Page 60 of Before You (Reckless Love #2)

CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

JJ

BETWEEN FINALS AND my football schedule, the last three weeks have flown by. I feel a little guilty for not spending my birthday and Christmas with my family, but I’d feel worse about not spending the time with Marley.

She ran herself ragged with projects, and for a few days there, I think Marley was sleeping less than I was.

I’m not even sure she knew how much nervous energy she was projecting, but I think after the meetings she went to New York for after Thanksgiving, she’s wavering in her determination to take over.

As a result of her hesitancy, it seems like Marley has thrown herself into overdrive to prove to herself she wants to take over.

I understand her commitment to taking over for her father as the CEO in a few years, but I also hate saying nothing as a bystander to her misery.

Thankfully, I’m smart enough to understand it’s not my place to say anything, no matter how much I might want to.

Marley’s been there for me countless times over the last few months, and while I wasn’t happy about the circumstances, I was glad to finally be able to return the favor of being there for her.

I’m even trying to learn Mandarin so Marley can have someone to practice with, but I’m finding it’s entirely different from learning Italian.

Hasn’t stopped me from making flashcards and listening through my headphones to practice during my walks to and from class, though.

It’s nice to have a different way to distract my brain from the cravings that are still rearing their ugly heads inside me.

Thankfully, my parents weren’t upset about me coming to New York early for the holiday, since I have to be here anyway for my team’s bowl game a few days after Christmas.

While I was overwhelmed at first by how nice the Benson’s townhome is, it definitely helped seeing her dad walk around in sweatpants and an old Beaumont Lacrosse sweatshirt, making him seem a little more down-to-earth than when he’s wearing his full suits.

It’s still one thing knowing how many zeroes are attached to the Benson name, and another thing to see it firsthand.

Marley is brushing a comb through her tangled, damp hair on her bed when I step out of the bathroom, pulling my clean shirt into place.

There’s just something about airports that makes me want to shower before doing anything else, and knowing this, Marley asked if I wanted to join her, but I didn’t trust myself to keep my hands to myself.

Her cerulean eyes find mine, and a stunning smile peels across her face. “You know, it would’ve saved water if we showered together.”

I chuckle, shaking my head at Marley. “As much as I love an excuse to touch you everywhere, I highly doubt it’d be faster,” I say, sitting next to her as her comb catches on a knot. She sighs, tugging it through, and it just looks painful. “Can I help?” I ask, and Marley turns, her eyebrows raised.

“Help with what?”

“Comb your hair.”

“What? Why?” she asks, and I shrug.

“I like taking care of you.”

Marley’s mouth parts, her breath catching. “Okay,” she agrees, her voice soft.

I pluck the comb before she can change her mind, starting at the ends like I’ve seen Mirabelle do so many times before. I take my time to work my way up—more time than necessary—until the comb is able to glide through her caramel hair.

“You’re good at this,” she says, tilting her head back.

“I told you, I like taking care of you,” I say, enjoying being helpful. “Thank you for inviting me to come with you.”

“Thank you for coming. It means a lot, especially knowing everything going on with your family.” Marley twists, turning her whole body to face mine as I set the comb down on her comforter. “I’m really happy you’re here.”

“Happy to be here, Mar.” It’s so tempting to lean forward and kiss Marley, but instead, my eyes shift to my open bag in the corner of her room. “I know it’s not Christmas for a few more days, but can I give you a present early?”

It’s honestly a miracle I’ve kept it to myself until now. Bria went with me to pick it out, and I have been so excited to give it to her.

“Right now?”

“Why not?” I ask, standing up to grab the little box from my bag.

She chuckles, her cheeks rosy as Marley smiles at me. “Because it’s not Christmas yet,” she says, shaking her head.

“So? I have another one you can open on Christmas, but humor me a little,” I tease, my heart beating fast in my chest as I hand her the small, wrapped box. “Merry Christmas, Marley.”

She takes it from me with a smile, carefully peeling back the wrapping paper instead of ripping into it like I would’ve to reveal the velvet box inside. Her brilliant blue eyes lift to meet mine before she opens it, emitting a soft gasp.

“JJ.”

“Do you like it?” I ask, trying not to let my nerves get the better of me.

Marley covers her mouth with her hand, nodding as she looks up at me with tears in her eyes. “It’s perfect.”

“My family has this tradition of sorts about flowers, and it stems all the way back to my great grandparents. My great-grandfather always bought flowers for my great-grandmother—for any occasion, but most of the time without a reason—and this in turn translated to my grandfather when he met my grandmother. My dad’s made sure all of us have kept their memory and the tradition alive by teaching me and my siblings how flowers are meant for the most important people in your life,” I say, as Marley lifts the dainty gold flower pendant from the box.

I picked gold because I noticed the rest of the jewelry she wears is gold, and I wanted it to match.

“I wanted you to have a permanent flower beause you’re the most important person in my life. ”

“That’s why you buy me flowers?” Marley asks, sniffling.

“Sorry I didn’t tell you the reason sooner.”

She launches forward, knocking me backward on the bed when she wraps her arms around me. “I love you, je t’aime, ti amo.”

“I love you too,” I say, holding Marley close.

~

“So how did the end of your semester go?” Marley’s father asks me as I help him set the table for dinner. He offered to teach me how to make Marley’s favorite dish, a creamy Tuscan chicken, and I’m not sure I’m skilled enough to attempt it on my own, but I definitely plan to practice.

“I think I started dreaming about numbers by the time I took my final exam after all the studying I did, but I’m hoping it paid off.

I’m waiting for the score of my project from my statistics class to be entered, but I have a good feeling about it,” I say, glancing to Marley as she brings silverware to the table. “It helps I had a great study partner.”

Yeah, Marley didn’t help me study at all, but she made sure I took breaks to keep from losing my mind. If anything, I had to try to keep her on task more than anything.

Kaden sets the pan on the table, a short laugh escaping him. “Mar must really like you if she willingly looked at numbers with you. She doesn’t even lik—” he stops talking when he realizes the look Marley is giving him, and I feel bad for inadvertently opening this can of worms.

Marley looks like a deer caught in the headlights as her dad looks at her, and she forces a laugh, passing out the plates.

“Dude, you’re being dramatic. I love numbers, so of course I would help JJ study,” she says, pasting on the fakest smile I’ve ever seen her attempt.

She’s too busy glaring at her brother to notice how Hayes frowns, and I can only guess he’s also aware of how bad Marley is at lying, especially when it comes to this topic.

I don’t want to push her, but she’s obviously miserable in all of her classes, and she avoids any topic involving Benson Pharmaceuticals like the plague. I’m not the only one noticing either.

Sephine walks into the dining room, her movements practiced and graceful. “Something smells good,” she says, smiling.

“For once, it wasn’t all me,” Hayes says, tipping his head in my direction. “Thanks for the help,” he says, and I wish I could enjoy the praise, but I’m too busy watching Marley to see if she’s okay.

“Of course. I’m not sure how much help I really was, but thanks for showing me how to make it,” I say, realizing I should probably respond.

Once we’re all seated and dinner’s been dished out, I’m only half-listening to the conversation Kaden is having with his parents about some art auction he’s going to attend with Bria’s mom.

I can’t stop watching Marley. The way she’s been spinning her ring nonstop tells me Marley’s overthinking something, and I’m willing to put money on it being the exchange with her brother.

I bump her leg under the table with my knee, causing her to glance in my direction. I lift my eyebrow, hoping she can understand my wordless question.

Her mouth tilts into a smile—one growing wider when my gaze dips to see the necklace I gave her on her neck. She bumps my leg back, and I smile back, loving how some of her tenseness seems to ease.

A throat clears, and both our heads turn to see her parents and Kaden staring at us. “Anything you want to share with the group?” Kaden asks, a shit-eating grin on his face.

“Actually, yeah,” I say, looking at her dad. “I’ve been meaning to thank you for having the new lock installed on their apartment.”

Hayes chuckles as Marley groans next to me. “Well, I thought it would be for the best if more shirtless men weren’t able to waltz into the apartment because it was unlocked.”

“I whole heartedly agree with you,” I say, grateful he didn’t murder me then.

“I get it, I need to be better about locking the door.”

Kaden sputters, choking on his water. “I’m sorry, you don’t lock your door? Are you stupid?”

“Kaden,” Sephine says, giving him a look.

“Dad fixed it by getting an automatic lock, so it’s not a problem anymore,” Marley says, rolling her eyes.

“Mar, I feel like you’re missing the point here,” her brother argues, and it’s nice to know I’m not the only one who feels strongly about this. “You and Bria live alone, and you know exactly why you should be locking your door.”

“JJ and Asher are there ninety percent of the time, so I’m pretty sure anyone who thinks about breaking in will run for the hills after one look at the sheer size of them,” Marley grumbles, and then her cheeks heat as I cough, trying not to choke on the bite of chicken in my mouth.

Kaden turns his attention to me, sizing me up, and I mean, Marley’s not wrong. Even just one of us there would probably be enough to at least make an intruder second-guess coming through an unlocked door, let alone two of us.

“Can you crush someone’s head between your thighs?” he asks, and this time, I do choke.

Hayes swears under his breath, low enough I can’t hear. Marley drops her fork on her plate to cover her face with her hands, and I’m really not sure what the right way to react is when Sephine starts laughing.

I clear my throat, taking a sip of my water to help, but my voice is still hoarse when I speak. “I can’t say I’ve ever tried, or I’d let an intruder stick their head between my legs?”

Marley erupts into a fit of giggles, joining her mom and she shakes her head. “I’m sorry, it’s not funny,” she says, peeking at me before more laughter spills from her.

Honestly, it is a little funny to picture, but it’s a good thing Marley doesn’t have thighs the size of mine, or I’d be a goner from all the time I like to spend between them.

Oh shit, definitely not the right thoughts to be having at the table with her family.

“I’m going to pretend I didn’t hear any of this,” Hayes says, taking a bite of his chicken. “I think I miss how quiet it is when they’re gone,” he muses, and Sephine rolls her eyes.

“And I think you’re a liar.”

A leg nudges mine, and I glance in Marley’s direction, finding her blue eyes crinkled with happiness at the corners, and I can’t help but smile.

Regardless of what lies ahead for us, I’ll never stop trying to be the man she thinks I am.