Page 68 of Only Ever Yours
Have you spoken to Jase? How was he?
I don’t know, he wasn’t home. I’m going to find him at his mum’s.
Ella
What? Now?
Do you think I can wait?
Ella
Just take it easy. He’s been through as much of an ordeal as you have.
I stared at Ella’s last message, wondering if I was doing the right thing. Jase certainly hadn’t been in trouble with the police before and had never been arrested. But I needed to know everything was okay between us, and while it would probably be the better option to stay at home and wait, I couldn’t. I had to see him.
I will, I promise. Thank you for today, I couldn’t have done it without you.
Ella
Any time. Although preferably not soon! Keep me posted on what happens. I’ll be here when you get back xx
Of course xx
The train pulled up at the platform, and I tucked my phone back in my bag and got on. At that time of night, there were only a few people on the train, and I chose to sit close to a couple of women who looked like they were on their way back from work. Putting my earbuds in, I chose a playlist and let the music wash over me as we travelled. The closer I got to Princelake, the more doubt started to creep in. Maybe I had been hasty in rushing there to see Jase. I should have given him time to recover from what had happened, but it was too late now. I was stuck.
Princelake train station was practically deserted. A few lads milled about by the empty taxi rank, along with a couple of staff on the platform. I kept my distance, hoping there would be a car along soon. A little while later, a taxi pulled up, and a guy wearing a hoodie got out, head down, almost knocking me off my feet as he bumped into me. He pushed the hood off his head and stared at me.
“Hollis? What the fuck are you doing here?”
I blinked, totally taken aback that Jase stood in front of me. “I, um, came to find you. What are you doing at the station at this time of night?”
“Going home to find you.” Without another word, he enveloped me in a hug, and I fell into his embrace, resting my head against his chest and listening to the sound of his heart thudding. I ignored the wolf whistles and catcalls of the lads who were still waiting for a taxi. Jase drew back. “We should probably go back to my mum’s. I actually haveno idea if there’s even a train to Maplebrook at this time of night. I want to be with you now, not wait for hours until we can be together.”
Relieved he seemed to feel the same way, we turned back to the taxi rank where a car had just arrived. The boys who had cheered our reunion waved us in front of them. Jase gave the driver directions and held my hand on the whole journey there. When we reached the caravan park, Jase weaved his way along the roads, and I realised I had no idea where his mum’s place was. If I had come here alone, I would have spent a long time wandering aimlessly around trying to see if I could remember where she lived. Once we’d paid the taxi driver, Jase reached underneath a fake flowerpot and pulled out a key.
“Mum’s super security conscious as you can tell.” He laughed as he unlocked the door.
He ushered me inside, and I was grateful for the warmth. My spontaneous decision to travel hadn’t exactly come with many practicalities, and I only wore a cardigan over my thin top.
“Jase? Is that you? What are you doing back?” Cherry Dillon came into the hallway, yawning and rubbing her eyes. “Oh, hello, Hollis. How are you?”
“I’m better now that I’m here, thank you, Cherry.”
“Glad to hear it.” She looked between the two of us. “I’ll give you space. See you in the morning.”
Jase took my hand and led me into the living room. “Can I get you a drink? Something to eat? Mum has peppermint tea.”
Despite my tiredness, his comment made me smile although I shook my head. “No, I’m fine.”
We fell silent as we sat down on the sofa, slightlyturned towards each other. After a beat, we both spoke the same words at the same time.
“I’m sorry.”
“You first.” Jase gripped my hand.
Taking a deep breath, I tried to compose my thoughts before I opened my mouth. “I’m sorry you had to endure what you did. I’m sorry I let Gil into our home. I’m sorry he’s such a total prick that he got you arrested. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you when you were released. I’m sorry.” The last two words were choked out as I tried to control the tears I’d been on the verge of for most of the day. My shoulders shook as the dam burst.
Increasing the pressure of his grasp, Jase replied. “You have nothing to be sorry for. I’m the one who got angry; I saw red and went for Gil. I should have been able to control my anger better. Fuck, I love you, Hollis, and I was going to protect you at all costs even if it meant I’d go to prison for it. When I heard the police officers talking about doing time, I was so fucking scared you wouldn’t believe it. I couldn’t stand to lose you, to be without you for so long. Then Finn told me you’d gone to see Gil, and I didn’t know what to think.”
