Choosing Us: The Pierced Hearts Duet: Book One Read online

  <>Camila<>

  Now

  __________

  “Mamita, you need to relax,” Danté stressed, hovering over me while I sat on the couch in the living room. Breathing in and out.

  “Danté, the house still reeks of weed. I just realized my employer may be dea… I can’t even bring myself to say it.”

  “You gotta worry about one thing at a time. You ain’t here for them, you’re here for these kids.”

  “I know.” I nodded, reaching for Little Miss who seemed to be having a great time with whatever Danté and her were up to.

  “While you were havin’ your pity party for one, Paris and I found the solution to your Maryjane debauchery.” He showed me the Lysol All-Purpose Cleaner in one hand with a towel drenched in the liquid in his other. “Run this in the dryer, twice. The smell will go away before Mama Dukes gets home.”

  “You sure?”

  “Positive. Gurl, next time you decide to be lazy and not iron these minions’ clothes, you best make sure to check dem pockets before throwin’ shit in the dryer. You’re lucky that boy was only carryin’ a dime bag, cuz an ounce would have really fuc…” he stopped himself, making Journey giggle. “Messed things up.”

  I scoffed out a chuckle.

  “Besides, you got bigger problems than just some herb smellin’ up in here. How old is the pothead again?”

  “He just turned thirteen two weeks ago.”

  “Well, now you gonna havta deal with Cheech and him rollin’ up doobies.”

  I inhaled a deep, steady breath. This was just another thing I had to face today.

  What was I supposed to do with that? Tell Skyler? Have him hate me even more?

  There was no right or wrong answers, either way you looked at it, I was screwed.

  “I’m gonna get up outta here, my work is done for today. You’re welcome. No need to walk me out, I might take a picture of Daddy Pierce to show my momma what her future grandkids might look like.”

  “Danté.”

  “Don’t worry.” He kept walking toward the door. “I’ll take one for you too.”

  “Gah!” Journey chimed in.

  “You want me to have a picture of your daddy?”

  Her eyes widened, and I swear she winked at me.

  “Don’t worry! Doctor Daddy is probably fuckin’ his fist to you already!”

  “Danté! Language!”

  “Pssst! Paris heard worse comin’ out of her brother’s mouths! Talk to you later, love ya!”

  For the rest of the afternoon, I went about my normal routine. I cleaned up the rest of the house, made dinner, and got Journey ready for her third nap of the day, waiting on the brink of insanity for Jackson to get home, so I could confront him. Still not knowing what the hell I was going to say.

  I wasn’t equipped for the magnitude of the problem I was facing. This wasn’t something I could have prepared or been ready for. There was no manual on how to handle a situation like this. I just had to go with my gut, my motherlike intuition, needing him to know this wasn’t alright. He was too young to be smoking weed.

  I took a deep, steady breath as I waited for him in his bedroom. My heart leapt out of my chest when I heard his footsteps down the hall. Secretly hoping this wasn’t going to blow up in my face like everything else had with him.

  The only other choice I had was to tell Skyler and let her handle it, but what would that say about me? I felt like this conversation at least needed to start between us.

  The door swung open shortly after, and Jackson’s stunned gaze connected with my concerned eyes. His caught off guard expression quickly fell to the bag of weed securely in my grasp.

  He grinned. “I didn’t know Mary Poppins got high. Is that why she’s always so happy?”

  “Very funny, Jackson. We both know this isn’t mine.”

  “Are you trying to say it’s mine?”

  “Who else’s would it be? It was in your jeans.”

  “It’s not mine, and I have no idea how it got in there.”

  “Oh, so it just magically grew legs and jumped in your pocket without your knowledge? Just happened to show up while I placed them in the dryer to de-wrinkle your clothes? Try again.”

  He eyed me skeptically, throwing his backpack on his bed.

  “What exactly are you trying to do here? Get me fired? Huh? That’s quite the stunt to pull on me, even for you. Skyler could have me arrested! No more nursing school, no more future, no more nanny for you! No more nothing thanks to you. I’m already missing so many classes because I’m here caring for you instead of showing up for school!”

  Offended, he put his hands up in the air. “Hey! I didn’t know you were going to dry my jeans. That’s on you.”

  “So, you did know the bag was in your jeans?”

  He rolled his eyes and clenched his jaw. “No. I didn’t.”

  “Then what? Huh? Explain to me what’s going on here, before I explain to Skyler what I think is going on instead.”

  He arched an eyebrow, unfazed.

  Jesus, does this kid feel anything?

  Shrugging, he replied, “Then here’s your chance to get back at me, Camila. Go tattle, I don’t give a shit. Skyler’s not my mother and neither are you.”

  I ignored his low blow. “So, you are smoking weed?”

  “Why does it matter to you if I am?”

  “You’re only thirteen. You have your whole life ahead of you. You shouldn’t be smoking weed that’s why.”

  “And why is that, Mary Poppins? You’re telling me you’ve never tried it?”

  “Nice try. This isn’t about me. This is about you.”

  “Actually, this is about both of us. You brought this on yourself. Stay out of my business and we won’t have any problems. Yeah?”

  “You know what? You’re right about one thing, I’m not your mother, nor do I want to be. Why is it so hard for you to see that? The stunt you pulled today crossed the line, Jackson! This is not okay! You know Journey is with me all the time, and the house reeked of weed because of your ploy to get me fired! Thank God I found a surgical mask to put on her, or else I would have been beyond screwed! You put your baby sister’s health in danger!”

  “Oh bullshit, you’re just being dramatic. There was barely any weed. She was fine.”

  “How would you know? Are you in medical school? Do you have a degree in—”

  “Camila! What do you want from me? If you’re looking for an apology, you’re shit out of luck cuz you’re not getting one.”

  Oh, hell no…

  “Do you have any idea how hard I’ve worked to get to this point in my life? I didn’t grow up like you with your million-dollar house, name brand clothes, and overly priced education that you take for granted.” I pointed to myself, standing my ground. I wasn’t leaving this room until I gave him a piece of my mind.

  He needed to be put in his place, regardless of the consequences.

  “I grew up poor with parents who struggled to put food on the table for all of their kids, but who still provided the best they could under the circumstances. I grew up with hand-me-downs, shopped at thrift stores, bought secondhand everything just so I could have shoes to wear, a book to read, a calculator to do my math homework with. I didn’t grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth like you did! But I’ll tell you one thing, Jackson, if I had, you bet your ass I would’ve appreciated it, and not have been a spoiled little shit like you who doesn’t know the meaning of the word grateful.”

  His eyes glazed over. It was quick, but I saw it.

  “It’s not my fault your parents didn’t know when to stop having kids.”

  My mouth dropped open. “Wow. There is no getting through to you, is there?”

  “And yet, here you are, still trying.”

  I shook my head disappointed, stepping away from him. “I have nothing left to say to you.”

  “Great, cuz I don’t want to hear anymore. Tell Skyler whatever you want, maybe it will make my dad come home for once.�
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  I cocked my head to the side, the realization slapping me in the face.

  Fast and hard.

  “This wasn’t about me at all, was it?”

  “Get out of my room, Camila.”

  “You want me to rat you out, don’t you?”

  “I’m not going to say it again.”

  “Jackson, acting out isn’t going to bring him hom—”

  He got right in my face, seething, “Get out!” My feet stumbled as he backed me out of his room, forcing me into the hallway before slamming the door in my face.

  “Jackson!” I banged on his door. “You can’t do this! You can’t just shut me out like this!”

  “I just did!” he shouted through the door.

  “Come on! Give me a chance! All I’m asking for is a chance!”

  To my disbelief, he actually opened up. Getting right in my face again.

  “What else do I have to do to—”

  “What’s going on here?” Skyler announced, breaking up our argument.

  I turned to face her, still feeling Jackson’s heated stare as I shoved the bag of weed in my back pocket.

  Still unsure of what to do.

  He watched my every move, waiting for the other shoe to drop.

  “Yeah, Camila, what’s going on here?” Jackson baited.

  Was he testing me?

  “I- I- I- I mean … we were just…”

  There were so many ways this could go down. I could tell Skyler and then what?

  What would that solve?

  What would that help?

  The more I thought about it, the more I realized Jackson was the All-Star quarterback for his school. Football was his life, and I don’t think he’d risk that for anything.

  It was the only thing he truly seemed passionate about, other than making my life a living, breathing hell of course.

  It didn’t make sense. He wouldn’t throw that all away for some hits off a joint. There wasn’t even enough in the bag for him to roll one up. Jackson wanted his dad home, even if it meant he had to pay the price to make it happen.

  My heart hurt more for him in that moment, than it did all the other times he pushed me away, combined.

  I opened my mouth to say something but quickly shut it, looking over at Jackson. We weren’t more than a foot apart, but it felt like miles of distance were placed between us.

  Physically and mentally.

  There was so much confusion evident on his face, and I felt it deep within my being. We could have been standing there for a minute or an hour. Time seemed to standstill, but the pain seemed to keep going on all around me.

  I locked eyes with Skyler, muttering, “Jackson and I were just arguing about his laundry habits.”

  I felt him stiffen beside me.

  “Jackson knows how to do laundry?”

  “Or lack thereof,” I added, smiling over at him.

  He narrowed his eyes at me, more confused than ever before. But for the first time since I started working here two months ago, I saw vulnerability run through his eyes. It may have only been for a few seconds, though, it was enough to know I was doing the right thing.

  Jackson wasn’t as strong as he pretended to be. Deep down he was just as lost as his father, maybe?

  We may have come from two different worlds, but for a few moments that afternoon, we finally reached middle ground. Who knows how long we’d stay there, all I knew was I wouldn’t go down without a fight.

  Even if it meant standing on Jackson’s side.

  Something or someone needed to bring their father home.

  Even if that something or someone…

  Was me.

  Chapter 15

  <>Aiden<>

  Then: Sixteen-years-old

  __________

  “What would you say if I kissed you right now?” I whispered against Bailey’s neck.

  “I’d say what took you so long.”

  This was by far the best part of her being my girl. I was able to kiss her anytime I wanted.

  I skimmed my lips along her pouty mouth, murmuring, “Do you like that?”

  “Aiden,” she panted, molding herself into my chest. My warm breath ignited her cool skin in a frenzy of shivers as I continued to tease my way from ear to ear. Lightly pecking along her jawline till a moan escaped her mouth, “Yes, right there.”

  She was sitting on my desk, and I was standing in between her long legs. My hands roaming up and down her bare thighs, kneading, squeezing, and bringing her ass closer to the edge of the old tarnished wood.

  We were in my room on a Saturday night, supposedly studying, but there wasn’t much of that going on. Our books were scattered around my room, note cards sprawled across the worn carpet, notebooks flung onto my small twin bed in the corner. Next to the other two beds that occupied the rest of the space.

  My foster assholes were gone for the night to who the fuck knows where. And the three kids I shared a room with were sleeping over at friends’ houses.

  All that mattered was we were alone, and Bailey was in my arms.

  My nose skated up the side of her neck, inhaling the scent of her sunflower perfume. She smelled like everything I ever wanted.

  “My foster family took in a new kid,” she said out of nowhere. Trying to get her mind to think straight, and not let it wander to what she wanted me to do with my hands.

  We’d never gone further than kissing, but I swear something felt different about tonight.

  I grinned. “Does he smell like a butthole?”

  She turned ten shades of red. “Oh my God, Aiden.” She tried to push me away, I didn’t move an inch. “You’re never going to let me live that down, are you?”

  “Never.” I smiled, kissing her luscious lips.

  “I was a mess.”

  “You were adorable.”

  “You always say that.”

  “I only speak the truth.”

  She rolled her eyes, smiling. “I thought you were going to kiss me.”

  “Where do you want my mouth, Bailey? Here?” I pecked her lips, softly grazing my mouth down to her cleavage. “Here?” Never taking my eyes off her heated stare, I slowly got down on my knees, groaning, “Or here?” Licking my lips, I nodded to her pussy.

  Her breath hitched and her legs locked up.

  “Do you trust me?”

  “With my life.”

  I smiled, biting my lower lip. “I can make you feel good, Bay. Really, really good.”

  “Oh yeah? Where’d you learn how to do that?”

  “A man never reveals his secrets.”

  “Oh! Is there a man in this room?” she mocked, and I bit the inside of her thigh. “Ouch!”

  “Be a good girl, or you don’t get a happy ending.”

  “I don’t want a happy ending. I want a happily ever after. With two sons named Jackson and Jagger who look exactly like their daddy.”

  I kissed the spot where I had just bit her, gradually making my way up her leg. “Is that right?”

  “Mmm hmm…”

  “Seems like you’ve given this a lot of thought, Bailey Button, not to be confused with Belly Button.”

  “Are you trying to make me cry?”

  “No, I’m trying to make you wet. Is it working?”

  She giggled. “Maybe you should see for yourself, Aiden Pierce.”

  “Are you testing me, baby? Cuz you know I want nothing more than to bury my face inside of your panties right now.”

  Her mouth dropped open. “Where did you learn to talk like this?”

  “Why? You like it?”

  She cleared her throat. “Maybe.”

  “Good,” I rasped. “Spread your legs further for me then.”

  She did, shaking a little. Anticipating what I had in store for her.

  “Jackson and Jagger, huh? Sounds like you want a country band.”

  “Maybe I do. You’d look so cute wearing a cowboy hat.”

  I spread her legs wider, continuing my way up her inner thigh.


  In the best Southern accent I could muster, I replied, “Now I reckon that means we’d need a little girl who looks just like her momma, and by that, I mean you.”

  “A little girl? Then I’d have to share my thunder.”

  “A king needs a princess as much as he needs a queen.”

  She beamed, her heart of gold melting in the palm of my hand with each word that left my tongue. I stared deep into her eyes. “Promise me you’ll give me a baby girl who we will name Journey.”

  “Jackson, Jagger, and Journey? Now that sounds like a country band if I ever heard one.”

  With a serious expression, I stated the truth, “We have a long road ahead of us, baby, but it will always be worth the journey. Because at the end of the day, it’s what leads us back to each other.”

  Her eyes watered and her lip trembled.

  “Promise me, Bailey.”

  “I promise.” She wiped away a tear.

  “Happy tears, right?”

  She nodded. “How do you do that, Aiden? How can you look at me like that?”

  “Like what?”

  “Like I’m your whole world.”

  “It’s easy. You are,” I simply stated, meaning each and every word.

  She shut her eyes, the emotion too much for her to handle. I slowly stood up and pulled her toward me, wrapping her legs around my waist. Pressing my forehead up against her, I reached up and swept the hair away from her face.

  “Look at me, Bay.”

  She cautiously did.

  Her bright blue eyes were my undoing. The sincerity in them did it to me every damn time.

  So much emotion erupted behind her gaze, and I knew it mirrored mine. There was no need for words, our eyes spoke for themselves as my hands caressed the sides of her cheeks. Without any hesitation, I tugged her mouth toward mine. Softly breathing inches away from her heated face. Taking in the curve of her eyes, the light freckles from the sun, and the way her perfect skin felt along my fingertips. Before our mouths became one.

  Her lips were just as I remembered, even though I had claimed her mouth hundreds of times by that point. It always felt like I was coming home.

  Bailey would forever be my home.

  She sought out my tongue before I had the opportunity to find hers. Moaning into my mouth the second our tongues collided.