More Than This (More Than, #1)(77)

Once he's inside me, I work it out, why I never felt like this before. Because if I compare my feelings for Jake to anyone else, then I know. I know I’ve never loved anyone before. Not even a little bit. Not even at all.


Chapter 49


Mikayla

Age 8


“Okay, sweetheart. What story would you like to read?”

“I want you to tell me a story, my own story please, Mommy,” she smiles at me. Her brown eyes softening when she sees my pleading face.

“Okay, I’ll tell you a very special story. It’s a fairytale, about kissing a Prince.”

“Yuck, Mommy! Kissing is gross.”

She laughs a little. I don’t know why, I don’t think it’s funny.

“This is about a special kiss. Are you ready?”

“Yep.” I nod.


“One day in the future Kayla, you’ll meet a handsome Prince. A Prince so handsome, he will make your heart skip.”

I giggle, so does she.

“Every Princess has one Prince to share the loves and joys of life, and do you know how that Princess knows which Prince is hers?”

“How Mommy?”

“From the kiss.”

“But how?”

“The very first kiss with your Prince will change your life. When your lips touch for the first time, the earth will feel like it stops moving, but in the same moment, the world around you spins. It’ll feel like fireworks in the night sky. Like a bright light in the darkness. You’ll feel your heart beat fast in your ears but silence will surround you. And when you pull apart and open your eyes and look at each other, and really see each other. You’ll know it in that moment, through that kiss, that you’ve just let someone own a piece of your heart, and you’ll live happily ever after.”


Chapter 50


Mikayla


"Jesus Christ, Kayla. Where the f*ck have you been? Where is your phone?" His hands are out, asking me to hand it to him. I get it out of my purse. It's flat.

I've just walked into the house and everyone is here. Jake, Logan, Lucy, Cam, Heidi and Dylan.

Jake takes the phone off me and sees it's dead.

He walks to the bedroom in a huff, presumably to charge it.

When he walks back he seems pissed.

"Start charging your f*cking phone, Kayla. I'm sick of this shit,” he growls out.

"Jake,” Logan says, its a warning.

I look at Jake, he's never acted like this before.

Only that one time when he thought me and Logan were f*cking around.

Jake snaps his eyes to Logan, then looks to me, and his features even out. Something else takes over.

He walks up to me and takes my hands, I'm wary, because I don’t know what the hell is going on.

"I'm sorry, baby. I've just… we've been trying to call you. Has no one talked to you today?"

I look at him, brows furrowed, confusion all over my face. I sweep the rest of the room and everyone is watching me, waiting.

For what?

I slowly shake my head no.

"I'm scared, Jake. What's going on?"

He takes my hand and walks me to our bedroom.

He sits me on the edge of the bed and starts pacing the room.

He keeps looking up at me, and I know he's nervous or something, like he's trying to find the right words to say next. It's like the conversation is playing out in his head and he keeps restarting it.

He's opened his mouth three or four times already but keeps snapping it shut, changing his mind.

What the f*ck is going on?

"What the f*ck is going on? Just say it already. You're scaring me. Is it your parents? Did something happen? Julie?"

"Shit!" he says. "No, baby, shit, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you. No, they're all good. It's not that, sorry, babe.”

"Then what is it? Just tell me. Just get it out. Please?”

He sits on the floor, on his heels, in front of me.

His head bowed.

His hands hold both of mine, playing with the rings on my fingers. My mom and dad’s wedding and engagement rings.

It's about them.

When he looks up there are tears brimming in his eyes.

"They caught him, Kayla. They found the * that killed your family.”


***


I don't leave the bedroom for three days, and the whole time, Jake is beside me, leaving only when absolutely necessary.

I hate this me, this stupid, broken me.

I hate that Jake is back to being the guy that has to save me.

And I hate him.

I hate him so f*cking much.

Christopher Leon.

That's the *s name.

The murderer.

The one that took everything.

It shouldn't matter, that they caught him. I mean, it shouldn't make me this upset, because whether they have him or not, it's not going to bring back my family.

Apparently he was busted breaking into another house and the DNA matched.

Nathan, Jake's dad, has kept Jake informed on the situation. He’s been keeping a close eye and making sure the * doesn't find any loopholes in the system that might make him think he deserves less than what he f*cking is.

A murderer.

The guys came around to check on me a few times but Jake said I wasn't up for visitors. Even James came around once. I even heard him and Jake talking, like a legit decent conversation. No name calling. No punches.