When Summer Ends

Building the Tension

A/N 2-22-2022: Okay. After a lot of reflection and much internal debating, I've decided to publish one chapter a day. (At least, each day that I can. Sometimes life gets busy and I may forget but I'll do my best!) I just need y'all to know the story, so waiting isn't going to be a thing haha. I am SO excited for y'all to get further into the story, and I think you'll really like what's coming up (although you may hate me for a bit...)

I just want to thank each of you again for your love, support, votes and comments during this whole process. The only reason I have been able to keep writing is because of you guys. You give me the motivation and support that I need, and I will forever be grateful for you. Please keep the comments coming, I absolutely love hearing y'alls thoughts as you read, it seriously is the best part of my day when I get a notification that someone commented! And it's super entertaining haha.

Okay, there's my word dump for the day. I'm just a lil emotional hehe. I love you all, truly <3

Smut included in chapter:)

Rylie and I leave the vet a little after 4:00pm, which gives us a little over an hour to finish getting ready for dinner with Kylie and Benny.

Rylie's hand instantly slips into mine as we start driving. "I'm kind of amazed with you right now. More than usual." She adds.

"Oh?" I question. Harvey plays happily in the backseat with a toy Rylie had given him for doing so well with his shots.

"I've had to learn over the past six months how to deal with Jarom. You had him figured out within five minutes. How did you do that?"

I think about it for a moment before deciding to answer her question with a question of my own. "Do you remember last summer, at the Wrightsville competition, when Gabe showed up?" Rylie nods, and I can see her trying to figure out where I was going with this. "He was mad, Rylie. Madder than I had ever seen him, which is saying a lot. Seeing him that mad made me genuinely wonder if the only way to get out of there alive was to agree to everything he was saying. But then you showed up. You'd heard every awful thing about him and yet, you stood up to him. You literally broke his nose." I say with a chuckle. Then softly, I ask the biggest question. "Why did you do that, Rylie?"

She's quiet for several minutes as she thinks. Her thumb rubs circles on the back of my hand. Finally, she answers me. "The thought of his hands on you, hurting any..." She takes a shaky breath. "Any part of you, was overwhelming. I wanted to absolutely destroy him. I'd fucked up and lost you at that point, but I was still completely in love with you and would have done anything to protect you. Gabe had absolutely no right to treat you the way he did, when you were together or broken up. I did it because I love you, and protecting you is the only thing I care about."

An unexpected wave of emotion hits me as Rylie finishes. "It was the same exact thing with Jarom." I explain quietly. "My love for you overpowers every save part of me. Jarom is twice my size and yet, standing up to him seemed so simple the moment he threatened you. Don't get me wrong," I glance briefly at Rylie and find her eyes on me. "I know you can protect yourself. You're crazy tough and sometimes scary when you're mad at someone, but I want to be able to protect you, too."

I pause as another thought comes to mind. "Rylie... Jarom is abusive. And I'm not just saying that because he's got eyes for my girl. I'm saying that because I know. His face when you turned him down... it was the same exact face Gabe would get anytime I did one wrong thing." We pull up to our apartment, but neither of us move to get out of the car yet. "I can't handle the thought of him being around you. Or him eventually getting his way with you. I can't..." My voice breaks, and Rylie takes both of my hands.