BILLIE-HALES & ZEALOUS

Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

"Ooo, who's the hottie?"
She said while placing a plate of food down on my desk. So with a shy grin, I tell her it's the guy who'd hit me with the ball.
"Jaxon Colton? I'm sure I know that name. Now, where have I heard that name?"
I feel a pain in my chest knowing exactly where she'd probably heard it from.
"H-his dad... his dad is... was, Jax Colton. The rugby player who'd died, after winning the world championships."
As I tell her this, I'm almost whispering the words. She ends up sitting on the edge of my bed and once she's comfortable she sighs.

"Yeah, I remember now. Your dad's we're watching it. We were all in Grandad's bar. Oh, it was so sad. I remember when he'd passed away I'd held onto you. I'd held you so tightly just feeling thankful that we'd all had each other."

I'm looking at her taking in her words while feeling a single tear roll down my cheek.
"So, you're friends with him now? Is this the one who had you sitting on his lap? You know when your dads came for you?"
Now she's grinning, but I can see it, she's worried too. Obviously, they've told her his age.
"Yeah, kinda. I've just accepted his request, but I guess we'll see. I mean, friendship is probably as far as we'll go since my dads forbade me from seeing him."
I watch her eyes open wide. Of course, I end up huffing out a little chuckle.

"Yeah, I know. Jesus, I'm sure they were born in the Dark Ages? They're just like Grandad; overprotective. Mum, I love them to bits, but I'm eighteen now. I should be able to make my own mistakes now. Yes, I've made a few already, but like I say I'm eighteen so I'm gonna make them. I just wish they'd understand that I'm wise to boys. Believe me, I know my worth. But they just need to trust me, to make the right choices."
When I tell her that last part, I'm looking at his profile. That's when I hear her sigh again.

"And him? Do you think he is one of them?"
I'm still looking at his profile and while I'm doing so, a message pops up, making my heart race and my palms a little clammy.

"I-I guess. I mean, I guess we'll find out."
Yeah, my mum sees that message light, too. I know this because she's giving my shoulder a little squeeze.
"I have to admit though, I worried you'd fall for the 'tarty charms' of that Dalton kid. I'm just so glad, you know your worth."
She ends that by placing a kiss on the top of my head.
"I love you, sweetheart. I'm always here for you. No matter what and don't worry about your dads I'll have a word with them. You know, see if I can get them to back off a little."
I end up huffing out another laugh when she says this.
"Yeah, good luck with that."

As she left my room, I think back over her words. She's glad I didn't fall for his tarty charms I did. I fell for them, but as she said, I know my worth. I'm just sad that he didn't know it either.
Anyway, I need to stop thinking of him. I need to move on I need to find myself and find where I belong you know like in the grand scheme of things I call my life.

*Message from Jaxon Colton.*
I've read over his name about twenty times, trying to pluck up the courage to open it or to even just, talk to him. Hell, I've been nervous before, but I'm shaking. Even my stomach's doing somersaults too.

"Okay, Billie, you can do this. Just open the message and see what he says. What's the worst that can happen?"

*Hey, I've found you. It took all of two seconds for your name to show up.
So, how's the lump? 🏉 Again, I'm really sorry about that. Forgive me? 🙏*
As I'm reading over his message, I can't help the smile that's spread across my face. So after another party of, butterflies dancing in my stomach, I take in a deep breath and send him my reply.

*Hey, the lump's okay. Docs gave me painkillers for it. The Sad part is that I've got to wake up every two hours so they know I'm still alive.
I guess there aren't many people with the same name. It's like me; one of a kind. 😎😂 Again, I forgive you. 😇*
I hit send and then read it only I wish I hadn't sent the being one-of-a-kind part.