Alive (Mended Hearts #1) (13 page)

“I love spaghetti and meatballs. Thank you.”

Jesse moves to sit next to me, squeezing my leg in comfort. I smile over at him, thankful for thinking about me.

“You were right. I love your mom already
,” I tell him honestly. A smile lights up his face.

“I’m glad. It sure does make things a lot easier. Could you imagine if you hated each other? I’d be torn.” We both laugh at that. The image going through my head is hilarious
; me and Anna using Jesse as a human tug of war, fighting for him.

“I just had an image of me and your mom using you as a human tug of war
,” I say, still laughing. That just makes Jesse laugh harder.

“You come out with the most random things. It’s why I love you
, though.” My laughter dies on my lips. Did he just say that he loves me? He couldn’t have. I must have misheard him.

“You l-l-love me?”
I stutter out. I think I must be in shock. We’ve only been together a week. He can’t love me yet.

His face pales at my question. He must have not
have realized what he said. “Oh shit. I didn’t mean for it to come out this way. I was going to wait a little longer. I know we’ve only been together a week, but yes. I do love you. I’ve loved you since the moment I first saw you on the sidewalk.”

“Oh…” I say, not really knowing what to say
back. I don’t know if I love him yet. It’s too soon.

“You don’t have to say it back. Like I said, I was going to wait
, but you know now.” I can’t swallow with the mammoth sized lump which has lodged itself in my throat.
Fuck, fuck, fuckedity, fuck.
What do I say now? Can I just run out of the house, all the way back to the dorms, lock the door, and never leave? I really feel like doing that right now, but running doesn’t solve anything. I’ve learnt that the hard way.

“I’m not ready yet
,” I whisper, looking anywhere but into his eyes.

“And that’s okay. I didn’t expect you to say it yet anyway. Let’s go see if my mom has finished dinner yet
,” Jesse says, standing up. He grabs my hand, and we walk into the kitchen.

I’m thankful for the distraction. That conversation was intense. I love you
is the last thing I was expecting to hear him say, but he always shocks me because he’s always unpredictable. Now things are going to be awkward between us.

“Dinner
’s nearly ready. Sit down if you would like,” Anna says, pointing at the ready made table. I need to keep busy to distract myself. Plus, I can’t look at Jesse right now. I’m too shocked.

“Do you need help with anything?” Please say yes.

“You can dish up the spaghetti while I finish off the sauce, if you want.” Anna says, smiling at me. Thank you, God.

“Okay.”
I pick up the saucepan and dish the spaghetti evenly onto the plates.

I can’t hide from Jesse forever. Eventually
, we are going to be alone and will have to address the situation. I’m just not ready yet. I’ll think about that when we’re alone later.

Jesse

Why the fuck did I have to open my big mouth and say I love you? I knew she wouldn’t be ready to hear that, but I wasn’t thinking and just said it. I’m such an asshole.

Since I said it, she’s been keeping her distance from me. I’m sure my mom can sense the tension between us
, but if she does, she isn’t saying anything. I just hope it doesn’t ruin us. I can’t lose her, not now. I’ve got a taste of what it feels like to love someone, and I don’t want to lose that feeling. I especially don’t want to lose Maisie.

After Maisie helped my mom serve up dinner, we sat down at the table, the conversation flowing easily. I knew they would get on
, and they have. It makes me happy to see the two most important people in my life getting along, laughing and joking with each other. It’s like they’ve known each other for years. I can tell my mom loves her just as much as I do. She’s a very loveable person, which is why I fell in love with her so quickly.

After dinner, Maisie offer
s to help Mom wash up the dishes. Thankfully, Mom shoos her away, saying that we have a dish washer, so it won’t take her long. I see Maisie’s face fall, and it makes my heart break. She clearly doesn’t want to be alone with me. I need to sort this out, and fast. The last thing I wanted to do was scare her, but I have. I’m so pissed with myself.

I have a few minutes to sort it out with her before my mom comes back in. Plopping down on the sofa next to her, I turn her head to face me, giving her no choice but to look at me. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said it
, but I can’t take it back now. Please, don’t be upset with me. It’s breaking my heart here, Maisie. Please forgive me?” I say, my eyes pleading with her to forgive me. She doesn’t say anything, just carries on staring and occasionally swallowing. I’ve really fucked up, haven’t I? “Please?” I try again.

She blinks at me a few times. It’s fucking adorable. I don’t want to
not be able to look into her eyes again or witness her quirky behaviour.

It feels like minutes pass, when it’s probably only seconds
, before she finally speaks. “Okay,” she whispers. Did she say okay?

“Sorry?” I ask, hoping she will repeat it louder this time. I want to be sure that my ears aren’t playing tricks on me.

“Okay. I forgive you,” she says louder this time. I think my heart just stopped beating. Thank fuck, I’m not going to lose her. I want to shout from the rooftops right now. Instead, I grab her face, kissing it all over. “Thank you.” Kiss. “Thank you.” Kiss. “Thank you.” Kiss. I repeat this over and over again. This makes her laugh. God, I’ve missed her laugh. It’s been an hour since I’ve been able to hear it because of my actions. I never want to go that long without hearing that sound again.

Coughing to my right
stops me mid kiss. My mom is standing in the doorway of the kitchen with a shit eating grin on her face. She’s never seen this side of me before, so it must come as a shock; a good shock, though, it seems.

“Don’t mind me. I’ll go back into the kitchen if I’m interrupting
,” she says, trying not to laugh.

“It’s okay. Everything is sorted now
,” I say, being vague. I’m sure my mom understands what I mean, but I don’t want Maisie to think she was too obvious with her being distant from me.

“Maisie, would you like to see some baby
pictures of Jesse? He was the most adorable baby.” Oh shit. I was hoping she wouldn’t get them out. She has a few of me nude in the photo albums. Now, Maisie’s going to see my cock, albeit my baby cock, though she should see what it looks like now before seeing what it used to look like. The photos won’t give her a good impression.

“Do
we…”

“I’d love to
,” Maisie says, interrupting me. Fuck. Do I have to stay here and watch her witness this?

“Great! Let me just go and get them.” My mom goes up the stairs to retrieve them from her bedroom.

“This is going to be embarrassing,” I mumble into my hands. A hand touches my back, startling me.

“It can’t be that bad
, can it?” Maisie asks quietly into my ear. God, she’s stealthy. I didn’t know she was right next to my ear. I usually hear everything, meaning nobody can creep up on me. I’m going to have to be extra careful with Maisie. She seems a pro at it.

“Oh, you just wait
,” I say vaguely.

Mom saves me from having to explain.
Maisie’s going to see them anyway, and then she will understand why I’m acting like I am. I can’t stay here to watch. I have to get out of here.

Standing up, I stretch, showing off my abs on purpose. This will remind Maisie how much of a man I am now. Looking at Maisie, who is trying not to stare at my abs, I lean down and wink at her. Her cheeks flame red instantly. Oh yeah, she likes what she sees alright.

Leaning close to her ear, I whisper so only she can hear, “If you’re lucky, I might let you have a touch later.” I hear her swallow in response. She’s affected alright. Standing up straight, I wink at her again, a smirk playing on my lips. “I’m going outside. I have a call to make.” I don’t wait for a reply from them. Stepping out the front door, I leave a flustered Maisie with my mom. I’m such a jerk, but I love it, and so does she.

I have about ten minutes to spare.
Might as well give Brandon a call. We haven’t seen each other much recently, since I’ve been with Maisie. I feel bad as we usually see each other every day. We’re usually inseparable, but since Maisie came along, I’ve sort of ditched him. I’m a shitty friend.

Pulling out my cell, I dial his number and wait for him to pick up.

“To what do I owe this pleasure?” Brandon answers, sarcasm dripping from his voice. I deserve it.

“Just calling to see how my best bud is?”

“Oh, so you remember who I am now, huh?” I deserve that one too.

“I’m sorry I haven’t really spent time with you for a few days, but I have other commitments as well now
,” I reply.

“A few days?
I haven’t seen or heard from you for a week. The only time I see you is at practice, and that’s because you have to be there.” If he’s trying to make me feel shittier than I already feel, it’s working.

“I’m sorry
, Brandon, I really am. Do you want to do something tonight? I could come round for a few beers?” I say hopefully.

“Aren’t you going to be too busy with your new piece of ass?” Brandon says, venom dripping from his voice.
He’s just over stepped the mark.

Starting to see red, I say in my most deadly voice, “Don’t you dare
talk about Maisie like that. She’s not just some piece of ass. She’s my girlfriend. I’ll beat the shit out of you if you talk trash like that about her again, whether you’re my friend or not. Got it?”

“
Whoa, chill, will you? You’re really serious about her, aren’t you?” he asks surprised.

“Yes
, I am. She’s the one, Brandon. I’ve never felt this way before.” I sound like a woman. I don’t care, though. It’s the truth. I’ll tell the whole world if I have to.

“Wow. I never thought you’d settle down. No offence
,” he says. No offence taken. I never thought I’d settle down either. “Well, I’m happy for you then, bro. At least I know you’re not just ditching me just to get laid.” We both laugh at that.

“So
, how about those beers tonight?” I ask again.

“Yeah
, that’s cool. Mine at say nine?”

“I’ll be there. Get them in the fridge
, so they’re nice and cold for me.” There’s nothing worse than a warm beer.

“Got it
, boss. Until later,” Brandon says, ending the call.

They must be done by now
, I think as I put my cell phone away. I’ll give it a few more minutes, just to be safe.

Making my way back into the house five minutes later, I hear laughing. Maybe they aren’t done yet. Fuck. I’ll just have to brave it out then. “What are you two laughing about?” I ask, entering the living room. I don’t see any photo albums out
, which is a good sign.

“Oh
, your mom was just telling me some funny stories about when you were younger,” Maisie says, laughing all over again. That’s probably worse than the photos. Damn it, Mom!

“Oh yeah?
What story did she tell you?” I ask, hoping that it’s nothing too embarrassing. Knowing my mom, it’s the most embarrassing story she has.

“I was telling Maisie about that time when you went up to some lady in the supermarket
and put your head up her skirt because you thought it was me,” My mom says, a cheeky smile on her face.

Yeah, that was the story I was dreading. I was four years old
, okay! It’s not a crime at that age. Plus, she really looked like my mom. Any child would get confused and do the same. Well, maybe not stuck their head up her skirt.

“To my defen
se, that woman really looked like you. Plus, I was four, Mom. It was easy to get confused,” I say, defending my innocent young self.

“Aw, don’t worry
, sweetie. That was the cutest thing you’ve ever done. Though, I never really understood why you always wanted to put your head up my skirt? You started liking the ladies young,” My mom says as her and Maisie both laugh.

“Maybe I just wanted to go back to a safe place
, however disgusting that is,” I reply, shuddering at the thought of going back up my mom’s vagina. I think I’m going to be sick.

“Well
, you could have tried, but you wouldn’t have fit.”

“
Eurgh, Mom, please. Too much information,” I say, blocking my ears. Now, I’m even acting four years old. I need to leave ASAP.

Maisie has a glow on her face that I haven’t seen before. She’s looking at my mom with pure adoration in her eyes. I knew they would get
along well, and it makes me so happy that I was right.

I hate that I’m about to take Maisie home, when she’s obviously enjoying herself, but it’s getting late,
and I need to leave before Mom starts telling even more embarrassing stories. It’s bound to happen. “I hate to break story telling time up, but it’s getting late. Are you ready to go home, Maisie?”