The Thunder Rolls

Chapter 6

We ate dinner and Stella went back in her room with her toys. We walked outside and sat on the porch swing, both our thighs and shoulders touching staring out into the sunset.

" would you like to talk some more?" He asked me

" yea actually I would."

He leaned over putting his arm on my shoulders while leaning away from me a little bit.

" I will have the image of those stupid lights in my brain forever. I left the gymnasium the next morning and walked home but when I got there, there was nothing left. The house had burnt to the ground. One of those twinkle lights shorted out and caught fire and lit the whole place up. My parents died inside together, holding onto each other. My brother and I moved in with Elle may. Logan took it really hard it was a mommas boy and he kinda shut down for a while. I didn't feel right goin off to college when the time came and leavin him alone and leavin Elle may with him like that, So I stayed. I lost everything that night, My family, the Logan that use to be and my full ride. I'd never be able to pay for it by my self and poor Elle tried but I could put that on her. I learned 3 things that night my parents died, I would never settle for anything less than a love like what my parents had, family means every and don't ever buy twinkle lights."

I giggled a little after he cracked a smile. I was amazed that after something like that he could still make light of it. He gave me hope.

" ok. What I'm going to tell you I've never told anyone. But I feel comfortable telling you. I tried leaving Austin when I was 3 months pregnant he was in cancun with one of his lovers and I packed a bag and left. He found out, flew to Chicago which is how far I made it and flew me back home with him. That was the first time he hit me." Dean's arm tensed around my shoulder and his eyes left my face and looked straight forward " he only hit my face that day but he hit me every day for a week to 'teach me a lesson and to make sure I don't do it again' by the end of the week it was full body attacks. I went into labor the last day of the week and he refused to take me to the hospital so I called he ambulance. As soon as they got there he told them I fell out of the bathtub. I wasn't going to open my mouth because I was scared he was going to kill my baby and she didn't deserve that. They were able to stop my labor but I was put on bed rest. I was devastated. To me that meant I wasn't leaving before the baby was born. When I was 7 month pregnant he got very drunk and brought a girl to our house. After she left he was mad that I was fat and pregnant, he um, he tried to rape me but we had this cook and he was really sweet and he stopped him before he did anything really bad. But he did hit me and I went into labor, this time they couldn't stop it. He wasn't even there when Stella was born. The cook was."

Dean's hand was clenched on my shoulder and his face was taunt staring off into the still night

" I don't know if I can hear anymore of your story."

" he never laid a hand on Stella. He never once touched her."

" that's good."

His gaze softened and he turned and finally looked at me.

" but you deserve the world Harlow. You should be touched only in ways that make you want more, you should know that you are someone's one and only. Their world."

His fingers were idly grazing my arm and his eyes were burning into me, the heat where our legs touched was increasing, as soon as he leaned down towards me a little, Stella burst through the door and he pulled away so fast.

"I seepy "

" ok baby I'll lay you down."

I stood up and turned to Dean

" do not move. "

He just smiled. I laid Harlow in bed and gave her kisses and hugs and she closed her eyes. I shut the door to her room and had a tiny freak out. Dean was so incredibly hot, I had no idea why he thought I was attractive but I was gonna take it. I slowly walked back to the door and he was standing at it.

"I told you not to move" I frowned

" I better go" he smiled. And ran his fingers through my hair pushing it behind my ear.

"I'm was raised a gentleman Harlow. I gotta take you out on a date and then bring you home and THEN kiss you good night. It's like a whole process, I can't just skip the process. Ima plan you something special and have Elle may watch Stella. So, Harlow, will you go out on a date with me?"

I was about to pass out. I was grinning from ear to ear and could hardly breath. This southern stuff was magnificent.

"Yes I will go out on a date with you Dean"

He bent down and gave me a kiss on the cheek and left. I locked the door and ran to my bed I was a ball of nerves. I was so excited I couldn't contain it all. I couldn't wait for him to tell me when he was going to actually take me out. Then my phone beeped, I knew it was him. I did gymnastics to get to it in a hurry.

- [ ] Hey :)

- [ ] Hi :)

- [ ] I'm glad you like the kitchen

- [ ] Yes I love it

- [ ] I'm glad we talked

- [ ] Me too. Sry it was hard to hear

- [ ] It's ok that'll never happen again

- [ ] Your pretty great

- [ ] You are too good nite Harlow

- [ ] Good nite Dean

I couldn't sleep for all the smiling I was doing. But finally once the rain started, late today, I was able to drift off.