More Than This (More Than, #1)(21)

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.”

I remove her phone from her hands so I can get her full attention.

She looks up at me.

“What’s going on, Kayla?”

“I’m just trying to work up some courage.” She looks resolved.

“What do you mean? Courage for what?”

She’s quiet for a beat. “Sam, James’ mom… she’s been calling me, I haven’t spoken to her yet, she’s sent a few texts too.” She looks away from me. “She’s asked that I stay with them. I don’t think she knows about James and Megan, but she knows something’s up with me and James.”

She pauses.

I sit and wait for the rest.

She looks back at me now, tears in her eyes, “I think I should go there, Jake, stay with them, I mean. Just until everything gets sorted…”

I try to interrupt but she stops me. “I was with him for four years, I was like a daughter to them. I just think that maybe… they might be more comfortable with me there.”

There’s a lump in my throat that makes it hard to speak, I have to clear it a few times before anything comes out. “Kayla, if that’s what you want then I can’t stop you, but it’s not what my family want, and it’s definitely not what I want.”

She sighs, “I think I need to, Jake.”

“And what about James?” I can’t help but spit out his name.

“What about him?”

“Are you guys gonna get back together? I mean, do you still love him?”

“I-"

She gets cut off by the doorbell, Lisa’s here.


***


Lisa spends the day with Mom and Kayla, making phone calls and arranging appointments for the next week. I can see Kayla’s preoccupied, she just tends to nod and agree to anything, I don’t think she actually has a clue about what’s happening.

Logan comes by, but Kayla’s not really in the mood for hanging out, so he leaves soon after. Logan might be an ass most of the time but the kid’s got heart, there’s a reason he’s my best friend.

I don’t know what Kayla’s thinking… about where she’s going to stay. I hope to god she doesn’t go to James’ house, not just because he’s an *, but because, well… honestly, I don’t really want to be without her. It’s selfish, I know.

Lisa ends up staying for dinner again. Apparently the funeral director is coming tomorrow morning to make arrangements and then the cops will come by for an update after that. Then the next day they have an appointment with the family lawyer. I think Lisa’s hoping the funeral will be the day after, turns out she’s getting married in a couple of weeks, the weekend after graduation, so she has to head back home the day after the funeral.