“I don’t know what you want me to say, Dad.”

“I don’t want you to say anything, I’ve said what I need to,” Nathan sighs. “Now that that’s out of the way, we also want you to know that we’re so proud of you, Jake. You’ve changed and grown up a lot in the last year or so, you’ve turned out to be a good man, and we love you. Just remember that you’ve worked hard to get to where you are, all of us have. Just remember that, and your mom and I, well… we trust you to make the right decisions, not just with this girl, with everything.”

“Thanks, Dad.” his voice breaks.

I hear footsteps heading toward me and panic. I can’t run back upstairs, I’ll look like I’ve been listening in on their conversation. Idiot.

“Kayla?” Jake says.

I turn around to face them both, they have to know I’ve just heard everything they’ve said.

“Goodnight, Mikayla.” Nathan brushes past me to the staircase and gives my shoulder a little pat.

I struggle to find my voice. “Goodnight, Sir.”

“Can’t sleep?” Jake asks.

I shake my head.

He’s in sweatpants, and nothing else. His broad chest and shoulders are on display, his stomach muscles ripped and defined, down to the V that leads to his… I’m staring.

“Watch some TV with me?” He holds out his hand. “Nothing like infomercials to make me wanna crash.”

I take his hand as he leads me to his bed on the sofa.

Once were seated, he turns to me, “You heard that, huh?”

“Yeah, I’ll organize somewhere to stay as soon as possible, I’ll make some calls in the morning.”

“Kayla, that’s not at all-"

“Let’s just not talk about it tonight, okay?”

He nods, then looks away from me.

“It’s Mom’s birthday today,” I say quietly.

“Christ, Kayla.” He rubs the side of his face.

Silence fills the space between us.

“Megan hasn’t tried to contact me once,” I tell him.

His arms wrap around my shoulders and adjusts us so I’m leaning into him, my head on his chest under the crook of his arm, the heat from his bare skin is overpowering. “I hate to state the obvious here, but Megan’s kind of a shitty person.”

I let out a tiny laugh.

His hand is stroking my hair, from roots to tip, it’s making me drowsy.

“You know who isn’t a shitty person?” I say through a yawn. “You, Jake Andrews, you’re not a shitty person. Not even a little bit.”

“Thanks,” he chuckles.

My eyelids are getting heavy. “Mmmm,” I hum. “My mom used to do this when I was little, when I couldn’t sleep, play with my hair I mean, it always helped.”

“Go to sleep, baby.” It’s the last thing I remember before he kisses the side of my head and I give in to exhaustion.

Chapter 12

*Mikayla*

I’m woken by the sounds of a feminine throat clearing.

My eyes snap open and Mandy, Jake's mom, is standing in front of me, hands on her hips, except she’s sideways. I take a few seconds to get my bearings and work out what the hell is happening.

Then there’s a moan and movement from underneath me. I sit up quickly, too quickly, and the room begins to spin.

“Shit,” Jake says, from next to me. “We must have fallen asleep.”

I feel something wet on the side of my face, my hand reaches out to touch it. Drool. I’ve fricken drooled, on him. My eyes automatically go to his lap to see if there’s evidence. I instantly regret it.

He’s got morning wood.

Shit.

I immediately look away, but not before a tiny squeal escapes my mouth.

“Shit,” he mumbles as he stands up to hide/adjust himself. He must know I’ve seen it.

My eyes dart to him again, I try to avoid that area but I can’t. I squeal again. Because I’m a 12 year old virgin girl.

His mom is giggling.

He picks up a cushion from the sofa and covers himself.

“Aawww, Jakey, don’t be embarrassed, it’s a nat-"

“MOM!!” he yells, interrupting her. “Stop, please. Just get out!” His hand not holding the cushion points to the door.

She’s all out laughing, as she exits.

It’s just the two of us in this, what feels like, tiny, room.

“This isn’t awkward at all,” he sighs, shaking his head.

Then we both start laughing.

And for a second, I almost forget about the pain. Almost.

***

*Jake*

So, she’s pretty much seen my junk. In all its glory. At least it was covered up. It could be worse, I don’t know how, but I’m sure it could be.

Lisa will be here soon, Kayla says she’s coming because she wants to finalize a bunch of stuff before everyone’s back to work tomorrow. Personally, I think she’s just coming to check on Kayla. I’m sure a part of it has to do with the strangers bed she’s been sleeping in.

After breakfast, I go looking for her. I walk into the family room to see her sitting on the sofa, looking down at her phone, her eyebrows bunched together in confusion.

“Whats up?” I sit next to her and nudge her leg.

“Huh?” She’s distracted.

I watch her as she stares at her phone.

“Have you heard from Megan?”

“Huh? Oh… no.”