Silence

  ***

  Two hours and fifty minutes later, we arrived back at my house.

  I don’t want to go in there.

  I don’t have a choice.

  “Well,” Cole said, walking me to the door. “Thanks for trusting me to take you to the big city, country girl.” I bit my lip, dizzy on all things Cole and melted into his chest. I was so in love with him it was starting to make me one of those girls. I didn’t even care.

  “Tomorrow,” he whispered, kissing my softly before leaving me.

  Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.

  I floated into the house in a happy daze. My little bubble was burst as Jasper paused his computer game and raised his light eyebrow.

  What now?

  “I think we should have a chat about Cole.”

  Okay, I really don’t.

  “Don’t shoot daggers at me, lil sis. I know you’re together.”

  My mouth popped open. I started to shake my head in denial, but Jasper scowled. “Don’t lie to me. I might not be Mensa–” Putting it mildly. “–but I’m not stupid. Do you think I can’t see how you look at each other? I know love when I see it, Oakley. I’m worried.”

  Worried about what? Cole would never hurt me. Jasper knew that, too.

  He took a deep breath and rolled his eyes. “Shit. Look, I know Cole’s a good guy, but I just want you to know that I love you, and if he ever does do anything to hurt you, I need you to tell me. I would cut his balls off.” He laughed awkwardly, and I smiled. “You promise me you’ll be careful?”

  I nodded quickly, not wanting him to elaborate. Jasper didn’t need to know that me and Cole had been intimate; I was still underage for a few more weeks. The few times that we’d slept together we were careful. There was no way I’d risk getting pregnant. I wouldn’t bring a baby into this world, especially at fifteen.

  “By careful… Well, you know I mean—” I held my hand up and nodded again, this time with a burning face. It was unlike Jasper to be nervous or embarrassed about the subject, though. “Okay. Well, I’m glad we got that straightened out. I’ve got a date with Carly, so I’m gonna do one.”

  He remembered her name. Well done, Jasper. Grabbing his leather jacket he turned to me and said, “You do know that I love you, right?”

  I smiled and nodded. I love you, too.

  You wouldn’t be living in your own personal hell if you didn’t. Sometimes I wished I didn’t love my mum and brother. Things would be so much easier if I could allow myself to hurt them.

  Jasper closed the front door behind him, and I went to find Mum.

  23

  Oakley