Page 42 of Journey to Love

"I want you to know that I'm here for you," I say earnestly, my voice soft but determined. "You're not alone in this. I care about you deeply, and I hate seeing you treated this way. You don't have to face it alone, Anya. Lean on me. I can be strong for the both of us."

A flicker of gratitude dances in her eyes, a silent acknowledgment of my support. "Thank you," she whispers, her voice choked with emotion.

As we head back to her grandparents' house, I know that our journey together is far from over. But with each step we take, I'm committed to standing by Anya's side, helping her navigate through the shadows of her past and guiding her towards a brighter future.

Anya steps out of the car in silence, her expression troubled as she heads indoors, leaving me trailing behind. "I'm gonna go change, I'll be right back," she murmurs, disappearing down the hall to her room. As I settle onto the couch, Anya's grandmother emerges from the hallway, her gaze shifting between me and Anya's closed door. "What happened, Jacob?" she inquires, taking a seat beside me.

"Her parents were there, along with a lot of other people who just stared at her," I explain, my voice heavy with concern. Anya's grandmother nods understandingly at my brief explanation. "I feel bad that people over at that church, and her parents for that matter, still treat her differently, despite all the progress she has made over the last two years," she comments, tapping my knee gently. "But the change in her in the last two weeks, however... I haven’t seen her this happy since before Paul." Her words resonate deeply with me, and I offer a sympathetic nod in response.

She glances down the hallway before returning her gaze to me, tapping my knee again. "So just know that I am happy she has you in her life. Just give her time to heal. It's hard for her when she feels like everyone is scrutinizing her every move, but she will get past this."

"I just don’t know what else I can do to help," I confess, feeling a sense of helplessness creeping in.

Her grandmother smiles warmly at me. "Jacob, you're already doing it. Just be there for her. Be her rock, someone she can count on and trust with her heart."

"I'm trying, but it seems like when I think I'm helping her and she's back to being happy, something happens, and then she's back to being depressed," I admit, frustration lacing my words.

"I know, sweetie," she responds softly, offering me a reassuring pat on the knee. "Like I said, just give her time and show her that she can trust you. Paul was always all talk; he would sweet-talk anyone till they were blue in the face, and we all believed him. But his actions very rarely matched his words. So my advice: show her, don’t just tell her." With that, she rises from the couch and heads toward the kitchen, leaving me to ponder her words as I await Anya's return.

As Lana enters, her exuberant greeting catches me off guard. “Hey, Nana!” she calls out, shutting the door with a thud. Startled, she glances in my direction. “Oh, geez! Hey, Jacob! Didn’t see you there!” she says, her hand instinctively covering her chest in a playful gesture.

“Hey, Lana!” I reply, rising from my seat to give her a quick side hug. She beams at me. “How was your drive here?” I chuckle, realizing Anya had asked me the same question earlier.

“Did I say something wrong?” Lana's expression turns puzzled.

“Nah, just déjà vu. Anya asked me the same thing earlier,” I explain.

She giggles, “Oops, my bad. Force of habit, I guess. So, where’s she?”

“In her room, changing. Tough time at church today,” I say, Lana’s concern evident. Before she can inquire further, I continue, “Parents were there, and the gossip started as soon as they saw us together.”

“Ugh, typical fucking assholes,” Lana mutters, her face contorted in disgust. Then, she shifts her gaze to me. “Is she alright?”

“Yeah, we talked in the car. She’s better now. Getting out of there helped,” I assure her.

“Good to hear,” Lana nods approvingly. Then, she leans in, a serious tone replacing her previous lightheartedness. “Hey, do me and her a favor, okay? Treat her like the strong woman she is. She may look fragile, but trust me, she’s tougher than she lets on.”

“Got it, thanks for the heads up,” I respond, grateful for Lana’s insight.

Anya emerges from her room, sporting a low-cut tank top and daisy duke shorts, her hair styled in a messy bun. There's a noticeable shift in her demeanor, a newfound energy in her movements. "Oh hey, Lana!" she exclaims, enveloping her in a tight hug.

"Hey, you ready to head out?" Lana asks, addressing both of us.

"Abso-fuckin-lutely!" Anya replies, her excitement palpable.

"Great! We're picking up my new boy toy first, then we can head out to lunch!" Lana announces, her grin stretching from ear to ear.

"Ooo, this is news," Anya chimes in, matching Lana's enthusiastic tone. She then turns to me, linking her arm in mine. I lean down to kiss her on the head before the three of us set out.

Lana insists on driving her SUV, winking mischievously at both Anya and me. We share a laugh at her playful insistence before climbing into the backseat. Anya snuggles up next to me, her smile lighting up the car.

"You know, I just realized something," I say, a mischievous twinkle in my eye.

Anya tilts her head, her curiosity piqued. "Oh, what's that?" she asks, her voice laced with anticipation.

Leaning in, I whisper into her ear, feeling her shiver at the touch of my breath on her skin. "We haven't kissed since I arrived," I tease, a smirk playing on my lips. With a gentle touch under her chin, I guide her face toward mine and then lean in to kiss her, the moment filled with both tenderness and passion. Anya responds with a soft moan, and for a moment, I'm lost in the sensation, but I quickly regain my composure and pull away, meeting her gaze.

Before we can continue, Lana's voice interrupts us. "Hey! Hey!" she shouts from the front seat, her eyes catching ours through the rearview mirror. "No having sex in my new car!" she teases, her tone light-hearted. "Only I can christen this baby!" she adds with a playful wink.

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