41. Julie
41
“ J acob called me.”
Well, there are three little words that interrupt my newfound joy for the ocean.
Jason tosses his surfboard to the side, then lowers himself onto the warm sand next to it.
“Oh?” I slowly turn my head his way, a nervous feeling clawing its way up my spine, and when Jason’s cheeks spread out in a warm smile, I know it’s because I don’t hide it well.
“Don’t worry, baby.” He chuckles, tucking me against his side. “You never have to see him again.”
“Technically, I do,” I remind him. “I still have to testify against him in court.”
His lips land on my hair as his hands pull me closer against his wet body.
“I know. But I’ll be right there with you.”
I’m dreading it.
Can’t even pretend I’m not.
But after Kathy and I pressed charges together, whispers around town turned into full-blown rumors, and soon a handful of girls confessed to having experienced the same. All girls Jason abused when he and I were still together.
Turns out, the sick bastard didn’t just cheat on me; half the time, he did it without their consent.
It was a relief as much as it was sickening. Literally.
The first time I heard about it, I cried for days. I threw up every meal I tried to consume, because the guilt that I should have done something sooner was heavier than any knot in my stomach.
Having my friends around me helped.
Jason helped.
But the counselor I found when Jason and I flew back to LA has been a true lifesaver. Now, a couple of weeks later, I’m happy knowing Jacob is locked up somewhere, unable to hurt anyone else. Though, the guilt isn’t completely removed from my mind.
“Why did he call you?” I crane my neck so I can look into my favorite set of blue eyes.
He’s staring into the sunset, the last rays of sunshine glowing onto his cheeks.
“Wanted me to pay for his lawyer.” I freeze against his body, and he squeezes my shoulder. “I told him that if I hadn’t spent every last penny of my savings to destroy that sex tape he made of us, I still wouldn’t give him a dime. Then I said I hope he rots in hell.
I can’t hold back the relief that rolls out of my lungs with a breath, then I close my eyes for a second.
“You didn’t really think I’d help him in any way, would you?”
“No.” In theory, no. “But he’s still your brother.”
“He’s not my brother. Jordan is my brother. Hunter is my brother. Jensen and Bodi too. Jacob Spencer is just someone I share blood and a last name with. He’s nothing.” Jason grabs my chin, then tilts it so he can look into my eyes. “You’re everything .”
My heart swells, growing to epic proportions when his warm lips connect with mine.
Deep down, I know Jason would always pick me over Jacob, but as long as he’s not convicted, my nervous system has a hard time accepting that it’s all really over.
I suck in a full breath of salty air, letting the fear dissipate from my body.
“I love you,” I tell him. “Do you know that?”
His smile is broad and it’s my favorite thing. “I had a feeling. But I don’t get enough of you telling me.”
Our lips fuse, and it settles everything that was churning in my stomach at the mention of his brother.
I still have a lot to work through, but knowing this man is waiting for me when I get home makes all the difference. It’s giving me the safe haven to actually reflect on everything that’s happened in my life without the whole fight-and-flight kicking in.
And I really feel like it’s working. It’s quite liberating to confess your fears and insecurities to someone who doesn’t know or judge you. After every appointment, I skip out of there lighter and more confident than before.
Even my therapist told me I’m making a lot of progress.
I let my cheek rest on Jason’s shoulder, his hand wrapped around my inner thigh.
“You wanna catch another wave, or are you ready to go home?” I ask with a content smile on my face.
“I’ve been thinking... Why don’t we go home?”
I nod, ready to get up, but he grabs my arm. “No, I mean go home. ”
I frown, a little lost.
He tucks me back down, his palms on my hips, before he guides me onto his lap so I can straddle him. “Back to North Carolina.”
My eyes grow big, but my heart wakes up in excitement before it’s knocked back by doubt again. “Take a few days off?”
He chuckles, and the puzzle pieces are starting to click together in my head. “No, baby. Let’s move back home.”
His eyes glisten with sparks of joy, tangled with a little mischief.
“You want to move back home?”
He nods.
“But your life is here?”
After Hunter moved back and Jason decided to stay, I figured Jason was going to be a West Coast boy for the rest of his life. He loves the beach, he loves to surf and, deep down, I think he loves the permanent warmth on his face.
He shakes his head. “No, it’s not. My life is where you are. I stayed in LA because it was convenient. Because I didn’t really have a reason to come back. But now I do.”
He pushes away a strand of my hair. “I can live in California for the rest of my life and be fine. But you, Jules? You’re a North Carolina girl. You love the southern hospitality, the four seasons and, most of all, you love that our friends and family are there.”
He’s not wrong. I accepted the job for NVS only because I knew Jason was here. If I ever felt lonely, he might hate me, but I liked knowing that at least someone I knew was close. And now that we’re finally past all the bullshit, the only reason I like LA is because he’s here.
But it doesn’t change my desire to have everyone I care about just a car ride away.
“What about Cash?”
“That boy is gonna make it big. Soon, he’ll be touring around the world, and we won’t get to see him much anyway.”
I take his face in my hands. “Your job is here.”
“I’m a sports agent. My job is wherever I want it to be.”
I study his expression for any lies, or bent truths to make me happy, but all I find is clear blue eyes I can drown in.
Do I want to move back to North Carolina?
For a second, I let myself dream.
I would see my friends regularly. FaceTime mornings will be replaced by coffee mornings, and cuddles with Logan and Lizzy. My folks would be nearby, and after the last year, we have some serious work to do to make up for lost time. Jason’s mom is there. I do like the North Carolina weather.
“I just started working for NVS a couple months ago.”
Jason gives me a dull expression, cocking an eyebrow while his hands slide below my shirt. “And you’re good at it, but let’s be honest, it’s not what you want to do, is it?”
I don’t think working for NVS was really anything I ever wanted to do in general. It was just a change of scenery, an opportunity to get out of the state, and I took it with open arms.
Being a brand manager is fun, and I loved working with Ford. I enjoyed seeing the other side of the marketing campaigns, but it’s not my passion. It’s not the thing I live and breathe to do.
It’s real estate.
My heart bounces, and a sly grin moves my cheeks. “No, it’s not.”
“I bet your dad is dying to get you back in the office.”
A warmth spreads across my torso, spurred on by hope. “You think so?”
“No, I know so. I already talked to your dad. He can’t wait to have you back.”
“Jason,” I squeal, and then it dawns on me. “This isn’t really a question, is it?”
One hand grabs my neck before he kisses me vigorously. It hits my nervous system from head to toe, settling my abdomen.
“It’s not. Unless you have some big arguments about why we should stay, we’re moving back.”
I press my forehead against his, the salt of the ocean on his skin lingering in my nose. I love him . I would be happy with him wherever we live, but when I look deep into my heart, I love him even more for anticipating what I really want. For seeing it before I did.
“Are you sure about this?” I whisper, and he smiles.
“Baby, I’m happy when you’re happy, and I know moving back and starting our own family back on the East Coast will make you happier than anything. Besides, all our friends and family are there. Why wouldn’t we move back?”
“You wouldn’t be surfing anymore every day.”
He shrugs. “All I hear is a lot of boys’ trips to the Outer Banks, then coming home to you.”
Excitement bubbles in my core because, fuck yeah, I wanna move back home.
I yelp, throwing my arms around him with enough force to knock us back onto the beach. Jason groans, and we both laugh while I’m lying on top of him.
“Is that a yes?” He chuckles.
“Yes.” I kiss him. “Yes!” Another kiss. “Yes!” I repeat as I shower him with kisses, before they turn into slow, well thought out pecks that relax him underneath my body.
I move my lips to his jaw, then continue a path down his neck, and everything underneath me turns soft, except for the area covered by his swim shorts.
“Baby?” I let out a hum in response. “I love you, you dirty girl, and I’d also love to spin us around and have my way with you at the beach, but it’s not even a little dark yet and there are still kids playing around.”
I lift my head up, glancing to the left when I lock eyes with the kids running up and down the beach, then stifle my laugh against his chest.
“Let’s go, baby.” He taps my thigh, and I get to my feet, holding out my hand for him.
“We’re really doing this?” I ask when he’s up and steals another kiss.
“Yeah, we’re really doing this.”
“When?”
“We could go look for houses when we’re there next month for Logan’s birthday. How does that sound?” he suggests, and I nod eagerly. “Good.”
My phone vibrates in the back pocket of my shorts, and I fish it out.
I laugh when I open the photo sent by Ford. He’s duck-facing toward the camera with his sunglasses on, an ice cream in both hands, one for him, the other being devoured by Mutt.
“Look at this.” I flip the phone to face Jason.
He shakes his head with a laugh.
“Who knew he and Mutt would be best friends?”
“I did.” Jason gets his board from the sand, and I gather the rest of our stuff. “It’s like Jordan said, a little responsibility will do him good.”
“Did you expect him to wanna keep him?”
We plow through the soft sand, Jason’s gaze flickering to mine. “Babe, he didn’t want to keep him. I told him he was keeping him.”
My jaw falls slack, and I swat his arm. “You forced our dog onto him?”
“One.” He lifts a finger, putting his board against his car. “He was never our dog. He was a rescue to be adopted. We rescued him. Ford adopted him. And yes , I forced him to adopt him, and it worked out perfectly. Look at them, they are best friends. Plus, he hasn’t been in trouble since, has he?”
He’s not wrong. Ford has been behaving off the ice for the last couple of weeks. On the ice? Not so much, but at least he’s getting paid to raise a little hell with skates on.
“I’m gonna miss him,” I confess, thinking about the little furball.
“Who?” I love Jason’s jealous expression, eyes narrowed like he’s ready to rip someone’s head off.
“Both of them,” I tease, and he swiftly grips my wrist, yanking me against his chest.
“Yeah? I guess I’ll just have to keep you busy enough to make sure you don’t have time to miss them.”
“I can live with that.”
His hand dives into my hair, guiding my lips to his. “Good.”
Our lips fuse, a moan escaping my throat when my pussy throbs to life. His tongue sweeps against mine, igniting a fire that can only be put out by one man. His hands explore a little more, cupping the curve of my ass as he squeezes, then pulls his lips from mine.
“Let’s get some privacy first, baby.” Reluctantly, he lets go of my body, then opens the trunk to slide his board inside. “Then after, I’m going to call your dad to find us a house back home, yeah? How does that sound?”
He winks, and I don’t think my grin can get any wider.
“That sounds like a dream come true.”