Fast Car | Escapes #1

Chapter 27: Jenny

Brayden's voice was thick with sleep when he answered my call. "Jenny?" he asked. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I said, trying to sound normal. "Sorry if I woke you up. I'll just call back in the morning. You should get some rest."

"No no! Stay." I heard some rustling and a grunt and then a sigh. There was a faint click. "You've got me here, and I'm not going anywhere. Surely you have a reason to call this late."

I looked at my phone. It was well past ten. "You're just in bed early," I teased. 

"Maybe so," he said with a chuckle. "I've had a lot going on, but it's all related to the store. What about you?"

I chewed my lip and my mind flashed back to Wendall, his face right before I closed my eyes. "I'm leaving this house," I said adamantly. "I'm going to be living in the college dorms. I'm going to enroll in a driving school and get my license, too. I'm coming to you eventually."

I could hear the smile in his voice. "Good. I've been missing you like crazy. It's hard to not have you right here where I can see you're okay and see you're not going through something. The last thing I want is for you to experience anything like what your dad put you through. You're strong, but even the strong have their limits."

His words resonated in me. "You'll tell me if something happens to you?" I asked.

He sighed. "I think I've told you everything about Charlie. He went home last week. I told you all about his dad punching me. There's nothing else to tell right now. Promise  me you'll do the same for me?"

Tears welled up. "Brayden, I'm not okay here. Mom doesn't see anything going on, but I can't stay here."

"What happened?" he asked gently. So gently. 

"I want you to hold me in your arms," I said instead of answering. "You make me feel safe."

There was a pause. "Did her husband do something to you, baby?"

I nodded as I wiped at my face, sniffling. "I love you. Only you. There's only ever been you, and ever will be you. You know that, right?"

Pause. "You're scaring me, Jenny. I love you too, and you're my one and only. What does this have to do with what's going on with you?"

"Humor me, please?"

He sighed. "Okay. For now."

"Have you ever been with someone else?"

"Like, in a relationship? Or in a more... physical way?"

"Physical."

"Well, I've been in several relationships, but I haven't done more than make-out with someone at a party once. That's something I wish I could take back, not just because of the situation, which is a very long story that I don't want to get into, but because I was young and dumb. It's not something that should have happened." He paused. "I know this sounds old-fashioned, but I want to now there's a solid commitment before I give too much of myself, no matter how crazy I am for her. I want to know that she's the one and that I'm going to have her to myself for the rest of my life. If that means I'm fifty and still haven't gone beyond kissing, so be it."

I giggled. "It sounds like you want to marry the girl first." 

"I do, actually. I want to know that we're committing out of love, not lust. If I give in and we have sex right away, how do I know she won't be easy for another man? Or how do I know she wants me for more than my body? I also want to make sure of that about myself. If she gives in early, am I in it only for her body? I don't want to engage in something that shallow that I know I'll only regret later if I find someone who means more than her."