’ve fallen for her and it’s only been a fucking day.
“You’d do that that?” she says as her eyes meet mine and I nod.
Landry
The moment that he says he’ll go to Paw’s with me, my heart skips a damn beat. I shouldn’t feel this happy in this moment with everything going on, but I can’t help but feel that Paw had this planned all along.
Jeremiah takes me by the hand, turns off the lights, and walks me to the truck. Taking his phone, he quickly texts someone and I can’t help but wonder who.
“Sorry, I had to let Beckett know I won’t be home. He’d be worried after the night tonight.”
“You mean he’s still trying to act like your dad?”
“Yeah, but I get it.”
I don’t say anything on the ride to Paw’s house and as we pull down his gravel drive, nerves start to get to me when my phone begins to ring. Looking down, I feel like I’m going to be sick when I see Mom’s picture flash on the screen. I’ve not even called her. Shit.
“Mom,” I say as my voice begins to quiver. “He’s…he’s…gone,” I say as the tears start to fall. She begins to speak, but I can’t talk. I fall apart in the truck. He takes the phone and I vaguely recall him talking to her calmly before putting the truck in park and walking around to me.
“She’s coming, Landry. She’ll be here by morning.” Nodding, he takes me by the hand and I slide out of the truck, but the closer I come to the steps of his front door, the harder it is to walk toward it. The tears begin to fall harder and I look to him.
“I can’t do this.”
He takes me in his arms and holds me for a few minutes then looks to me. “Yes, you can. I won’t leave you.”
Taking me by the hand, he guides me up the step, unlocks the door, and doesn’t leave my side as we walk into his house.
Letting out a deep breath, I take in the house and its stillness. Looking in the living room, I notice that there’s an envelope on the side table.
Letting go of his hand, I walk to it. It wasn’t here earlier today. Standing above it, I look down and see my name written on it.
“What’s that?” he questions.
“Not sure. It wasn’t here when I left.” He walks toward me and we both take a seat on the couch. Looking at my name, I slide my fingers across it and can almost feel him as I trace my name. Turning it over, I’m careful not to tear the contents inside. I gently pull the paper from the envelope and unfold it. My hands begin to tremble as I see my name. Jeremiah takes his hand and places it on my leg to calm me as a tear falls to the page.
Looking down, I begin to read it.
Pretty girl,
I’m guessing if you’re reading this, I really bit the bullet this time. I know you’re ready to kick my ass, but I couldn’t let you wait on me all the time. You needed to get back to the shop. I’ve been sick for some time, and I might have led y’all to believe it wasn’t a big deal. It was and now it’s over. I’ve been praying for some time now to have you back here with me. My only regret is that I didn’t get you here sooner. I wanted to show you a few things at the shop, but I’m sure that Jeremiah can do that. Jeremiah. Now that’s a story that I’m willing to bet will be one for history, just like Mimi and me. Take care of him. He’s a good boy with a bad boy shell, but I knew from the time he started working for me that he was the man for you.
With that being said, I want both of you to run the shop. He’s been bred to do it and honestly, I told him that shit the other day to piss him off, but to also see how he reacted to you. No matter what he said, the way he looked when he saw you in my room said enough. He loves you even if he’s too stupid to admit it.
Take care of your mama. She’s not going to handle this well, but tell her to suck it up, buttercup.
I’ve left everything I own to you and Jeremiah. It’s up to the two of you to work out the logistics.
Pretty girl, I’m sorry I had to go, but Mimi was waiting and I can’t wait to dance with her in my shop in heaven.
Love,
Paw
Finishing the note, I look to Jeremiah. “He knew when I left I’d never see him again.” Without another word, I pass him the letter.