Worth Taking The Risk (17 page)

“Mom!” Mitch whined.

“Here, lean into me.” I took one crutch and he leaned into me, putting his arm around my shoulder while I put mine around his waist.

“You two look more like best friends than boyfriend and girlfriend. Come on! Show some love.” Emma said enthusiastically.

Mitch, unexpectedly, kissed my cheek and I’m sure my face was one of surprise. Then I pretended to try and bite his cheek, my god the face he made was priceless and had me laughing. Emma still taking pictures like crazy.

“I want a kiss.” she ordered.

“Mom, you sound like a perverted teenager!” Mitch whined.

“Oh hush, its not like I haven’t seen you.” Emma waved a hand at us.

Mitch and I looked at her shocked. I’m sure my cheeks are red as a cherry.

“That’s even worse!” Mitch glared at her and Emma smiled sheepishly.

Finally giving in he placed his soft lips against mine and didn’t move, waiting for the picture. God I wanted to do more than touching lips and I could tell he also wanted more by the way he began to grip my hip…and bite my lip.

We both pulled away in an instant, he lost his balance and I tried to steady him only causing us to fall over.

He groaned.

“Are you okay?” I lifted my head to look down at him.

“Yeah.”

“Don’t move!” Emma took some more pictures.

Damn she’s a danger behind that camera. “Remind me not to lend my camera to your mom ever again.”

“Count on it.”

At last we got up and managed to take the camera from Emma. I didn’t even noticed when Melissa had come down and got inside the car, she was staring straight ahead but I could tell she was about to burst into tears again.

The ride back home was a little more pleasant. Mitch decided he wanted to listen to my music and both of us were mouthing the words to the songs. He also took the camera and took pictures of his mom and dad, of me, the landscape which looked awesome since we were moving.

He was so in a happy mood that he took pictures of our joined hands, of my bag, of our thighs touching.

This was a new Mitch I wanted to know more about.

Of course I was dropped off first.

Richard parked just outside my house and was waiting for me to get off.

“It was an amazing weekend. Thanks for inviting me, for everything.”

“It was our pleasure sweetie. We’ll see you tomorrow.” Emma smiled warmly at me, it reminded me so much of my mother.

“Actually mom, I wanted to come to her house tomorrow. If that’s okay with you?” he asked me.

“Of course its okay.” I smiled and so did he.

“Alright I’ll come after breakfast. Can you drop me off tomorrow dad?”

“Sure thing.” Richard grinned.

“Well thanks again.” Melissa got out of the car so I could get off.

Mitch stopped me and placed a gentle kiss to my lips, then whispered in my ear: “We’ll tell your family about us tomorrow.”

“Can I tell Ambrose? He’s going to want his camera back.” I explained, trying to hide the fact that I was exited about this whole thing.

Mitch smiled. “Only him.” he pecked my lips and I got out of the car, not before Melissa sent me an ugly look.

Richard got out and took out my suitcases. “Here you go and thanks.”

I frowned.

“Thanks for bringing the old Mitch back, please be patient with him. He’s a good boy.”

“Of course Mr. Gaynor, I would do anything to make him happy.”

He smiled at me, nodded and got inside the car.

With a sigh I grabbed my suitcase and walked to my house, unlocked the door and watched as Ambrose came running down the stairs with a happy slash angry face.

“You didn’t call!” he accused but at the same time engulfed me in a tight hug. “If it wasn’t because you were with the parents I’ll be worried that Mitch kidnapped you.”

“He doesn’t have to.” I whispered.

“What?!” Ambrose looked surprised.

“Keller! Honey come here.” Maggie came from the kitchen.

“I’ll tell you later.” I whispered to him. “Maggie!”

I hugged her.

I was gone for three days and they missed me this much?

“Where’s dad?” I asked.

“He’s sleeping honey.”

“Did he ask for me?”

Maggie gulped and shook her head.

“Oh.”

Suddenly a pair of strong arms wrapped around me, holding me tight. “I missed you babe.”

I stiffened. “Chad let go.” I said after a minute.

Reluctantly he did.

“How was it?” Maggie asked eagerly.

I smiled big. “Amazing. The cabin, the forest, the lake everything was beautiful.”

“Alright, go to bed. You can tell us more tomorrow, now you need to rest. Ambrose help her.”

He did and we walked upstairs and into my room.

“Alright its later now, spill!”

I sat on my bed, my back on the bed frame and he sat in front of me, facing me.

Without saying anything I handed him the camera. He frowned at me and turned it on, going through the pictures.

I waited silently as he roamed through them. His face radiant and a smile that seemed to get bigger and bigger as he went through the pictures.

“I knew it! I knew you’ll end up with-” I placed a hand over his mouth.

“Don’t yell! I don’t want anyone to know. Mitch is coming tomorrow and we’ll tell everyone together.”

He nodded and I pulled my hand away. “That’s so sweet. So tell me how did it happen? Did he gave you candle light and flowers? Did he get on one knee? Did he sang for you?” he asked eagerly.

I rolled my eyes. “He didn’t ask me to marry him, Ambrose. And it was nothing romantic. It sort of just happened.”

He groaned. “You guys suck. Alright tell me how it happened.”

“Okay, so we went to get gas and-”

“He asked you out in a gas station?!” he asked in disbelief.

“No! let me continue!” he nodded. “So the guy at the gas station gave me his number and Mitch took it away. When we were going back to the cabin he said he didn’t want any guys near me. Then we had to changed because his whole family visited and things happened so we ended up in his room, out of the blue he kisses me. We talk about it and then he asks me if I want to try it and see how it works out. I said yes. We told his parents at the dinner table, and now we are dating.”

“That is not romantic. But then again we are talking about Mitch and you.”

“Hey! What is that supposed to mean?” I threw my pillow at him and he laughed.

“I’m kidding, so how was it?”

“How was what?”

“The kiss.” he said it like it was the obvious thing in the world.

“One word: amazing.”

“So he must be really good.” he stated. “How did Melissa the bitch reacted?”

“She went on a rampage, tried to make Mitch jealous and it backfired. Today she assaulted me with questions of why I took Mitch away, and cried her eyes out. I sort of feel sorry for her.”

Ambrose rolled his eyes. “Please she just sees Mitch as a freaking prize. Don’t mind her.” he got up. “I’ll let you rest, I can’t wait for everyone’s reaction tomorrow. Chad is going to blow up.”

I groaned. “Don’t remind me.”

“Good night Kells.” he kissed my forehead and left my room.

o-o

The next morning I woke up really happy.

I took a shower, brushed my teeth, straightened my hair, changed into a pair of red skinny jeans and a black Asking Alexandria shirt. Its been a while since I wore it. I went downstairs and made myself some French toast, filled a cup of orange juice and began to eat.

After I finished, and getting weird glances from everyone including my dad who didn’t seem to remember I was gone for three days and just greeted me with a: “Morning.”

A little too enthusiastic I started watching sponge bob, getting more strange glances. Ambrose came to seat next to me in an equally happy mood.

“Chris and I are going on a date today.” he informed.

“Am I finally meeting him?!”

“Yes, he’s coming over an hour before we leave so he can get to know you guys.” Ambrose blushed.

I hugged him tightly. “I’m so happy for you!”

The door bell rang I got up to answer it, Chad was faster than me.

“What are you doing here?” he asked in a hostile voice.

I came closer to the door and Mitch saw me and smiled big at me. “Come in.” I said.

And I’m almost positive that what he did next was just to piss Chad off. He leaned down and gave me a soft lingering kiss on the lips. But that gesture had my head floating.

“What the hell?!” Chad yelled.

“What’s going on?” Maggie and dad came from the kitchen.

Mitch saw them and smiled at both of them. “Hello Maggie, sir. Keller and I have something to tell you.”

He called me by my name. My god I loved the way he said it!

“Okay.” my dad frowned and sat down on the sofa, Maggie stayed where she was and waited.

“We are dating.”

A gasp. A curse. A chuckle.

And an intent glare from my dad. “If you hurt my Hester I will personally shred you to pieces.” he threatened.

I wanted to cry, everyone noticed my dad’s mistake. Even Chad looked uncomfortable.

“It’s Keller I am dating.” Mitch explain slowly.

My dad frowned again. He looked at me and sighed. “Oh, Keller. Well be careful you two. Maggie I need a nap.” he got up and left.

“Honey-” Maggie started.

“It’s okay, go with him.” I said in a low voice.

She nodded and went after my dad.

“Are you out of your mind?! Why are you dating him?” Chad exploded.

“Because I want to.” I snapped. “And I don’t need you childish complaint Chad, I have more important things to worry about. Like my father not even knowing who I am or caring a bit for it! So cut the act, I am not yours I never was. Get. Over. It.”

“Keller-” his face softened.

“No. I’m with Mitch now. I want to be with him, understand that.” all my happy mood went crashing down into a puddle of nothingness.

“No. one day you’ll see how we belong together.” he got out of the house and slammed the door in the process.

“Come.” Mitch said and sat down, letting his crutches fall as I sat next to him burying my face in his chest. Tears didn’t fall, but the whole in my chest hurt. “Your dad loves you.” he murmured.

“He’s right, Kells. Ed is just confused with all of this. The medication must’ve stopped working.” Ambrose took my free hand.

I sighed. “I can’t loose him too. I just can’t.”

Mitch’s arm around me tightened. “I’ll be with you in every step of the way. Your dad will get better, I promise.”

“You’re not alone Keller, we wont leave you.”

Their reassuring voice made something inside me warm. It made me feel loved and needed. It reminded me I was worth something.

Chapt
er 25

“Girl. Keller. Wake up baby.” a soothing voice said and gentle hands shook me.

I groaned. “Five more minutes.”

There was a chuckle. “It’s time to eat.”

I groaned again and opened my eyes and stared into Mitch’s green eyes. I sat up and noticed I was laying in his lap before. My cheeks heated and I cleared my throat.

“I’ll be right back!” I told him and ran to the bathroom to clean myself up. Then I remembered Ambrose boyfriend was going to come and I brightened up.

I went to the living room and saw Mitch was getting up. “Hey where’s Ambrose?”

“I saw him go into your room, hasn’t come out since.” he explained.

I frowned then shrugged. “Let’s go eat.”

He followed me inside the kitchen where Maggie was making something to eat. My dad was seating already and looking into space. When he noticed us come in he smiled sadly at us.

“Take a seat.” Maggie ordered and we sat down, Mitch next to me. “I’m taking Ed to the doctor. We’ll be back in a few hours.” She served and gave us our plates.

“Alright. Please call me if anything.” I said.

“Of course darling.” she smiled then turned to my dad. “Come on Ed, its time to go.”

My dad frowned confused but got up anyways.

Minutes later the front door closed and they were gone. I sighed. “I hope he gets better. This whole thing was hard on him.”