Her words, her rejection, were on repeat in my head and I needed them gone.
I had no idea she was coming back, let alone moving in. I know Mom had broached the subject with me and asked if I’d be okay with it, but I didn’t expect her to turn up just like that.
It knocked me for six and I couldn’t resist taking everything I’ve been desperate for since she disappeared from my life.
Just for those few minutes, everything was right again. My world was back as it should be with my girl in my arms. Until she shattered it all over again.
I should have listened to her. Allowed her to talk before I claimed her as mine once more because now I’ve had another taste of her, felt her soft curves beneath my hands, and the burning heat of her pussy, there’s no way I’m going to allow her to follow through with her words.
She’s mine. End of.
She might think we’re a bad idea while we’re living under the same roof. But I fully intend to prove her wrong and show her just how good things could be while we’re living in the same house.
I have a fleeting concern about Poppy, and whether Mom will allow her to stay once they learn the truth. But it’s unlikely she’ll kick her out. Not after all the effort Mom’s gone to ensure she can stay here.
I remain at the window long after she’s disappeared down the street in Harley’s car trying to figure out how I’m going to fix this.
I should be pissed still. But now the alcohol has started to disappear from my system, determination takes its place.
I need to talk to Jake. Fuck Harley and Mom. If what she told me is true then it’s time he learned the truth.
Marching back to my room, I drop my boxers before walking into my bathroom to have the shower I was intending on having before I heard her close the door and walk down the hall.
The second I’m out, I shoot Jake a message, but it doesn’t matter that he doesn’t read it. I know exactly where he is.
Swiping my keys from the dresser, I head out toward the other side of town where Ethan’s gym is.
I’ve been here a few times with him in the past. It’s the fanciest one in town, hence why we all make use of his guest passes.
The young girl on the reception desk soon lets me past once I flash her my panty-melting smile.
“Yo,” Ethan calls out. “How’s the hangover, man?”
“Yeah, I’ve felt better,” I mutter, turning to where Jake is pounding the treadmill. “Can we talk?”
Frown lines form on his brow before he hits the buttons in front of him and slows the belt to a stop.
Stepping off, he grabs the towel that was hanging over the rail and wipes his face.
“Sure, what’s up?”
I nod over to the bench at the other side of the gym and we both turn away from Ethan.
“It’s fine. I didn’t want to know what you were going to talk about anyway.”
Jake flips him off over his shoulder before grabbing his water bottle and cell from the floor and following me over.
“What’s up?” he asks, swiping at his cell and opening the messages he’s got waiting for him.
“I need to talk to you about Poppy.”
“Go on...” he encourages, shooting a glare in my direction.
“She told me that she’s your sister.”
“Yeah, man. How fucking mental is that?”
“Uh... yeah. How’d that happen, anyway?” I ask. I was desperate to find out more last night but Poppy didn’t exactly give me a chance.
“Seems daddy wasn’t able to keep it in his pants and was fucking around with both our moms.”
“Whoa. Why didn’t they tell you?”
“Fuck knows. They’re all fucked-up. Are you really surprised by all this?”
“I... uh... guess not.” I don’t know all that much about Jake’s mom and his past, it’s something he keeps close to his chest, but I do know that she’s no longer around.
“So what did you want to... fuck,” he barks, bringing his cell a little closer to his face.
“What’s wrong?”
“Uh... fuck. I need to go.”
“Go? But I need to...”
“Talk about Poppy, I know. You should probably come with.”
He’s up from the bench before I have a chance to register his words.
“Savage, we’re out,” he calls across the gym and practically runs for the door.
“Jake, what the hell is going on?” I call after him, racing through the door he just swung open so hard it crashed back against the wall with a loud thud. As I catch up with him, I notice his shoulders are pulled tight and his fists are clenched at his sides.
“Hellburn,” he barks at me. “Anything new?”
“N-no, not that I’m aware of.”
“Good. Hopefully that motherfucker got the message.”
“What did you do?”
“Nothing much. It’s still a work in progress.”
“He’s still alive, you need to work quicker,” I mutter, remembering how terrified Poppy was after their last encounter.
“I told you that we’ll end him, and we will. We just need to be smarter than him.”
“What’s going on?” I ask when he comes to a stop at my truck.
“This,” he tosses me his cell and I only just manage to stop it from crashing to the floor.
Flipping it over, I stare down at the screenshot that’s filling the screen.
“What the...”
“It’s from Poppy,” he says, although it’s really not necessary seeing as I can see her name at the fucking top. “They’re from her mom.” Again, obvious.
“She shouldn’t be contacting her.”
“No, and she really shouldn’t be sending fucking suicide notes.”
At his words, I focus on the messages.
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, let’s fucking go.”
We climb in the car as Jake hits call on his cell and presses it to his ear. His grip on it is so tight his knuckles go white.
“It’s just ringing.”
“Where am I supposed to be going exactly?” I ask, sitting with the engine running and no fucking clue what we’re supposed to be doing right now.
“School.”
“School?”
“Yes, now fucking drive, Hunter.”
“Yeah, okay.” I put my truck in drive and speed out of the parking lot.
“Why school?” I ask once we’re out on the main road.
“Just a hunch.” His words are clipped and the way he sits in my passenger seat with his fists clenching and unclenching stops me from saying the words I wanted to. I don’t think now is the time to admit to what’s been going on.
We’re on the other side of town to Rosewood High and seeing as it’s Saturday, the traffic is busier than usual.
“Fucking hell,” Jake complains when I stop at another light.
“What? I can hardly jump it.”
“Can’t you?”
“Jake, it’ll be fine. We don’t even know they’re there.”
He blows out a breath before saying words that turn my blood to ice.
“You really think that’s really her mom?”
“T-that’s what it said, wasn’t it?”