Chapter 12
Making Up is Fun
I've heard from a reliable source that Dani and her new bestie left the Fearless Fives house in much distress. Shortly after, said source revealed that Dallas and our darling quarterback ran with their tails between their legs, begging for forgiveness. Is there trouble in paradise
already? #AllTheHeartEmojis
I turn off my phone and then do the same with Sasha’s.
She's taking a shower, and I don't want anything else to upset her.
When she gets out, she can turn it back on if she chooses to.
Jake probably won't ever text me again. I half hoped as we left that he'd follow us out and offer to take us home, but he didn't.
I guess he's a firm believer in bros before hoes.
I get it, though. I wouldn't choose a guy over my friend either, even if that friend had been in the wrong.
I can't believe I’ll have to see him in class tomorrow.
I don't want to go now. Is it too late to switch our classes?
I need to change Bio, too. It'll be super awkward around Jaxon now.
I have to admit I'll miss his friendship.
I hear Sasha before I see her because she's still crying.
She started sobbing right after we hit the door.
My stomach feels queasy. I helped cause this so it's partly my fault. I stand and rush over to hold her. She goes limp as soon as my arms encase her and we fall to the floor. Seeing her in this much pain makes me mad all over again. At him, at myself, at boys in general. I wish I would’ve punched Dallas in his freckled face instead of throwing my food at him.
I whisper things like, "You're going to be okay," "He didn't mean it," and "I'll go and punch him in the face right now, if you want me to," and that's the one that got her to stop crying.
"Thank you for being such a good friend, Dani."
"I'm a terrible friend. I should have never said anything. He just said something sarcastic about you taking the phone call, and it rubbed me the wrong way. I told him because I wanted him to realize what he had lost. I'm so sorry."
"Ideally, I didn't want him to find out like that but I don't care that you told him. I know he said it out of anger, but I won't allow anyone to talk to me like I'm a dog. He's such an ass!"
"Yes, he is! I can't believe I told him FU. I've never done that in my whole life, but it had to be said!"
"Well, he deserved just what he got. Jake's eyes got so big when the Alfredo fell on top of his head."
"Dear Lord! I cannot. Jake will never speak to me again, but I regret nothing.
And I'm never getting my bag back from him either.
It had my favorite makeup in there! I'm so embarrassed.
Maybe he'll throw the whole bag away! Or he can burn it.
I wouldn't even be mad! Like we have reached the point of no return. "
Her tear-stained face lights up with a bright smile. "I've never had a friend stick up for me like that. Anybody else would have chosen them because of who they are. Thank you!"
"I told you, Sisters, before Misters, and I meant just that.
He was in the wrong, and I couldn't let him talk to you that way.
We'll have to change our class schedule now.
I'm so not going tomorrow! I've never played hooky before, but there's a first time for everything. A lot of firsts are happening lately."
"Yes! And to think, I decided to take that class because of you and Dallas being in there! Do I have "stupid" tattooed on my forehead?"
"Let me see...Nah! Must have washed off!"
She shoves my arm and laughs. "We'll change classes first thing in the morning. And then we can play hooky for the rest of the day! I see ice cream in our futures."
"Sounds like a plan." I hug her close. "Will you be okay?"
"In time. I'll fake it until I make it."
"That's what my Granny says is the best way to get over someone. That and jumping on the first train to meet the next fellow."
"I can't wait to meet Granny Betsy Jean! Goodnight, Dani." She laughs.
"She's going to love you. They both will. Goodnight, Sasha."
I give her one last hug, and then I walk into my room and shut my door.
I jump in the shower again, and the tears freely fall.
I need to get them out. It's all a part of the healing process or so I've always been told.
I can handle this. I'll just have to avoid football and anything Fearless Five-related. I probably should have went to UGA.
I frown because I'll never get to experience the Sex Kings "loving.
" That's probably for the best. He would have broken my heart, and I would have gladly let him.
I wipe my final tears away and jump out of the shower.
I towel dry and then brush my hair. I wrap a clean towel around me and walk out totally ready for bed. Drama can be extremely exhausting.
I stop dead in my tracks when I see The Jake Ryan sitting on my bed in all his Sex King glory.
He stands up and briskly walks over to me, hugging me fiercely.
"I'm sorry, I should have taken you guys home.
I was just so pissed at Dallas. I'm not going to take up for him, but he didn't mean what he said.
He's explaining that to Sasha now. I think he's half in love with her. Will you please forgive me?"
I stare at him completely dumbfounded. I thought I'd never see him again. He's asking for my forgiveness and apologizing to me instead. He lets me go and starts to walk out of the room. I have to start running to catch up with him because his dang long legs are way faster than my short stubby ones.
I grab his elbow. "Of course, I forgive you. Will you please forgive me for the part I played in wrecking your wonderful dinner?"
He sighs in relief. "Dallas was the one being a jealous ass. I could never get mad at you anyway."
I bury my face in his chest. His heart is racing almost as fast as mine is. "I need to check on Sasha." I walk past him down the hallway and stop abruptly. Dallas and Sasha are making out hard on our couch.
I look up at him, and we walk fast back to my room. We bust out laughing as soon as we are out of earshot from the lovebirds. "It's about time!"
He nods. "Dallas is a good guy. He just needs a swift kick in the ass sometimes. He had his heart broken two years ago. He was seeing this girl, and he found out he was the side piece. He hasn't been able to trust anyone since."
"Thank you for telling me. I still don't like what he did, but that does help me understand his actions. Sasha's a good girl, Jake. She would never intentionally hurt him. I think they look so cute together."
He smiles at me. I can tell he’s trying hard to be respectful.
I have become fully aware of my scantily clad attire.
I'm in a freaking towel and I know I need to change.
I grab some cute pj's out of my dresser and hurry back to the bathroom to change.
When I come back fully dressed, Jake is lying on my bed with nothing but shorts on his body.
Gone are his shirt and shoes. "You promised me a sleepover.
I was going to beg you to come back to my house, but being as our two best friends are doing only God knows what in the living room. I'm staying here with you. Cool?"
"I bet you say that to all the girls." I laugh nervously.
"Never had a sleepover before. I'm kind of excited about it, actually."
"That makes two of us."
"Good. I'm not a Saint, Dani, and I don't claim to be. But your innocence drives me crazy. I'm like a moth driven towards the proverbial flame."
I love it when he calls me Georgia because it reminds me of our first meeting and my home but hearing him call me by my real name has made me weak in the knees. "If I wasn't so inexperienced, would you still want to be here with me?"
He thinks for a minute, mulling over his answer. I like that he's so methodical when it counts. "Without a shadow of a doubt, yes. I'd find something else about you to become obsessed over. I don't know what it is about you. You're just different."
He really knows how to answer a girl and make her heartbeat right out of her chest. "A good kind of different? And I know we aren't putting a label on whatever this is, but are we exclusive?"
He gives me a stern look, then slowly backs me up against the wall. When did he even get off of my bed? This boy has got me twisted in more than one way! "Let's get one thing straight, you're mine."
"I'm yours?"
"Yes, don't you want to be?"
"Yes." A voice answers him that sounds nothing like my own. This new voice is raspy and sexy sounding. I like her.
"Good, because I want to be yours." He tips my chin up to have better access to my mouth and kisses me thoroughly.
Stopping abruptly, he places his forehead against mine.
We stay that way until our breathing settles.
Whatever this is, it's intense. He feels the same electric pull that I do.
He takes my hand and guides me to my bed.
"I want to take this as slowly as you want, Georgia.
I don't want to pressure you into anything.
We'll wait until you're ready, then I'll make it so good for you when you are. "
My heart melts, and my loins burst into flame. My heart says take me now, but my mind is saying wait. I listen to my mind, as the heart is such a fickle biotch! Shocked by the new turn of events. All I can think to say is, "Goodnight, my Jake."
He places me on top of his chest and slowly starts rubbing my back. As I drift off to sleep, I hear him whisper, "Goodnight, my beautiful Dani."