Young Love Dies Hard: The Young Brothers, Book 1 Read online

  Once I was in the kitchen, I ordered a pizza and washed the grit from under my nails.

  “Dog’s in the mud again.”

  I turned with slump shoulders to see Jacob walk through the kitchen door, sweaty and smeared with dirt.

  “Wonderful. That’s an hour of my life I’ll never get back.”

  He smiled.

  Kasey came barreling down the steps with her overnight bag. “See ya.”

  “Hold on a sec,” I said as her hand clung to the doorknob. “Do you want a ride?”

  “No, I’ll walk.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yes.”

  “Do you have your asthma medication?”

  “Yes.”

  “And your inhaler?”

  “Yes!”

  “And if you have a bad attack—”

  “Call you right away. I know, I know.” She rolled her eyes

  “Bye,” I said, matching her dramatic tone.

  She waved us off and disappeared out the door before I got a second to finish the word.

  “I don’t think your sister likes me very much,” Jacob said, washing his hands.

  “Why would you think that?”

  “She’s barely said two words to me since I’ve been here.” He dried his hands with a dish cloth and leaned against the sink. “And she’s always staring at me…with this look on her face.”

  I held back a chuckle. “Trust me. You should consider that a compliment.”

  He nodded and replaced the dishcloth on its hook. “Greenhouses are good for the night. Left the rotten tomatoes in the bucket by the door for compost.”

  “Good,” I said. “Pizza’s on its way.”

  “Awesome,” he said. “I’m starving.”

  Jacob and I made the walk down the driveway to meet the delivery guy. We didn’t bother waiting to get back to the house to eat. When we were back inside, a single slice was all that remained of the large with pepperoni.

  I rummaged through Uncle Jim’s liquor cabinet.

  “How about a drink?”

  “I don’t drink.”

  I pulled out the bottle of Jack Daniels and two shot glasses. “Geeze, Jacob. One drink won’t kill you. Aren’t you allowed to have any fun?”

  “I have fun.”

  “When?”

  I sat on the wicker furniture on the porch.

  Jacob sat next to me. “Okay, so it’s been a while.”

  I poured each of us a drink. “Here,” I said, handing him one. “I won’t tell anyone. I promise.” I held up my glass. “To…”

  “Old friends,” he said, clinking his glass with mine.

  “Old friends,” I repeated with a smile.

  I slung back the shot, feeling the burn glide down my throat and flare in my chest. Jacob set his glass down when he was done.

  After I refilled my glass, we clinked again and took another shot. Jacob clicked his tongue and set his glass down on the table. “Oh my God. How do you do that more than once? It’s terrible.”

  I refilled my glass for one more after he politely declined a third. He looked on with this tilted smile.

  “What?” I asked, wiping my chin with the back of my hand.

  “Nothing,” he said.

  “Why are you looking at me like that?”

  “Like what?”

  The crickets chirped as I stared back at him. “Never mind.” I shot up from my seat, feeling the whiskey slosh around in my stomach. “I’m going to bring these back to the compost bin.” I grabbed the bucket full of vegetable scraps.

  “I’ll go with you.” Jacob stood up, grabbed the other bucket, and followed me to the pole barn. My foot caught a divot in the grass, and I lurched forward.

  Jacob chuckled behind me. “Klutz.”

  I turned around to shoot him a look. “Shut up.” I caught another divot and tripped again. “Not a word.”

  Jacob chuckled again. I dipped my hand into the bin and felt for a squishy tomato. As quick as I could, I threw it in his direction, and it landed square on his shirt. His laughing ceased as he froze and looked down as his chest, bits of tomato skin still clinging to it.

  I hid my giggles with my hand, smelling the rancid tomato juice.

  Jacob looked up at me with a wicked grin. “Oh, it’s on now.”

  He darted toward me, and I took off in a sprint, still lugging the bucket. I felt something soft and squishy pelt me on the back of the head. I gasped and turned to deal another tomato at his head. One hit me square in the face. Then another. He was too quick.

  I stopped running and dropped the bucket to use both hands. Hair clung to my sweaty face as I scooped out mushy tomatoes with both hands and threw it in his direction. Globs fell off his shirt as he pitched toward me. He lifted the bucket in the air.

  “Jacob,” I said, laughing. “Don’t.”

  He smiled, ignoring my pleas, and dumped the contents of the bucket on my head. He dropped it to the ground and staggered back in laughter.

  My mouth hung open as tomato juice ran over my face. It felt like I had a wet mop sitting on my head. Jacob came close and picked up a clump of tomato dangling from my hair. I took it from his hand and smashed it in his face, making sure to smear it in good.

  I smiled and wiped my hand on his shirt as he spit out bits of tomato from his mouth.

  “Truce.” I held out my hand.

  His hand squished against mine as he shook it. “I have tomato up my nose.”

  “I know a good place to wash off.”

  He raised his eyebrows and took off his glasses to wipe them off. “Bet I can beat you there.”

  We made a dash for the trail to the lake. Once we were a good ways into the woods, we both slowed. The light of the moon trickled in through the trees, and the last thing either of us wanted was to trip into a bush of poison ivy.

  The trail opened to a clearing, revealing the placid lake.

  Jacob rested his hands on his hips and looked around. “Still looks the same.” His chest heaved up and down as he tried to catch his breath.

  “Not much changes around here.” I gave him a playful push. “You first.”

  He looked at me and smiled. “As usual.”

  “You need to scare away any wild animals that could be lurking in the water.”

  He took off both shoes and tucked his glasses on top before heading toward the lake. I watched as he made a slow descent into the water. He let out a loud yelp.

  “What’s the matter?” I said in a panic.

  He turned to look at me. “Cold.”

  I shook my head and smirked.

  Jacob waded into the water, splashing and making a scene. “Coast seems clear.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Pretty sure.”

  I slipped off my shoes and hesitated at the edge.

  “Just come in, you baby.”

  I tiptoed in, the chill of the water taking my breath away. “Holy shit. This is obscenely cold.”

  Jacob splashed me a few times as I swam closer. We paddled in the water, just inches from each other.

  “What the fuck was that?” he asked with wide eyes.

  “What?” I cried, my heart thumping in my chest.

  I felt a grip on my leg and screamed like a little girl.

  The wide smile on Jacob’s face gave him away.

  “Jerk.” I splashed water in his direction.

  “You fall for it every time,” he said, laughing.

  “Do remember that time when I made you try to lift me like they did in Dirty Dancing?”

  He scoffed. “Yes. Almost drowned me.”

  “Bet we can do it now.”

  “You’re nuts.”

  “Come on.”

  “Fine,” he grumbled.

  We swam a little farther out. I latched an arm on each of his shoulders. They were strong and sturdy. Not scrawny like I remembered.

  “Okay, grab hold of me.”

  He couldn’t look me in the eyes when he placed a hand on each side
of my waist. The smell of his skin rocked me back in time. It made my head spin. His grip wasn’t firm enough.

  “Harder,” I said. First time I said those words to a guy outside of the bedroom.

  He applied more pressure and pressed closer.

  “Better?” He looked straight at me.

  “Yes…” Oh, shit. Something was stirring deep in my gut. And it wasn’t the whiskey. “Now on the count of three. One, two, three.”

  I shrieked as Jacob hurled me into the air. He lost his grip right away and sent me back into the water.

  I popped back to the surface, smoothing the hair from my face.

  “Are you okay?”

  “Again,” I said.

  It took five more attempts until Jacob was able to hold me in the air. I held out my arms and extended my legs.

  “Don’t move,” I cried. I was enjoying the feeling up being held high.

  “I’m losing my grip,” Jacob said. “You’re going down.”

  I felt his hands slip, and I braced for the fall.

  “That was awesome,” I said when I popped back up to the surface. “Told you we could do it.”

  “Your persistence pays off, as usual.”

  I bobbed in the water, trying to stay afloat. “I thought that was one thing you used to like about me.”

  “They’re many things I liked about you.”

  Was it dark enough to hide my flushed face? The sounds of the surrounding woods filled the silence between us. Leaves rustling, water lapping. I wanted him to be more specific. But I would never ask. Compliments only made me uncomfortable. So I did what came naturally—removed myself from the situation as quickly as possible.

  “I’m starting to prune.” I swam toward the shore.

  Jacob and I walked back to the house. Our damp clothes swished as we moved. His shirt clung to his back and chest. I had the urge to peel off his wet clothes.

  I stopped on the porch and unbuttoned my shorts.

  “Uh, what are you doing?” he asked, a little quiver to his voice.

  “Getting undressed.” I slid them off and rung them out. “I don’t want to get the house all wet.” I hung my clothes on the porch rail to dry, feeling Jacob’s eyes on my back. “Relax. It’s not like you haven’t seen me in a bathing suit before.” I peeled off my tank top and rung that out, too.

  “Yeah, but things looked a lot different the last time I saw you in a bathing suit.” His eyes fell right on my chest.

  I was a late bloomer, but boy did they bloom.

  I smirked as he quickly looked away. My eyes gleamed over his body as he peeled his shirt off and slid off his shorts. His damp boxers clung close to his skin. Our gazes met again, and my cheeks flushed. What the hell was wrong with me? The last time a guy made me blush this much I was in high school and still a virgin.

  He hung his clothes next to mine.

  I grabbed the whiskey bottle and shot glasses and poured again. I handed him a glass.

  “I’m going to regret this in the morning,” he said, adjusting his thick black frames.

  Twenty minutes, and three shots later, and we were both laid out on the patio couch.

  The whiskey settled over me. A light breeze fluttered over my face. The farm was peaceful. The sanctuary I had run to when things at home got out of control. Even now, I could still escape here.

  “How’d you like living in Florida?”

  He lounged back in his seat. “I hated it at first. But after a while, it grew on me.”

  “You know…you kind of broke my heart when you stopped calling.”

  His eyebrows shot up. “I stopped calling?” He pointed to his chest. “That third shot must be clouding your memory. You’re the one who dropped off the face of the earth.”

  “Well…” I propped my feet on the small table. “It doesn’t matter now. Water under the bridge.”

  “Yeah.” He cleared his throat. “Although I was a little disappointed.”

  “You were not.”

  “Sure I was, Maeve. You were, like, my best friend.”

  I looked down at my hands.

  “I begged my parents to let me stay behind,” Jacob said.

  I smiled. “I didn’t know that. I thought you were happy to get out of here.”

  “Are you kidding? I loved it here. Still do.”

  “Here at the farm, sure.” I looked out into the open wooded lot that sat to the right of the house. “But other than that. There’s not much here.”

  “You’re here.”

  My gaze cut to him. A few lightening bugs glowed around his face. The bug zapper sizzled by the garage. My heart swelled. I could actually feel it. It was so quick and intense that I needed a deep breath to recoup. Was he doing this on purpose? Did he know that I couldn’t reciprocate? That I didn’t know how?

  “Remember when we used to complain about how bored we would get here during the summer?” I said.

  “We came up with some pretty creative games, though,” Jacob said.

  “Or played truth or dare.”

  Jacob groaned. “Yes.” He peered over at me. “Your dares usually cost me extra chores.”

  I smiled. “Truth or dare?”

  “Oh, no.” He shook his head.

  I sat straight up. “It’ll be fun.”

  He scoffed. “For who?”

  “Come on,” I cried. “It’s just us. It’s not like we can get into trouble.”

  He reached for the liquor. “Fine.”

  I took a deep breath. “Truth or dare?”

  “Truth.” He took another shot, then sat back again in his seat.

  I tried to think of a compelling question, but the alcohol was clouding my brain. “How old were you when lost your virginity?” Not compelling, but I thought I’d start with an easy one.

  “I change my mind. Dare.”

  “No,” I shouted. “It’s too late.”

  His gaze shot around the porch. “You know, it’s really ridiculous to be playing this game…”

  I rolled my eyes. “Just answer the question. God, it’s not like I asked you to divulge your deepest darkest secret right off the bat. You got to work up to those questions.”

  He looked away from me, took a deep breath, and mumbled something.

  My eyebrows pulled together. “What?”

  He looked down and pulled at his bottom lip. “Nineteen,” he said louder. And rather reluctantly.

  My eyes widened. I did some quick math, which was pretty impressive considering my condition. “Nineteen?”

  He nodded.

  It took me a few seconds to form words. “How is that possible?”

  The light rouge of his cheeks darkened. “I had the same girlfriend all throughout high school, and she wanted to wait. So, we did for a while. Until she was ready.”

  A sharp pain hit me hard at the word “girlfriend.” I should have known he was already attached. “So, she’s been the only one?”

  Jacob’s gaze settled on the empty glass he was still holding. “Yeah.”

  It was like looking at a unicorn. Jacob always had an unexplainable charm. In middle school, his charisma landed him a slew of giddy pre-pubescent girls following him around. Not to mention he was the cutest boy in school. I was sure he wouldn’t have gone through high school with his V-card still intact.

  He readjusted in his seat. “I’ve never told anyone that before.”

  I cleared my throat, unsure of what to say. “How does your girlfriend feel about you moving so far away from her?” I imagined it wasn’t easy to let someone like Jacob go far from your reach.

  “We broke up,” he said. “About a year ago.”

  “Oh.” I hoped the relief I felt wasn’t too obvious. “And you haven’t been with anyone since?”

  Jacob shook his head, then took a deep breath. “This is why I avoid whiskey like the plague. I always end up saying something that makes me look like a complete ass.”

  “I don’t think you’re an ass.” I took a thoughtful pause. “I th
ink it’s refreshing to hear that.” He avoided looking at my face. “And I’m sure once you get on campus that’ll all change.” I was sure of it. Jacob would be like raw meat to a pack of lionesses.

  He let out a sarcastic laugh. “Yeah, maybe.” His gaze made a slow crawl my way.

  Was he going to ask me the same question? I panicked at the thought. The night I lost my virginity wasn’t a fresh memory. And I hadn’t been so prudent with my sex life over the years.

  “What time is Aunt Meg bringing Uncle Jim home tomorrow?” Jacob asked.

  I exhaled the breath I’d been holding. “Not sure. I think sometime in the afternoon.”

  “It’ll be good to have him home again.”

  “Yeah, it will.”

  Jacob gave a bashful smile and scratched above his eyebrow. “I guess I should get to bed. Have to wake up in a few hours and give the baby his bottle.”

  “Didn’t think you’d be saying those words so soon, huh?”

  He smiled and got up from his seat. I stared at his ass as he walked past me, a bit of cheek hanging out of the top of his wet boxers. He stopped and turned. “I had fun tonight.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Goodnight.”

  “Yeah…goodnight.”

  He turned and closed the door without looking back.

  * * * *

  Uncle Jim was itching to get back to work the minute he returned home from the hospital. It would take chains and locks to keep him in bed. Aunt Meg finally gave up and let him walk to the barn to see the baby goat. Jacob was under strict orders to make sure Uncle Jim didn’t lift a finger.

  Kasey walked around the house with her headphones in her ears. I was happy to see she was still using them. Aunt Meg was worried that it was too expensive of a gift, but I didn’t care. I had to make up for those Christmas mornings when she didn’t find anything under the tree.

  “Thank you for taking care of things while we were gone,” Aunt Meg said.

  “It was nothing.” I sat on the bed while she unpacked her duffel bag. “I had plenty of help.”

  Kasey flopped back onto the bed. I could hear the tinny sound of the music blaring in her ears.

  Aunt Meg peered up at me from sorting the dirty laundry by color. “So, how have things been going between you and Jacob?”