More Than This (More Than, #1)(25)

Casey.

Where the f*ck did she come from?

Jake tenses.

Luckily for us, my phone sounds with a text. Aunt Lisa lets us know that the cops are on the way to Jake's. I show him the text and he excuses us. We walk back to his truck with his hand on the small of my back.

We ride back in silence, but half way there I look over at him. His cap pulled down low on his forehead, almost past his eyebrows. He senses me looking at him and turns to me. He smiles that panty dropping smile, then turns back to face the road, smile still in place.

“So Casey, huh?”

His face falls instantly and we don’t talk for the rest of the ride.


***


Jake


When we pull up to the house the police cruiser is already there. We make our way into the living room to find them seated, waiting.

Dad’s here too.

The officers stand to shake Kayla’s hand and then wait for her to be seated before sitting back down.

Kayla sits on the recliner and I sit on the arm, she takes my hand in hers before getting comfortable.

“This is just a courtesy visit Miss Jones-" officer one starts.

“Micky… call me Micky… please.”

“Micky.” The officer nods at her.

Officer two says, “We just wanted to keep you updated on the case. There hasn’t been many changes, we still haven’t found him, but we’re doing everything we can.”

“Thank you,” Kayla says quietly.

“We’re still under the impression it was random. There is nothing to indicate otherwise, unless you have any information that might change that.”

Kayla shakes her head.

Officer one continues, “It looks like whoever was in there, was there for a simple burglary, we suspect that your family came home in the middle of it, and… well… you can guess what happened.” His voice breaks. “We’re also under the impression that they tried to burn the evidence, they started a fire in the garage, it got to all three cars housed in there, and to most of the kitchen. Luckily the fire department were there before it could get any further. We’ve swept the place clean of any evidence we might need, so you’re okay to go back there whenever you want and collect any personal belongings. Unfortunately, the fire department has deemed it a health risk to actually live there, the whole dwelling will need to be knocked down. We’re so sorry, Micky.”

Kayla’s eyes are brimming with unshed tears and Lisa moves to the other side of the recliner to comfort her.

The officers share a look and then officer two eyes Kayla. “Miss Jo-, uh, Micky,” he corrects. “There’s one other thing. We don’t want to go into too much detail about the crime, but we thought you should know, the gun shot wounds…” he takes a deep breath. Kayla is gripping my hand so tight the blood has drained from it. She’s leaning forward in the chair and has stopped breathing. She waits… “Each victim had a single gun shot wound to the head, they died instantly. They weren’t in any pain, Micky.” A single tear falls from the officers eye before he can wipe it with his shoulder.

Kayla’s entire body convulses and she falls to the floor in front of us. I pick her up and sit us back on the recliner, cradling and rocking her, I move the hair from her face as she cries into my chest.

The officers stand up and one of them speaks, “We’ll see ourselves out, thank you for your time. We’ll leave you with your loved ones, Mikayla.”

Dad shakes their hands as they leave.

Loved ones.

I think I do, love her, I mean.

I think I’m in love with this beautifully broken girl.


I carry her upstairs to my bed and that’s how we spend the night, her silently crying in my arms.


  Chapter 14


Jake


I miss my morning workout again. Kayla spent the entire night crying quietly in my arms. She finally fell asleep around five. I didn’t.

I carefully remove myself from her and get out of bed. She needs to sleep. She has a meeting with their lawyer today, I guess about the will and house, I’m not sure. Dad will be there. I won’t.

I have to be at school, for the morning at least. Some of the trainers and players from UNC are meeting me at the field for ‘pre-orientation’, whatever that means. I’d much rather be here with Kayla.

When I get out of the shower she’s sitting up in bed. Her eyes and nose are all puffy and red from crying all night, her hair is smeared and sticking out one side. She’s looking at me shyly. It’s pretty much the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen plenty of girls the morning after spending the night with one, but not like this. She’s just, more than anyone else. We haven’t slept together, we haven’t even kissed, and she’s just… more.

Eventually, I’ll want to. Kiss her, I mean. Because hell, who wouldn’t, but not now, not with all this.

“Morning,” I say, sitting next to her on the bed. I give her a quick kiss on the temple.

She kisses me softy on the cheek. It’s the first time she’s kissed me since the limo ride before…

“Good morning,” she tries to smile.

“I really have to be at school this morning, if I could get out of it, I totally would, just so you know.”