Eden High Series 2 Book 2
By
Jordan Silver
Chapter 1
JARED
***
We need to talk Red.” I hated the look that came into her eyes. Fear and hurt. I had a pretty good idea what had just entered her mind. Hopefully after today I can put some of those fears of hers to bed.
It was the first time we’d been alone together like this, the first time I’d touched her in more than friendship. I had given what I was about to do a lot of thought, because I needed to be sure that this was more than just one of those high school things. Somehow I knew that with her, I had to be on point or shit could go south fast.
A part of me wanted to lighten up and be a teen, but I guess I inherited my dad’s intensity when it comes to the woman in my life. There was nothing even remotely subtle about what I had begun to feel for her in the short time we had known each other, and today I have decided to lay my cards on the table. Didn’t know I would be this nervous though, when it came down to crunch time.
I ran my fingers through her hair as I gave myself time to get my thoughts together. There was so much going on around us, almost too much drama for high school kids whose biggest worry should be where to have the next hang out party; or in my case, the next big win on the ball field.
Back in our old hometown, the most trouble my sister and I had ever gotten into was for missing curfew by a few minutes. Here, it seems like the minute we landed things just started happening. Dad had warned us about the fast pace of a city like this, but I doubt he even knew the half of it. Until now!
It seems we both did a lot of growing up in the few short months we were here, Sian more so than me. She’d hit the ground running and haven’t looked back. But that was always her way my baby sister.
I’m worried about her though, but not as much as I would’ve been a couple months ago. I knew that with my dad and Jace on the job there was no way anyone was going to get to her again, not to mention Jace’s scary old man who seemed to genuinely like my sister.
Still as her big brother I worry some and would probably be obsessed with her situation if not for my own life changes. I’d always looked out for her, though she didn’t always appreciate it, being a smartass female and thinking she knew everything. But with Jace on the job I didn’t need to.
No, instead my mind was full of my own issues these days. Like how Belle was going to react to what I was about to say. And about the grown up decision I’d made that concerned both of us. At least I hope she sees it as grown, and not a douche move. I hope like hell she doesn’t laugh in my face, and knowing her that’s a grave possibility. Only this time it might not end the way she expects. She hadn’t seen this side of me before, no one has.
“What do you want to talk about?” She moved away from under my arm, or tried to, but I hauled her back into my side, keeping her in place. “Stay.” I looked down at her face, tried to imagine putting in the years my dad had with my mom. Tried to imagine a lifetime with her.
It didn’t strike me as strange to be thinking this way. After that first talk with my dad, we’d had one more enlightening conversation. I needed to be sure, for her as much as for myself.
I knew now that what I felt for her was more than just teenage lust. That yes, contrary to what others might think, I wasn’t too young to feel the things that I do; but what about her? Would she think that she is? Would she think I’m a fool? Or would she be the girl I had come to know and bite the bullet with me?
Before I could show her my heart though, there was something else I had to get out of the way. I wouldn’t feel good about myself if I didn’t. Even though dad had convinced me that I hadn’t been at fault, a part of me still felt responsible.
It was because I had come to know the type of person she is that I didn’t want this thing between us. Not that there was ever a chance of her finding out about it, but I would know and for me, that was enough.
“I’m going to tell you something about me, something that I’m not proud of, but I don’t want this between us.” I told her the story of my attraction to the other girl back home and what the coach had said and done. I was nervous as hell at the end of it, and she wasn’t talking.
“And you want me to do what?” She looked genuinely confused and that led to my own confusion. “Well aren’t you disappointed in me? Don’t you feel like I should’ve handled things different?”
“Don’t be a dweeb jock boy. He was your coach you’re a kid. We usually do what adults in authority tell us to, because we expect them to be right. Why would I hold that against you?”
“Really, you’re not mad? You mean I made myself crazy for the past few days over nothing?” I pulled her in so that I could kiss the tip of her nose. “Thank you.”
“No thanks needed but okay. So is that it? Was that the big reveal?” She visibly relaxed and that look was gone from her face.
“Yeah, and one more thing. I’m not sleeping with you until you wear my ring.”
“You what?” I could see I had thrown her with that one, but I had learned in the short time we’d known each other that it was best to overwhelm her right out the gate. I closed her open mouth with the tip of my finger.