But Daddy I Love Him ✸ JJ Maybank

Chapter Twenty Three

CHAPTER TWENTY THREE

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     Natalie's phone kept buzzing, but she ignored it.

She laid in bed, curled up underneath the sheets. When she got home from JJ's house, she went straight to her room and locked herself in there so she could cry alone. She cried for two hours until she eventually fell asleep.

And now it was the next day and she hasn't left her bed.

Natalie felt like crying again as she thought about JJ, the only boy she ever loved. It felt like a part of her has died.

She didn't plan on getting up from her bed and leaving her room, but she heard commotion downstairs. She allowed curiosity take over and found herself getting up, slowly making her way downstairs. She saw her dad standing by the front door, his wife standing behind him.

"What's going—"

She stopped talking when she saw JJ standing outside. The moment their eyes connected, his face softened, but then he frowned when he saw how broken she was.

"Nothing. He's just leaving." Cooper said, starting to shut the door, but Natalie's voice stopped him.

"No. Can you give us a minute?"

Cooper opened his mouth to say something, but Rebecca placed her hand on his arm, giving him a look. He sighed and allowed his wife to lead him to the living room.

"What are you doing here?" Natalie asked JJ, approaching him.

"I'm sorry. You know, for calling you a Kook." He replied, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly. "It was uncalled for."

She nodded. "Yeah. It was."

He sighed. "I don't want any bad blood between us. Can we try to be friends?"

Natalie stared at him, wanting to laugh in his face. She didn't want to be his friend. She wanted to be something more to him, but that's not happening.

She shrugged. "I guess we can try."

"Good." He replied, growing a small smile. It quickly fell. "That's not all. Rafe is back on the island. Sarah saw him and she overheard him talking about the cross. Apparently the cross is going to Wilmington tomorrow night. We have a plan to get it and we want you there."

"It's not going to be easy." Natalie told him, knowing her parents wouldn't just let her go. "We can try talking to my parents."

JJ didn't say anything. All he did was nod.

Natalie turned and started heading upstairs, halting when she noticed JJ was standing in the same spot. She glanced over her shoulder, giving him a look, and he knew. He shut the door behind him and followed her upstairs.

While Natalie got dressed in the bathroom, JJ stood in the middle of her room, his hands buried in his pockets.

Natalie walked out of the bathroom, wearing different clothes. JJ followed her out of her room.

"What is he still doing here?" Cooper asked when they walked in living room.

"I need to talk to you." Natalie said, sitting down on the couch while JJ stood behind her.