Chapter 16: Take Care Of Her

"You look so much like her." He breathed, taking a step forward.

When I took a step back, he stopped. "I'm sorry." He put his hands up, "I just...can't believe how much you look like her."

James held onto me tighter. I think he figured out what I did the moment I saw his face. The face of the person who abandoned me fourteen years ago because he didn't want me. "What did you expect?" I spat. I was surprised at how steady my voice was.

He put a hand over his chest, "Juliet," He paused, "I can't apologize enough for what I've done, I know that. I asked you here so I could possibly get a chance to show you I've changed."

The man I remember didn't love me. He didn't want anything to do with me, that's why I was always at my grandparents. His face is just a blurred image that's been hidden in a dark corner of my brain for fourteen years. It's a face I never wanted to see again. "You left me." I grounded through gritted teeth. I forced my tears away. I know once I started crying, I wouldn't be able to stop. "You didn't love me. What makes you think I care that you've changed?"

I moved toward him but James tugged on my hand. Probably for my own good. "I have, Juliet." He took a hesitant step forward. "I wasn't worthy enough to be your father. When your mother died, I had nothing—"

"You had me."

"I know that now. I didn't see that then. When I looked at you I...I just remember what I lost and I couldn't do it anymore. It wasn't fair to you—"

"What about a little girl that lost her mother? I was only three. When you left, I was the one that didn't have anyone left." I ripped my hand from James's and moved towards him. "You're nothing but a coward."

"Your grandparents gave you what I couldn't, Juliet. It was not the life I wanted for you. I wanted you to live a normal life. Giving you up has been the hardest thing I've ever had to do. I just needed time."

"Fourteen years. It took you fourteen years. Not days, but years." Tears started building in my eyes and I let them spill over my cheeks, "Do you know how long it took me to realize you weren't coming back? Do you?"

The way he looked at me now...I couldn't process it. He had no idea what I had to go through. "I know there's nothing I can do, but please, let me try. That's all I want is another chance. Please." He pleaded.

I felt James come up next to me and I swiped at my cheeks. The tone of his voice almost made me crack.

Almost.

I stepped closer until we were only a foot apart. He sucked in a ragged breath. He reached his hand to touch me but I moved away. "You died the night you left me." I wiped away another tear. "I have no idea who you are. You're not my father. My father wouldn't have left me when I couldn't even fend for myself." I shook my head, "You're nothing to me and I have no will to give you another chance. You shouldn't even need one. I grew up just fine without you. I don't need you now. I hope you're happy, Will."

When I used his first name, he flinched like I had hit him.

He didn't say anything.

And I left.

I ran out of the room as fast as my legs would take me and without tripping.  James was calling my name from behind me, but I didn't stop until I made it to the elevator. I kept pressing the button, hoping it'll make it come quicker. My breathing turned to heaving as I clutched at my chest. A pair of arms were around me before I could fall to the ground. "Juliet." James whispered. He just kept whispering my name as he brushed a hand over my hair.

I didn't break down and just start crying like I wanted to.

My chest tightened with anxiety and I couldn't catch my breath. And when I couldn't breathe, I panicked.

The sound of the elevator helped my breathing a tad. James helped me to my feet and helped me onto the elevator. Once the doors closed, I slumped against the wall and put my face in my hands.

He didn't come after me.

And I was thankful for that.

We were off the elevator the moment the doors opened. I pushed past the guests trying to get on and took off again with James behind me. I hiked up my dress, thinking that could help me.  It did. I pushed through the spinning door and down the long steps, almost falling at the last one.

James was beside me again, taking my hand gently. I took a deep breath as James asked the valet to call for the car. He nodded and stepped away for a moment. James didn't say anything and neither did I. I was afraid if I spoke I would start crying and not be able to stop.

Our driver pulled up and the valet opened our door. I was in first and James was in beside me. The second the door closed, the driver pulled out of the hotel. A big wave of relief washed over me the further we drove away. And I couldn't wait until I got home.

It was hard to comprehend I just talked to the man that left me when I was only three. Three years old. I could barely count my fingers, let alone fend for myself. What was I supposed to think when he left? When my grandma told me he wouldn't be coming back when I cried for him? He had no consideration.

He says he went away to better himself. I'm sure he did. He seemed really well off. But it didn't take him fourteen years. Fourteen years I made myself believe he was dead and he would never come back for me. Thinking he was dead made it all hurt less. It never did stop hurting. It hurt to know the only person you had didn't even want you.

I had no reason to give him another chance. He didn't deserve it in my eyes. And I hope I never see him again.

James kept to himself on the ride home and I did too. I know he wants to say something. I felt his stare every few seconds to make sure I was okay. And I wanted to tell him I was, but I wasn't. I wasn't prepared for that.

There was no way I could've prepared myself for that.

The closer we got to home, my chest tightened again and tears burned my eyes. I tried taking a deep breath, but chocked on a sob. I covered my mouth quickly and looked out the window. Just hearing myself made it harder.

The tears started the moment the driver pulled into my driveway. I don't know why I just couldn't wait until I was in the safe confines of my own bedroom to cry my eyes out.

James got out and came to my side. He opened the door and opened his arms for me. He placed a hand under my legs, another on my back and lifted me from the car. I put my hands over my face and cried. "Juliet." James whispered again, but it was muffled from my sobs.

"I-don't-understand." I said between sobs.

James held me closer and I nudged my face against his neck.

"Juliet?" I felt another pair of hands and an urgent voice. "Are you okay?" He rushed. "What's wrong with her?"

I tore my face away from James's neck and looked at Jack. The sound of a beeping cleared the fog in my head, "Jack!" I rushed and squirmed out of James's arms. James set me down hastily. "What are you doing? Are you insane?" I placed my hands on his chest to attempt to push him back over the white line, but he wasn't moving.

He grabbed my face between his hands, "What happened, Juliet?"

"Get back over the line you idiot!"

But he still wasn't moving.

"Jack, I will—"

"I need you to tell me what's wrong. Are you hurt—"

"And I need you to get back over there before you get in trouble!" I tried pushing him again, but his hands wrapped around my wrists. "I'm fine, Jack. Just tired, now let go and get your ass back over the damn line!" With one final shove, he finally stumbled far enough to trip over the line.

He fell on his back, sprawled out over the grass. The beeping finally stopped and his red light turned green.

This was not what I needed.

"Are you stupid?" I exploded. "What where you thinking?"

Jack stood up finally, looking at me like I had two heads, "I thought you were hurt. I thought something happened—"

"I'm not hurt, Jack. I am not worth getting in trouble over."

I didn't hear police sirens. Hopefully he got back over the line in time.

"Juliet." James was behind me now. Or I'm just now noticing he is. He placed a hand over my shoulder and Jack looked up at him.

I turned my head slightly over my shoulder to look at him, "I'm fine. Thank you for being there tonight."

James smiled a little and nodded once, "Will you be okay?"

"Yeah. I'm just going to go to Jack's for a bit."

He gave my shoulder a gentle squeeze and looked at Jack, "Take care of her."

I was waiting for Jack to just pounce on James, but he looked surprised. I'm not sure why surprised, but that's what I saw. Jack nodded towards James and James turned around and walked inside the house. James was definitely the brother I've always wanted.

Jack's arms replaced James under my legs and around my back. He lifted me with ease and held me close. He carried my inside his house quietly and up the stairs to his room. He sat me down on his bed and retreated to the door to close it. Next, he went to his dresser and plucked out a t-shirt and brought it to me. He turned around long enough for me to change into another one of his shirts I probably wouldn't give back. And this one was just a bit shorter. Came up mid-thigh and I had no shorts under it.

"It was him—" I started but stopped because my bottom lip started to quiver.

Jack turned around and paced towards me, "Paxton?"

I shook my head and tears started spilling, "My dad. I—It was my dad."

His arms were around me before I could say anything else, "I knew something was wrong." He said softly, his hand stroking the back of my hair, "I'm sorry, Juliet."

I curled my arms against his chest and cried, "I can't forgive him." I managed. "I can't just forgive him and forget everything he's done."

It's okay. It's going to be okay." He soothed. Just hearing his voice was making me feel better. But the gnawing feeling of my dad's words still ate away at me like he's still talking to me. "You don't need him. You're perfectly fine without him."

I moved my face away from his chest and looked up at him. He brushed his thumbs over my cheeks in many swift motions to wipe away my tears, "What gave him the right to even ask me though? I just...It's too much to ask." I was finally able to take a deep breath.

I lowered my forehead against Jack's chest and took in another deep breath and exhaled slowly. We stayed like that for a few moments. I wasn't ready to move. I was ready to bury my head in the sand and call it a year.

Jack's phone brought us apart. Jack untangled himself from me and went to retrieve his phone from his bedside table. "It's my lawyer." He mumbled and answered it quickly. "Yeah I'm home...well you can tell them...no I'm not that stupid...okay, well, I'll see you Monday, goodnight." And he hung up.

"Are you in trouble?"

"I don't think it's possible for me to get into anymore trouble."

Eh, I think it's still possible for him to get into more trouble.

"Can I stay with you tonight?"

He smiled, "Of course."

I made it to the other side of Jack's bed and climbed under the blankets. Jack started walking to the couch and I stopped him, "There's plenty of room. It is your bed."

"I didn't think you'd—"

"I need you to sleep on the other side."

Jack waited. Maybe waiting for me to change my mind, I don't know. But I wasn't going to. He obliged and walked to the opposite side of the bed. He pulled his shirt over his head, turned out his bathroom light, and climbed in beside me. I turned on my side to face him and he did the same.

He wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me close until I was pressed against him. I placed my hands on the sides of his neck, my eyes still adjusting to the dark so I could see the shadow of his lips.

"Are you going to be okay?" He asked.

"I think I will be."

His breath hit my lips when he spoke again, "And I'll be here."

"Thank you." I tucked my head under his chin and let out a long breath, "And what you did tonight...it was really stupid."

His neck vibrated with light laughter, "Just write a list."

"I won't be alive that long."

Jack laughed again and tightened his arms around me, "I made it back over the line in time. My lawyer was contacted and I have to meet with him and my officers on Monday. My parent's won't like it, but they don't like anything I do." I know he was joking, but part of me knew he was serious. "I'll be fine, so don't worry about me. Me being in trouble is absolutely nothing new."

That's about the truth. But this time is a little different. "You must have a good lawyer." Or parent's with a lot of money.

"Or I'm actually that charming."

I lifted my head and looked at him the best I could through the darkness, "There are people that are actually immune to that charm."

He moved a hand to my cheek, caressing lightly while his thumb stroked my cheek, "You weren't."

I moved in closer until our lips brushed, "Obviously." I put a hand on the back of his head and drew him closer until our lips pressed together. "Thank you." I said once I pulled back an inch.

"For what?"

"Getting in trouble for me."

I didn't have to see him to know he was grinning at me. I felt his smile against my lips as he kissed me again. "But if you do something that idiotic again, I'll cuff you myself."

Jack hummed against my lips, "You make it sound appealing."

I kissed him several times and nudged my face against his neck again. I didn't think it was possible for him to pull me closer, but he did. I slid my leg between his and hooked my arms under his. His arms were around my shoulders and we lay a mess of tangled limbs.

He tilted his head slightly to leave a kiss on my temple and whisper goodnight.

I woke in almost the same position. Except now Jack's head was under my chin, but we were still tangled together. The sunlight spilled into the room and is no longer the darkness I fell asleep in.

My fingers found their way into Jack's hair, brushing through gently. I lowered my lips to the top of his head and left a small kiss. He sucked in a deep breath and exhaled slowly.

The sound of someone clearing their throat at the foot of the bed made Jack stiffen.

Oh no.

We turned at the same time to see Jack's mom hovering at the end of the bed with her hands behind her back.

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Sorry for the out of whack indenting, Wattpad wouldn't let me indent the second half for some reason? I use word and then paste it over and I don't know, I tried for almost an hour and nothing worked.

Oh well.

I'm updating today because I won't be home all day tomorrow. I hope you enjoyed the chapter! :) Let me know what you think? I'm trying to speed things up so some action can happen

And not that kind of action, hahaha.

If there's a way to fix the indenting problem, I'll figure it out and fix it hopefully.

Have a good day or night, or both. :)