Redemption(64)

I closed my eyes, trying to fight the urge to grab her and pull her into the bathroom again. Maybe then we could break the toilet, but certainly not with Jeremy around. I sighed, kissed the top of her head, and pulled my phone out of my pocket. Tyler raised her eyebrow questioningly. “I’m going to text Jimmy.”

I texted him to come over whenever he was ready. He answered seconds later.

I’m coming over straight away because Tara’s working and I’m bored as fuck.

Within twenty minutes, Jimmy was knocking at the door and, as usual, Jeremy was eagerly waiting for whoever was on the other side. Once the door opened, Jeremy jumped up and down as he clapped. “Big Uncle Jimmy is here!”

Tyler leaned in and kissed Jimmy on the cheek. “Hey, Jimmy. Is Tara working today?”

He nodded with a frown. “Yeah. It’s shi—” He covered his mouth quickly and looked at Jeremy. “Sorry, Jeremy. How’s my big boy?”

Jeremy giggled and pointed to the stairs. “You’ve been naughty. You have to sit on the naughty steps now because you broke Mommy’s sink.”

Jimmy frowned. “I didn’t—”

“Don’t you remember when you sat on the sink last night and it collapsed?”

Jimmy looked at me as if I had gone nuts. I glared at him, then looked at Jeremy. Slowly, a smile spread across his face. “Ah, sugar, I forgot. I’m really sorry about that.”

Jeremy grabbed his hand and lead Jimmy to the stairs. I saw Tyler mouth I’m sorry to him as Jeremy made him sit on the step.

“You have to stay here for five minutes. Got it?” Jeremy wagged his finger at Jimmy and it was the most fucking comical thing I ever saw.

Jimmy looked taken aback. “Okay. When do I know I can step down?”

“When I say you can.” Jeremy nodded his head and walked away.

“I’m so sorry,” Tyler whispered, walking away with a huge grin.

“What the fuck was that?” Jimmy hissed under his breath.

“Dean!” Jeremy’s shrill voice could be heard. “Jimmy has to stay there on his own!”

I pulled my head back and shouted, “I’m coming!” I leaned forward and quickly whispered, “Tyler and I broke the sink last night and I told Jeremy it was you. Sorry, man.” I patted his back, turned and walked away.

“You little shit!”

For some strange reason, Jimmy’s time was extended past the five minutes.





Chapter 13



Tyler



The next few days went by in a whirlwind and I was the happiest I had been in a very long time. The flowers kept coming…just as Dean promised. We seemed to spend every waking moment together. We went out shopping for a new sink, and Dean and Jimmy fitted it for me. Dean bought Jimmy a guitar to apologize for the sink incident. He was a little pissed after having to sit on the steps for ten minutes, but the guitar and promises of plenty of beer seemed to bring him around.

I liked Jimmy. Although there was an element of danger about him, there seemed to also be a gentle giant hiding amongst his hard façade. I could see why Tara went for him. He was handsome, but he also had that hardness. We were all becoming really close and it made me finally feel like I had a true family now. Dean and I were parents during the day, and at night? Well, let’s just say the animal in us came out. I think it was because we knew we had to behave ourselves around Jeremy. We would sneak the odd kiss and take an opportunity for an embrace, so we were so wound up by nighttime, which ended in what I can only describe as angry sex. I didn’t know why, but I was completely wild around Dean. I let my walls down with him. I let myself be who I truly wanted to be. I felt so comfortable around him, it just seemed easy for me. Things were different when I was with Evan. I knew him for four years, but never at the same level of intimacy Dean and I had. How could you beat childhood sweethearts? How could anyone move on from their very first true love? The one that stuck. The one that foretold promises and hope. I always knew I’d be lost without him. And that’s the part that scares the shit out of me the most. He hurt me so much, that part will never go away, but the love I had for him was stronger than any other emotion. It ruled everything. My heart, head, body, and soul. Dean had all of me, and it scared me shitless.

I didn’t let Dean know how I felt as that nagging feeling I always had still ate away at me. I was still grieving. I still got angry when I thought about my friend Jeremy and the precious life he lost. I still felt that pain in the pit of my stomach knowing it was Dean who hurt our relationship in the worst way possible. Jeremy died thinking I did the most heinous thing imaginable. He died thinking I let him down…and it was all Dean’s fault. It was still hard to get past that. It was still so fucking hard to let go. In fact, sometimes I would get angry at Dean because he couldn’t fix it.