CHAPTER ELEVEN

 

Staying at my mum and dads had been fun… for the first few days. But I’ve been here for two weeks recovering and now I’m ready to go home for some peace and quiet.

Everyone, at one time or another, has come to keep me company or check up on me. Beau has even been around most days, just not when he’s at work or working late. Seeing him, though, made my day. I was worried when I first agreed to recover at my parents that I wouldn’t get to see him, but I needn’t have.

I needed my parents though, not just the safety of their presence and for peace of mind, but because I needed Mum’s help. As much as I knew Beau would take care of me, without even being asked, I needed my mum to help me shower, so I didn’t get my cast or stitches wet.

“Are you sure you don’t want to stay another week?”

“I’m ready to go home, Mum. I’ll have Beau across the hall and Roxy with me all the time.” Roxy, who was sent to a neighbour’s after Mum got the call, hasn’t left my side since I returned home. She’d gone for walks with the boys, but always whined to come back, positioning herself in protective mode.

“She has been a little soldier. I thought she was going to tackle Landon when he walked in.”

I giggle. “It did seem like he was sneaking in. She just didn’t realise it’s how he always walks.”

Mum laughs. “All right, but the minute you feel like you want to come back, ring me or your dad and we’ll be there. When is Beau picking you up?”

“Any second.”

As if hearing me, a horn blares from outside. “Must be him.”

Mum carries my bags to the front door. We’re greeted by Beau and I smile like a goof at seeing him. He couldn’t stop by yesterday since he was at work. It feels like it’s been a week though.

“Hey.” I wave, feeling lame.

“Hey, you ready?” He charms me with a grin as I nod eagerly. We step outside, Mum following us.

We’re at the end of the walkway when we hear a commotion to our left. I jump, startled, but sigh with relief when I see Aiden, Ashton, Mark, Trent and Jacob running towards us. Jacob pushes Aiden into the bush outside Harlow and Malik’s, and his feet flying in the air knock Trent forwards.

“What on earth?” Mum gasps.

“This should be fun,” Beau chuckles.

“Faith,” Aiden yells, getting back to his feet.

Mark tackles Ashton to the floor a few feet in front of us. It’s Jacob, followed by Aiden and Trent who stand in front of us, gasping for air.

“Faith,” Mark breathes out, panting.

“I’ll come stay with you,” Jacob offers.

Yeah, because his parents would let him.

“Dude, she’s my fucking sister. I’m staying with her,” Mark snaps.

“You’ve got your own place. I’ll stay with her; I’m her favourite,” Aiden yells at Mark. Mark pushes him back, before stepping further in front of me.

“I’ll help do the cleaning.” Yeah, that will never happen. “And take Roxy for a walk.” Okay, that would be nice. “And I’ll even cook dinner twice a week.” The earth will end before I get an edible meal out of him.

I open my mouth, but Ashton interrupts. “I’ll just stay with you. You’ve spent your whole life with those two goons, you don’t need to see them any more than you already do. I’ll stay with you. It’s no problem.”

“I said I’d stay with her,” Trent argues, shoving Jacob.

Oh, for heavens sakes.

“Guys,” I call out, but they ignore me, or don’t hear me, over their own arguing. They keep shoving each other, fighting over who will be staying with me.

I knew this was going to happen. Landon had already offered to move in with me for a bit, but I’d declined his offer. And he can actually cook.

“You want me to move in with you don’t you, Faith?” Ashton asks, still shoving Mark around.

“Guys,” I call again. Once again, they ignore me and fight amongst themselves on who will be staying with me.

Mum sighs next to me before taking a deep breath. “Boys! Move away from each other this instant. Faith has something she wants to say.”

They all stand to attention at the sound of Mum’s voice and I roll my eyes. I wish she’d tell them I didn’t want any of them staying. They’d probably take it better and not answer back. Instead, she had to put me on the spot.

Thanks, Mum.

“Did you pick me?” Ashton asks, pouting.

Those eyes really don’t work on me.

Okay, they don’t work on me anymore.

“Guys, I think it’s amazing you all want to stay with me.” They beam with pride, their chests puffed out. Jesus.

“We can’t all stay with you, you don’t have the room. I’m your baby brother, Faith, it should be me.”

“No, dickhead, as the oldest it should be me. I can protect her,” Mark puts in. I groan, looking to the heavens for strength.

“You saying I can’t look after my own sister because I’m younger? I’d fucking kill for her,” Aiden yells, glaring at Mark. He looks ready to kill him. If I wasn’t still pretty banged up, I’d clip them both around the ear.

“I didn’t say that, Aiden. You’re being sensitive again.”

“Me being sensitive? It was me who said I’d move in with her first.”

“Because you want to move out of Mum and Dad’s,” Mark yells, throwing his hands up.

“Faith, pick one. You can’t have us both,” Aiden demands, staring pointedly at me.

I take a breath, preparing myself for the ear-lashing I’m going to get when I give them my answer.

“I’ll be staying with, Faith,” Beau tells them, his voice steady as he eyes my brothers and cousins. My heart stops for a minute as I slowly turn to face him. He’s serious. I’m not sure what to think or feel just yet. At the moment, I just want to get home. Although, the thought of spending time with him in close proximity does excite me.

“That isn’t fair, you live next door,” Ashton yells.

“Can I move into yours?” Aiden asks with no shame.

“No! Now let me get your sister home. She still needs to rest.”

Their eyes come to me, their expressions ashamed.

God, I really do love them.

“I’m sorry, Faith,” Mark tells me.

“Me too,” Aiden adds, still pouting. “Are you sure I can’t―”

“Nope,” Beau tells him before he can finish.

“We’ll let you go, but if you need us, call us,” Jacob tells me before he walks off with Trent.

“I love you for offering, but I’ll be fine.”

“Yeah, she’ll have me,” Beau gloats, earning a glare from each brother.

“Come on, before they tackle you to the ground,” I tell him, fighting back a laugh.

I turn back to Mum and pull her into a hug. “I love you, Mum. Thank you for being here for me.”

“Always. There isn’t anything in the world that could pull me away from my children. I love you. Please call me if you want to come home or need me to come over. I’ll pop in tomorrow with some shopping. Your dad didn’t have a chance to fill your cupboards.”

Her sheepish look gives everything away. “You mean he thought by not filling them that I would stay here?”

She looks away before grinning. “Yeah, kinda. He got the idea from your uncle Max.”

“That doesn’t surprise me. Love you, Mum. See you tomorrow.”

We give each other another hug before pulling away. Beau helps me into the car and even straps me in, before getting in himself. Mum is still standing at the end of the path, watching with a smile on her face. She winks at me as she waves goodbye.

I wave back, rolling my eyes at her. She’s continues waving until we lose sight of her. As soon as we pull out of the street, I relax back into my seat.

The peace and quiet is welcome.

 

*** *** ***

 

“I don’t fucking believe this!” Beau yells, sitting on the edge of the sofa. “How the fuck can this happen to her after everything she’s already been through?”

I fight the laughter threatening to bubble free. I’d answer his questions but I’m too entertained by his theatrics.

“I can’t deal with this. Please tell me this is a mistake?”

“I’m sorry, Beau, I can’t.” It’s hard to keep a straight face, but I manage.

“You’re telling me she went back to Tree Hill to start a family and she can’t have kids? First, she gets a foster kid, but the chick changes her mind at the last possible second, and now this? She doesn’t deserve it. She should have offered that Haylee chick more money for Jamie.”

At that, I burst out laughing, falling back on the sofa. “Oh, my God, Beau, it’s a TV series.”

He glares at me. “It is not just a TV show.  It’s Brooke Davis. And Jamie is pretty fucking cool.”

“My brothers would so lay into you right now.” I laugh.

“I’m comfortable enough in my own skin to admit this show is the shit. What are we gonna start after?” He looks so eager, I can’t help but melt.

“Well, Hayden recommended Game of Thrones. She found it in her mum’s boxsets at home. What do you think?” I ask, liking that he wants to keep up our series nights. We’ve had them ever since we met. One Tree Hill has been our thing from the beginning, it’s just a shame it ends at season nine.

“Sounds like a plan,” he agrees, his eyes back on the screen. I laugh when Quinn starts trying to sing, Eye of the Tiger.

I love this show.

“What do you want for dinner? I can cook or we can just order in.”

I don’t even need to think about it. “Chinese, please. I love my mum’s cooking and all, but I miss my junk.”

He laughs at that. “Chinese it is. Anything special?”

“Everything on the menu,” I tease, half joking.

He gets up and walks over to the kitchen where he left his phone on charge. He makes quick work of ordering for us before sitting back down.

We’ve been back for nine hours and I’ve yet to bring up the conversation about us. It’s been playing on my mind since we got back from our trip. I felt that if I brought it up whilst I was recovering, I wouldn’t get an honest answer. I don’t want him to feel sorry for me, or say things just to appease my feelings.

I’m also conflicted over him actually wanting to be with me. He’s given me no indication that he doesn’t want to be, so it’s not that. It’s because Noah is still a threat in my life. How do I pursue this thing between us when he hangs over our head like a stormy cloud?

Still, I can’t not talk to him about it any longer. So, whilst Quinn talks Alex into opening for an act, I build up the courage.

“Beau, I, um… Can we—I mean… can I talk to you for a moment?”

He pulls his gaze away from the screen, giving me his full attention, something any other male I know wouldn’t do if something was on the television.

It’s just another positive attribute to his charming personality.

“Why do you look so nervous? Do I need to be nervous?”

“No… Yes—no. Oh, God.” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “I’m not doing this right.”

“Hey, look at me.” He waits until I’ve lifted my head to continue. “You can talk to me about anything. Are you in pain? Do you need help going the bathroom or something?”

Just let me die.

My face must be scarlet, because it feels like it’s on fire. “No. I’m good, thank you. It’s actually about us.”

My eyes drift down to my hands, too scared to see the expression on his face.

His finger presses under my chin, lifting my head until my gaze meets his. “What about us, baby?”

Baby. I like it when he calls me that.

“I’m not sure—okay, I’m a little… We kiss—well, you kiss me. I—I don’t know.” I want to throttle myself for how wrong this is coming out. I’m never this freaking shy, but I’ve discovered a lot of new things about myself when it comes to Beau.

“Are you trying to ask if we’re in a relationship?” He asks so calmly, no clamming up and making a fool out of himself, unlike me. I want to throttle him now. His lips twitch into a smirk, and I have the urge to stomp my foot.

“Yes!”

He full-on smiles, showing all his straight, white teeth. God, he’s perfect.

“For starters, I don’t kiss my friends, or fantasise about them either. What did you think was happening here?”

He genuinely wants to know, I can see it in his eyes. He’s not asking to tease me or put me on the spot. He wants to know where I’m at. I kind of like that.

And he fantasises about me? My belly tightens, wanting to ask him what kind of fantasies.

“You heard my dad. He wasn’t lying when he blurted out about my lack of sexual experience. This is all new to me, so I’m going to need you to spell it out so I don’t get my hopes up.”

His eyes heat at that. “Yeah, still have no fucking clue how a girl like you stays innocent. You could have anyone you wanted.”

I scoff. “We’ll get back to that later. Much later. Answer.”

His deep chuckle hits me all the way down to my toes. So does his smouldering gaze.

“I’m hoping we can take things steady, see where this goes between us. I really like you, Faith. I’ve never felt instant chemistry—beyond sexual—with someone before. Before you were assaulted, I was drawn to you. I thought it was because you were different—you’re Faith. But after you were attacked, I knew for sure I was into you, like really into you.”

My insides are going crazy at the knowledge he sees me as more than a quick dunk and roll. My belly flutters at the thought of him wanting to see where this goes. But I still feel like I’m back at the beginning, like he didn’t answer my questions.

“You’re going to have to explain, Beau,” I whisper, unsure. “What is it you want from me? Are we in a relationship? Are we friends who kiss? Will you see other people? Expect me too? This really is all new to me.”

His hands go around my waist and pull me onto his lap. “I’m sorry. I’m new to this too. I’ve only been in a few relationships, baby, and none of them were like this. We weren’t friends like how we are together. It’s one of the most important parts of a relationship and it was constantly missing in all of mine. To answer your questions, I don’t expect anything from you. I’m not even sure what you meant by the question. Do I expect you to have sex with me? No! Do I expect you to clean and cook? No! I don’t want anything from you. I just want to be with you.”

I grow soft in his arms, dropping my head against his and closing my eyes. I’ve heard so many people ask their other halves that question, and not one of them answered like that. They always gave a list of demands; they wanted them to be there for them, to listen to them and love them. Beau, my handsome and rugged Beau, had just given the most perfect answer I’ve ever heard. It cuts deep into my heart, and I know it will stay with me forever.

“Beau,” I whisper, feeling myself tear up.

He kisses my lips once before looking intently into my eyes. “Are we in a relationship? Yes, we most certainly are, but only if that is something you want. I’m not going to be dating anyone else—hasn’t even crossed my mind since you screamed in my face the first time we met.” I laugh, remembering our first encounter, which feels like years ago. “I also don’t like the thought of you seeing someone else. But most of all, yes, we are friends who kiss, and in the future, we will be lovers who have sex.”

A tingle spreads in my core at the mention of sex. All these years I’d presumed I was frigid, that something wrong with my lady bits, but from the moment I’d met Beau, it was like they awakened. But still…

“I don’t know if I’m ready for that.”

He smiles, his expression soft as he tucks my hair behind my ear. It’s been a pain to wear it down all the time—it still hurts to put it up.

“We’re good, Faith. Never feel rushed, ever. But I do have to ask, can we do other stuff that isn’t sexual intercourse?”

He looks at me hopefully, and his professor voice makes me giggle. “We can try, but I’ve never done that either.”

His eyes heat and his smile falls. “You’ve never had a―”

Blushing bright red, I place my hand over his mouth. “Nope. Nothing but kiss. Now shush, a good part is about to come on.”

“But―”

“Nope! Just shush, you’ll regret it if you miss this.”

“Bossy,” he mutters, before turning to the screen. He keeps me on his lap and I stay there, resting my back against the arm of the sofa and leaning my head on his shoulder.

Ten minutes later, I look away from the television to stare at Beau’s face, a smile nearly splitting my cheeks apart. His eyes are misty from what just played on screen.

“Are you okay?” I ask, not able to hide the amusement from my voice.

He snaps his head to me, like he forgot I was even there. “She’s having a baby.”

I grin at the joy in his voice. “I know.”

“She’s pregnant,” he cheers, squeezing me to death.

“You do realise this is just a show, right?”

I’m given a glare in answer. “This is not just a show. I can’t believe she’s pregnant. Imagine being Chase, though, getting a phone call to say he was pregnant. Wonder what his doctor thought at those results, or what he thought about Alex being pregnant.” He laughs as he continues to think on it.

“As I said, you do realise this is a show? I doubt they thought anything.”

“Nah, I bet the doctor was ready to admit him and perform science experiments. And that he wanted to pass the fuck out when he thought Alex was pregnant. But fuck, never has a show made me truly happy for its characters.

I have to agree. “They are good actors and real-life story plots. Plus, Brooke crying? Always sets off the waterworks.”

He nods, still smiling for the fictional couple on screen. It’s another side to Beau that I’ve come to love. He has so many sides to him, it’s hard to keep up. He’s caring, kind, thoughtful, protective, badass, outspoken, brave, funny, charming, sexy, and sensitive to those around him.

And now this man is mine.

Even Brooke Davis couldn’t be happier than I am right now.

Because I think I just found my future, my life. My prince.