Chapter 28: Chapter 6: Party Time

JOCELYN

After we got back from break, school goes by fairly quickly. We have spring break and Mary and Kerri get to come over. We sit down and make plans for the upcoming party and decide to go with a beach theme.

We go through who we think would want to come and we narrow it down to about fifty people. I still can’t believe Dad agreed to it…as long as I didn’t invite Ricardo.

He even says if it goes well, maybe we can do a sweet sixteen also. So I am praying that everything goes well. My mother and I get invitations made and my dad decides I’ll have my own guard standing next to me at all times.

I think it’s on purpose, but they assign Jessie to stand next to me. Of all the young guards, they think he is the best choice.

I am so excited because the party is this Saturday! We have decided on decorations, and everything should be delivered this week to get set up.

We have a DJ coming and, of course, our usual Mexican restaurant will be catering. They have catered every event for my parents that I know of.

My mom’s even gotten me a new bathing suit for the occasion. It is a red, fringed two-piece, and every guy in the house threw a fit. She made the remark that they should be glad it isn’t a bikini.

Oh, the language that came from everyone, including the guards. Jessie was so pissed, he walked out.

I didn’t understand until Nate said that he likes me a lot, but knows he has to wait till I am older. I just stare at Nate, not knowing what to say.

Now that all the plans are in place, we just wait.

***

The days fly by and school just got out yesterday which means this afternoon is my party. Almost everyone is coming. We said no gifts since I just want to hang out and visit with classmates.

Mary and Kerri came over early so we can all get dressed and ready together. They are wearing two-pieces like me since most dads are the same. Kerri has a baby blue one, and Mary has a pink one. I get my red one on and exit the bathroom, and they both just stare in shock.

“Does it look okay? My mom got it for me.”

“Mary would agree you are smoking hot!”

We all giggle as we walk out of my room and head downstairs. At the bottom of the stairs, I see Jessie. He is wearing a pair of swim trunks low on his waist and nothing else.

I look him up and down, finally getting to see all the tattoos, drooling, while he does the same to me. Although, from his expression, I can tell he is clearly pissed off.

“You look fucking amazing, but you should be more covered up. I don’t like everyone looking at my girl.”

“Why? Are you afraid you will have competition? Besides, when did I become your girl?”

He growls at me. Like seriously? He fucking growls at me, and I can see in his face he isn’t amused by my comment. I stare at him, waiting for a response.

When I hear chatting and laughing coming from the backyard, I break the stare and turn. We make our way outside with Jessie hot on my heels.

There are guards standing all around the backyard, far enough to give everyone space but close enough to run in if needed.

I stand there as everyone turns toward me, and I scan the crowd to see who is here. That’s when I spot Ricardo in swim trunks with his guys and a smile forms. I wonder if anyone’s even noticed that he showed up.

“Hello, everyone, and thank you for coming! I hope you all have fun and are super hungry! Let’s party!”

I hear a bunch of cheers as the DJ starts bumping his music. Mary and Kerri run to grab drinks, and people run and jump in the pool. An arm snakes around my waist as Jessie leans over and speaks into my ear.

“Don’t even think about taking off from me or we will have a serious issue. Do you understand?”

I nod my head then start to make my way around, visiting with my guests. I can see while making my rounds that there are kids here that I don’t think I recognize from school.

When I get closer, I can see that they’re other young guards posing as kids. I just roll my eyes and shake my head.

I stop and talk to my classmates about being done with school this year and how exciting it is. Some will be returning next year and some won’t since they will be moving away.

We walk around the pool, chatting to people then I stop. I have run straight into Ricardo and his guys, Randy, Mateo, and Marco. It seems to be really crowded on this side, no doubt to shield them and have them blend in.

They all look at me, then stare at Jessie. He stands right behind me with his arms crossed, and I can feel the tension coming off him because of all the people around.

Ricardo just smirks at Jessie and looks down at me with a smile and a wink. Jessie turns a little to say something to someone, and that is Ricardo’s opportunity.

I’m completely caught off guard when Ricardo wraps his arms around my waist and pulls me up against him, whispering in my ear.

“You look amazing, mi amor. That bathing suit looks great on you.”

Before I can even respond, he pecks my cheek. I turn bright red, then I feel Ricardo’s arm being forcibly removed, and I am grabbed around my waist from behind. I am pulled back and my back slams against Jessie’s chest.

Jessie steps up to Ricardo and starts yelling at him. “Don’t ever fucking touch Jocelyn.”

“Or what? What do you think you are going to do? Make a scene? Must be the low man on the totem pole to get the babysitting job.”

I start to shake in Jessie’s arms when the yelling escalates between the two. Jessie has a tight grip on my waist.

I try and look around to see if anyone is watching. Sure enough, by this point, everyone is. Oh my goodness, how embarrassing this is. I think being completely mortified is more like it. Dad will never let me have another party with this happening.

“You don’t know shit, and yes, she is my girl. So you bet your ass I’m her guard.”

“Your girl, huh? Must be a great fantasy world that you’re living in.”

“Listen, fucker, I don’t know who you think you are. You will never have Jocelyn! Ever!”

I can see a few of the guards running up. They surround us and quickly get in between Jessie and Ricardo, who are ready to pummel each other. I see my dad take notice of me in Jessie’s arms and quickly walk over, clearly pissed.

“What the fuck’s going on, Jessie?”

He leans over to my dad and whispers what happened. Mind you, he still has his arm around my waist, and I am moving every time he moves. I can’t even touch the ground, so I just hang there with my arms crossed.

My dad goes to say something to Ricardo, but he opens his mouth to talk first.

“Don’t worry. We were just leaving,” Ricardo says.

He and his friends walk off. My dad motions for guards to follow them as they leave, then he looks at me with concern.

“Jocelyn, who was that boy?”

“His name is Ricardo, Dad. He wasn’t invited but showed up anyways.”

When I mention his name, Dad’s face becomes unreadable. I feel Jessie’s arm tighten, and I start to whimper as it’s now getting uncomfortable. I’m still shaking, as clearly this name isn’t liked around here and I still don’t know why.

Dad storms off to the house yelling for Frankie and Tank to follow. I hang there as Jessie finally realizes his grip and sets me down, spinning me around. He leans forward at eye level, and I can see concern and worry in his eyes.

“Please, Jocelyn, stay away from him. Please, I am begging you.”

“Why, Jessie? What is so bad about him? No one will tell me anything.”

“It’s not my place to tell. Just please stay away.”

He grabs me and pulls me into his chest with his arms wrapped around me, and I wrap mine around his waist. He places his face in the crook of my neck as the stress starts to subside. My shaking starts to go away from being in his arms.

I don’t know how long we stood there for. Next thing we hear is someone clearing their throat next to us. Jessie quickly stands back up and I see my brother Nate there.

“Jessie, what did we talk about?”

“It’s not like that, Nate. Ricardo was here and had his arms around Jocelyn and kissed her on the cheek. The altercation between me and him scared her.”

I see Nate’s face go from nervous to completely pissed off.

“Is he still here?”

“No, they were escorted off. They left about five or ten minutes ago.”

Nate just nods his head and pats Jessie on the back.

“Jocelyn, you okay?”

I feel tears pooling up, threatening to spill. I don’t know what it is about Ricardo that has everyone so upset. Why Jessie says to stay away but won’t tell me what is going on. Most likely because he can’t. The guards have a strict code of what they can and can’t talk about.

“I just got scared with all the yelling. Nate, why is he so bad? Why won’t anyone talk to me? Why can’t I know?”

“Jocelyn, just please don’t go around him, okay? We will tell you when you need to know. Right now, everything is okay. Stick with Jessie. He is the only one I know that I can trust.”

I push myself away from him and back into Jessie’s chest. I am so tired of the half-truths and secrets.

Nate can see I am pissed and tries to reach out to put his hand on my shoulder. I slap it away because I am tired of it all.

“Don’t touch me! All you guys do is keep secrets.”

I quickly turn around and bury my face into Jessie’s chest as he puts his arm around me.

“Nate, it’s okay. I will watch her.”

I feel Jessie rub up and down my back as I start to silently sob.

“Jocelyn, baby, let’s get back to the party, okay?”

I nod my head, wiping away my tears. I turn and continue walking around with Jessie in tow. I make my way back toward the pool area when I notice some people have left. No doubt because of the scene with Ricardo.

Mary and Kerri are in the pool on Luis’s and Carlos’s shoulders, playing chicken against each other.

“Jocelyn, come in and play with us!”

I smile back and shake my head, but before I know it, Jessie picks me up, throws me over his shoulder, and jumps into the pool.

We go under and as I come up, I start coughing. I wasn’t quick enough on holding my breath. The moment I catch my breath, I smack Jessie’s chest.

“You asshole.”

He just laughs at me and holds me to his chest so I can finish catching my breath. I will admit that knowing the fact that he likes me also is nice.

I mean, there is no doubt it could work between us, but right now isn’t the time. I’m glad, though, that he was there when Ricardo did what he did. I get my lungs clear, then I look up at him smiling.

“Love you, too, baby. Now get on.”

He picks me up out of the water, setting me on his shoulders, then he walks over toward Mary and Kerri. We all start grabbing at each other, trying to push each other over, and I am laughing once again.

We must fight for over an hour because we all start getting worn out. I get caught off guard and get pushed off Jessie by Kerri. I don’t hold my breath fast enough as I go down. I feel Jessie spin around then an arm grabs me, lifting me up out of the water when I start coughing again.

I quickly grab onto his shoulders with my legs wrapped around his waist, coughing. He rubs my back, and I start to feel his cock starting to swell in between my legs.

Once I catch my breath, I lean back, looking at him, and wiggle just the tiniest bit in his arms. He gives me a look like “don’t you dare,” and I just smirk.

God, he is so sexy…his muscles and the tattoos and—fuck, he is so hard, it makes me instantly wet. I can feel the length of him against my core, and man, he is huge.

I tighten my legs, pressing him further against my core which makes me let out a low moan that only he hears. I can feel his cock twitch at the sound of it and he lets out a grunt.

I turn to look for Mary and Kerri since I don’t hear them anymore, which makes me move, and I feel Jessie’s arm wrap around my waist.

“I swear, Jocelyn, you need to stop fucking moving. This is hard enough as it is.”

“Yeah, Jessie, I know it is.”

“Seriously, Jocelyn. I can get in huge shit with your brother if he even knew about this. Your friends are sitting on the edge of the pool. I will sit you on the side and stand in the pool next to you until I can get this situation under control.”

I lean over and whisper in his ear so only he hears. “Okay, Jessie.”

I feel his cock twitch again, and I let out a giggle. I can tell he is irritated because he starts moving before I even finish his name. I feel myself being lifted out of the pool and set down on the side by my friends.

I stare at Jessie as he places his arms on the edge next to me and looks out toward the field. He just stands there, facing the wall, because…well, he is hard as a rock.

I look down at him as he looks up at me and I wink. He grunts in response, and now I know what kind of effect I have on him.

The evening winds down, and we are back inside in the entertainment room when my dad walks in. It’s a fairly big room with lounge couches up front and reclining chairs behind them.

Kerri, Mary, and I are watching a movie. Luis and Carlos are sitting by them while Jessie sits next to me with his arm around me. We talked them into watching a chick flick, which they instantly regretted.

“Jocelyn, there’s a delivery for you coming to the front door.”

I look at my friends, and we quickly get up with the guys in tow. My dad stops Jessie and starts talking to him.

“Jessie, I don’t know what is between you and Jocelyn, but that is my only daughter.”

“Dad, Jessie likes me and I like him. He treats me with nothing but respect and is protective of me. He knows that there can’t be anything now.

“Nate made that clear, but I feel safe and protected when I am with him. Please trust me because I have no choice but to trust you when it comes to Ricardo.”

“Mr. Maxwell, I know how both you and Nate feel about us. I have nothing but respect for both of you, but I have always liked Jocelyn and would protect her with my life.”

He looks at me and Jessie, seeing we are both being sincere. He nods at me and motions me to follow him.

The door opens and Frankie and another guard bring in a wrapped package. They set it down, and I just stare at it because it is huge. Everyone gathers around trying to figure out who sent it.

I see Nate and my dad shoot Jessie a look, but Jessie shakes his head. My dad leans over and finds a tag. I see him pull it off and read it, shoving it over to Nate.

Nate reads it, shoving it to my mom, and she goes pale. What is this—pass the tag?

“Who is it from? What does it say?” I ask.

My mom answers. “Mi amor, happy birthday. S.A.”

I just stare at them and think ~no way~! It can’t be. Before I even realize what is going on, I whisper his name and see my dad whip his head in my direction.

“What did you just say, Jocelyn?”

“Dad, it has to be Ricardo.”

“Why do you say that?” Nate asks.

“He called me ~mi amor~ today when he kissed me, Nate.”

Well, folks, if you ever want to start a chaotic scene, that’s how you do it. My dad starts barking orders. Something about surveillance. To be ready for an attack.

I just stare at the gift. My dad goes over, ripping open the gift, and it’s body sprays, candles, a silk robe, bath bombs—everything for an in-home spa day. There’s also a velvet bag right in the center.

My dad slowly opens it and pulls out a jewelry box, looking at me. As he opens it, I can see a diamond heart necklace. He closes it, telling his men to bag it back up and it’s going back. Same with the snowflake necklace.

“Dad, I know you don’t want to have anything to do with him. Let’s think about this, though,” Nate say. “Maybe he is trying to get in good with Jocelyn to have a way in.

“Why not let him think he has gotten in and let him trap himself? No doubt his mom is putting him up to it. You think he would’ve thought of this shit himself?”

“You’re right, Nate. Jocelyn, if this is going to work, I need you to truly understand what is going on.”

He takes a deep breath and sits down on the couch, motioning for us to do the same. I sit down with Jessie right next to me, rubbing my back.

“When your mom was pregnant with you, she was kidnapped and held by a guy named Rico Ortiz. Well, after she killed him, we found out he had a son. His mom’s name was Veronica and the son’s name was Ricardo. Do any of you know what your classmate’s last name is?”

“Mr. Maxwell, his last name is Ortiz also,” Mary says.

“Thank you, Mary. Okay, now we know for sure it’s him. Jocelyn, you will have Jessie with you at all times outside of the house. We will keep your school routine normal. We cannot let on that we know anything.

“Frankie, go get everything tested just in case. Jocelyn, you will have to act like you are remotely interested. So when he decides to come at us we are ready. Most likely it will happen after he graduates high school, but it could happen at any time.