Page 27 of Before You (Reckless Love #2)

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

JJ

FOR THE SECOND time, I’ve been absolutely shattered by a kiss from Marley Benson.

Trying to keep my hands off her is so damn hard, but I’m fighting every urge I have to take her into my arms and kiss her the way I desperately want to.

I’m embarrassed by how carried away I got, losing the battle against my self-control when I heard the sweet sounds she made as I kissed her, pulling me closer.

In the two weeks since, I haven’t allowed myself to kiss her again, despite it being all I think about. Especially when she looks at me, chewing on her bottom lip while staring at mine, and I can tell she’s thinking about kissing me because I’m thinking about kissing her.

I’m trying to do the right thing and take it slow because even though I pressed Marley up against a door while kissing her senselessly, I don’t want her to think the only reason I want to be with her is that I find her attractive.

I didn’t wait eight hundred and ninety-two days to find Marley again to ruin it all by becoming preoccupied with sex.

Is it weird for me to still be in love with her?

Probably, but it doesn’t change the fact that I am deeply, madly, and hopelessly in love with Marley.

She’s worth waiting for.

And then there’s the fact I’m doing my best to not punch her ex-boyfriend in the fucking face.

I’m not a violent person, and my temper doesn’t run as hot as my siblings’, but I am genuinely surprised I haven’t hit him.

The shit Trent says about Marley makes my blood boil to a dangerous temperature, and it’s only a matter of time before I stop biting my tongue.

Perfect example would be when he started comparing his ex’s blowjobs to the girl he was with last weekend, and my jaw was clenched so hard, I thought I might crack a molar.

The only thing helping me keep my shit together was how disappointed I thought Marley would be if she heard I got into a fight with Trent over her, so instead I thought about how I spent my Sunday afternoon baking cookies.

One of us is going to have to learn how to make something edible if we’re going to spend the rest of our lives together.

I can at least cook breakfast foods, but Marley? She can’t cook anything to save her life, but I’ll eat anything she gives me with a smile on my face, even if it kills me in the end.

I’ve spent at least some form of time with her every day since the night we kissed, but even with all the time together, we still talk on the phone until one of us falls asleep.

It only took one time of waking up with my phone’s battery drained entirely to ensure I plug it in before lying down.

My anxiety can’t handle the thought of missing a call from Bailey, and it scared me shitless to think about how careless I was with the only lifeline I have to him— the only one we all have with him —even if the reason was that I fell asleep talking to Marley.

The October breeze is a better change in pace than August and September where the heat is blistering underneath all my pads I have to wear at football.

I’m drained from practice, but I promised to meet up with Bria later to run intervals instead of for distance, and I think it’s her way of trying to kill me. I’d rather die trying to digest any of Marley’s creations.

I pull my phone out of my pocket and press my mom’s contact, dialing her number. I almost think she’s not going to pick up, but she does on the final ring. “How nice of you to call. How is my sweet California boy doing?” she teases, and I roll my eyes.

“Oh, Mom, you know I’m still a Carolina boy at heart.

Sorry I haven’t called much this week, there’s just been a lot going on with football.

” It’s a weak excuse, but it’s hard for me to talk to my family knowing how far away they are.

It was my decision to come here, but as much as I miss them, I hate the part of me that dreads making phone calls because of Bailey.

“You don’t have to explain. I know how it is better than anyone.

” Mom chuckles, and I shift my bag on my shoulder, opting to walk to the house instead of catching a ride.

“A little birdie told me it’s not football consuming so much of your time, but I’ll let it slide until you want to talk about it. ”

I’m going to kill Mira.

She’s been in such a sappy mood since she and Henry got engaged. I kept her secret about being in love with Henry for years, and she can’t keep mine quiet for more than two months?

Clearly, I’m the superior sibling.

“Oh, is this birdie newly engaged and a major pain in my ass?”

“Potentially. I would like to say she’s also a major pain in my ass.”

“Oh really?”

“You’re all major pains in my ass. Don’t think you’re an exception,” Mom says, and I can’t help but smile.

“Right, okay, but I’m the least major pain in your ass.”

“That is an awfully high presumption of you to make, JJ,” Mom says, but she doesn’t tell me I’m wrong. “So am I going to have to wait for news from tabloids about this girl like I did with Henry and Mira?”

I hate the idea of cameras capturing pictures of me and Marley.

When I’m in California, they usually leave me alone, but when I’m home, I don’t get it nearly as bad as Mira and Henry do.

I don’t mind the spotlight when it comes to football, but I’ve seen firsthand how invasive the media can be when it comes to getting the money shots they crave.

It’s the reason why there’s naked photos of my sister on the internet forever.

The thought of something similar ever happening to Marley makes the blood running through my veins turn to ice.

“We’re not together or fake dating,” I say, feeling the need to clarify the second part after Mirabelle pulled that stunt with Henry.

“Glad to know you’re not following in your sister’s footsteps, even if it did work out for her. So you have feelings for her? Come on, my birthday is next week, and I’d love to know if my present will be getting to meet this mystery girl.”

I pause, considering how much I really want to admit here. I more than like Marley.

She’s everything.

“JJ?”

“I bought her flowers,” I ultimately decide to say, knowing that sentence is the only thing I can remotely say to try and explain what Marley means to me in a way my mother will understand.

Mom gasps. “Alors, quand vais-je rencontrer ma belle-fille?” 15

“ Mom .” I groan, but I can’t deny the thought of Marley meeting my parents makes me smile.

They’d love her, but I also think they’d scare the shit out of her.

I love my parents, but their relationship is an acquired taste.

“We aren’t even dating, so maybe don’t refer to Marley as your future daughter-in-law. ”

“Si tu lui achètes des fleurs, alors je suis confiante sur le fait qu’elle le sera,” 16 she responds.

“They’re flowers, not an engagement ring.” Except in my family, flowers are essentially the equivalent to an engagement ring.

“Bullshit. You know it means the same damn thing. I thought you had to be smart to get into Beaumont?” Mom teases, causing a bark of laughter to sound from me. Hilarious coming from her when she’s asked me since middle school how much to tip at restaurants.

“I am smart.”

“If you’re so smart then why haven’t you proposed to the girl you want to marry? If it’s because you don’t have a ring, I’d be happy to let you use mine.”

I hear Dad in the background ask Mom who she’s talking to, and then I’m placed on speakerphone to hear him more clearly.

“Why is your mother offering to give you her wedding ring? I really hope you didn’t knock some girl up because you didn’t glove up first. We’ve talked about how condoms are important for more than one reason, including protecting both you and a partner from STDs and pregnancy,” Dad says and I groan loudly, earning me a couple of looks from other people out enjoying the nice weather.

It’s hilarious, considering knocking someone up requires having sex, which hasn’t happened.

“Because she’s delusional and wants me to propose to a girl I’m not dating, who is not pregnant,” I whisper-yell because the last thing I need is for it to get around campus I’ve knocked a girl up and I’m proposing.

Oh shit, I probably shouldn’t have called her delusional. Mom’s quick to argue, “Bash, he’s bought her flowers! I am not delusional!”

“Why is this the first we’re hearing about her?” he asks, and I start thinking of ways I can get revenge on Mirabelle for opening her mouth.

“Maybe because I knew you guys would react like this,” I drawl out. Honestly, they shouldn’t be surprised I haven’t told them, but maybe I should have after hearing how excited they are.

“Well we’re coming to see your game in three weeks so make sure you invite her to dinner so we can get to know her,” he says, immediately causing me to smile. I’d hoped they would, but between all the football schedules we juggle this time of year, I didn’t know where they were going to end up.

“You guys are really coming?”

“We are! It’s the same week as Hunter’s bye week, so he’ll be with us. Mirabelle’s coming too, but Henry’s going to fly out to meet us after since he’ll play in Arizona Friday night,” Mom says, and I really, really can’t wait.

~

A couple of hours later, I jog up the stairs to Marley and Bria’s apartment, already preparing myself to die while we run these intervals.

A breeze kisses my bare chest as my shirt is preemptively tucked into the waistband of my shorts, knowing I’m going to sweat through it, so I might as well maintain my tan from all the surfing I did this past summer.

I knock on the door, glaring at the goddamn doorknob I’m hoping is locked.

One twist tells me it’s not, and I groan, walking in with every intention to pick another argument about how the door needs to be locked.

Bria says it annoys her when she has to come let me in.

If the door is unlocked, just walk in, she’s said multiple times during the last two weeks since I started meeting her here for our runs instead of at the track.

My counterargument is they’re two girls living alone, and then Bria usually flips me off as Marley laughs.

This time, six sets of eyes meet mine, and I freeze in my tracks as the door shuts behind me.

“Who the fuck are you, and why are you walking into our daughter’s apartment half-naked?”

My eyes nearly bug out of my head as I look down, realizing my preemptive plan was an awful idea.

“Oh shit,” I swear, pulling my shirt out of my waistband.

Did I get the day wrong? “Um, hi, I’m JJ,” I stammer, my eyes finding Marley, but she’s staring at my abdomen, as are both of the women who look around my mom’s age, their eyes widened in shock.

Bria gasps, drawing everyone’s attention thankfully to her. “Oh my fucking god. We’re supposed to run intervals. I’m so sorry, let me change and grab my shoes!” She mouths sorry to me on her way to her room, pulling her hair up quickly.

They’re clad in expensive clothes that make me feel extremely underdressed.

Everyone knows who Hayes Benson is, but even if I didn’t, his eyes that match Marley’s are a dead giveaway, and they’re narrowed at me like I’m his next meal.

I’m assuming the other one is Bria’s father, and while his demeanor is slightly less terrifying, I’m wondering if I need to be afraid for my life.

“Dad, this is our friend, JJ. He’s here because he and Bria run together, and she probably forgot to tell him you guys were visiting,” Marley says, and all I can do is nod like a fucking bobblehead after tugging my shirt over my head.

The woman leaning against the counter with dark long hair tilts her head at me, a low whistle coming from her lips. “Hot damn, maybe I should have gone to college. None of the models I ever worked with looked like that,” she says, and my face is on fire.

“Tessa!” The other woman laughs, and Marley covers her face with her hands.

I take a brave—or stupid—step toward Marley’s dad, doing my best to look him in the eye as I hold out my hand.

“Hello, sir, I’m JJ. Very sorry to be meeting you this way, but it is nice to meet you.

” It’s a good thing I’m the biggest liar I know, because my voice doesn’t shake once to reveal how terrified I am.

He takes my hand, squeezing it tightly, and I’m highly aware of the threat it promises.

“Benson, be kind,” a soft voice says, and he releases his grip on my hand.

“You as well,” he says, and I turn to Bria’s dad, offering him my hand as well.

His shake is firm, but at least he offers a slight smile. “Grayson, it’s nice to meet you, JJ.”

Bria hops out of her room, pulling on her shoe. “Fuck, sorry, JJ. I knew Marley’s parents were coming, but I thought mine were in Italy, because that’s what they told me last week. Ready to go?” she asks, giving me an escape I’m desperate for.

“Yeah, after you put more clothes on,” her dad says, and Bria rolls her eyes.

“Dad, it’s fine. It’s the same thing I wear to practice, which is exactly what we’re doing.”

He frowns, and I feel a bead of sweat roll down my neck. “Bria—”

Bria hooks her arm with mine, pulling me out of the apartment. “We’ll be back soon! Love you!” she calls over her shoulder, shutting the door behind us.

My jaw drops and I look at her in astonishment. “What the hell just happened? I can’t believe you didn’t tell me your parents were here.”

“Yeah, ’cause you really care about meeting my parents,” she teases, smirking over her shoulder before jogging down the stairs. “If it makes it better, I really did forget we were supposed to go running after my parents showed up, but how was I supposed to know you’d show up shirtless?”

“You think this is funny?” I ask, following her quick pace.

“Actually, kind of. The look on your face after Hayes asked who you were was priceless. I promise he’s not always scary,” Bria says, laughing.

I think we’ll have to disagree, because I feel like he could crush me under his shoe like a bug without thinking twice about it. “You have nice clothes here, right?”

“Yeah, why?”

“Because I know for a fact you earned yourself an invitation to dinner tonight. Wearing something nice could help erase the fact you walked in shirtless.”

“Maybe if you locked your door, I wouldn’t have walked in,” I grumble under my breath. Maybe I’ll get lucky and these intervals will in fact kill me before Marley’s father can.