Page 45 of Secret

“Please come in. Blake’s in the shower, but he told me you should be here soon,” she says, grabbing my arm gently and looping it with hers. Summer then walks me through the house to a beautiful lounge. It has a massive, marble fireplace that demands attention when you walk in. It looks very old and has angels carved into the pillars. There’s one darker-brown wall then light-brown ones to match the light-wooden bookcases on one side of the room. There are two cream sofas with a soft-brown rug in the middle and a piano in the corner. I'm suddenly very nervous as I rub my hands together, and I’m wishing Blake would get his cute ass down here.

I sit on the sofa and cross my legs as she sits next to me, a little too close, but I guess she is friendlier than I am.

“Don't look so nervous, I'm not that bad.” She smiles widely. It reminds me of Blake and I smile a little, enjoying how she can make me relax, just like Blake can.

“Sorry, I’ve just never met a boyfriend’s mum before so I have no idea what to say,” I say, stuttering over my words.Way to make an impression, Izzy.

“I was the same when I met my husband’s parents. I sat there the entire time biting my nails and begging to go home in my head.” She laughs, and I do too, relieved that she understands.

“They turned out to be really great people, and we soon became friends. I would like that with us. I can see my son is completely in love with you and is happier than I have seen him in a long time,” she finishes her sentence, while my jaw drops.

I sit back, a little shocked. “I don't think he is in love with me yet, but I'm glad he is as happy as I am,” I say honestly, as I know I love him. I’ve never been in love before. But with Blake, I can't stop thinking about him. He makes me laugh and my heart beats faster every time he even looks at me. He makes me feel alive and, yet, lost in him completely at the same time. I’ve never been so scared and excited at the same time as I am when I’m around Blake.

“Oh, he is, honey; you will see. Do you want a drink?” she asks, clearly changing the subject.

“Yes, please,” I reply, looking over at a picture on her fireplace of Summer holding a little blond boy as he sucks his thumb. Blake is even cuter as a kid.

“It’s roast chicken for dinner, I hope you like that,” she says, pulling me out of my thoughts, and I look away from the picture back to Summer.

“Sounds lovely, thank you for inviting me.”

"Such good manners, is a juice okay?" she asks with a smile.

“Yes, please, Summer,” I say, and she walks back out the door we came in.

It’s not long after Summer leaves that Blake walks in holding a drink of juice, and he looks great as usual. His hair is still a little wet, making me want to run my fingers through it. I lower my gaze to see he is wearing loose, black shorts and a blue vest that fits him tightly, showing off his shoulder muscles and making me want to drool.

Blake places the drink on the coffee table near my feet before leaning into me and kissing me deeply, like he hasn’t seen me in a long time. He carefully pushes me back into the sofa and pulls his body over mine. He holds his weight on his elbows as he pushes his tongue into my mouth and deepens the kiss more.

He eventually pulls away, much to my annoyance, and looks down at me.“Hi,” he says with a grin.

“Hi, too,” I say, mirroring his cocky grin.

Blake pulls me up with him and lifts me onto his lap in one move. Then he sits back, quietly looking me over as his hands run down my back, making me shiver.

“I missed you,” he says as he pushes his face into my neck and places a gentle kiss behind my ear.

I sigh and lean my body into him more. “I missed you, too.”

Blake pulls back and smiles at me with those damn, sparkling, blue eyes, clearly liking my answer.

“How long have you known about my brothers and the fighting?” I ask randomly. It’s been on my mind to find out Blake’s side, but I couldn't do it in texts or phone calls. Blake tenses under me but finally answers me, as he plays with a lock of my hair.

“Okay, well, pretty much since we started high school. Seb told me about your dad and that he was being trained when I started asking about his bruises.”

I cringe when he says that, not liking the idea of him being in any pain.“I didn't know he trained them,” I say,thinking how cruel my dad must have been. I had guessed he must have had them fighting, but I’m a little shocked that he actually trained them.

“Yeah, it was bad. They always had bruises at the start, and they were only eleven. Luke was only ten and really didn’t cope with it well. Eventually, it got better as they learnt how to avoid the bruises.” He stops and runs a finger down my cheek.

“To be honest with you, I feel guilty not telling them about me and you. They have told me everything growing up, and I feel like an ass,” he sayswith a sad face.

“Don't, please don’t; it’s complicated. I feel bad a bit, too, but they won’t understand. Not yet.” I lean back into his chest, wanting to comfort him. Blake lazily runs his hands up and down my back as he places a kiss on the top of my head.

“I know, beauty,” he says in sadness, and I kiss his chest.

“Anyway, when they started going to The Cage at thirteen, I went with them. Harley had just started fighting, and I went to support them, I guess. Harley was mad I was there to start with, but he knew I wouldn’t leave.”

I didn’t know that Harley did fights before our father passed away. I think of the age gap, and I realise he must have only been sixteen at the time. It hurts my heart to think how horrible that must have been for him.

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