So sorry not sorry, this gets a bit smutty... not alot but its there so if you dont like that kind of thing you can skip this chapter :)
As always all errors are my own
The hooting and hollering continued all the way back to The Chateau. Back on dry land, a fire was made and the group sat around laughing at the chaos they just caused.
"Okay so like my dad is going to kill me." Pope stated from his spot by Kiara. "Please tell me we have a plan."
"Plan?" John B looked confused for a looking over to JJ, who just shrugged. I could see Pope's eyes get wide before both John B and JJ started to laugh. "Of course there is a plan Pope."
"Might as well tell him." JJ said from his spot beside me. He had changed back to his t-shirt and shorts draping his white long sleeve button up over my shoulders when we sat down. John B went on to explain the plan to go into the marsh in the morning and go down to the Grady White, get whatever was in the cargo hold and from there the plan would be adjusted based on what was found.
"I would like to voice my skepticism." Pope said his hands folded together.
"Of course you would." John B rolled his eyes.
"Look I know I have said it before, but if Grubs was smuggling… someone may be looking for that shit man." Pope shrugged trying to reason with the group.
"The way I see it what we find is ours, if its money then we split it, if its contraband or whatever there's a pawn shop down the street…" JJ was saying. I noticed a long time ago that when he became passionate about something he would use his hands as a way to exaggerate whatever he was saying, much like he was doing now.
"What about drugs?" Pope interrupted and the group fell quiet.
"We won't know until we actually go down and look." John B responded. "We can live in 'what ifs' all we want, but we will never know until we take a look."
"Just think about it Pope… could make a really good essay for you scholarship," I added with a smile and received a groan and eye roll in response, which I considered a win on my part. The conversation turned into light banter with Pope and JJ wrestling and John B jumping in when they were both on the ground.
"Hey…" Kie nudged my arm, sitting beside me. She was still in her purple dress, but she had long ditched the flower crown. "I didn't really get to ask at the party but how you doing after the whole incident at work?"
"I'm pretty used to that kind of thing happening," I shrug looking away from the boys and back into the fire. "I guess the whole public display was new."
"Why didn't you tell me it was that bad?" she asked almost sounding hurt. "I mean I knew you and your dad didn't get along, and I knew he was an ass but I had no idea he was that… I don't know controlling…irate."
"Kie its fine, I'm fine." I said with a smile trying to convince her. The worry on her face was evident… thats what I loved about Kie, her emotions were always out for you to see, if she was angry you knew, if she was upset you could see it, and if she was worried, she wouldn't hold back. "I didn't tell you or anyone really because…" I trailed off not really knowing how to continue.
"…Because you didn't want anyone to get hurt." She finished. "Like you didn't want my parents to get hurt. It's why you left." I bit my bottom lip and nodded. "But JJ knows?"
"And John B." I nodded with a sigh. "It was something JJ and I bonded over I guess and John B gave me a place to crash when I needed it. "It wasn't really this big secret, and I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but it just wasn't something I wanted to associate with when I was with you guys. Being a Pogue, being with you all I forgot about everything else."
"Oh Roe." She wrapped her arms around me and I laid my head on her shoulder just taking in the warmth.
"I think I am going to get out of this." I finally said after we sat together for several minutes. Lifting my head from her shoulder I stood gesturing to the dress I was still in. "Keep an eye on them… make sure they don't do anything too stupid." All I got in response was a laugh from her as she turned herself to watch the wrestling match behind her. My bag was still lying beside the pullout couch and I was thankful I had pack at least an extra pair of clothes. Heading to John B's room I shut the door, discarded the dress, and replaced it with shorts and a Kildare High t-shirt I had cut to fall just above my waistband of my shorts.
Exiting the room, I grabbed my phone from the table and noticed I had missed a few messages. Sarah had messaged me a few times, Rafe had made a lewd comments about the incident in the bathroom, and then there was one from my dad. Groaning I started to move my way to the back porch leaning heavily on the railing, my thumb hovering over the 'new messages' icon.
Sarah's messages gave me kudos for getting out and saying she was proud. She even mentioned that Rafe had been pissed. Which would explain the message I received from Rafe, which in summary just ended with him calling me a… and I quote… "dirty Pogue slut." Then there was the one from dear old dad.
Greg Daniels
Do Not Come Home!
That was it. Simple. Straight Forward. No way to be interpreted differently. I was not welcome at my house any more, and that was fine, but I would be lying if I didn't feel the small pain in my chest when reading the message.
"Hey what you doing up here?" JJ called running up the steps to take a place beside me.
"Changing." I shrugged. I watched John B get into 'Twinkie' and wave out the window with a loud 'WOOT' "Where's he going?"
"Meeting Sarah at the Hawks nest I guess." He replied arms around my waist as he pulled me back to the old couch behind us. He flopped back and I laughed as I fell beside him, readjusting so I was laying with my head on the end of the couch, my legs over his lap.
I heard the Pogue start up at the dock and twisted myself so I could look out towards the marsh, only to see Kie and Pope pull away. "When did that happen?"
"Way to go Pope." JJ hollered out before reaching into his pocket pulling out a small plastic bag and square paper. I closed my eyes as he moved around rolling the 'j', and I let my mind wander back to the day and everything that had happened. I heard the click of JJ's zippo lighter and then I felt a tap on my thigh and I opened my eyes. He was releasing what he had inhaled and his hand was out towards me blunt in hand. I accepted it and put it to my lips taking it in holding it for a few seconds before releasing, a cloud of smoke puffing out through my lips. We passed it back and forth in silence, his thumb rubbing circles on my thigh. After a few passes I could feel myself feeling lighter, the tension from earlier slowly easing a bit, unfortunately that meant my filter that i normally kept my guarded thoughts under was down as well.
"Whats wrong with me?" I ask and I watched him lift his head from where it lay on the back of the couch to look at me. "I mean my mom dips and my dad for whatever reason hates me… the only common piece between the two is me… so its me right?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" he asked and I could feel his hand still and squeeze slightly. I stared at him for a good second longer before closing my eyes pinching the bridge of my nose.
"Shit, I don't know." I shook my head moving my legs from his lap and sitting up putting my head in my hands running my fingers through my hair. "Just forget I said anything." I said with a sigh and stood up going inside.
"Whoa, no way." He got up quickly grabbing my wrist before I could get further away. "I know we have had this conversation before…"
"Yeah well now I'm thinking it again." I look at my feet feeling entirely too pathetic and vulnerable. "You know I tried. I really did I tried to be everything he wanted me to be, to what he wanted just so he would be happy… it was never enough… I was never enough and I am tired of feeling like I will never be enough…" I was rambling I knew I was but I couldn't stop myself.
JJ's hand that wasn't on my wrist moved to cup the side of my face, his hand running along my jaw until he was able to pull me towards him, his lips instantly on mine in a need to stop me from spiraling. I relaxed and as soon as he released my wrist, I grabbed at his shirt pulling us closer together.
"You are enough…" he pulled away just enough that I could feel his breath on my lips as he spoke. It was what I needed to hear and he knew it, but he wasn't just saying it, in his words she could tell he meant every word. I pulled away enough so I could meet his soft blue eyes. His eyes seemed to be searching for my understanding and then his lips were on mine again, this time with an almost desperation.
Four years of pining for him, crushing on him. Watching the girls fawn over him, secretly trying to figure out why it was so easy for him. Now here with him, those years seemed to be so far away. I felt his tongue against my bottom lip coaxing my mouth open. I started to lose myself in his taste, his touch, it was addicting. His hands that had been on my hips holding me close to him trailed down and both reached my thighs. Moving with his actions I place my arms around his neck as he lifted me up, wrapping my legs around his hips as he carried me further into the house. I felt him set me down on what I assumed was the table on the far side of the room. He released her hips so he could move his hands to her face brushing hair away. He nipped at her bottom lip and I couldn't help the gasp that escaped my mouth, his response was to smile against her mouth before deepening the kiss.
My hands move down his chest to the hem of his shirt my fingers running over his toned abs under his shirt. As if reading my mind he broke our kiss, reaching behind him pulling the shirt over his head, dropping it on the ground. I watched him my eyes following his movements as he smiled coming back towards me slowly leaving a chaste kiss on lips before kissing down my jaw lines. My head lulled to the side as work the sensitive kisses from her jaw down her neck. His hands were tracing along the skin at my hips. When he pulled away from my neck he lifted my shirt up and I raised my arms so it went off in a smooth motion.
His eyes never left mine as his hands left a trail of electricity up my back and the shiver that followed was in no relation to being cold. He seemed to hesitate, which was the last thing I wanted him to do. Removing my hands from their place on his bicep, he seemed to follow my movement as I reached around untying the knot on my bikini. I felt the small fabric fell loosely forward. JJ's hands came forward taking the top off the rest of the way over my head. I didn't want to think about how exposed I was, right now it was just me and him, skin on skin. After his eyes seemed to take its time to move up her body finally reaching my eyes he was on me again pulling me closer to him, his finger dragging down my bare back, mine trailing up his arms squeezing slightly when he gently bit at my lower lip. I groaned and in response, a low growl came from the back of his throat.
His hands were on my thighs again lifting me off the table suddenly and I jerked moving my arms around his neck to keep myself from falling backwards. I kept my lips on his my tongue entering his mouth now tasting everything. He laid her down on the pull out couch throwing the sheets that were bunch up around them to the side. One arm was propped by her head keeping him above her the other trailed a calloused hand down along her hip lightly brushing a fingertip under her waistband of her shorts.
"Rowyn…" his voice was rough and strained as I felt his finger stop as it reached the button of my shorts and he pulled away from me only slightly.
"Don't… don't stop." I said out of breath against his mouth, my own fingers finding the button of his own shorts fumbling with it for only a second before I felt it come loose. He didn't need any other confirmation, he fluidly undid the button of my shorts and removed them standing up letting his own fall to the ground. My head was spinning but this was what she wanted, she wanted to be lost with him, to not think of the shit they both have dealt with. The crap the last two days had brought, just her and him that's all she wanted. Her moan met his as he moved against her, then inside her, and she felt whole, the piece she had missing was there. He head dropped by her ear and she could feel his breath on her ear almost thinking she heard him whispering to her, telling her everything she needed. She had let his name whimper from her lips and she grabbed his shoulders trying to pull him closer to her wanting to be lost in the pleasure that he was making her feel.
The moment his movement quickened she closed her eyes tighter reveling in the intoxicating, burning that she felt between them. His mouth moved from her ear to her neck sucking at her pulse, with each thrust she could feel herself getting more and more lost. She could feel her self reaching the edge and could hear a moan escape her mouth before she cried out his name at the same time a groan left him as they both were thrown over together. Out of breath holding each other close she wasn't ready to let him go.
He continued to leave soft kisses on my lips and down my neck, and once our breathing slowed a bit he moved slightly so he could roll to the side laying on his back. His left arm moving under me to pull me to his side, the other over his own chest.
"Holy shit…" he let out in an exhausted breath and all I could do was giggle softly against him curling myself closer to him, moving one leg over top of him so I could nuzzle closer into his neck. His head turned and he planted a kiss on the top of my head, the arm on my lower back running softly up and down. I closed my eyes taking in the comfort I felt just laying there.
"Your amazing Roe." JJ finally said after we laid there in the quiet of the shack. Scowling I lifted myself so my chin rested on the back of my hand that rested on his chest.
"Not what I meant… I mean don't get me wrong that was…" he was trying to cover up what he was about to say and it just made me roll my eyes and smile. "But what I mean is you, as you, are amazing. Screw everyone else, you are enough by just being you."
"Wow." I raised an eyebrow at him.
"Shut up." He laughed and pulled me forward so I was half laying on him now. His hand on the back of my head lips connecting with mine again. I smiled against him as we slowly got energy again his hand sliding from the back of my head down my back. In the middle of us making out a phone somewhere in the room went off, the buzzing vibrating loudly on the floor.
"Just leave it." He whispered and I nodded against him pushing myself further against him. The Buzzing finally stopped and we continued until a new buzzing started in another area of the room. He groaned against me and I pulled away from him bowing my head with a defeated sigh. By the time I was up taking the blanket from behind me throwing it around myself the buzzing stopped again. Searching the room I found my phone on the floor at the foot of the pull out couch next to my discarded shorts just as it started to ring again. Sarah's picture appeared on screen and I rolled my eyes answering it.
"Not really a good time…" I stated a little irritated only to be stopped by her frantic rambling on the other end of the phone. "Whoa slow down, what the hell happened?" I asked standing up scrambling to find my clothes. JJ sat up the moment the tone in my voice changed.
"What's going on?" he whispered watching as I struggled to get my shorts on with one hand. I shushed him as I stood up finally pulling my shorts up.
"Okay… okay calm down… is he breathing?" I ask and JJ froze from his position pulling on his own shorts. "What happened?" I put the phone on speaker as I grabbed my bikini top throwing it over my head fumbling with tying it around back.
"He fell…Topper pushed him." Sarah cried on the other end of the phone, in the background a siren could be heard.
"Fell from where?" JJ asked behind me as he grabbed his shirt tossing mine to me and I threw it over my head.
"Hawks Nest." She breathed through sobs. I could hear her begging John B to stay with her and it broke my heart. JJ was in front of me pacing back and forth hand roughly working through his hair. Picking up my phone again, I took it off speaker and walked into John B's room to grab my keys in my bag.
"Sarah, that's the ambulance right?" I asked hearing the sirens get closer. She confirmed my thoughts and I nodded coming out of the room motioning for JJ to follow me. "Okay go with him and we will meet you at the hospital okay… Sarah you need to breath okay, he's going to be fine alright." After hesitation I hung up the phone and jumped in my jeep JJ jumping in next to me. Without asking he was already calling I assumed Pope and Kie.
Focused on the road in front of me I listened to JJ scrambling to calmly tell who ever he was talking to, that we were headed to the hospital. "Fuck." He exclaimed as soon as he hung up his phone, his knee bouncing uncontrollably. The moment I pulled into the hospital I jerked the car into park, causing us both to jolt forward. I ripped my keys from the ignition and unbuckled. I bolted from the car not waiting to see if JJ was following me, which my the sound of his boots hitting the pavement he was right behind me. Entering through the emergency doors the smell of antiseptic overwhelmed my nose causing it to scrunch as I got used to it.
Charging up to the front desk, my heart was pounding and I was breathing heavily as the receptionist eyed me suspiciously. "My friend was just brought in, John Brooker Routledge." She nodded and turned to her computer always keeping an eye on us. JJ's ghosted against my back, and I wasn't sure if he was doing it more for him or myself, but I needed it to ground me as much as he needed it right now.
"Rowyn! JJ!" we heard our names called. I turned to see Sarah standing from her place in the waiting room. Thanking the receptionist I walked quickly towards her reaching out and wrapping her in my arms giving her the hug I knew she desperately needed right now. Slowly I brought back down to the seats behind us pulling away enough from her to fully take her appearance in. There was dirt all over her white dress, tears streaked her face, and her cheeks were red.
"What the hell happened?" JJ asked, he kept his voice down and I could tell he was trying to maintain the anger.
"Topper showed up… completely hammered." She closed her eyes and I let my hand rub up and down her back. "He was yelling at me, telling me I cheated. John B was telling him to go home, that he was drunk and he didn't want to do this and when Topper grabbed me he… he stepped in saying to let go." A fresh set of tears was now escaping down her cheeks. "They started yelling and John B moved to the side and Topper and him were shoving each other and then he was falling."
"Okay, okay take a deep breath." I said pulling her to me again and looked at JJ whose jaw was clenched. He leaned forward putting his head in his hands. "Did they say anything, when they picked you two up?"
"No… No nothing just asked me questions."
"But he was breathing right?"
"Yes." I let out a relieved breath I hadn't realized I was holding.
"Okay I am going to go see if I can figure out whats going on okay." I said giving her a final squeeze before leaving her with JJ who still hadn't said a word. Making my way back to the counter Pope and Kie ran through the door and I pointed in the direction of Sarah before turning back to the receptionist. She looked a lot less suspicious of me this time when I asked if I could get any information. She didn't have much, just that the doctors were doing some tests and should be out soon. I turned back to the group just shaking my head as I went to the wall nearest them to lean on. Leaning my head against the wall I closed my eyes trying to wrap my head around the last few hours. I could hear Kie whispering to Sarah and Pope and JJ talking in hushed towns about Topper. I wasn't sure how long we waited but at the point I was ready to pester the receptionist again Ward Cameron walked through the entrance. I watched Sarah run to him, and him taking her in for a full hug as she broke down.
I had to look away swallowing the lump in my throat watching the interaction that seemed so foreign to me. She was talking wildly about what happened and he listened telling her it was going to be okay. By the end the doctor was on his way out and we all stood behind Sarah and Ward. The doctor explained that John B had fallen in such away that he only had a concussion and a fractured wrist. There was a collective sigh of relief and Pope and JJ gave each other a hug smacking each others back in the process. Kie and I just stared at each other before laughing to ease the silence in the room and soon everyone was laughing.
"Visiting hours are well passed but they will begin at 9 tomorrow, you are all welcome to come back then." The doctor said and the laughter from the relief died as we realized we would all have to leave.
"Its been along night for all of us. We all could use the rest." I said when no one seemed to make any moves to leave. "I can pick everyone up in the morning and we will come by." Half a beat later Kie nodded taking the time to walk over to Sarah and give her a hug telling her it would be okay and to call her. I followed suit before walking behind the group to head out of the emergency room.
"Rowyn wait!" Ward called after me and I cringed. The others stopped turning to stare at me as I hesitated turning around. Taking a deep breath, I waved them on before turning just outside the building.
"Mr. Cameron." I greeted as he stopped in front of me. "Look I want to apologize for kind of ruining your whole event thing."
"Don't you worry about that sweetheart." He shook his head putting his hand on her shoulders. "Are you okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine." I nodded wanting to just inch away slowly. He held my gaze for a second before letting me go and smiled.
"Good." He nodded. "If you ever need anything, you know you can always reach out. I know your dad can be tough, I have been friends with him long enough to know that, so I know when he can be a little over the top. You need anything you call me okay."
"Yes sir." I smiled turning to walk back down to the parking lot. JJ hadn't trailed to far, he was right by the cross walk pretending to be observing something on his phone and Kie and Pope were a few paces away keeping us still in her peripheral vision.
"I'd like to tell him I saw you tonight. If that's alright with you." Ward added and I stopped raising any eyebrow to him. "I know he's worried."
"You can tell him." I shrugged before adding. "But I really don't think he is." And with that I walked to JJ and we crossed the road together. Stopping at our cars parked beside each other JJ immediately got not looking to Pope or Kie. He was ready to go and forget.
"You two going to be okay?" Kie asked. I turned to look at JJ who was sitting stiff facing the front.
"Yeah, I think I can handle him." I smiled before giving her a hug and getting into the drivers seat and pulling away from the hospital. The silence in the car wasn't the normal silence, it was tense. JJ hadn't relaxed since we left a few hours ago and it was building I could tell. Parking in front of the Chateau we sat for a few minutes just staring at the darkness in front of us.
The silence was becoming almost unbearable and when it became too much he got out slamming the door.
"Fuck!" he yelled loudly as he walked past the old fish shack towards the boat dock. I watched him yell and knew he need to let it out. Part of me wanted to follow but I knew he didn't need me right then, he needed to be alone to collect himself, and to be honest I was tired… I was emotionally, physically and mentally exhausted. I got out of the car and went to the front porch looking over at JJ who had propped himself on one of the ledges on the dock. Entering the front room the pull out was a mess of blankets from earlier that night and I smiled sadly trying to figure out how a night that had been so great had just crashed down around her.
Slowly I made way to John B's room, a room I had stayed in many times with Kie and JJ, and sat on the bed looking around the small space. 'What a fucking mess' I thought flopping onto my back so I could stare at the ceiling. My dad showing up at The Wreck this afternoon seemed like year ago at this point, so much had happened in one night that it was hard to keep it straight. My dad, Rafe, JJ showing up at Midsummer, stepping out from my dads grip, being here, being with JJ, Sarah's call, the hospital, her conversation with Ward, it was starting to become overwhelming. I hadn't realized I was crying until a tear trailed down to my ear.
The door to the shake opened and closed with a bang and I quickly tried to wipe my face and roll to my side away from the door. The last thing I needed was to be emotional over something that didn't happen to me.
"Roe?" I heard him say my name softly as he came towards the door. I didn't move I just laid there back to him trying to keep my breathing from coming out in shudders. I felt the bed dip as he sat down, and herd him grunt as he removed his boots. The bed adjusted as he rolled so my back was to his chest. He snaked his arm under me so he could pull me closer to him his other arm laying over my hip. He kissed the top of my head and I closed my eyes taking in the feeling of him being here. I released a shaky breath, as more tears seemed to flow from my eyes. He didn't outwardly point out I was cry he just held me and whispered to me until we both fell asleep.