Page 30 of Stephan

The song finished and Cassie clapped besideme. “You have an amazing voice, Jade.”

Jade dropped the bowl on the bench and ran toher friend. “Cassie!” She gave Cassie a one-arm hug.

Cassie started crying again. “Oh my God, lookat you. Jade, I’m so sorry. I wish you’d told me. You could havestayed with me.” Cassie ran her hands over the still healingbruises.

I’d forgotten about Jade’s injuries for amoment as I watched her dance about the kitchen. Cassie hadn’t seenher in nine days. If she thought Jade still looked bad now, I wouldhave hated to see how Cassie would have reacted when it allhappened. I wanted to get upset at Jade for overdoing it dancingaround, but after seeing how happy she was, I wouldn’t sayanything. I needed to touch her, to kiss her. She was amazing.

Waiting until Cassie let her go I went toJade and gathered her to me for my own hug. “You’re beautiful, youknow that right?” I stroked her hair before easing her away,leaning down and kissing her. I didn’t give her the kiss I wanted.I was gentle and gave her more of a brush of my lips against hersbut when she sighed against me, I deepened the kiss by licking herlips. I knew I’d done good bringing Cassie and not pushing for adeeper kiss.

Jade ended the kiss. “Thanks.”

I felt like I was on cloud nine. It was thefirst time Jade had taken over and the first time she really showedshe cared. I was making progress getting her to like and trustme.

I smiled. “No need to thank me. I’d doanything for you.” I left her with my mum and Cassie. I needed togo talk to my brother to see if anyone else besides Scott waspissed at me.

*****

I’d neglected my friends and had some kissingarse to do. I’d missed Brad’s nineteenth birthday and he was hurt.I’d let down my rugby league team missing two games.

“They are sympathetic, bro, and feel bad Jadehad to go through what she did. But they don’t understand the curseas you call it. They don’t know when we Silverman men find our soulmates we turn into possessive cavemen. They think you’re pussywhipped. Before you roar about that I told them Jade hasn’t givenyou any and if she had her way, never would.”

I growled at Derick, he was really startingto piss me off.

“Oh stop your growling. They all forgive you.Let them see Jade.”

“No.”

“Stephan, they’re going to see her Monday. Ithink we should do something together tomorrow like go shopping,out to dinner, a movie or maybe all.”

“No way. Jade has only been out of thehospital for three days.”

Derick scrubbed his face with his hand. “Bro,I really think they need to see her, and Jade needs to get out too.I know you want to wrap her in cotton wool and make sure no one canharm her again, but she’s young and doesn’t want to be smothered. Ididn’t want to say this but they need to see her injuries. Mondayis going to be a big day because everyone at school will be lookingand pointing. I know you don’t want to hear it and you can’t beatthem or glare at them all. I think if we get our friends’ shockedfaces out of the way it will be easier.

I hated my brother was right and Cassie’sresponse downstairs confirmed it. “Fine. We’ll all go to a movieand dinner.”

“Good. I’ll call the guys.”

“I better go out now and get Brad a bigpresent to make up for missing his big day.” I got off the sofa inDerick’s room and walked to the door.

“Oh you did get him one. You bought him anOmega DeVille Tourbillon, the diamonds in the watch alone shouldhave made him happy. But he’s still pissy, he went on for hoursabout how he was down one wingman. I told him even if you werethere you’d not help him troll for pussy.” Derick winked at me. “Ihad to take your share.”

Laughing, I shook my head. “I can see you’rereally torn up about that.”

“It hard work, you know, keeping theSilverman name out there with the ladies, but I suppose I’m up forthe challenge.”

I shook my head and walked to the door. Tothink only a month ago I was the Silverman who didn’t date andnever had the same pussy twice. Now I’d found my soul mate. Mycarefree days were gone. Now I thought about it. I was exhausted. Iwas sick of fighting Jade and never getting anywhere with her. Ihadn’t gone this long without sex since pre-puberty. Shit, I hadbecome pussy whipped and I wasn’t even getting any pussy. Fuckthis, I needed a night out. “How about just us guys go out tonight.Cassie can stay over and keep Jade occupied.”

“I think that’s best idea you’ve had inweeks. Let’s go stay in the Sydney apartment. Mum or Cassie canbring Jade to meet us for the movies.”

I hadn’t left Jade alone since the beating. Ididn’t like leaving her in case she needed me. Ha, what was Ithinking—Jade never needed me. She wouldn’t care if I went out. Iwas done fighting.

“Come on, bro. What’s the saying? Absencemakes the heart grow fonder. Jade will be fine here for one night.Come on, I bet I can beat you at who can drink the most withoutpassing out.”

I grinned down at Derick, he knew not tochallenge me, I never lost. “You’re on. I’ll call Scott and Brad,you call the others.”

Derick nodded and I went in search of my mum,Cassie, and Jade.

Chapter Eight

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