Page 71 of Before You
“I’ll chop yours off and spoon feed it to you, Trent,” Bria threatens, and it feels like we’re teetering at the edge of a cliff, and it will only take one more thing to send someone over the edge.
“I’m not here for Bria,” JJ says, moving to stand protectively in front of me. “No offense.”
“None taken, pretty boy.”
Trent looks at me, and then at JJ’s positioning between us, his eyes widen for a moment before he laughs. “Oh, this is fucking great. I knew you were a cheating bitch, but myroommate? What’d you do? Sneak out of my room and go to Walker’s for seconds? I should have known. While we all thought JJ was just getting busy with his hand, it turns out he was screwing my girlfriend behind my ba—” His hurtful words are cut off as JJ moves faster than lightning, shoving him up against the wall, his forearm pressed against Trent’s throat. My hands fly to cover my mouth as Trent grunts, trying to move, but JJ has the advantages of being sober and possessing more muscle mass, along with the element of surprise.
“Watch your fucking mouth.You don’t get to talk to her like that. You don’t talk toany womanlike that,” JJ seethes, and I’m shocked. “Marley never cheated on you. I knew you were an asshole, but I didn’t think you were pathetic too—showing up in the middle of the night drunk to talk to your ex, only to belittle her whenyou’rethe cheating bitch who couldn’t keep it in your pants.”
JJ’s arms bulge at the force required to pin Trent as he tries to get free while JJ leans in closer.
“If you come near her again, none of daddy’s money can help you in the draft if my family blacklists you. Don’t look at Marley, don’t speak to her, don’t contact her,” he says, and Trent’s face is turning red.“Do. You. Understand?”
He struggles to nod, and JJ releases him, causing Trent to fall in a heap on the floor. I don’t spare Trent a second look when my whole world turns around to look at me, nothing but concern showing on his face as tears flood my vision. His arms wrap around me, pulling me into the safety of his embrace as Trent coughs before the door slams shut a moment later.
Even in the worst moment, it doesn’t feel quite so awful knowing JJ’s by my side. I feel his lips press against the crown of my head, and the feeling of being loved by JJ now makes every moment we spent apart over the last three years worth it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
JJ
I LEAN DOWN, hugging my sister’s short frame. It’s a relief being in the same room as her again, even if I’ve been fraying at the edges trying to predict what it’s going to be like with my family here. I’ve been worried I won’t be able to keep my shit together without the pills numbing everything.
Factor in the bullshit with Trent last night, and the practice from hell we had today, I’m barely keeping it together as it is. I thought Coach’s head was going to explode at practice earlier because of how out of sync our offensive line was today. We ended up having to run suicides before Coach dismissed us, and my knee is feeling every one.
“JJ, you won’t believe how glad I am to be with you again. Everyone else is crazy,” Mira whispers, and I smile at her as she pulls away.
“What about Henry?”
“He’s the craziest of all. Dude must be insane for wanting to be stuck with me for life,” she says, holding up the sparkling emerald cut diamond on her finger.
“Must be quite the workout wearing a rock this big on your finger,” I tease, but I couldn’t be happier for them.
“Lord help him because he’s going to need it. I can’t wait for him to take you off my hands,” Dad says, and Mom hits his arm with the back of her hand.
“Shut up, Bash. You were just whining last night about how she’s not your baby girl anymore.” She rolls her eyes, winking at me. They seem like themselves, and as nice as it is, it only furthers my anxiety that I shouldn’t trust my mom—or Mira, let’s be honest—not to say something unhinged in front of Marley.
It’s a little painful to see Hunter because seeing only him standing there without his twin is a stark reminder that Bailey isn’t here. Still, I love my brother, refusing to let anything else show as I embrace him tightly. He’s nearly as big as I am, his sandy blond hair an unkempt style of mess. Oceanside has been good for him. “Hey, bro.”
“You’re getting skinny. Think I can outlift you by now?” Hunter says, keeping the mood light. I think it’s something we’ve all learned to do because if we acknowledge the void left by Bailey’s absence, the mood sinks faster than the Titanic in the ocean.
“You wish.” I step back toward Marley who was hovering behind to let me greet my family. I interlace my fingers with hers, immediately feeling centered by her gravity. “This is Marley—my not fake girlfriend.” I clarify the second part, causing Mom to smile and Mirabelle to roll her eyes.
Marley gives me an odd look, and it dawns on me I’ve never told her how Henry and Mirabelle’s relationship started. “Definitely real last time I checked, but it’s lovely to meet you. JJ talks about you all the time.” Marley smiles, and I have no doubt they’re going to love her.
“Hi, Marley. I can only hope you don’t believe everything he’s said—or maybe believe everything. JJ’s the most likely to saysomething nice,” Dad teases, and his dark eyes glimmer as he smiles.
Maybe I’ve been worried for nothing.
Mom’s gaze bounces from Marley to me, her short blonde hair swishing over her shoulders.“Elle est belle.”21
Marley’s audible inhale is the only reaction she gives, but I’ll leave it up to her if she wants to explain she’s fluent in French. Mom’s not wrong—the blue sundress she’s wearing today brings out her eyes, and it stands out nicely against her warm olive skin.“À l’intérieur comme à l’extérieur,”22 I say, squeezing Marley’s hand.
“Welcome to the family,” Mom says, smiling at Marley.
“Could you come up with something more disgustingly sweet?” Hunter asks, pretending to gag, and I snort, giving him the finger.Way to ruin the moment, Hunt.
“Ignore him, he’s grumpy because his girlfriend, Kaitlyn, couldn’t come with us,” Dad says.
