Page 25 of Rescued By My Best Friend's Brother

“Oh, of course,” I say quickly. I really want to ask for her advice on the whole Bradley thing. “So, you know how I didn’t really want to talk about Bradley?”

She pulls out the gallon of orange juice and takes a swig from it as she nods. I grimace but continue, “Well, do you think I should be worried that my location has been shared with him this last couple of weeks since I’ve been here?”

She gulps the juice down, her eyes never looking away. “Are you worried? I mean, when I met him, he seemed nice, quiet the charmer. There seemed to be something I couldn’t quiet point out. But I thought he made you happy and that was enough for me to like him. From the way you acted the other night, he seems to be someone you really wanted to run away from.”

“Um.” I hug myself, suddenly feeling vulnerable. “I…things got a little bad near the end. He was really abusive.”

“He hit you?” She slams the orange juice on the counter.

“Yes, he was physically abusive but more so emotionally abusive, making me think he would change and then telling me it is all my fault for the things he did.”

She walks up to me and clutches each of my arms. “You should have told me, Lena. I would have done something.”

I shrug her off. “It’s over now. But do you think I should be worried? Should I tell Jasper about this?”

“Normally, I would say no. Jasper can go a little overboard with protectiveness. He doesn’t think I know, but he does background checks on any guy I date. I’m not dense like he thinks I am. But,” she goes back to her leftovers, grabbing a plate from the drying rack, “since you are watching Lily, I think it is best he knows. Just in case.”

I nod. “You’re right.”

“Where is he by the way? He never stays out this late.”

I shrug. “I’m not sure. I haven’t heard anything from him. I’m just going to stay here until he gets in. I don’t want Lily being in the house by herself.”

She looks at the plate and then puts it back in the drying rack. “I’m gonna just take this back to my place. Let me know if you need anything. And if not tonight, I think you should tell Jasper tomorrow about the whole location sharing thing going on.”

“Okay. Thanks, Josie.”

She gives me a tired smile. “Any time. Now, I am going to devour this and crash.” She disappears into the darkness, shutting the door behind her. I watch as her shadow slowly makes its way to the guest house.

I let out a sigh of frustration. I should never have let my relationship with Bradley go on for this long. I really did miss out on my friendship with Josie.

I go back to the living room and continue to watch the movie, although I am not really paying attention. My mind bounces between worrying about everything with Bradley and then about Jasper still being out so late. I don’t even realize how much time is passing or that I start to drift off.

Suddenly, lights flash through the window, waking me up. I sit up and peer out the window. A car stops, and the driver steps out. I see the back door open, and an unsteady silhouette gets out. The driver reaches for the stumbling passenger but is shooed away.

I hurry to the door and open it. Jasper appears at the edge of the pool of light from the porch, walking in a zigzag line, his eyes almost shut. I gasp, never in my life thinking I would see this side of him. “Jasper? Are you drunk?”

He points at me and gives me a boyish smile. It reminds me of when we were younger. Times that I would be doing something silly with his sister, and a glance in his direction would catch him smiling at me.

“You’re here,” he slurs. “Good.”

I walk down the few steps and wrap an arm around his waist. He drapes an arm around my shoulders, putting a little too much weight on me.

“I wasn’t going to go anywhere,” I assured him.

He chuckles and burps. “I have something on my mind. Sooooome thingggg on my mind.” He acts as if the words sounds strange to his ears. So he slowly and with a slur, sounds them out.

“Let’s just get you inside first.” I say.

“You need any assistance?” the driver asks.

“No, thank you,” I shout over my shoulder.

I hear the car door shut behind us as we struggle to make the few steps inside. I cough as Jasper breathes on me; the smell of alcohol heavy on his breath. How much did he have to drink tonight? It is so potent that I wonder if I can get tipsy from it.

Chapter Fourteen

Jasper

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