“I know. It’s why I like you. And why I hate you, too.”
Appalled, I cry out, “Don’t say you hate me!”
A few quick strides and Jake is on me. He grabs the back of my head and kisses me so deeply and so desperately that all of my objections turn to ash in his arms. He claims my tongue and lifts me up by my thighs, grinding his angry length against the damp crotch of my pajama shorts. I moan into his mouth as my body responds and softens to him. He sets me violently down and careens away from me, gasping for air. I’m panting, staring at him, needing more.
“Drew, if I still feel like this when I’m in Denver, I’m going to come back and fucking make you MINE.” His eyes violently flash to me. All his muscles are tensed. His restraint is barely winning a war with his primal instincts. “YA HEAR ME?”
Breathless, I whisper, “Yes.”
He marches to his room and slams himself inside. “Lock your fucking door AGAIN!” he shouts through the wood.
I’m going to come back and fucking make you mine.
Jake Cocker is second-guessing single life, because of how he feels…about me.
I float to my room, knowing my dreams tonight won’t be half as good as my reality.
JAKE
“J axson’s here!” Mom calls to everyone in the backyard. My oldest brother Jaxson appears behind her in his usual country-plaid shirt and faded blue jeans. He picks Mom up and spins her around. Laughing, she hollers at him, “Come on now! You know I get dizzy!”
He plants a kiss on her cheek as he stands her up, then strolls onto the patio deck, taking in the stings of lights, long table of net-covered, homemade family specialties, and finally nodding to all the familiar faces.
“What’s this I hear about Jake leavin’ Georgia?!” He calls to the crowd.
Everyone boos and grumbles.
“Blame Don!” our dad shouts with a cupped hand.
Dad’s assistant and her husband smile. Further down the yard, their two kids chase after the neighborhood cat nobody owns but everyone feeds and has a different name for. We call him Pippin.
“Alright, alright!” Don calls back. “I’m never gonna live this down, am I?”
“No, you are not,” Jaxson mutters, eyes on me as we head to each other.
Aunt Marie tells her husband, “No, Don, you really won’t.” She wraps her arm around him and lays her head on his shoulder.
Jaxson and I embrace. He’s a country boy, through and through. He lives on a ranch in the northern part of Georgia, outside the perimeter of Atlanta, and I don’t see him as much as the twins. Sometimes I go up and stay the weekend with him. It’s a nice change. He gets his milk from his own cows. Farms his own vegetables and sells to the local markets and restaurants. When I’m there I live like he does, up at the asscrack of dawn and reading until we can’t keep our eyes open, talking on and off, but mostly just being quiet.
There’s a depth to Jax that is felt anytime you’re in his presence. He won’t joke about this move of mine. I know I’m about to have my chest twisted, as we separate. He will dig deep.
“How ya feelin’ ‘bout this?” he asks in his lowest volume.
“Good.”
“Don’t lie to me.”
I hold his understanding stare. “Not good.”
He nods. “Yeah. We’re gonna miss ya. You wanna come up next weekend before you head off?”
“I leave Tuesday.”
His frown deepens. A lump builds in my throat as he grabs me and hugs me even harder than the first time. We slap shoulders and separate, clearing our throats.
“Chili time!” Mom calls out the kitchen window. “Justin, Jason, come help me!”
They both run in. Justin calls over to me as he passes, “Where’s Drew?”
“Don’t worry about Drew,” I tell him. He grins and disappears.
“Who’s Drew?” Jaxson asks.
“Roommate,” I mutter, clearly not wanting to talk about her.
“What’s he like?”
“She.”
His eyebrows go up. “So that’s why Justin’s asking about her. You got a hot roommate? That wise?”
“Keep it down. She works for Likuss now and I don’t want Uncle Don to hear us talkin’ about her.”
Jaxson grins, “So, you’re in a shit-storm is what you’re tellin’ me.”
“It’s nothing I can’t handle.”
His eyes glitter as he says, “If Justin’s asking about her, she must be memorable.”
“If Justin touches her I’ll personally castrate the guy. Blood or no blood.”
“Huh,” Jaxson mutters, eyeing me.
Marie announces, “Jaxson Cocker, give your aunt a hug!” walking over with open arms. She’s the female version of Dad. The leaf didn’t fall far from the tree there, both tall and fair-haired. I’m more like mom. Same with Jeremy. The other boys lean toward Dad’s side in looks. “I haven’t seen you in almost a month!” She squeezes him hard. “How’s the farm?”