Chapter 22 #2
I take a breath and then look at the only two people who matter at this moment besides Willow. I stand taller and tell Jacob and Ruby, "I'm in love with your daughter. Have been since my eighteenth birthday."
Gasps fill the room. Jacob's eyes turn to slits. Ruby's mouth drops open in shock.
Jagger blurts out, "Ha, ha. Funny."
"And she loves me too," I continue, gaze back on Willow. "Even if she won't admit it."
Jagger stands up so quickly that his chair tips backward. It crashes with a bang against the wood floor. His voice is sharp with anger. "You aren't kidding, are you?"
I lock eyes with him. "No. I love her. Always have. Always will."
Willow pulls her hand from mine and takes a step back. "Wyatt—"
"Tell me you're joking," Jagger booms.
I shake my head. "It's not a joke. I'm in love with your sister."
Ruby clears her throat. "Willow? Is this true?"
Willow looks at me in question.
"It's okay. Tell them," I push.
She swallows hard, then looks at Ruby. She nods, confirming, "Yes. It started when I was fifteen. But it's in the past."
"It's not," I insist.
She looks at me, and her lip quivers.
A thick silence blankets the room. No one moves. The Christmas tree twinkles behind us, completely out of place in the emotional wreckage of Willow's and my life.
Jacob finally speaks up. "You hid this from us for years? Went behind our backs and lied to our faces?"
I lift my chin and tug Willow close to me. "It's my fault, sir. I should have come clean back then. Don't blame Willow."
"Damn right, I'm not blaming her," he snarls, his gaze burning with anger and betrayal.
My stomach drops, but I don't flinch. "I know it was wrong to hide it from you."
Willow blurts out, "It wasn't just Wyatt's fault. I lied too."
"He was older than you," Jacob states, standing slowly and towering over the room while pinning me with a look so sharp, I have to force myself not to stagger.
"Dad, it's not all his fault," Willow repeats.
"You loved her?" he questions.
"I still do," I answer.
"And you left her." He says it as a statement, not a question.
"I did." I don't try to excuse it. The facts are the facts with Jacob.
Jacob turns to Willow. "And you took him back?"
Her throat bobs. "I didn't."
Hurt stabs me in the chest. I look at her. "Don't lie anymore, Willow."
Jacob walks toward us. "Do you love him?"
Willow's eyes glass over. Her shoulders stiffen, and for a second, I don't think she's going to answer.
When she does, it's barely above a whisper. "Yes."
That one word is both a balm and a bomb. Because before anyone else reacts, I hear boots pounding across the wood.
Jagger barrels toward me. "You son of a bitch!" His fist cracks against my jaw.
Someone screams.
My head snaps to the side, and stars burst behind my eyelids. I stumble backward, slamming into the wall.
He lands another punch before I can recover. Blood spurts everywhere, and pain radiates down my neck and jaw. But I don't try to defend myself. I deserve every blow he wants to give me.
"Jagger, stop!" Willow screams.
The other Cartwrights shout, and Sebastian and Alexander try to pull Jagger off me.
Mason leans against the couch with his arms crossed.
Jagger's too angry to stop. His third punch connects with my stomach, knocking the wind out of me. Then his knee drives into my ribs.
I gasp and double over.
He grabs my shirt, and spittle flies at me as he snarls, "You lying bastard! How dare you touch my sister!"
"I love her!" I manage to grit out, blood leaking from my mouth.
"Jagger, stop!" Willow screams again.
"Enough!" Alexander orders, pushing between us.
Sebastian tugs Jagger backward with both his arms locked behind his back.
"Let me go!" Jagger bellows, still thrashing.
"Jagger, enough!" Jacob's voice thunders through the house.
Silence descends.
Jagger's chest heaves. Blood stains his knuckles. His wild eyes remain primed with rage, betrayal, and disbelief.
Willow steps toward me, fretting, "Are you okay?"
I wipe my mouth, breathing heavily, the metallic taste thick on my tongue. I don't look at her. I keep my gaze pinned on Jagger. "I didn't plan it. I tried to stop it. But I couldn't. I couldn't stop loving her."
Jacob steps between us. "You didn't just love her. You hid it. From all of us."
"I know," I rasp, my jaw throbbing and already swelling.
Jacob turns to Willow. "You should've come to us."
She trembles. "We were young and stupid. Don't be mad at us."
"I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at him," he firmly states, then turns his gaze back to me.
"It's not just his fault," Willow states.
Jacob points at me and continues, "You broke my trust, Wyatt. And that isn't earned back easily."
"I know. I'm sorry for that. But I'll earn it back. Whatever it takes," I vow, my voice ragged.
"Don't make promises you can't keep," Jacob warns coldly.
"I'm not," I say, dragging my gaze to Willow. "But I've always loved her. I never stopped. And I'm not letting her go this time."
The Cartwright brothers all give me deadly looks. Ruby holds a hand to her mouth, her gaze darting between Willow and me. The grandkids have disappeared into the kitchen, and every adult stands frozen like the damn room might split in two.
Jacob finally breaks the silence. "You want to prove something, Wyatt? Then don't just say it. Show it."
I nod, bloody and raw. "I will."
Jagger breaks free from his brothers. He gives me a final angry look and then stalks off, muttering, "Unbelievable."
Willow stands rooted to the floor. Her hands tremble and her lip quivers. But her gaze stays locked on mine.
The hatred is gone. Hurt and confusion have replaced it.
But I'll take hurt and confusion over hatred any day.
Jacob points to the door. "I think it's best if you find somewhere else to stay."
"Dad!" Willow exclaims.
"It's okay. I'll be at Jax's. But I'm not leaving you," I insist, my stomach in knots.
"Jacob, let's not overreact. Wyatt doesn't have to move," Ruby asserts.
"He lied to us. He snuck around with our daughter behind our backs," Jacob points out.
"It's okay, Ruby," I say.
"Don't speak right now," Jacob orders.
I shut my mouth, trying not to wince from the pain.
Ruby tries again. "Jacob—"
"No. Wyatt, I'm not saying you aren't welcome here ever again, but right now, you can't stay here," Jacob declares.
"I understand."
"Dad—"
"No. And I'll remind you that this is my roof you're still under," he asserts.
"It's fine. I'll call you later," I say to Willow, then look at Ruby and Jacob. "I really do regret not being up front with you years ago."
Jacob's eyes narrow further. He crosses his arms, as if holding himself back from hurling himself at me.
Ruby steps forward. "Let me at least clean you up before you go."
Jacob grinds his molars.
"Thank you, ma'am, but it's best if I go. I appreciate all your hospitality," I offer.
She gives me a sympathetic look.
I step in front of Willow, kiss her forehead, and reiterate, "I'm only at Jax's. I'm not leaving."
She bites her lip.
I nod and leave the house, more determined than ever that Willow's going to stay mine.