–Present Day–

–Present Day–

🤍🖤🤍 Natalie 🤍🖤🤍

Nowadays, I spend my time with Riley as much as I can. Sometimes we style each other’s hair while watching movies.

Sometimes we paint. I suck at it.

Sometimes we bake. She sucks at it.

I can see her mood improving a little every day. I have been convincing her to go to prom with us.

“Norris would love to take you as his date.” I tell her as I realize that she is thinking about the date, or maybe West.

She isn’t angry with him. Maybe she had been telling the truth all along. There was no sexual assault. It doesn’t make sense though.

She shrugs. “Okay!”

“Really!” My eyes widen.

She laughs. “Yeah why not..”

I have to make sure Norris isn’t taking anybody else.

Sh*t Sh*t Sh*t!

Once we have exhausted all our options to pass our time, we go out cycling. I take her to the campsite by the lake, where I spent that night with Jacob.

We sit there for hours and I tell her stories of college campus. I tell her about my hot coach and how Jacob was green with envy when he met him.

“You will love him!“ I tell her enthusiastically. Then I waver for a second. I hope she will continue her running routine soon. She hasn’t been doing it lately.

Then she asks me about the day when Jacob met me there. I ponder. It was a tragic day for her. My fucking birthday… But she looks at me with wide, curious eyes. So I tell her the details.

”So, did you kiss him?”

“No… Jacob stopped him.” I make a disappointed face.

She laughs. “God, you wanted to kiss him!” she exclaims.

No, I didn’t. But sorry Jacob.. She is laughing at your expense… There is no way I will back off now.

“Of Course I did. I hadn’t kissed anyone in like nine weeks!”

Yes, I was keeping tabs.

She giggles like a little girl. It makes my heart warm. It feels like an accomplishment when she laughs these days..

We sit quietly, feeling the breeze on our skin.

“It’s endlessly inspiring. Isn’t it?”

I nod. There’s something so peaceful about sitting here watching the reflections in the water.

Then finally she opens up.

“I didn’t give a true statement.”

I look at her.

“Although it doesn’t matter, he is still a prime suspect, as if what I say doesn’t matter.” She says bitterly.

“You were drugged Riley…” I bite my lips, wondering how much I am supposed to say. I don’t point out if he was completely innocent, why wouldn’t she be completely truthful in her statement?

She goes quiet and tears slip out of her eyes.

“Yes, I don’t remember everything… only bits and pieces. But it wasn’t rape. Stop looking at me like-” Her voice breaks and she gasps, trying to breathe.

“I will never think of you like that!” I tell her firmly and rub her back.

“He bartered his life to save me from them. He saved me...” she sobs as she tells me. I hug her tight. “It could have turned worse, Natalie… But he saved me.”

I don’t want to imagine how it could have turned worse.

Tears form in my eyes as I try to process what she is trying to tell me. It doesn’t make any sense, but I do not question her.

“I just wonder if he’s okay or not…” she says, sniffing after a while.

“He is a relentless motherf—ker… He will be fine…” That makes her laugh.

Once she seems okay, I pull out my phone and ask her, “Should I ask Norris to ask you out for prom?”

“Jeez… I am crying my heart out and you are setting me up on dates,” she complains, wiping her face with a tissue I just handed her.

”You are okay now...” I dismiss her.

There is no way I will end this day on a gloomy note.

She looks at the lake with a rueful expression and says, “I get it.. I have to move on.”

……

At night when everyone is asleep, I slip out of my bed to visit Jacob. I am about to unlock the front door when Dad calls me out.

“Natalie..”

Fucking great.

I turn. “Hey…”

Looks like he was waiting here to catch me red-handed. We haven’t been talking much ever since I came back.

“Going to see Jacob?” He asks.

I cross my arms and say, “Yes.”

It feels awkward to admit that I sleep with him. I ignore the shudder.

“I was thinking maybe you could invite him over for breakfast in the morning.”

“Are you sure? I don’t want you to push him down the steps this time.” I try to act indifferent, but I am furious about so many things with Dad.

He huffs. “You won’t understand it now. Maybe you will once you have your own kids, you will realize-”

“I wouldn’t cut off my kids from their own friends,” I cut him off angrily.

Ira is still sullen with me. Because of Riley, I couldn’t spend time with her or give her the attention she needed.

All this wouldn’t have happened if he would just let me talk to her without betraying my trust. My stomach twists and tears form in my eyes as I remember my last conversation with her. She didn’t pick my calls after that day. She only replied to a few texts. I have never gone this long without talking to her.

He sighs and says after a pause, “I am sorry, Natalie. I was afraid…. Yes, I probably went too far… But it’s the worst thing ever.. when your own child hates you.”

My hearts aches as he says this.

“I don’t hate you. I am just… angry,” I say in a low voice. “And busy…” I add at last.

He laughs and comes near to pulls me in a hug.

“You are really strong for supporting Riley like that. I am proud of you..”

Once he pulls away, I bite my lips and look at my feet, unsure, wondering if I am supported to go back to my room.

To my surprise and horror, he opens the door for me and says, “Bring him for breakfast in the morning.”

I expected him to forbid me from spending the night with Jacob. It feels even worse that he knows I am going to see him. I rush out of my house towards Jacob’s place, embarrassed.

… … … … … … … … … .

🤍🖤💜 Jacob 💜🖤🤍

… … … … … … … … … .

As soon as I open the front door, Natalie rush to my room. I frown. What’s up with her?

Everyone in my family knows she is spending nights here. But we have to be to be quiet. Like real quiet. Bathroom and closet sex are our only hope these days.

I miss her moans and screams and let’s not forget it’s hard to spank her without making a noise.

I stroll inside my room and see her undressing.

Someone is eager today.

She removes her shirt and gives me a sensual smile while walking towards closet.

I am tired of fucking her in silence. High time I take her somewhere we can have some privacy.

….

Next chapter would be the last one, followed by epilogue(s) YAY!

Are you curious about Riley or West? It’s a dark chapter. And that’s why I am not willing to add it in this book at the moment.

I plan to cover more about ‘That Day’ in Riley’s story - an age gap romance.

Thank you so much 4 reading!