Breaking Through the Wall (Guarded Hearts Book 2) (12 page)

I felt a hand slap my back and when I turned around
, Carter was there. “You are in deep trouble.”

“Why?”

“I have seen that look on your face before, many times. I see it every time I look in the mirror, actually.”

“Can you tell me what the fuck you are talking about
, Carter?” He wasn’t making any sense right now.

“You
, my friend, are falling in love.”

“Are you out of your mind? We have only been together a couple months
, Carter. I think you have watched one too many of those chick flicks with Maddy.” He had no idea what he was talking about. There was no way I loved her, it didn’t happen that fast in real life.

“Whatever you say
, Jason.”

“Did you want to have lunch so you could sit here and talk about things that aren’t real, or did you actually need something?”

I saw his face harden, and I knew that whatever it was, couldn’t be good. “Maddy and I met with the district attorney’s office yesterday.” Shit, this couldn’t be good. “I am nervous that he is going to walk, J.”

“How the fuck could they let him walk
, Carter? He shot you, and kidnapped her.”

“That is not the story that
he and his scumbag father are trying to sell. They are saying that I attacked him and he shot me in self-defense. He is also saying that Madison came with him willingly, because she wanted to get away from me. Apparently, they have “proof” that she applied to NYU, because she wanted to go there with him.”

“What about Maddy? No one cares what her side
of the story is?” I slammed my fist down on the table, catching the attention of everyone in the diner. Just then, Alyssa came walking up. How did we end up in her section every friggin’ time?

“Hey
, boys, what can I get you today?” The entire time she was taking our order, she was all over Carter. I was trying to figure out how he had room to breathe, because she was standing so close to him. When she walked away, she was shaking her ass so hard back and forth, I was surprised she didn’t pull a muscle.

“That girl cannot take a hint
, dude. I mean, how many times have you told her to beat it?”

“I have lost track by now
, J. I swear, every time I turn around she is there. It is fucking exhausting. Anyway, let’s get back to shit that actually matters. The district attorney’s office believes Maddy’s story, but the thing is we don’t have to convince them. We need to convince a judge and possibly a jury if it goes to trial. I can tell it’s killing her, J, and I feel so fucking helpless.”

I
didn’t know how Carter was doing it. I could never handle this kind of shit. Chris was a sad excuse of a man and he deserved nothing more than to have died the night of the car crash. “If there is anything I can do, Carter, just let me know.”

“I appreciate it
, J, but I don’t think there is anything I can even do at this point. It is sad how far money and power will get you in this world. I took Maddy to the shooting range the other day.”

“You did? How did that turn out?” I knew it would have not been a good experience. Maddy absolutely hated guns
. Not to mention her anxiety had been high lately as it was.

“She completely freaked out.
I knew she would, though. She shot it once, dropped the gun, and collapsed on the floor. I hate that I am asking her to do something that scares her like this, but I need to. My dad gave me one of his guns and I am keeping it in the house. I just feel better knowing that if, God forbid, it came down to it, Maddy could protect herself.”

“How does she feel about it?”

“She hates it, but she is starting to accept it. How are things with you and Nic? Aside from you being in love.” He smirked at me and he was lucky I didn’t punch him in his smug face.

“Carte
r, I told you I am not there yet. Not all of us can be like you and fall in love in a day. Then again, I am not a woman that cries at sappy movies either, like you. Things are okay. Actually, they are pretty fucking great. Nic is so hot, and I love how she will give my shit right back to me.”

“Yea
h, that’s what you need, too. Do you guys want to do dinner or something this weekend?”

“I can’t
. I told Nicole I would go to her cousin’s wedding with her.” I knew he was going to give me shit for this, so I braced myself. He looked up at me and started laughing hysterically.

“Please make sure Nicole takes picture
s, because this might be something that will cheer me and Maddy up!” I kicked him under the table. “Shit! I was just kidding, dude.”

“Can I be honest for a minute
, Carter?”

He stopped laughing and looked up at me. “Yea
h, what’s up?”

“I don’t know how to do any of this shit. Weddings, meeting her family and friends
. I have no idea how to act like a boyfriend, because I never wanted to be one.”

“Listen, J
, it really isn’t as hard as you think. Just be yourself.”

“
Have you met me?”

He started laughing again
, but then stopped and looked back up at me. “I get that you are worried they won’t think you are good enough, but let me ask you one question. Do you care what her friends or family think of you?”

“No, I don’t give a shit about them. I just don’t want her to be embarrassed to be with me.”

“If Nicole didn’t like who you were, then you know she wouldn’t have wasted almost a year waiting for your stupid ass to get a clue. So, just be yourself, but not too much.”

This time
, it was me laughing. I just hoped Carter was right. Now that I had Nicole, the thought of losing her scared the shit out of me.

* * *

Sleeping alone last night sucked. Nic always spent the night on weekends. I had to be at the church for the wedding at three in the afternoon today, and without her here to give me the wake up calls I loved, I slept till twelve.

I ate a quick breakfast and then went into my room to get dressed. Nicole said I could just do a dress shirt and pants
, right? I looked down at the shirt I had on right now, it was black and had the phrase “Cool story, babe, now go make me a sandwich” on it. This would definitely not be wedding appropriate.

When I walked into the church
, it was pretty packed. I saw a seat in one of the first couple pews, but weren’t only close family members supposed to sit up there? I took the seat anyway, because I would be able to see Nicole better from it. I saw a bunch of guys come and stand by the altar in tuxes. They must be getting ready to start. When the music started, everyone turned around to face the back of the church.

Nicole was the third girl to come out
, and my dick got hard just seeing her all dressed up. She had this pink dress on that hugged the curves of her tits just right, it clung to her waist, and stopped just above her knees. Her hair was down and curly the way that I loved it.
Is it a sin to have a hard on in a church?
It would probably be more of a sin if I pulled her into one of the confessionals right now and…all of a sudden the music stopped and everyone stood up.

Shit! I can’t stand up right now and let everyone see what that girl does to me.
I heard someone clear their throat behind me and, when I looked over, Nic was looking at me. She lifted her head up to tell me I should be standing. All right, if she said so. When I stood up, she started to giggle and I turned to her and gave her a look to let her know what would happen the first second we were alone. When I did that, I saw a blush creep up her cheeks and she winked at me. She drove me crazy.

The bride came down the aisle
, but I couldn’t look away from my girl. I also couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed calling her that. I had been saying it more and more these days.it made me proud to know that she was mine. I never got that before now. I would always hear guys talking about their girls, and would just think to myself that they sounded like idiots. The only things I ever associated with relationships were drama, clingy girls, and boring sex. I could safely say, that none of that was going on with us.

I got lost in my thoughts of Nicole and
before I knew it, everyone around me was clapping. When I looked up to the altar, the bride and groom were kissing. Did I really just zone out for the entire ceremony? When they walked down the aisle, the girls and guys started to follow. When it was Nicole’s turn and I saw the guy loop his arm through hers, I couldn’t control the low groan that came out.

Nic had told me they needed to
take pictures after and that she would meet me at the hotel the reception was at. Most people went into the room and started to eat appetizers, but I wasn’t moving from the front of the hotel until she got there. Not only was I excited to see her, but I needed to make sure that Mr. Suit and Tie kept his hands to himself. At this point, it had been over an hour. I was just about to call her, when a limo pulled up outside of the hotel.

People started to file out, and then I saw her. She
was so fucking gorgeous. She looked up and smiled when she saw me. I couldn’t help but to smile back at her, until Mr. Suit and Tie came out right behind her. I started walking over to her just as he was reaching out to grab her hand. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her to me. “Sorry, buddy, this one is taken.” I leaned down and kissed her, just to make sure he got my point.

I could tell he didn’t expect her to have someone here, but he
’d just need to get over it. “Hey, babe! I thought you would be inside.”

“I wanted to wait for you. Come on, let’s go.” I started to walk into the hotel and she
grabbed my hand and pulled me to a stop.

“J
, wait, I can’t go in with you.”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m a bridesmaid. The DJ introduces all the bridesmaids and groomsmen, before he introduces the bride and groom. You should go in before me, and I will come sit with you.”

I really didn’t want to leave her with the idiot that
was trying to get in her pants, but she wasn’t giving me a choice. I bent down to kiss her again. “All right, I’ll see you in a couple minutes.”

I went to sit at the table and saw that the card next to my seat had Nicole’s name on it. Thank God
, we were sitting together at least. The DJ started to play music and introduce people one by one. The first two couples were doing funny walks and things like that, causing everyone to laugh. When he said Nicole’s name, I saw her walk out with the douche from earlier. They walked out holding hands and, when they got to the middle of the dance floor, he spun her a couple times and then dipped her low. If he moved his face closer to her, even if it was just an inch, I was going to get out of this chair and kill him.

As promised
, Nicole walked over and sat down next to me, but I caught her before she could sit and pulled her onto my lap. She looked back at me and smiled. My heart rate started to even out, now that she was with me. When I looked over at lover boy, I gave him a smirk, making sure he knew she was mine. The bride and groom did their first dance, then the DJ called the bridesmaids and groomsmen back out to the dance floor for the bridal party dance. Nicole got up and I started to follow her.

“Jason
, wait, this is like my last thing I have to do tonight, but you can’t come.”

“Why? What do you have to do?”

“It’s the bridal party dance, so I have to go dance with my partner.”

“You have got to be fucking kidding me
, Nic.” I was not going to last an entire song watching her dance with that asshole.

“I’ll be right back
, then I’m yours for the night.”

She started to walk away
, but I pulled her back to me so that she was pressed against me. “You’re mine every night.” I leaned down to kiss her, and when she pulled away I saw her blush.

Watching her walk off to dance wi
th another guy almost killed me. Then, after a minute, when the bastard turned to me and winked, I had to hold onto the chair to keep myself from charging over there. That was when I realized that Nicole had asked me to hold her phone for her earlier, and I had a plan. I walked onto the dance floor and right up to them with her phone in my hand. “Hey, babe, your dad is on the phone and he says it’s important.”

“Oh, ok
ay. I have to take this, Eric. My dad never calls.” I followed her off the dance floor, but not before turning back to Eric and returning his wink from earlier. She went into a room that was attached to the reception, so she could hear when she answered the phone.

When I closed the door I made sure it locked behind me. “J, no one is there. Did he say what it was about?”

I turned around to face her, then closed the space in between us and backed her against the wall. “No one called, babe, but I needed you away from that douche and in my arms where you belong.” I started to skim my hand up and down her bare thigh.

“Really
, Jason? Do you understand how immature, childish, and—” Once I ran my finger over her sensitive spot, she stopped. “God J, that feels good. You have to stop, though, we can’t do this here.”