Sequel to "Life With Boys". Read that first!
Life as a teenager with a famous football playing dad isn't easy for Raelinn Emerson and her younger brother, Ashton. Raelinn's dad, Ryder Emerson, just got traded to the Denver Bronco's. When the Emerso...
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"Once you had put the pieces back together, even though you may look intact, you were never quite the same as you'd been before the fall." — Jodi Picoult
Song: Surrender by Natalie Taylor
****LIAM'S POV****
My eyes are locked on Jessie, as she sits on her bed, avoiding eye contact with me. She looks as broken as ever, and I feel as broken as ever. I don't know what hurts most, losing a baby I didn't know about, or her thinking I would hate her for it. Or her not telling me at all.
But, I push those thoughts aside. I need to be here for her, right now. I can be upset later. She needs me, and I'm going to put my feelings about it off for now. Yes, my feelings about it still matter, but she matters most right now.
"Jess.. please look at me." I plead with her. She hesitates, then slowly looks up at me, tears streaming down her face. This isn't the Jess I know. She's not happy and bubbly, this Jess is hurting. And I haven't been able to be here for her.
"I'm so sorry, Liam." She sobs. I run over to her and sit down, pulling her onto my lap.
"Baby, please. Don't apologize. It's not your fault. Please." I coo in her ear, rubbing her back. She wraps her arms around me as she sobs into my chest.
"I didn't know, I swear." She continues to sob, breaking my heart. I hug her tighter, pulling her impossibly closer to me.
"I know, baby, I know. Please don't apologize." I beg her, rocking her back and forth.
"I love you. I'm so sorry for breaking your heart." She mumbles after a few minutes of silently crying.
"I love you too, baby girl. I would never ever hate you, I hope you know that."
"I know. I'm so sorry." She sits back, looking up at me.
"I know, baby." I kiss her forehead softly. "How are you feeling?"
"I'm okay. The pregnancy was only five weeks along, so I took a pill to.. you know..." she trails off, looking down.
"I wish I had known, so I could have been there with you." I whisper, brushing her hair out of her face.
"I know. I should have told you." She whispers, nuzzling her face in my neck.
"I'm here now, though. And I'm not leaving, ever again. I promise."
"Thank you for being here, even though I hurt you." She mumbles, looking up at me.
"I will always be here, love." She kisses my lips softly, a feeling I've missed over the last two weeks.
"Where does this leave us?" She asks, breaking the kiss.
"Well, I'm hoping you'll be my girlfriend again." I whisper, caressing her cheek.
"Of course I'll be your girlfriend again. I've missed you so much, Liam." She smiles softly, kissing me again. I brush the tears from her cheeks, knowing I have my own falling down my face.
She curls up on my lap, and I lean back into her headboard. After a few minutes, her breathing steadies and I know she's fallen asleep. This is the best place I can be right now, with the love of my life in my arms.
I know we have a lot to work through still, with having lost a baby, but we can make it through. I believe in us. We've made it through a lot before, and I know we can do it again. She's my best friend, and I plan to marry this girl in the future. No matter what happens, I'll always be right by her side, and I know she'll be right by mine.
——
****RAELINN'S POV****
I ended up dropping Grayson off at his house after we went on a short drive, since I promised Ashton I would spend this weekend with him before we go back to school. He decided he wanted to go play laser tag, so that's where we are currently.
The room we're in is dark, with black lights here and there, lighting up certain sections of the room. We're both wearing the vests that are required, and hiding from the other team. We have no idea who they are, but they're not the best, so we're actually winning.
"Rae, go around that way. I'll sneak around and get them from there." Ashton whispers, moving his hands around. I nod, and take off in the direction he pointed, making sure to keep low.
We both take out the other two opponents, making us win the final round. "Yes!" I cheer, high fiving Ashton.
"Wanna go get food?" He asks, as we take off our laser tag gear.
"Absolutely. Kicking ass has made me hungry." He chuckles as we leave the laser tag building, and get into my Jeep. "Where to?"
"We could go to the mall. Eat something there, then shop for Halloween costumes." He suggest.
"I completely forgot Halloween is coming up." I laugh, backing out of the parking space, and driving towards the mall.
We get to the mall, and head straight for the food court. I decide to get Panda Express, and Ashton goes for Five Guys. We sit down, and eat our food with a small amount of conversation, both of us being too hungry to care about keeping it going.
"Which store first?" I ask Ashton when we're done eating.
"Um... oh, that store looks good." He says, pointing to a halloween costume shop. I nod, and follow behind him into the store.
The walls are covered in different types of costumes, wigs, and accessories. I let my eyes roam over the different costumes, trying to get an idea of what I want to be for the Halloween party coming up.
Apparently every year, Jessie throws a huge Halloween party. She said it's still on for this year, and it's something she's looking forward to. We had this conversation a few days ago, yet I still somehow forgot Halloween is in a few weeks. My mind is a mess.
"Are you going to pick anything? Or wait?" Ashton asks, looking through the costumes.
"I'm probably going to wait until I can bring Grayson with me. What about you? Are you going to match Gracie?" I smirk, noticing a blush on his cheeks.
"I don't know, I was thinking about asking her." I smile widely.
"Yes, please ask her!" He chuckles at my excitement, and agrees to ask Grayson's sister to the Halloween party. They're seriously adorable together.
Just thinking about Grayson makes my heart race. I saw him a few hours ago, and I already miss him. "Do you love him?" Ashton asks, breaking me from my thoughts.
"What?" I ask, surprised by the question.
"Grayson. Do you love him?" He repeats. My mouth opens a couple of times, but closes.
Then the words come out, catching me off guard. "Yeah, I do."
