With You

Chapter 2

E.J.'s POV

After school, I was driving home Ricky, my cousin Ashlynn and myself. Ricky hadn't been himself and after a brief conversation with Nini, I was informed Ricky had a rough night and it'd probably be best to talk about it after school and for him to stay the night.

I hummed along to the music playing and slightly tapped the steering wheel. Every once in a while I'd glance at Ricky, who was fighting sleep. I smiled softly at my boyfriend knowing he was going to crash once we got to my house.

Soon we got to my house and Ashlynn went inside leaving behind me and a half-asleep Ricky.

"Cmon babe, let's go take a nap," I told Ricky softly. He nodded his head sleepily and got out of the car and followed me.

"Can we cuddle?" Ricky asked sleepily. I, of course, agreed immediately. I loved cuddling Ricky while he slept. It may sound creepy but the way his chest would rise and fall softly gave me butterflies just knowing he was mine. I loved to play with his soft curls as well.

Ricky and I walked up to my room and Ricky instantly laid down on my bed. He was so tired.

"Do you want one of my shirts? It's kind of hot in here and I don't want you to overheat." I told him. I could tell Ricky wanted to say yes but he told me no instead. That told me he was hiding something and it took me a second to realize what it was.

"Why didn't you tell me?" I asked him gently. I wasn't mad at him, I wanted him to know I cared about him and that I was concerned about his well-being. Whatever was going on he could tell me and I wanted him to know he'd always have a safe space here.

"I didn't want you to be mad." He mumbled.

"Babe, I'd never be mad at you for doing something like this. I just want you to know that." I told him while digging through my drawers for a shirt him to wear. I handed him one of my plain black shirts. I gave Ricky a look that told him that I wouldn't judge him when I saw his arms. Ricky quickly changed and laid in my bed. I got into the bed next to him and he immediately cuddled into my side. I ran my fingers through his curls and not even five minutes later he was out like a light. I watched him sleep for a while. He was so perfect. If you told me a few months ago I'd be dating Ricky Bowen, I'd laugh. I'd never thought I'd date the boy who was fighting over Nini with me. But Ricky's dimples and curls won me over and the rest is history.

I don't know when I fell asleep but I woke up to find Ricky tracing his fingers along my chest. I laughed lightly at how cute my boyfriend was.

"Having fun?" I asked my voice still raspy from waking up.

"Yeah, I didn't mean to wake you." He told me.

It's fine," I told him sitting up. "We need to talk though. I don't want you hurting yourself anymore."

"I'm sorry E.J.," Ricky told me in a voice that was more a whimper. I hugged him close to me and told him he didn't have to be sorry at all.

"What happened?" I asked him and he told me the story of his night. I stroked his hair afterward as he cried into my chest. My shirt was wet afterward from him crying.

" 'm sorry I got your shirt got wet." He told me.

"It's okay, but I want you to know that if you ever have problems at home you can come here. I'll pick you up at any time. Just give me a call and I'll be there." Ricky nodded in agreement. I really hope he listens to me and comes over when he's upset.

"Are you hungry? I can cook for us." I told Ricky seeing it's been a few hours since we ate.

"Uh E.J, Can I cook or we can order take out because no offense last time you almost burned the house down and I don't want that to happen again," Ricky told me. It was true that I wasn't the best cook and the burning the house thing? Let's just say I was banned from the kitchen entirely for two weeks after.