Safe and Sound(52)

“Yeah. And what are we? Nothing, right?”

She gasped at the anguish those words elicited. Jack was everything to her. Everything.

Jack swore at the look on her face. “I’m sorry, Lola. I didn’t mean that. I’m no good at this stuff.” His shoulders slumped and he turned away. “I’m no good,” was a whisper that reached Lola’s ears.

She closed her eyes, those words causing unimaginable pain within her. Lola took a deep breath, opened her eyes, and reached for Jack.

“You’re better than good, Jack, you’re the best,” Lola said with conviction, never meaning anything more.

All it took was the barest of touches and he responded. Their bodies collided, their hands all over each other, his lips on hers, her lips on his. Fire ruptured between them, consumed, took over.

Lola couldn’t think. She didn’t want to think. It was amazing the way Jack made her feel. Her body was aflame, her pulse chaotic. Lola could feel her heart pounding against her ribcage.

Please don’t end. Don’t let this feeling end.

His scent mixed with sweat, became even more intoxicating. Jack pressed her against the rock, his body meshed with hers. A low moan sounded in his throat as she pressed even closer against him, wanting to be as near to him as she could get, wanting to be part of him.

Love you, love you so much.

The kissing and touching continued until Jack finally pulled away. “We have to stop,” he said, breathless.

Lola blinked, in a fog. “What?”

“We have to stop, while we still can,” Jack said slowly.

“Right. Of course.” Lola moved around him, shaky and disoriented.

They didn’t look at each other for a time. Lola struggled for control, wanting to blurt out her feelings for him, knowing it wasn’t the right time, even as she thought it might be the only time.

“Three more weeks, Lola.”

She faced him. “Until?”

Jack swiped a hand through his hair. “Until I’m done with school.”

Lightning swift alarm froze her. “What happens then?”

He wouldn’t look at her. His throat convulsed. “I don’t know. I’ve been thinking…”

No. Whatever it was, she didn’t want to hear it. From the way Jack was acting Lola could tell it wasn’t good, not for her.

“Thinking?” She held her breath, not moving.

“I don’t want to be like my old man. I don’t want to end up a loser drunk who works at a factory my whole life. But there’s my sister too. I can’t leave her with him.” Jack squinted his eyes at the sunset, his features striking against the pink hues.

Jack tugged at a lock of Lola’s hair. Her scalp tingled. “I think…I want…I’m going to enroll at the community college in Lansing.” Lansing was a city about thirty minutes from Morgan Creek that was triple the size and had its own two year college.

Lola’s breath left her in a whoosh and dizzying relief crashed over her. She tossed her head back and laughed.

The scowl on Jack’s face quickly erased all mirth from her face. “You don’t think I can do it?”

Lola touched his face. “Oh, Jack, I have nothing but faith in your ability to do anything you want to do. I just…I was worried you were going to say you were moving away or something.”

“What? No. I’m not leaving you.” As soon as the words left his mouth Jack winced and looked away.

“Good. I couldn’t bear the thought of not seeing you,” Lola said softly.

They shared a long, heated look.

Eventually Jack broke eye contact. “It’s going to be hard. Going to school, working, taking care of Isabelle.” He leaned against the rock. “I’m moving out of the house. So is Isabelle. She’s going to stay with me.”

Such burden for one person. But Lola loved him all the more for his unwavering dedication to his sister. “Where?”

“My boss, Jared, has an apartment above the garage. It’s small, but decent. He’s going to pay me less to stay there, but I’ll make it work. Isabelle is going to get a part-time job to help out. He told me I could stay there for free, but I’m not going to take advantage of him. He’s too good to me as it is.”

Warmth flowed through her into a tender smile. “I’m so proud of you, Jack.”

He avoided her eyes and hunched his shoulders. “Thanks.” Jack cleared his throat and glanced at her.

“When are you moving out?”

“As soon as school’s out.”

“And your dad? Does he know?”

His lips twisted. “No.”

“Are you—“

Jack straightened. “I don’t want to talk about him.” The light was fading and Jack’s features were partly in shadow.