Inevitable (Stonewood Brothers, #1)

by Shain Rose

Jax freaking Stonewood. My walking, talking sex-on-a-stick neighbor always warmed my blood even though I’d never admit it. Jay, his younger brother by two years and my senior by one, did little to nothing for me, but he was my best friend.

"Would you stop babying her, Jay? After winter break, us upperclassmen get to teach the underclassmen a lesson. You know Sophomore Kill Day includes her too." My eyes widened. I’d heard about the water balloons launched at underclassmen on their way to school in the fall. I'd heard about lockers being filled with pudding and about the lockers being stuffed with underclassmen as well. The high school administrators turned a blind eye to the bullying that happened. They called it just a little bit of good old fun.

I always thought our bond was indestructible, a desolate pair who would always make it through the worst trauma together.

Jax whispered so softly that I barely heard it, “Your hair, Peaches, what happened to your beautiful hair?”

“Next time you want to take Ms. Gering’s snake, I’ll make sure there’s a poisonous one to inflict some serious pain on you. Get off your high fucking horse for once and act your age.”

“I just got a haircut.” She stared at me for a second. Then, burst out laughing. “Okay, you’re officially one of the worst liars I’ve ever seen.”

That was the day I realized I’d do anything for that girl. It was the day I realized I loved her.

He stepped up close to me and bent down, putting a hand on either side of my hips. “That man never deserved to be called your parent, and he’ll rot in prison thinking just that. Let’s be real, Peaches. You lost one parent. And at least you fought me to save her.”

“Fuck you. That isn’t what she’s thinking.”

“Not until you agree to come for a jog with me. It’s the least you can do after shoving and swearing at me.”

My father—that man—had been, and still was, a monster. Controlling, vindictive, and mean, he only cared about three things: his business, his appearance, and himself. How many times had he locked us in that room because we’d said the wrong thing or his business’s stocks didn’t do well enough or my mother donated too much to her charity? How many nights did we spend in there, locked away?

“You’re beautiful when you’re sad, Peaches.”

Every run, he kissed me senseless. I didn’t ask him what we were. I didn’t even mention the kisses. I just took what Jax Stonewood was willing to give. I fell madly in love with him. The night he took my virginity, he let me be awkward. He soothed every imperfection and worry I had, like he knew every one of them. He’d found every weakness of mine and made me feel like it was a strength. That night, he told me he needed me. There was a rarity in Jax Stonewood needing anything from anyone. I naively thought that would keep us together.

The Whitfield family home, owned by Frank Whitfield, CEO of Whitfield Candy Company, was set ablaze by Whitfield himself two months ago. Authorities confirmed that Tala Whitfield, wife of Whitfield, suffered fatal injuries. Frank Whitfield suffered minor burns. Aubrey Whitfield, their daughter, was rescued by neighbor, eighteen-year-old Jax Stonewood, before emergency responders arrived on the scene. Today, forty-five-year-old Frank Whitfield has been charged with murder, attempted murder, conduct endangering life, and arson. His trial is to take place in the following months. These charges are being made by the state and have the Tribal Nation’s full support. Tala Whitfield was a Native American tribe member when she married Whitfield. She held charity events for multiple causes within her reservation. “She was always quiet and humble with him. I only met her once in passing because she never came to the charity events. Now we know why,” a source ...

“I think I need to read it, Jax.” I tried to stand up taller, like it would make me look less broken. “I don’t think so.” His voice was low in warning. “Jax.” “Whitfield,” he mimicked. “Don’t treat me like I’m glass. Your brother and mom are already doing that.”

“You shouldn’t worry about what they think. You want what you want and do what you do. Who gives a fuck what other people think?”

Was he scared in the fire? Did he blame my parents? Was he mad about being in the spotlight all summer? Was that why he stuck around? To be the hero?

I’d made up my mind when I grabbed her from the fire that day. I chose to leave her parents behind. I chose to leave my friends and everyone else who didn’t understand behind. I chose her and no one else. Life and death situations like that make things crystal clear.

Clearly, I’d made my choice. Deep down, I knew I’d chosen to leave two people to die and only saved one. I didn’t feel guilty about it. I accepted it. I wanted to be able to live with that and move on.

I hated that every time she looked at me with those green eyes, she saw her savior instead of her demise.

I grabbed her neck and brought her to me tasting her intoxicating lips. No doctor, newspaper, or city was going to keep me from her in that moment. She gave in, like she always did. I flicked my tongue over her lips. She opened them, letting me take control. I dove in because the truth was, I’d lost my control with her a long time ago.

Her lack of control should have been some sort of signal to me to back off. Maybe it was fate telling me this wasn’t meant to be.

I was fucking doomed when it came to her. She was the only thing I believed in. She was my heaven and hell.

“Just asking. I never seem to feel fucked after.” She said the words bold and low. My dick jumped at her swearing, so ready to give her what she asked for. The girl in front of me rarely swore. When she did, I could barely contain myself.

“You need to watch your mouth around me, Peaches,” I warned, “You’re asking for something you’ve never had before.” Her chin lifted. “I asked for sex too, Jax. At one time, I’d never had that before either. Remember?”

“That’s evidence that I remember. I remember the first time with you, taking what was mine, is mine, and will always be mine. Fucking you is all I think about.”

“You really are sweet as sin. Don’t tempt me, Whitfield. We’re already going too far by doing this at the lake.”

No one knew her like I did. I ran my hands over the exact parts I knew would give her goosebumps. I grabbed her hair and wrapped it around my fist to pull her head back and make her arch, just for me.

“You asked for this, and fuck it, you’re mine. I’m starting to realize I don’t treat what’s mine gently. I push them over the edge.”

“So small. I could break you ... Break you, and you’d still be mine. Fuck, sweet as sin. Sweet, sweet sin.”

Beside that lake, I did the most selfish thing I could have ever done. I fucked her, branded her as mine, and took everything I could, knowing I would break her by leaving her behind that night. I just didn’t know I’d be breaking myself too.

“Sweet Sin, Sweet Sin. You pulled me in. Taste of cinnamon, Sweet as ever and mine forever Sweet Sin, Sweet Sin, I can’t avoid this now Meant to be waking up and sleeping next to me.”

Voice mail: “Peaches ... Damn, I miss your voice. I ... things are fucked up. I shouldn’t be calling, but I ... well, Dad had me meet with a record label, and it went well. It went so well, Peaches, and the only person I wanted to talk to was you. I know it doesn’t make sense. I know you’re mad. You sounded so damn mad. I wasn’t gonna call. I shouldn’t be calling this late after, well, I don’t have a right to anymore. You’re back in school and I’ll be here and I know this isn’t right but ... I love you. So fuckin’ much it hurts. Peaches, you’re still mine. You’ll always be mine. Remember that.”

My little friend, Control, reminded me of the obvious—waste of alcohol. I tipped the bottle again. Another swig and burn as I listened to that horrendous song. When I said horrendous, I meant beautiful and heart-wrenching.

“He’s an ass but Rome will look good on your arm today. Plus, you guys have killer chemistry. It’ll make Jax sick.”

“Brey, I’ll stop if you want. We do it because it’s a release for both of us. I care about you and you know that, but I can’t do relationships. Every girl I sleep with knows that. If you’re thinking that you want a relationship ...” He trailed off, looking heartbroken.

“You two might as well be dating. You eat together, you watch horrible television together. I also know for a fact you are still sleeping together ...”

“I hope all good things.” “Not a single good thing, actually.”

Jax’s eyes were glued to Rome’s arm until Rome called me babe. He looked at me. The relaxing Caribbean Sea turned into the Arctic Ocean. Cold, relentless, hard.

“Well, everyone calls me that now, Jax.” She may not have meant it as an insult but her grouping me in with everyone else felt like a sucker punch to the gut. I wasn’t supposed to be everyone. I was supposed to be the only one.

“Falling in love sneaks up on you. You don’t stand at the edge and decide to jump. Someone, probably the person you’re about to fall for, pushes you over the edge with a little gesture, a little hint, a subconscious action. Then it’s all over. You’re falling and humans can’t fly. We don’t get a shot to catch ourselves mid fall. I don’t want to fall for you, and you don’t want to fall for me.”

I fell asleep crying. It wasn’t because I’d lost the casual relationship with Rome. It wasn’t because I had more feelings for him than I admitted. It was because I couldn’t hide from my emotions anymore, couldn’t lie to myself about the real battle my heart and mind always waged.

"Jay, give us something. How long is it that you’ve known each other again?" "Longer than I've known any of you,"

"What do you mean? Are you still not exclusive? Are you both still on the market?" "All I can say is Jay loves women way too much to be tied to just one ..."

"But if I were to be tied to one, isn't she just perfect?" The one-liner would charm every woman in America. I could have high fived him right there.

Manners and small talk were taught at a young age. I’d been quick enough to learn the unspoken lessons too. How to look like you were listening, how to do a quick brush off politely, how to offend without outwardly offending.

That’s when I saw Jax sauntering toward us. My insides twisted up like they needed him to unwind them. His eyes twinkled in the dim lighting and mesmerized me. When he glanced at Jay, I saw a smile I remembered from a long time ago, a smile from the boy I once knew, the one who saved me, the one who sat with me at a lake and sang sweet songs to me. I remembered a boy who loved me and promised to never leave me. He didn’t love me though. He left.

That was until our last summer. Those three glorious months after his senior year, he’d spent only with me. I didn’t get just a piece of him, I thought I’d gotten all of him. We jogged down to our lake, away from the world, away from inquiring eyes. He brought his guitar and played just for me. I lost myself in that rasp, in his songs, and in my love for him. I lost myself altogether when he left.

“Seriously? Do you honestly care about anyone but yourself?”

“You go by Whitfield, Peaches, or Sweet Sin to me. It will never be anything else.”