Chapter 16
ELI
JENSEN IS LIKE A BROTHER. We have always been there for each other. We’re more than just a couple of kids who started off as friends when we were six years old; we’re real family, and I hope we always will be.
When every single one of my immediate family members abandoned me, Jensen was there for me. When my mother’s boyfriends beat me, he gave me sanctuary when all I wanted to do was shut myself off to the world to cope with the pain. He has always had my back.
Fuck.
I hope he still does when I tell him I am in love with his sister.
I know I'll be getting into a fight tonight, but it’s not going to
be with some random dude.
It will be with my best friend.
I needed Jensen then, but now I need Charli more.
I need to tell him about us, but I know he won't be happy that
Ever since their parents passed Jensen has become like a father to Charli. He is beyond protective of her, minus those years when he acted like an asshole when we were teenagers.
How do I convince him she is more than just a one-night stand
to me? How can I convince him that I love her, and that I want to
spend my life with her?
I fear he will never believe me.
He’s never seen this side of me before. How do I prove just
Grabbing a whiskey at the bar to calm my nerves. I make my way to our regular table. Carter, Lucas, Tyler and Max are already there.
“Where’s Jensen and Christian?” I ask.
“On the way.” Carter says.
I have some time to prepare does the matter. I still don’t know
The door to the bar swings open. Jensen storms through the entrance, and glares at our table when his eyes find mine. He looks livid.
Fuck.
He must know.
“You sorry ass MOTHERFUCKER,” he screams in my face,
pushing me back so hard that I fall back into Carter. “You had to touch my little sister, didn’t you?! You piece of shit! After all these years, I thought I could fucking trust you!”
“Whoa, whoa, Jensen, man! It’s not what you think!” I hold
my arms out in defence.
“Then what the hell is it?” he snaps, spitting in my face.
“I—I love her. She’s different.”
“You love her?” He drags his hands through his hair, taking
a step back. My hands shake when he begins pacing, his chest
rising and falling fast. “You’ve never loved a woman in your life.
What makes my little sister any different?”
He shoves me again and I stumble back.
“Why would I lie about this, Jens?” I ask.
I’m trying so fucking hard not to shove him back. I get that
he’s angry, but I have never enjoyed being manhandled. I don’t
care how much he’s pissed that Charli and I have finally given into
our feelings for each other.
“She's special, Eli. She's my baby sister. She isn’t meant for
someone like you. You have to stop seeing her.”
What?
I chuckle at him.
“You’re forbidding me to see her> She's a grown ass woman,
Jens. She can make her own decisions. She doesn't need her big
brother telling her who she can and can’t see.” I say, shoving him
back this time, giving into my anger.
“Maybe you guys should take this outside?” asks Lucas
“Don’t tell me what the fuck I should do!” Jensen glares at
Lucas.
“He's been screwing my sister and hiding it behind my back.”
How did you find out?
“I’m not screwing her, Jensen. I love her. I wanted us to talk
about it tonight. I was going to tell you everything.” I say, taking
deep breaths trying to calm myself down.
“DON’T YOU FUCKING LIE TO ME, I saw your texts on her
phone,” he yells
“So, you snooped through her phone?”
“Your Message popped up while she was in the kitchen. I
looked because she's my sister, and she is my responsibility.”
“This isn’t getting us anywhere. I meant what I said… I love
Charli, she makes me happy. I know I don't deserve her, but for
some crazy reason, she wants me. And I want her. Don’t make me
choose bro, you’re not going to like the outcome.”
“Let's take this outside.”
He shoves me towards the back door. Now I know we are
going to throw punches.
“If you want to do this, I will, but it’s not changing the way I
feel,” I say as I make my way outside the other guys close behind.
I’m hoping they are there to step in if we go too far.
I turn to Jensen.
“Come on Jens, I’m not going to fight you. What’s this going
to pro—” I started.
I can’t finish my sentence before Jensen’s fists lands on my
face. I stumble back as he tackles me, taking me to the ground
before I have a chance to defend myself. He goes all in, his fists
are pounding into my face until I taste blood on my tongue. I do
the best I can to defend myself. He lands a few more shots, but
that is all I am going to give him. I manage to get out from beneath
Jensen, and back to my feet
“Enough Jensen! I’m not doing this with you,” I say, trying to
stop him.
“Put your hands up, Eli, and fight,” he replies.
“Please Jensen, stop. This isn’t helping, and isn’t going to
change anything,” I say, dodging a wild swing from Jensen.
“You don’t fucking deserve her. You will never be fucking
good enough for her.”
“I know, but I can’t change the way I feel!”
“I will not let you turn my sister into another one of your
FUCKS!”
Is that what he thinks this is? Is that how he thinks I feel for
Charli?
Hearing Jensen say that sends me blind with rage. Charli is
not another fuck, I love her. Say what you will about me, but
Charli is not that kind of girl.
I land a punch on his nose. The crunch follows a stream of
blood. Jensen swings back madly, but I dodge, avoiding it, and
land another punch to his side. This one makes him stumble back.
“STOP! Stop it, both of you!”
We turn to see Charli standing there, tears were streaming
down her face in devastation.
I start for her but Jensen pushes me out of the way.
“Let me talk to her, Jens. She's upset, she needs to know we
aren’t going to kill each other,” I beg.
“I don't care, I said don't touch her.”
I don't care what he barks at me.
I want to make sure she is okay.
We can make each other bleed later, but now Charli needs
me.
I run to Charli and wrap my arms around her. She buries her
head into my chest. She sobs so hard that she shakes. I didn't want
her to see us fighting, and I never wanted to see her cry.
Jensen lets out an exasperated sigh.
“It's okay,” I tell her.
I rub my hands over her back, trying to comfort her.
She shakes her head.
“This is all my fault. I shouldn’t—"
I pull her back, grabbing her face to look her in the eyes.
“Don't ever say that, baby. This is on me, Charli, not you. I
shouldn't have touched you, but baby, I couldn’t help it. I wish I
didn’t feel this way, but I love you, and you need to know this is
not your fault. This is my fault.” I say making her cry even more,
her head digging further into my chest. “Please stop crying,
sweetheart. I promise everything will be okay.”
It kills me to see her blaming herself for this. It’s all on me.
I knew I shouldn't have touched Charli, but after that kiss we
shared, I was hooked.
I will do whatever it takes to make Jensen see we belong
together. He will not upset Charli again or he will pay.
I turn to Jensen with Charli in my arms.
“I’ll do anything to prove to you I can take care of her and
cherish her. I will never find anyone I love more than Charli. She
means everything to me. She's my future,” I say, looking him in
the eyes while I keep her in my arms.
Charli sobs and trembles in my arms. My heart is breaking
because she is so upset. I rub my hand along her back, trying to
calm her down so she doesn’t start hyperventilating.
Jensen softens at the sight of his sister.
“If you hurt her, I will kill you,” he replies.
I nod.
I don’t doubt him for one second.
“If I hurt her, I will let you kill me,” I reply
Jensen opens his arms and Charli hugs him.
“I've always protected you Charli, you’re my little sister. I
never thought anyone was good enough for you… but I want you
to be happy, and if Eli makes you happy,” he lets out a sigh, “then
I'll support it. But if he hurts you, I will kill him.”
She wraps her arms around his waist.
“Thank you, yes, he makes me happy, and I love him,” she
says.
Jensen kisses her forehead, looking over her head at me.
“I mean it, Eli.”
“I know.”
“I won't let you or Charli down. I'll show you every day what
Charli means to me,” I say
Jensen nods and turns heading back to the bar.
Charli smiles at me and runs into my arms. I pull her against
me, this is the start of our life together and I will do whatever it
takes to cherish her every single day.
I can feel my eye is cut and I can feel the blood dripping down
my face.
“You should get home, fix that eye of yours,” Carter tells me.
“Charli are you coming?” I ask
Charli nods her head and we head for my truck, Charli can’t
help but wrap her arm around my waist, I reply by wrapping my
arm over her shoulder.