16. Sixteen
Sixteen
Tessa
J ake and I fall into a comfortable routine over the weeks that follow. I’ve started on a new book—a second-chance romance—and since I’m currently living one in real-time, the story is all but writing itself. To say my budding relationship inspires me is an understatement.
When I’m not spending time with Jake, I divide my time between my laptop and my mother, who I routinely accompany to chemo treatments.
On the rare days she has extra energy, we squeeze in as many day trips as possible to make up for lost time.
A shopping trip to the mall, a relaxing day at the spa, anything that gives us an opportunity to reinforce our mother-daughter bond .
Since moving back home, I’ve noticed how much I missed my parents, and how much I’d hurt them by not visiting more often. I’m determined to not repeat my mistakes.
Jake goes to work each day, and we spend most evenings together.
I usually end up staying at his place overnight, and even though Anna is still leery of my intentions toward the brother she so obviously adores, she seems to be warming up to me.
A couple of nights ago she took me by surprise when she suggested a movie night, going as far as asking my opinion when she couldn’t choose between two romcoms. It’s Saturday evening, and Anna asked permission to go to a friend’s party, which left Jake and me to our own devices.
We ordered Chinese and binge-watched half a season of Vikings before Jake suggested we should take advantage of the empty nest and head up to bed.
Several hours and multiple orgasms later, I’m well and truly sated, and so damn exhausted I don’t even notice when he sneaks out of the house in the middle of the night.
I jerk upright when a loud thump echoes through the otherwise silent house, followed by male cursing and high-pitched giggles.
Rubbing the sleep from my eyes, I stretch out an arm to reach the bedside lamp and wait for the fog to clear to help me figure out what’s causing the ruckus in the stairwell .
“Jesus Christ, Anna. How the hell did you get this wasted so damn fast? I talked to you an hour ago and you were fine.”
More giggling. “I don’t know how it happened,” she replies in a loud whisper, slurring her words. “I swear, I didn’t mean to. I was just having fun, and then someone dared me to do something called a beer bong, and before I knew it, my vision went all funky. I kinda feel like I’m floating.”
“Funny, because on my end, it feels more like I’m dragging a waterbed mattress up the stairs.”
“Oh, shut up,” Anna grumbles, slapping him upside the head as they pass by our bedroom door.
I’m not usually one to eavesdrop, but this is just too entertaining, and before I know it, I’ve already slid out of bed to tiptoe down the hall.
Anna’s room is empty and dark, but the ensuite bathroom is well-lit, giving me a clear view of what’s happening inside.
I watch as Jake unceremoniously dumps his baby sister on the closed toilet lid, holding her up with one arm, while he fills a glass of water with the other.
He rummages around the medicine cabinet and produces a bottle of ibuprofen, shaking a couple into her open palm.
“Take this and drink as much water as you can,” he orders, nudging her with his foot when she continues to nod off. “Trust me, you’ll feel a lot better for it in the morning. ”
“You should know,” comes Anna’s slurred reply a second before she pops the offered pills into her mouth and chases them with a full glass. Jake immediately refills it and urges her to drink a second.
“You’re the expert, after all. I’d be smart to heed your advice. You probably know all the tips and tricks. If I ever have questions on how not to overdose, I know who to ask.”
Jake’s head snaps toward his sister, and even from a distance, it’s hard to miss the hurt in his eyes. “Wow, Anna. Low blow. I’m going to ignore that because you’re wasted. But don’t talk about things you don’t understand. You have no idea what I was dealing with.”
“That’s ‘coz you never tell me anything,” she shoots back, swaying from side to side and holding on to her brother’s forearm to steady herself.
“I’ve kept things from you to protect you.
Because it wouldn’t do either of us any good if you knew all the gory details.
Besides, all of that’s in the past and has been for a while, so let’s not stir shit up.
Especially not in your current state. If you still have questions in the morning and have the balls to ask while you’re sober, I might consider having that conversation.
But tonight is most definitely not the time for a heart-to-heart,” he tells her with a stern expression.
“We’re also going to have a talk about the condition you’re in.
I don’t appreciate having to pick up my sixteen-year-old, inebriated sister in the middle of the night, and I didn’t like the way that guy was manhandling you when I arrived. ”
“You didn’t have to scare him like that.”
“Then he shouldn’t have grabbed your ass in front of me. He’s lucky I’m so damn zen these days. A few years ago, I would’ve kicked his fucking teeth in,” Jake replies in all seriousness.
“I feel kinda funny,” Anna says with a frown, only seconds before her eyes pop wide, and she slaps a hand over her mouth.
“Oh, fuck.” Jake yanks her off the toilet seat, lifts it, and shoves her face over the bowl just in time for the first heaves to wrack her body.
He glances at the ceiling and blows out a sigh while he holds her inky hair back, resigning himself to watch over her until she’s done purging herself of the contents of her stomach.
When I go to turn away to give them privacy, the movement draws his attention, and he finds me lurking in the darkened hallway like a total creep.
I briefly consider jumping out of the way, but I know I’m busted.
What the fuck? Jake mouths, nodding at the pathetic display happening at his feet.
I lift a shoulder and offer him an encouraging smile before I jerk my head to the side to let him know I’m heading back to bed.
After a few minutes, the pitiful vomiting sounds subside, and I listen to Jake’s deep murmurs as he helps his sister get settled into bed .
“I’m sorry I was such a bitch, Big J. You know I loooooooove you to the mooooooon and back,” she howls and breaks into another round of hysterical giggles. Jake gives a low chuckle.
“I love you too, Anna Banana. Now go to sleep. There’s a garbage can next to your bed, just in case.”
When he joins me in the bedroom, he looks both worn out and a little amused. Taking a seat on the edge of the mattress, he begins to undress and exhales a heavy breath.
“Guess that’s what I get for being such a stellar role model, huh?” I throw the comforter to the side and crawl toward him, wrapping my arms around his muscular back before I press a tender kiss to the top of his shoulder.
“You’re the most amazing brother a girl could wish for, and Anna knows it. Don’t let some drunken babblings get to you. The things you’ve sacrificed for that girl overwrite every poor decision you’ve ever made, and she didn’t mean it.”
Jake swings his legs up and gathers me close, flashing me a grateful smile.
“Thanks for trying to make me feel better, but I’m serious,” he continues, stroking my hair like the repetitive movement calms something inside him.
I press my cheek to his chest and get comfortable as I wait for him to continue.
“How can I lecture her on the dangers of alcohol and drug use, tell her that overindulging is irresponsible, when I did the very same thing every weekend when I was her age? I feel like such a hypocrite sometimes.”
“You’re not a hypocrite,” I say, getting defensive on his behalf.
I have watched this man sacrifice for and prioritize his siblings his whole childhood.
I’ll be damned if I lie here and listen to him put himself down for not having been strong or mature enough to handle the enormous weight he’d been saddled with at such a tender age.
“You know from personal experience just how easy it can be to slip from experimenting straight into addiction. It’s understandable seeing her like this worries you.
But even though your partying days are over, Anna is just beginning to enter that chapter of her life.
You can’t shield her from everything. The only thing you can do now is hope you’ve raised her right.
And who knows, maybe witnessing your struggles might even help her make better choices. ”
“Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
“From what I’ve seen, Anna is a smart and responsible young lady.
She might not give you as much trouble as you think.
” I take a moment to contemplate whether I should ask this next question, but the opportunity is too good to pass up.
“They are in the past, right?” I ask, bracing myself for his reaction.
“Huh? ”
“Your partying days? Your struggles? You’re not wrestling with it anymore, are you?”
The space between his brows shrinks before a look of understanding settles on his face. “No, baby. I haven’t felt the urge to get fucked up in years, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“I’m not worried, really,” I tell him, staring at the hand playing with his chest hair to avoid eye contact.
“It’s just—when we went out the weekend of the fall fair, and you and Carter started that silly drinking game, I have to admit, I was questioning whether that was a good idea for you.
I’ve seen you enjoy the occasional drink since getting back, and it didn’t seem like a big deal. I guess…it just had me wondering.”