Chapter 24
*Mikayla*
It’s been a few weeks since we got back from the wedding. I work two days a week with Nathan and he pays me, like discussed.
Personally, I think he overpays me, but what can I do?
The summer days go quickly. Jake spends every morning working out and training, the afternoons are relaxed and lazy. I drive Julie around, as agreed, and we hang out with Jake's friends when we can.
Unless I’m at work, or he’s training, were always together.
We haven’t had any more ‘moments’ since the night we got home. I think we’re both just happy to be around each other. We haven’t talked about taking things further.
I don’t know about Jake, but I’m waiting to see how things go when we go to college. It might be completely different once we’re not around each other all the time.
“What are you doing?” he asks, stepping out onto the back patio.
“Looking online for apartments and jobs near campus.” I turn to face him.
He looks at me for a beat, before sitting in the chair opposite me.
“You can’t do student housing?”
“You have to pay for the year in advance, so no, I can’t. I’m hoping there are some cheap share houses nearby. And I’m hoping that whatever job I get will be enough to cover the rent. Plus, I gotta consider how close everything is to bus stops because I won’t have a car.”
There aren’t too many options out there, especially now, this close to the school year. I don’t tell Jake this because I know he’ll worry, and really, it’s not his problem, as much as he would like to make it his.
“What about you?” I ask. He hasn’t even mentioned where he’ll be staying.
He stares at me, an emotion I can’t decipher on his face. I try to hold his gaze but it’s so intense, I have to turn away.
Finally, “I haven’t decided yet, what I’m going to do.”
“Seriously, Jake? It’s like, around the corner, you better decide. There aren’t many options available.”
He smirks at me “Kayla, I’ll be fine. Me,” he points his thumb to himself, “I’m kind of a big deal. I’m sure whatever I decide they’ll make work.”
“Okay…”
The back door opens and Julie comes out.
We’re going to the mall today, I think she’s bored out of her brains. I can’t remember what summers were like when I was that age, depending on others to get me around.
I stand up to leave.
“Where are you guys going?” Jake asks, standing up too.
“Out!” Julie snaps, “And you, Jacaaaaarb, are not invited.”
“What? Why not?” He actually sounds annoyed.
I nudge Julie a little, “C’mon, Julie. He won’t take no for an answer, just let him tag along. Please?”
Honestly, I just want an excuse to spend time with him.
“Fine! I’ll be waiting in the car. Don’t take too long.” She pivots and walks away.
“Jesus christ,” Jake huffs, adjusting his cap. “What’s her problem?”
I shrug.
*Jake*
The Mall. Yaye. #sarcasm.
Julie’s been in a mood since we left the house. I don’t know what her deal is but she better snap out of it because her little brat attitude is pissing me off.
Kayla’s over at one of those skill tester machines, trying to cheer her up by winning something for her. She doesn’t win, and now Julie is standing there kicking the shit out of it.
What the hell?
I walk over to her, pick her up and face her the other way.
“What the hell is going on, Ju-ju?”
“Shut up, Jake. Don’t call me that! That’s a babies name and I’m not a baby!”
Hell.
I role my eyes. “Okay, Julie. Wanna tell me what’s going on?”
“You! You are what’s going on. You are not supposed to be here. This was supposed to be my day with Kayla, and you ruined it!”
Kayla’s eyes go big and she bends down to Julie's level and speaks to her softy, I don’t hear what she says.
“Give us a minute?” Kayla asks me.
Shit, if this is Julie now, I’m glad I won’t be home for the teenage years.
“Have all the minutes you want.” I walk away shaking my head.
***
As I wait for them to talk, a few girls from school walk past and wave, I nod back. Then a realize they’re Casey's friends and my eyes dart around like a maniac looking for her. If she’s here, I’m getting the fuck out.
Luckily, Kayla and Julie walk up just before I have a panic attack. That Casey bitch is legit no joke.
Kayla stands next to me and takes my hand. I love it when she does this shit in public. It’s like an unspoken agreement, that I’m hers and she’s mine, and even though we haven’t done shit since that night a couple weeks back, nothing’s changed.
“Julie has something she would like to say to you.”
Julie steps in front of me and crooks her finger so I bend down to listen to her. “I’m sorry,” she whispers, before putting her arms around me.
Thank god she’s back to normal, another crisis averted, thanks to Kayla.
***
We walk around the mall, Julie walking in front of us.
“So what’s the deal with her?” I ask Kayla, pulling her hand to my mouth and kissing it quickly.
Because seriously, I can’t seem to keep my hands and lips off her and if we can’t be intimate in the way I want, the way my dick wants, then I’ll take whatever the hell I can get.
“She’s just growing up. She wanted to come today and spend some girl time. She thinks she needs a training bra and wants to start wearing make up,” she giggles.
“WHAT?” I yell. Kayla nudges me and tells me to shut up. Julie turns around and eyes us suspiciously, but keeps walking when I fake smile at her.
“She’s fricken 8 years old, Kayla!”
“I know, asshole. I’m just going to amuse her, trust me okay?”
“Fine. But my 8 year old sister better not end the day looking like a whore.”
“Oh my god,” Kayla laughs out loud. “I can’t believe you just said 8 year old sister and whore in the same sentence”
“Shut up, I’m not kidding.”
***
We walk around for a bit before Julie decides to walk into a store. I’m not paying attention until were inside and I’m surrounded by lingerie.
“What the f-"
I get cut off by a hand covering my mouth.
“Shut up, Jake.” Kayla whispers loudly. “Just amuse her, please?”
“Fine, but I’m waiting outside”
Half a fucking hour later, they come out.
Julie has a tiny bag with some Disney princesses on it. Okay, so the store must cater for girls her age. Kayla has a bigger bag, a nice paper one with a ribbon tied on top. I stand up and walk to her, trying to take the bag from her hands so I can see what she bought.
She swats my hand away.
“What?” I ask, feigning innocence.
She rolls her eyes. “You can’t look.”
“Why?” I ask, a little pissed off for no good reason. “Who’s it for, Kayla? Who’s gonna see it?”
“Jake…” She stops walking and holds my hand tighter so I stop with her. Julie walks a little ways from us. “It’s for you…” she whispers. “Not for anyone but you. But, I didn’t want you looking at it while Julie was there.”
I look at her confused.
“It’s not suitable for girls her age.”
Still looking at her confused.
“It’s just, it’s too mature?… Sexy?…” she shrugs.
My eyes widen and a smile pulls at my lips.
“You’re an ass,” she says, swatting my shoulder and walking away. I walk up to her and take her hand. “I can’t wait!” I whisper in her ear and she laughs.
***
After we eat lunch, Julie says she’s too tired to walk. Kayla offers to carry her on her back as a joke, but she does it anyway. It’s pretty damn cute, watching my two girls.
“Kayla, you get on Jake's back now!” Julie yells through a laugh.
“I don’t think so, sweetie. I think we’d break his back.”
“No way, Jake's like, the strongest man that ever lived. Do it, Jake!”
“You have to pay your ticket to get on the ride,” I say to Julie, a stupid thing we used to do when we were kids. I stand next to her and she gives me a kiss on the cheek.
“Now your entrance fee, little lady,” I say to Kayla, putting my face in front of hers.
She straightens up, spins my cap backwards and kisses me, on the lips, just once, softly, and quickly. So quick I didn’t even register what was happening until it was done. She smiles a small smile, a little blush creeping on her face, then jumps on my back.
It’s the first time since the limo ride, that first night, that our lips have touched. In the couple of times we’ve fooled around, we’ve never kissed. And even though this kiss was the furthest thing from being sexual, it was still intimate, and purposeful. Like, she knew it would mean something. And it does. It means everything.
We only walk a few feet before I hear my name being called. I turn to find Aunt Jenna and Uncle Jim.
I slowly let go of Kayla and Julie and wait for them to walk over to us.
Julie gives them both a hug, I kiss aunt Jenna and shake hands with uncle Jim.
Jenna steps back and sees Kayla.
I take Kayla’s hand in mine.
Jenna notices and a huge smile appears.
“Aunt Jenna, Uncle Jim, this is Mikayla.” I make the introductions.
“Oh!” Aunt Jenna's eyes widen slightly. “Oh, Mikayla, Nathan’s told me so much about you.” Then to me she says, “I didn’t know, I mean I didn’t realize she was your-"
I feel Kayla tense next to me and interrupt my Aunt. “Yeah, she’s mine.” I smile looking at Kayla. “My Mikayla. Just my Mikayla.” I know I’ve said the right thing, because she beams up at me. She holds onto my arm and quietly says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you both”.
“These are the Aunt and Uncle I stayed with when I first came back. Uncle Jim here is the reason I have so many offers on the table.”
Uncle Jim laughs, shaking his head, “Jesus, kid. You got a big head.”
I laugh back. “I’m kind of a big deal, didn’t you know?”
Kayla laughs next to me. Fuck, I love hearing her laugh.
After the small talk is over, we say our goodbyes to them.
I’m so ready get the fuck out of this place.
As were heading out the exit, Julie gasps, “I have to go to the pharmacy, I need tampons!”
I tense, and Kayla kisses my cheek, ”Just amuse her,” she says before taking Julie's hand and leading her to the pharmacy.
***
I haven’t been able to get the sexy underwear out of my mind.
It’s close to midnight and it’s all I can think about. As soon as we got home, Kayla holed herself up in her room. She didn’t even come down for dinner, said she had job applications to fill out and a bunch of research to do.
Before I know it, I’m climbing out my window and knocking on hers. She opens the curtains after a few seconds and lifts the window. I climb in and sit on her bed.
She stays in front of the window.
“What’s up, Jake?” It’s dark in the room so I can’t see her face.
“Nothing, just thinking… about you.”
“Oh.” She hasn’t moved from her spot.
She’s as far from me as physically possible.
“Whats up?” I ask her. Something is definitely wrong, she hasn’t been the same since we left the mall. “Did something happen?”
“No, why would you say that?”
“Well, normally when I’m around you’re always right next to me, if not on me… now you’re all the way over there.” I try to sound concerned but it comes out sounding more pissed off than anything.
“Jesus Christ, Jake. Sorry I’m not jumping your bones 24/7. Shit,” she all but yells.
Something is definitely up and I have no fucking clue what’s going on.
I try to calm down before I open my mouth again, because if I keep talking I’ll say something stupid.
I really don’t want to do that.
“Kayla, if something’s going on, you’d tell me right?” I move to switch on the lamp on her nightstand so I can see her face.
Her cheeks are all red, her nose is running, her eyes bloodshot.
She’s been crying.
Before I can stand up, she saunters over to me.
She stops right in front and stands in between my legs, placing her arms around my neck. My arms instinctively go around her waist. I look up at her face.
“I’m okay, Jake. I’ve just had a bad day. I promise. I’m sorry.”
I drop my head to her stomach.
I kind of feel like a dick.
I wish I knew how to help her.
“You want me to stay with you tonight? I’ll climb back in early, not that anyone would really give a shit.”
She shakes her head no.
Something is definitely up.
I leave her alone in her room and hope that tomorrow will be a better day for her.