Tangled Up In You (A Savioe Family Novel) (19 page)

“Wait you said they started this last year? Beau was on the team then. Please tell me he is not in the book.” Her brows tilted down in worry.

I bit my lip and held the book out to her. “Once and only once.”

Her hand trembled as she took the book from me and started flipping through it. The names were listed in order of popularity and rank on the team. There were a total of nine guys not including Beau who were participating. Most of them were currently starters on the team. Her quick intake of breath indicated she had got to her brother’s page. The only name list
ed on it was Lacy T. Apparently she was a virgin who lost it in the bed of his truck with a few of the team looking on. The date listed was the same day she died in the car crash. No one knows exactly what happened that night other than Beau and the others that watched. Shortly after that, he dropped the team and became withdrawn.

A single tear fell from her lashes as she closed the book. “That explains a lot. I knew something happened to him but he refused to talk about why he dropped the team. It also explains why Bus was interested in you.”

“Yeah I know. He practically told me that I’d be on his page last week.” I picked up the book and put it back in Jess’s bag.

Marie sat there for a while in stunned silenced. “You do know this is some serious ammunition against that team. If the things in here become known they could get kicked off the team and a few could face statutory rape charges.”

“Yeah. I doubt we’d use it for anything other than an insurance policy.” I shrugged and sat back down.

“I still can’t believe she is in there four times.” Marie closed her eyes and scrunched up her face looking at the snoring Jess.

“Oh I can. She’s been active since she was thirteen.”

“What! That’s too young.” Marie gasped in shock hand flying to her throat in a manner that reminded me so much of her mother.

I tried not to giggle at her. “You looked so much like your mom when you did that. But I agree with you. That age is too young. I thought sixteen was too young until I met your brother. I know you don’t want to hear it but sometimes I just look at him and want to jump his bones right there. She was right earlier when she said I was practically in love with him. I know we’ve only been together for two weeks but it feels like so much longer.”

“What do you mean?” She yawned again.

“When I’m with him I feel whole. Honestly I never knew a piece of me was missing until he walked into Science class that first day and sat down beside me and smiled.” A dreamy smile spread across my face. “That smile, man. It melted me and turned my insides into jelly. But with everything that I had gone through since middle school with the RA, Roxanne Amnesia. I thought he would just treat me the same way and I froze up. Have I thanked you for pushing Jess into her locker? I feel like I should.”

I looked over at her and saw that she had dozed off. I tossed a blanket over her and turned off the TV. Picking up my
laptop, I went to my room and put it on charge. I grabbed my phone and sent a quick text to Luke.

Me: Just now crashing. Your sister is freaking cool. Think she had fun. Talk to you in the morning. Love you.

                                                        *****

Luke

I tossed and turned all night unable to fall asleep. It was the first night in two weeks that I had not talked to Roxy before going to bed. Not being able to hear her smoky voice whispering goodnight had left me restless and irritable. I finally gave up trying to get any sleep just as the sun was rising. Saturday morning and I was wide-awake at six thirty in the morning. What is wrong with me? I got up out of bed and took a quick shower.

On my way out of the
bathroom, I stubbed my toe on the corner of my desk knocking my phone to the floor. “Dammit.” I grumbled as I picked it up and turned it on to see if it was damaged in anyway. The screen blinked on and slowly powered up. I put it back on the desk and went downstairs to grab a drink and something to eat.

I stumbled into the kitchen grabbed a bowl and the cereal out of the cabinet. After using the last of the
milk, I plopped down on the stool at the island and ate. A work out would probably do me good today. Just don’t know if I should hit the weights, swim or pick a fight. I was leaning toward picking a fight. Hmm, Beau would probably be the best bet for that. I got up and washed out the bowl.

I jogged back up the steps and put on a pair of sweat pants and a tank top. The light on my phone blinked at me. I picked it up and quickly read the message. My legs got wobbly
as my heart quickly pounded a rapid beat against my ribs. I sat down on my bed and just stared at my phone.

My hands shook as I read the message from Roxy again.
Love you.
She loves me? I let out a ragged breath and ran my hand over my face. Glancing at the clock it was only ten till eight. I quickly switched the sweat pants for a pair of jeans and tossed on a black polo shirt. I ran back down the steps and ran into my father just coming out of the kitchen the smell of coffee following him.

“Hey Dad can I please have my keys for today?”

“Why?” He leaned his shoulder on the doorjamb as he took a sip from his mug.

“Roxy sent me a text an interesting text last night and I want to see if….”

“Stop. I understand. I’ll run interference with your mother when she gets up. Your keys are in the flour container.” He shook his head and walked to his office.

I ran in there and dug my keys out of the white powder brushing them off with the
dishtowel careful not to get my shirt dirty. Going back up to my room, I grabbed my wallet and placed it in my back pocket. I read over the text again, heart still beating rapidly in my chest, before heading out to the garage.

             
                                          *****

It was a little after eight when I pulled up to her house. I sat on my bike and just stayed there for a while unsure of what to do. If I knock
ed on the door this early, I might wake up the entire house. If I knocked on her window, I might set off the house alarm. I looked up at the sky and took a deep breath.
Well, it’s now or never.
I took off my helmet and set it on the bike.

A knock on the kitchen window caught my attention. Jess stood there waving at me before disappearing. Seconds later the front door flung open. “Hey. You got your bike back. Cool. Come on in everyone else is still sound asleep. Want some leftover pizza?”

“I only have it for the day. No thanks I had some cereal earlier.” I followed her in the house and glanced down the hall.

“So what brings you here?” Jess ushered me into the kitchen and grabbed her pizza from the microwave. She sat at the kitchen island and started eating.

“I need to talk to Roxy.” I shoved my hands in my pockets.

She stopped mid-bite and glared at me. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in my nervousness. “Oh?”

“Yeah.” I glanced down at the floor not wanting to meet her gaze.

I heard the stool scrape across the floor as she got up. She stalked over to me and poked her finger in my chest. “You had better not be here to break her heart. So help me if you are I will castrate you and wear your balls for earrings.”

“Whoa! Where are you getting that idea?” My eyebrows shot up in surprise as I took a step away from her.

“You’re twitchy, won’t look me in the eye and seem kinda scared.” She placed a hand on her hip and waved the other one at me with each word trying to emphasize her point.

“She sent me a text last night that kinda shook me up. I just want to talk to her about it.” I backed away from her trying to explain.

“Oh. Okay. Well, you know where she sleeps. Go wake her up.” She nodded toward the hall.

I nodded and took a deep breath walking down the hall to her rooms. I opened the door and saw Marie sprawled out on the floor next to the TV snoring lightly. I quietly closed the door and tiptoed to Roxy’s bedroom door. Wiping my sweaty palms against my jeans, I silently opened her door and shut it behind me.

The room was pitch black
, it took my eyes a few minutes to adjust to the darkness. I made my way to her bed and carefully sat down next to her. She was snuggled under the covers on her side, her tiny hands curved under her chin.
She loves me?
I stretched out beside her and ran my hand over her cheek brushing back a strand of her hair. She shivered snuggling closer to me. I wrapped my arm around her, buried my nose in her hair and whispered. “Je t'aime.”

             
                                          *****

I awoke in a haze of lust with my body screaming for release. Her silky thighs were wrapped around my waist egging me on. She moaned softly and tilted her hips in invitation. Her fingers threaded through my hair as my mouth seized hers
. Her body was already bare to my touch and I was taking total advantage of it. I rubbed her distended nipple as I rocked my hips against her.

She moaned into my mouth, her heels pushing down my boxers.
When did I take off my pants?
Her hot core brushed against me sending a tremor running up my spine. I grabbed her hands and pinned them over her head as I closed my eyes and seated myself into her welcoming heat.

She gasped in pleasure. I looked down into those emerald depths.
She loves me.
Something in me snapped. I lowered my head and devoured her mouth slowly rocking my body into hers. I kissed a trail to her ear and whispered everything inside me. “Je t'aime tellement. Vous êtes mon cœur et mon âme. Vous êtes tout pour moi.”

I felt her surrender and quickly followed. I gathered her in my arms as I rolled off her. She snuggled against me placing her head on my shoulder. “Well, that was great to wake up to. G’ morning.”

I smiled and kissed her forehead. “Morning, love.”

“So, when did you get here?” She looked at the clock. It was a few minutes to eleven.

“A little after eight. Jess let me in.”

“Oh?” She moved a bit and froze. “I’m sticky. Why am I sticky?”

It took me a moment to comprehend what she was trying to say. My eyes went wide as I looked down. “Shit. I can’t believe I forgot.”

She sat up quick and nudged me. Her voice hinted at her rising panic. “Forgot. Forgot what?”

“A condom.” I muttered throwing my arm over my eyes.

“Are you serious?” She closed her eyes and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Okay. Let’s not freak. I mean I am on the pill. Hopefully, even though it’s only been a week, it will keep us safe. If not well… we will just have to deal with that if it arises.”

By the time she had finished her rant she was pacing her room. I walked over to her wrapping my arms around her to stop her from freaking out. “Is dere a chance dat could happen?”

She pushed against me and glared at me. “There is always a chance. It only takes once, you know. No matter what time of the month it is. It all depends on how determined your little guys are and how fertile I might be.”

“Oh. Dat’s okay. We will jus’ hafta deal wit it if it happens.” I brushed a kiss against her forehead.
What if she does get pregnant?
That thought should not make me happy, but it does. I quickly shook my head. Damn I shouldn’t think like that. We are still in high school. A kid now would screw up our lives. Hell, our parents would kill us.

She dug in her hamper and grabbed a towel quickly cleaning off. She tossed it to me as she started getting dressed. “So what brought you over here that early?”

I put the soiled towel in the hamper and pulled on my jeans. “Your text.”

She stopped brushing her hair and looked at me confused. I knew it finally hit her when her cheeks turned pink and she ducked her head. “Oh.”

I took the brush from her hand and tilted her chin up so she could look at me. “I’d been agonizin’ dis past week on how ta tell ya wonderin’ if ya felt da same way. When I saw dat text dis mornin’ I jus’ had ta come here and hear it from ya lips. But ya were still asleep so I jus’ curled up next ta ya and relished in having ya in my arms.” I took a deep breath. “Roxy, je t'aime. I love ya. I tink I loved ya ‘fore we started dating. Ya were all I tought ‘bout. All I still tink ‘bout. I’d get anxious and depressed ev’ry day ‘fore Science cause I’d have ta sit next ta ya fo’ ninety minutes wit’ ya ignorin’ me. History and English were jus’ as bad. English more so wit’ having ta stare at da back o’ ya head and catchin’ a whiff of ya shampoo ev’ry time ya moved ya head. I’d sit dere ev’ry day jus’ hopin’ ya’d turn ‘round and talk ta me. I even followed ya home one day ta try ta talk ta ya but I couldn’t get up da nerve ta say anyting. Ya’ve bewitched me wit’ ya beauty, ya intelligence, ya love of life. I can’t imagine my life without ya in it. I don’ wanna even tink of dat happenin’.”

She stood there with tears welling in her eyes. “Luke. I love you too.”

“That’s sweet and all but would you mind telling me just why you are in my daughter’s room shirtless.” Daniel Saintshill stood at the threshold of her bedroom door with cold fury emanating from him.

             
                                          *****