Page 91 of After Us (Next Generation 6)

“I don’t know but I’ve seen love come and go from the house I grew up in. The love my parents have for each other is something I’ve always wanted. I just never looked for it anywhere else when the twins wouldn’t leave your beautiful ass alone.”

“I’m so sorry about that.” She leaned her head on my chest, running her finger in circles over a freckle. I liked that she wasn’t scared to touch me. I liked that when she needed something, she took it from me, knowing I would never turn her down.

“Why are you sorry?” I asked, needing to hear her words.

“If I would have known that you had feelings for me, I would never have started sleeping with them. That was the reason I got drunk. I was upset because I thought you hated me,” she explained, her voice shaking.

“Hey.” I slipped out from under her and pushed her to a sitting position. “I love you. You hear me? I’ve never hated you.”

She looked away, her chin wobbling.

“Baby.” I cupped her jaw, forcing her to look at me. “I promise that I’ve never hated you. I shouldn’t have let the twins come between us, but that’s on me. I admit that I was scared of my feelings for you and that I tried to ignore them. I shouldn’t have done that. But that’s onme. Not you.”

Piper looked at me, her eyes shining. “You forgive me?”

I gave her a small smile. “Of course. Now let’s get some more sleep before Brynn wakes up.”

“Actually.” She pushed me back and ripped the blankets off of us.

“You want something?”

Her eyes dropped to my waist. “Yes,” she breathed, licking her lips.

I laid back, crossing my arms under my head. “Then take it.”

“I plan on it, Jaron.” Her gaze snapped to mine, a sly grin spreading on her face before she jumped onto my lap.

Laughter broke free from us both, billowing around us like the love we shared. I made a promise to myself right then and there that no matter how much life became heavy, to talk it out and eventually fuck it out just the same. But talking came first. It had to. We wouldn’t survive if it didn’t.

***

(Piper)

After Jaron and I talked during the night, everything felt almost lighter. My mood had changed. Even his. Brynlee woke up in a good mood too.

Jaron’s good moods were few and far between. Talking helped us both. It lifted our spirits and made us realize that communication was key to a healthy relationship. I had seen our friends go through it all and I didn’t want that.

We spent the morning as a family. Jaron played with Brynlee while I cleaned. He offered to help me but I refused. I didn’t mind cleaning so much, especially now that he was home.

“Babe.” Jaron stood in the doorway. “You ready?”

“I am.” I gave myself another glance in the mirror. When I was satisfied with my outfit, I went up to Jaron and stood on tiptoes. Giving him a soft peck on the cheek, I went to walk around him when he grabbed my arm.

“Don’t think so.” He spun me around and crushed his mouth to mine.

I gasped, breathing him in.

He gave my bottom lip a gentle bite which shot a shiver right down the length of my spine. “Hmm…”

“Jaron, we have to go.” I was excited to go grocery shopping with him and Brynlee. It probably didn’t make sense for most but it was our first outing as a family, and I was looking forward to it. Even if it was just to buy food.

“You kiss me? You kiss me like you mean it. None of this pecking and soft kisses shit anymore.” He pinched my chin and tilted my head back. “You got me?”

“I can’t kiss you like that in front of family,” I whispered, my body tingling at the rough demand.

“I don’t care who we’re around. We went over a year without seeing each other, Piper. We will spend the rest of our lives making up for that shit.” He lowered his mouth to mine again, pushing me up against the door frame. Before I knew what he was doing, he had me in his arms and my legs wrapped around his waist.

“We have to go.” Although I said the words, I never stopped him. How could I? So many things were revealed while we talked last night. I knew this was his way of showing me that he meant every word of what he had said.

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