More Than This (More Than, #1)(15)

“Jacob!” His mom reprimands.

“Ma’am,” cop begins “your son here says that he’s Miss Jones’ boyfriend. He says she can stay with him tonight? I just want to confirm that this is suitable.”

Jake’s mom doesn’t miss a beat. “Officer, my son is an adult. I am here for moral support, not to write out permission slips. It’s obvious my son cares for Miss Jones or they would not be in the position they are in.” I’m still cradled in his arms, on the floor of the ambulance. “Now, maybe you need to take a step back and re-evaluate your level of sensitivity to the situation.”

“Yes, Ma’am,” cop replies.

I hear his footsteps walking away.

“Jake, honey, let’s go home.”

Jake pulls back from me so he can see my face, he has to hold my head up because I can’t seem to function at all. “Mikayla?” I blink. “I’m going to carry you into a car, and you’re going to stay at my house tonight, okay?”

I nod once.

“Okay,” he says, pulling hair away from my eyes and planting a kiss on my forehead. Then I’m being lifted and carried into a minivan. He sits in the back with me and resumes his cradle hold. His mom drives to their home, in complete silence.

I must fall asleep, because the next thing I know I’m being carried up stairs and being tucked into a bed. “Jake…” I whisper. “Where are you going?”

“I’m gonna take the sofa downstairs.” He hands me some clothes to sleep in, I’m still in my prom dress. “No one will bother you here, just try to get some rest okay?”

I start to cry, and he’s next to me instantly, holding, and soothing me. “Please, Jake. Can you just stay, please? I don’t want to be alone.”

“Sure” …shaaww… his accent.

“Get dressed and I’ll be back in a few minutes.” He kisses my temple, and leaves his room.


I get out of bed and start to undress, I put on the clothes he handed me, a plain white shirt and boxers. I have no underwear on, no bra, no panties, I have no clothes. I don’t even think I can get in my house to get them. Oh, God. What happened?

As I start to get into the bed, I can hear hushed conversation just outside the door.

“Get some rest sweetheart, both of you. Well, try anyway.”

“Thanks, Mom, for everything, I mean it.”

“Honey, you don’t need to thank me. You did such a good thing today. We’re very proud of you.”

“I didn’t do anything, Mom.”

“Try to get some sleep, son.” A deep male voice says, I assume it’s Jake’s dad. “You have a meeting with your agent here at 9am. Don’t forget.”

“We can’t cancel?” Jake asks.

“Son, he’s travelled from L.A” His dad again. “Just tell him you’re not interested in anything right now and send him on his way.”

“Goodnight, guys.” Jake says as he opens the door.

He closes it behind him then leans against it. His left hand holds an ice pack to his right knuckles, from punching James.

He takes in a deep breath and lets it out in a big puff, blowing his cheeks out.

He looks over at me, for seconds, minutes, hours, who knows.

“God, Kayla. I’m so f*cking sorry.” His voice breaks.

I stare at him.

He puts the ice pack down on his dresser and starts to strip out of his clothes and I look away.

He gets in his bed with me, dressed in his tank and boxers.

Once he’s in, we face each other. Then he sits up abruptly and rips his tank off. “Smells like beer,” he shrugs, getting back under the covers and pulling the blankets to our chins.

“What happened to them, Jake?”

He looks at me and tears fill his eyes.

He pulls my body flush against his and wraps his arms around me, he rests his chin on top of my head and clears his throat.

“The police think your family walked in on a burglar in the house, the * shot them all, Kayla.”

I tense in his arms.

“He got away, but he tried to burn down the house, to get rid of the evidence I guess.”

I lay silent, tears streaming down my face, I wipe them on his chest.

“They got a lot of prints and evidence so they should catch the * soon. They got a lot of witnesses too. The police are calling it a ‘random act of violence’.” He runs his fingers through my hair and kisses my forehead again. “I know it doesn’t bring them back, Kayla, but I really am sorry, for all of it, for James and your best friend, and then your family. Fuck, I can’t even begin to comprehend what you’re feeling. Just know, that I’m here for you… and my friends… our friends, we’ll all be here for you, and my family too. I mean, I know that I just met you tonight but I truly do care about you, Mikayla. And if there’s anything you need, or want, you just tell me okay? Promise me you’ll do that?”

I nod my head. The lump in my throat preventing me from speaking actual words.

I fall asleep in Jake’s arms, sheltered from all the bad and evil in the world.


  Chapter 9


Mikayla


The next morning I wake up needing to use the bathroom. Jake isn’t in his bed. My head is pounding from the previous nights crying and I try not to think about any of it too soon. I look around the room and notice two doors on the right wall, I’m praying one of them is a bathroom.