Page 57 of Honest With You

Wrapping his arms more securely around me, I feel him breathe me in before his cheek rests on the top of my head, his nose nuzzling my hair.

“Can I–can I take care of you? Will you let me, Ava?”

I shut my eyes, feeling slightly fragile in the knowledge that he knows me well enough to know I haven’t let anyone but Stephen take care of me for a long time.

Not since Mom was alive. Not since I was forced to grow up and take care of my siblings. Now, the immense guilt weighing on me, knowing I’ve caused quite a shitstorm, has flooded back. I’m overwhelmed knowing that the implications on Reese and Stephen could be astronomical.

I’m feeling vulnerable and helpless at the same time. Jesse telling me he wants to take care of me while also asking for permission to do so proves just how much he truly cares about me. He understands that to some degree I need some semblance of control. He knows exactly what I need.

“Don’t hurt me, Jesse. Okay?” I whisper, burying my head in his chest. His arms tense, growing even tighter around me. It’s not enough to be painful but enough for me to understand just how safe I am with him.

“Never, sweet girl. Hurting you is hurting me.” His fingers run a path through my hair to my neck before resting on my cheek. Using his thumb, he tips my face up to his. Intensity like I’ve never seen darkens his eyes into near storms as they rage a path around my face. “Do you still not know what you mean to me, Ava?”

I swallow past the lump in my throat, three words rising to the tip of my tongue before I can bite them away.

It’s too soon. We’re too young. We’re going to college soon.

I attempt to use the words I’ve been repeating over and over again in my head like a chant to push back the three words I long to say to him. Ones I’ve only ever said to my siblings. But this time, it’s harder.

I love him.

“Jesse…”

He smiles like he can see through me, like the words were plastered on my forehead. The events from last night have left me feeling as if I’ve sliced myself wide open. My carefully crafted facade completely shattered on the bedroom floor last night.

He can probably read me like the back of a cereal box.

“Ava. I don’t know when it happened or how long it’s been… I just know that I woke up one day and you became everything to me.” Cupping the back of my neck possessively, his thumb brushes my jaw. “No matter what happens, I will always be in your corner, sweet girl. I will keep you safe. I will never intentionally hurt you. But I’m going to say this, because you need to see what I see, whenever I look at you.”

He gets off the bed with me still in his arms, and gently props me on the edge of the bed. Kneeling on the floor in front of me, he takes my hands in his, never taking his eyes off mine. “You are unbreakable, Ava. You are the strongest person I have ever met. Out of all the things I adore about you, that is what I admire the most. Your strength. Your tenacity. You areunbreakable.”

My eyes brim with tears as my vision grows murky.

But I see his bright smile, lighting up the darkest parts of me. The sun to my moon.

He reaches behind me and when I spot the bruise cream and neosporin he has in his hands, I tremble and warmth floods me. Hundreds of butterflies invade every inch of my stomach.

With gentle fingers, Jesse tends to every cut, gash and bruise while the tender way he’s there for me caters to every broken part of my soul, mending the broken pieces of my fragile heart.

In the aftermath of one of the worst nights of my life, and in the previews for what can only be a less than thrilling show, he’s healing me.

By simply taking care of me.

* * *

“Reese?” I pause, taking a bite of mypandesalwhen I realized I never thought to check up on Reese or call Mr. Cain to make arrangements for a safe ride home. Thankfully, only a handful of people know where we live and my dad was smart enough to have our house built on top of a mountain in an exclusive, gated community, away from any prying eyes. Besides Jesse, not many people have been vetted or have the authority to get past the gate or guard posted there.

“I already spoke to her. Security is picking her up. She’ll be here later. After we’ve figured everything out,” Stephen says gruffly, his eyes firmly stuck on his plate.

Stephen and I have always operated on the understanding that the less Reese knew, the better. We had only one other incident happen where our faces were nearly plastered all over media outlets. It was our mom’s funeral. But for the most part we were deemed boring heirs to an entertainment dynasty, so the press has left us alone, choosing to follow more controversial individuals in our circle.

Nodding in understanding, I once again settle back into the quiet. Instead of eating at the formal dining room, we took breakfast outside in the backyard.

Vanessa and I were sitting on the loveseat in matching silk pajamas, hers pink and mine blue. She had opted to keep her robe over hers after Dr. Mara checked her, in order to hide her bruises. While the guys were sitting in the swivel chairs opposite us, our breakfast laid out on the glass table they had moved from the sunroom.

I reluctantly push a plate of avocado toast that I asked Yaya Ella to make towards Vanessa and she giggles, swatting my hand away.

“I think I’ve outgrown that phase, Ave.”

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