From The Wreckage - Complete (41 page)

“I can’t believe I said you could spend the weekend with your boyfriend on a college campus,” Jules’ dad says with a frown at breakfast Friday morning.  

“Nooo, daddy. I’m checking out the campus and staying with his family. Nothing else. What in the world did you
think
I’d be doing?”

“I wanna go too!” Jase butts in; his eyes wide with hope and excitement.

“Aw, bud, maybe we can work out a deal to get you to a game this year. If not, then next year for sure. Once I’m a student we can get lots of tickets. Besides, there isn’t a game this week. You’d be bored.”

“Well what are
you
doing, then?” he asks curiously; taking a bite of his chocolate cereal.

“West’s big brother Carson is having a special barbecue tomorrow and he invited me. Plus, we’re going to check out the campus and get a little tour from Austin.”

“Cool.”

“Yeah, it is cool,” she agrees. Her dad frowns again when he spots Jules’ overly bright smile.

“As long as his dad is there.”

“You
do
know I’m eighteen now and I’ll be going away next year, right?”

“Yes sweetie, but until then, you’re still my little girl.” He winks and Jules jumps up to give him a tight hug.

“Thank you for letting me go, daddy. I love you and I love being your little girl.” 

School drags by. The idea of spending the entire weekend with West is the only thing that keeps Jules afloat. When the last bell rings and she catches West in the hallway, she is flying high.

“I’ve got some plans for you, gorgeous.” He smiles and his eyes twinkle with mischief as he gives her a quick kiss. They stop by her locker to drop off her backpack — there will be no homework done this weekend! — and they’re off.

Mr. Rutledge bought the small house Carson shares with Austin just outside of A&M five years earlier when Carson first started there. West explains that Carson’s new fiancé, Mindy lives there too, as he brings her weekend bag to the third bedroom he says will be his next year when he starts school.  

“Technically Austin lives on campus, but he spends a lot of his off-time here, just to get away from the crowd.” 

Lying in that bedroom later that night, she thinks about West and his brothers. Being around the Rutledge boys is a lot like being around a bunch of fraternity brothers on a Saturday night.

Austin and Carson are waiting on them when they arrive. The grill is already warmed up and a fire is going in the outdoor pit they built themselves. As they get closer, she stares at his brothers and can’t help but admire their good looks. Hell, who is she kidding? The Rutledge boys are freaking fine! They’re a triple shot of tall, dark and handsome with sinful grins and, she’s betting, they possess West’s wicked mind too.

“I thought only the Hemsworth parents had some type of magic potion to produce the genetically blessed. Damn,” she mutters and West bursts out laughing. 

“Jules Blacklin, what on earth are you doing with my loser kid brother?” Austin hollers her way the moment she steps onto the back patio.

West slides his arm around her waist and propels her forward. “Dude, she knows the best when she sees it.” 

“That’s right bro, you better cover her eyes.” 

“Jules, obviously you know Austin, and this is Carson. Carson, Jules Blacklin.”

Jules holds her hand out as both of his brothers look her over. She has to bite her tongue to keep from laughing when Austin whisks her into a quick hug. “Gotta give my former cheer girl a hug.” He winks, the Rutledge charm in full effect, and West punches his arm.

”I’m glad you could make it,” says Carson; offering up his hand as West and Austin start to wrestle with each other.

“Thanks for inviting me. It was really sweet of y’all.”

He nods and pulls her back as the boys stumble her way. They’re hunched over, taking turns punching each other and attempting headlocks.

“You’re all West has been able to talk about the past few months. We couldn’t wait to meet you. Honestly, I think Mindy was dying to get another female in this house.” 

“That bad, huh?” she asks; nodding at his brothers. “Do they do this often?”

“Is daily often?” Carson asks dryly and Jules laughs. 

Carson jumps in the tussle when Austin growls out something about “hitting like a wuss, just like Carson,” and Jules jumps back farther; shaking her head at them.
Boys really will be boys
, she thinks.

Now as she lies in the bed West will be using in just a few months, she smiles at the warm camaraderie between the brothers. She loves how they finished each other’s sentences while sitting at the dinner table tonight. The way they gave Austin crap about missing a catch in a game, or giving West hell because he’d turned soft…the latter in reference to the ring she wore.

She wasn’t going to mention it; it was Mindy who noticed. Mindy had been clearing the dishes, and when Jules tried to help, Mindy wouldn’t hear of it. She leaned over to take the plate from Jules’ hand and remarked on the ring. Jules looked over at West and he just smiled before offering up the information himself.

She smiles to herself as she recalls the brilliant look on his face when Austin and Carson started to rib him.

“Man, you’re whipped aren’t you?” Austin laughs as his father slaps the back of his head.

Jules’ shoulders shake and Mindy sighs and rolls her eyes, but West slides his arm around the back of Jules’ chair and stares at his brother.

“Damn straight I am.”

“See why you’re still single, Austin? Maybe you can learn a thing or two from West,” Carson points out, and gets up to help Mindy with the dishes.

A light tap and click of the doorknob interrupts her thoughts on the day. The door cracks open noiselessly and a silhouette squeezes in; appearing and then disappearing as the door shuts. 

“I’m pretty sure your midnight visits were not on the itinerary your dad gave mine,” she whispers and sits up in the almost pitch black room.

West produces his cell phone and the home screen provides the light he needs to make his way to the bed.

“What your daddy doesn’t know won’t hurt him, gorgeous.” He shines the light at her face and sits on the edge of the bed. “Do you want me to go?” he asks. 

“What about your dad?”

“I promised him I would be a perfect gentleman all weekend.” The teasing tone in his voice makes her wish she can see his face. She’s sure she would find one of his signature sly grins and a dirty twinkle in his chocolate eyes.

She scoots over and pats the mattress, and West sets his phone on the bedside table. He pulls the blankets down, climbs in and pulls her body to his.

“Hi,” he murmurs, his face lost in her loose hair.

“Hi.”

West is shirtless and Jules takes advantage by running her hand over his side and up and down his ribcage; her fingertips feeling the leaping and flexing of each muscle.

“I set my alarm for seven on my phone,” he whispers; his hand skimming the skin at the bottom of her tank top. His leg crosses over hers and the next thing she knows, he rolls to his back and tugs her on top of him. She ends up between his legs with her thigh feeling his hardness pressed against it. “I’m so glad you’re here, baby. I’m glad you’re finally getting to know my brothers.”

“Me too,” she agrees; kissing his collarbone. His arms move under hers and pull her up so he can kiss her. His mouth devours hers. He takes every peck, every flick of her tongue, every slow suck and pull, and he owns each one; giving her back twice as much as he takes.

Her body cries for release after only a few minutes of kissing. The warmth pulling between her legs is both painful and blissful as they continue to kiss and caress each other. His hands stay on her back for the most part, and his thumbs skim the sides of her breast only a few times as he goes over her ribs. She moans into his mouth and circles her hips over West’s. He nips and grazes the tender skin of her bottom lip with his teeth.

“Babe, we can’t…we need to take a second…” he gasps; dragging his mouth away from hers. 

Rolling off of him, Jules cuddles into his side and kisses his shoulder as she whispers, “I want you.” 

He inhales a deep breath as her hand skims over him. “Jules…baby, I love you, but…” His breathing hitches and he curses softly as her hand inches into his loose shorts. 

“But we can do other things, can’t we?” she teases; her hand finding its target.

His fingers dig into her scalp and tug on her hair as his hips rise to her touch. He hums lightly before turning to her quickly, shoving his hand under her pajama pants and grasping her bare bottom; kissing her wildly.

“Yeah, we can
definitely
do other things,” he groans into her mouth while his hands begin to show her exactly what they can do.

“Late night kiddos?” Austin crows after Jules covers yet another yawn as they walk around campus.

Austin is sleeping in the living room with West for the weekend, having given up his room for their dad, so he’s well aware of West’s midnight visit to her room.

They already made stops by the library, the dorms and sorority row, and are now in the heart of campus, leisurely checking out the surroundings and chatting. People stop Austin frequently to say hi or ask questions about next week’s game. He is polite to them all and even takes a picture with a group of gorgeous co-eds as Jules and West stand back and chuckle.

“You’re like a celebrity here, huh?” she asks; finding herself glad West no longer plays ball. She remembers being the girlfriend of a football star when she dated Stuart. She doesn’t want to imagine the added pressure a player faces in college.

“Usually I wear my Beats whenever I walk campus. It’s easier to pretend to be in the zone, listening to something.”

“I can see that.”

“I really love it here,” she confesses aloud. “I can’t wait until next year.”

“It’ll be fun having West here. The Rutledge boys all together again. Right man?” he asks, but West doesn’t reply. 

He has come to a stop a few steps behind them on the path and is looking over to his left. Jules follows his gaze and finds what has caught his attention. 

Down the path is the famous century tree; a massive oak tree with branches so heavy and sprawling, they touch the ground. It’s breathtaking in person. Jules has seen it several times over her years of visiting the campus for games or other events.

“Come here.” He grabs her hand and yanks her into a jog towards the tree.

Behind them, Austin lets out a chuckle and yells “Whipped” causing a few heads to turn their way.

“What are you doing?” she asks as she chases after him. Good thing she’s wearing her TOMS instead of the sandals she almost put on.

He doesn’t speak until they are at the perimeter of the tree; the large branches casting shade over them. Its leaves are turning and starting to fall, but the weather has been mild this year so it is still pretty well covered.

“Geez, West,” she gasps and tries to catch her breath. “On principle, I try not to run unless I’m being chased by a serial killer.” She rubs the catch in her side. Giving up cheerleading has taken a toll on her endurance.

“There’s a legend about this tree. Do you know it?” He gives her a grin with excited eyes.

Jules thinks back to everything she knows about the tree. She’s seen a lot of wedding portraits taken under the tree, and she dimly recalls something she’s heard before. “Uh, I did hear that if a married couple walks under the tree, they will be married forever.” 

He nods. “Yep, that’s one. There’s another one though. A better one.”

“Better than being married forever?” she asks incredulously.

“Yep. It’s said that if a couple walks under the branches, they will eventually marry.” He holds out his hand and her eyes grow wide with understanding.

“It’s only been two months,” she says on a breathy whisper, and looks at his hand waiting for hers. Glancing over her shoulder, she sees Austin maintaining his distance, sitting on a bench a short distance down the path to give them privacy.

West steps closer to her and cups her cheek with his hand before rounding it back to her nape. His strong fingers put pressure on the back of her head and gently massage it the way he always does.

“I didn’t need two
hours
, Jules. I love you. I want to be with you forever, I want to love you forever and I want you to love me.” 

Her hand slides into his, but her eyes never leave his. “What happened to the guy who was so afraid of screwing things up?” 

“I’m still terrified as hell that I’ll screw this up,” he admits. “I worry about it daily; that you’re too good to be true, that I don’t deserve you, that one day you’ll wake up and realize you don’t need me…”

“Stop,” Jules orders; leaning up and kissing his lips quickly.

“Babe, you said it yourself. You and I, we’re beautiful. I have to trust in that and trust that this is going to work, no matter what the voices in my head say. But.” He adds the ‘but’ quickly and his face changes from serious to playful with that one word. “I’m not above getting a little help. If legend says all we have to do is walk under these branches to secure our future, then I’m more than willing to walk under them if you are.”