The Broken Girl (Lonely Girl Book 2) (21 page)

“Please tell me that one day my life won’t be filled with all this uncertainty and chaos.” He lets out a long sigh and I know he’s thinking about this day too.

“Trevor isn’t bad. If anything, he gets you, which is exactly what you need right now. He’s right though, Bec. You deserve everything and if you are not happy here…well, I’d never ask you to stay. Never sacrifice your happiness, for my gain.”

My heart is racing at his words because
, for a minute, I feel like he’s saying goodbye and that he doesn’t need me like I need him. “Wherever you go, Bec, that doesn’t change us. It never will.”

***

Standing in my dorm room, waiting for Trevor to show up, is unnerving. I’ve never had another man in here. Keegan was amazing as per his usual. Seeing him handle Trevor the way he did was a new experience. Prior to the accident, he would have acted like Jake. The irony that they have switched places is apparent. Keegan walked me home, hugged me tightly, and left so that Trevor could come over. All he said was ‘call me if you need me and don’t be a stranger.’ Saying that it breaks my heart a bit that he handles this so well would be an understatement. Placing my art out along the walls, there is a knock at the door.

Opening it
, I don’t have a chance to react before I’m being kissed. The door closes behind me and I’m kissing him back. My mind is spinning, feeling every touch and every movement. My shirt is over my head and on the floor next to me; I’m struggling to undo his pants as he unhooks my bra. Sliding his pants off, I grab him, pulling him to me. Grabbing the hem of his shirt, I lift it over his head and his lips find my again. He takes my bottom lip in between his teeth, biting softly, causing me to moan unexpectedly. He begins undoing my jeans and I shimmy them down my legs.

He brings his hand around
to the back of my neck and places his other one just above my bottom, holding me to him. Guiding me back, we find the bed, falling into it. Slowly I bring my fingers to the top of his boxers and begin pulling them down. He kicks them off and then does the same thing to my panties, bringing them down around my ankles. I slide them off and bring my hands up and along his back. The sexual tension is finally having an outlet. He closes the space between us, not even leaving an inch. I feel him press against me and I allow him, pulling myself closer to his body. He continues looking right into my eyes, making sure this is everything I’ve wanted. Right now, I can’t think of anything I’d want more than to be doing this with him.

“What does this mean?” He asks as we rush putting our clothes back on. “Becca,
what does this mean?” Looking at him, I wish I had the answers he wants but I just can’t figure this out.

“I don’t know
, Jake.” I feel the emotions of what just happened set in.

“Becca.” Frustration builds up.

“JAKE! I don’t know, okay? I have no idea what any of this means.” My phone beeps and I rush to it.

‘I’ll be there in fifteen minutes-Trevor’

“Was that him?” Jake asks quietly.

“If by him you mean Trevor
, then yes. He will be here in fifteen minutes.

“Becca, please just talk to me.” Turning from Jake
, I find myself torn between what just happened and what should be happening. This wasn’t what I planned.

“Jake, I don’t know what to say any
more. You just get angry. You were horrible to me tonight. The things you said. Then you show up here and you are just asking me ‘what does this mean?’ Why can’t you tell me that? My brain is tired of trying to think through this mess.” Turning back to Jake, I can see him working through everything I’ve just said.

“It means you have a choice. You can stand by me; deal with the fact that Sarah might be having my child. Not give up on us. You could choose to love me unconditionally. The way I love you. But the choice is yours
, Becca, it always has been.”

“Am I allowed to say I don’t know? Is that wrong?” I whisper
, in response.

“No, the only wrong was how I treated you tonight. I was jealous, seeing him connect with you over art. To top it off
, I didn’t know anything about him. I know that’s my fault because I was so distant from you this summer. It’s no excuse.” Jake’s words sink in and I find myself wishing someone other than me were making this choice.

“Becca, I have to leave. I won’t make this worse for you by having him show up with me here.” I’m thankful for this because if my life got any
more complicated I’d be finding the first plane out of this city. “That being said, I am jealous. Jealous of the way he gets you. Of what he wants from you, of all the things he can give you that I can’t. But know this. He can’t love you like me. Nobody can.” Jake kisses me, pressing his lips firmly against mine, and just like he appeared, he’s gone.

Standing in the middle of my room
, I am in a state of shock. What did I just do? Jake was right. What does this mean? Before I have time to react to anything, my door is being knocked on and I open it cautiously.

“Rebecca.”

I open it wide waving Trevor in. “Find it alright?”

He nods. “The girls down the hall were helpful. Nicky and Lily say hello.” Of course
they do. I mentally make a note to tell them of the newest drama I’ve added to my life.

Trevor begins pacing around
, looking at my walls that are currently papered in my art. “Rebecca, I’m glad I came. I was right about you.”

“What are you talking about?”
I ask him quietly. “Rebecca, you are an amazing artist. You have a keen eye, with attention to detail. All the things that will make you very successful and I wouldn’t be much of a business man if I didn’t try to grasp that talent when I have the chance.” I’m still lost as to his thoughts. My work is okay but I’m just starting out. “My offer at the firm is very much true. I’d like you to take a few weeks to talk about it with your family, and any friends you feel would benefit you from their wisdom. I’m opening an art-dealing firm. My first task is to talk this artist into commissioning a few pieces.”

“Trevor
, I’m not ready to negotiate and do dealings. I’m just starting my second year of schooling and it’s not in art or marketing.”

He chuckles
, looking closely at my piece I’d painted before coming to visit here almost two years ago. During the summer, I’d worked on it more closely and defined some things. I’d labeled it ‘The Broken Girl.’

“Rebecca
, I’m afraid I need your help. The only person who can get this artist is you.” Walking to Trevor’s side, I look, trying to see what he’s seeing that is causing him to have this huge smile. “That artist is you, Rebecca.”

Wait
, me? “You want me to help with the firm and paint?”

He nods.

“That seems a little good to be true, so what else would you expect of me?” I’ve had too many things go wrong on me. I’m not jumping into this.

“Rebecca, as much as I wish you were ready, you
are not. Right now, all you can offer me is your talent, your knowledge, and your appreciation of art. I understand that more than you know. So think about it. I’ve also made the option of showing one of your pieces. I’d like to borrow this one for the occasion.” Looking around at my paintings I try and imagine them covering the walls of a gallery, although it’s hard. I’d never thought I’d have this chance, or this type of future. He’s pointing to the painting I’d been working on so hard this summer and I’m happy that it’s one of my better pieces.

“Trevor, I will definitely think about this. As for the painting
…what the heck, right? If you say it’s good, who am I to say otherwise?” He claps his hands together as if he’s already succeeded in getting me to work for him. Agreeing to let him take my painting already has my body in a panic.

“Lovely, now I’ve already had my assistant pick up a dress for you. Your flight leaves at
seven in the morning, so you’d better start packing. You leave in seven hours. It’s time for Rebecca Potts to stop hiding.”

***

There are cameras flashing and I haven’t even stepped out of the limo yet. Trevor looks at me and puts his hand over mine, trying to help my nerves. It only further panics me. It pulls me back to reality. In a few minutes, I will be stepping out of this car and I’m going to be out there for the world to see.

“Trevor
, this wasn’t such a good idea.” I am hoping he will agree and let me go home.

“Rebecca, if I didn’t think you could handle this I would never have brought you. Not only are you an amazing model but an exceptionally gifted artist.” The doors to the limo open, Trevor gets out
, and holds out a hand for me to grab. I emerge from the limo and the flashes start. Trevor puts his arm around my waist and guides me through and into the gallery.

This place is enormous; there are paintings
everywhere, and people covering every spot, looking at the art. Trevor continues bringing us through the crowd and eventually lands in front of the portrait he painted of me. People are looking at it and saying how beautiful it is. If only they knew how broken that person really is. How confusing her life has gotten.

“Rebecca, I’m going to go meet up with the host and talk about my speech. Are you okay?” He looks at me and I nod
, still staring at a painting of myself.

“Beautiful.” I gasp at the sound of his voice.

“It really is beautiful.” I respond, bringing myself down memory lane.

“Yes, the portrait is beautiful too.” Turning, I stand there looking at my mystery man.

“Jake.” He brings me to him in a hug and I let him.

“Becca, fancy meeting you here.” I laugh at his attempt to brush this off.

“You know, I’ve already had one stalking boyfriend, and I’m not sure if I’m looking to make it two.”

He gets a huge infectious grin on his face. “Boyfriend
, huh?”

I elbow him and he just laughs harder. “Jake
, really, what are you doing here?”

“Becca, you thought the first time your work is going to be shown that I wouldn’t drop everything to be here
?” If only it were that easy, or could it be?

“Well
, thank you. I’m nervous and want to crawl under a rock but I wouldn’t be Becca if I didn’t feel that way.”

He brings me to him
, holding my hand. “No, you wouldn’t be my Becca if you didn’t feel that way.” My heart warms and I wonder if I could really make it this easy. Just choose Jake, forget everything, and be happy.

“Well
, this must be the beautiful Becca you never stopped talking about.” Turning around, I see a man who looks just like Jake, just twenty-five years older.

“She is everything you said she was.” He is looking at me with such kind eyes and Jake follows suit. I’m wearing a long black satin dress
with a small train at the back of it and it has a loose neckline. I’m wearing silver high heels and a simple silver heart necklace. 

“She’s more really
,” Jake adds.

“Well, where are my man
ners? My name is Jared Kelso. As I’m sure you’ve gathered, I’m Jake’s dad.” I step forward, giving him a quick hug. I laugh at the fact that I just hugged him.

“Sorry
, I’m sure a handshake would have worked too.”

He laughs. “Ah, yes but than you wouldn’t be the woman my son has s
pent the last year and a half talking about. It’s nice to finally meet you, Becca. I’ve heard nothing but amazing things about you.”

Trevor doesn’t come back, so I continue talking with Jake and his dad. They are two of a kind. It’s easy
, just like it always was with Jake. Two people approach us and they both look at Jake and his father. Jake places his arm around my waist and pulls me towards him, almost protectively.

“There you two are
. We’ve been looking for you, and who is this?” I assume this must be Jake’s mom. She’s beautiful, of course, but Jake is a double of his dad.

“Dear
, this is Jake’s girlfriend, Becca.” Jakes dad is beaming. “She’s one of the models of the portraits being showcased and even has her own painting being displayed.

“I didn’t know you were with anyone
, Jake. Must not be anything important enough to tell your sister.” She says.

Jake’s dad glares at her. “That was very rude
, Denise. Don’t say such things. Becca is all your brother every speaks about. I feel like I already know her.” He smiles and my mood picks up after his sister’s outburst.

“Don’t mind my sister
. She’s just mad that she couldn’t pawn me off to one of her friends.” I laugh nervously.

“Well
, Becky, is it?” With that name, my whole body goes rigid. Flashes of Dillon come back and I know I need to get out of here.

“It’s Becca
, mom.” Jake says loudly.

“If you all will excuse me
, I have something I need to take care of.”