This Beautiful Thing (Young Love Series) (3 page)

“I know sweetie but you know how she is. You are different from the rest of us on several levels.” I start to get mad but she calms me down. “You are special to each and every one of us Teagan, even mom. You brought sunshine into this house and love back into this family.” I give her a confused expression and she goes on. “Mom and dad were always at each other’s throats, always fighting and I was scared that they were headed to divorce. I remember the day you walked into this house with your hello kitty bag and big scared eyes. Mom let go of her hate and I still don’t know what it was about you but you fixed all their problems.”

I was stunned speechless. I didn’t know that they had been fighting like that before I moved in. I remember them always being happy. “Are you sure? They have always seemed happy to me.”

“I’m sure sweetie. You fixed them. Dad stopped staying away from home all the time and mom smiled for the first time is years. And they aren’t the only ones either.” She takes my chin and nudges it up so I can look her in the eyes. “Teagan I was messing around with boys and drinking heavily because I didn’t want to deal with them. You helped me because you fixed them. My home was happy again.

“Forest was smoking a ton of pot and used to be gone all the time too. Marie was pretending that nothing was wrong which wasn’t good for her and I hate to think what would happen if they did get divorced. And the twins? They were acting out and beating the crap out of boys at school and each other until you walked into their lives and they stopped being hoodlums.”

At this point I’m crying because I had no idea that any of this was going on before I moved in. Well I knew about the twins because I was in school with them.

“Why are you crying Teag? I didn’t mean to make you upset. I just wanted you to know that you’re the most special person in this family.” She pulls me into a hug and I dry my tears before I stain her shirt.

“I know Jess, these are happy tears I swear.” I smile at her through them and I finally feel like I might belong in this family.

Declan

She was gone when I woke up. Here and gone like a thief in the night. I feel like she stole my heart so maybe she is a thief. I know I don’t know her or anything I mean hell I didn’t even catch her name and that makes me ashamed to have even touched her. 

She did something to me, something I can’t forgot or ignore. I still feel her hands on my body and hear the soft moans that came from her lips. I’ve never had someone so responsive; it was like she was as lost in me as I was in her. Claire wasn’t a virgin when I met her and she kind of laid there like she didn’t enjoy it at all. Needless to say we didn’t have sex all that often. And all the random hookups I have had in the past eight weeks where just to scratch an itch.

She’s different and I can’t get her out of my head. I never loved Claire I mean who could love a bitch like that. I tried and I guess I shouldn’t have stayed with her for so long. I just felt that it was what was expected of me. I was the quarterback for our high school football team and she was the head cheerleader and I know it sounds cliché but it was what it was.

I hung her shirt on my closet door after I sponged all the beer out of it. I can’t help but stare at it and imagine her in it. She is so tiny I feel like big foot compared to her. She isn’t my type at all. I go for the tall leggy blondes and curves. She’s not any of that with long curly black hair and 5 foot tall body.  Where I have overindulged with big boobs and ass, she is just handfuls in those areas. I love it.

My younger brother Marcus barges into my room scaring the crap out of me. He’s sixteen and acts every bit of it. His long blonde hair is pulled back in a ponytail holder. His face which looks so much like mine has this mischievousness to it. Oh shit he’s got something on me.

He strolls to my bed and flops down on the end. “So who was that girl who was sneaking out early this morning?”

“I don’t know.” I tell him honesty. I can tell he doesn’t believe me.

“Seriously who was it? You don’t ever let them stay the night.” He knows me better than anybody and sometimes I hate it.

“Honesty Marcus I have no idea who she is. I didn’t ask her name.” I cringe at my stupidity. I could hit myself for being suck a jerk. Who touches a woman like I did and don’t even know her name.

He looks at me like I just broke his iPod. “Declan I am honestly speechless. What the hell were you thinking? Oh I know you weren’t thinking!” He smacks me on the back on my head. I roll my eyes and shove him.

“Look it’s not like that at all. I want to find her.” I pause and picture her face in my mind. “No I’ve got to find her.”

“Damn bro if I didn’t know you better I would say you’re in love,” he looks at me like I have grown another head.”

“I’m not in love Marcus, but if I ever find her and get to know her I don’t think it would take much for me to fall.” I look at him and I will him to help me. I hate feeling out of control and this girl has me in knots.

“Damn Dec I never thought I would see the day. Hell weren’t you with Claire for like six years?” I nod at his question. “Not once did you look like this.”

“Like what?”

“Like you haven’t a clue what to do. You have had control of your whole life and now something is out of it. I personally love it! You’re too damn serious all the time.” He laughs moving to get off the bed. “I’ll help you find her. When we do I’m going to steal her away from you.” I know he is kidding but I still throw my pillow at his retreating back.

I’ve spent too much time today on her and it’s time to get ready for the game tonight.

Chapter 4

Teagan

Jaden’s whole life is football. He’s one of those that gets really into the game. If his favorite team loses he will be mad for days. If you talk smack about any of the players or the team its self then you’re looking for a fist fight. I used to dread football season every year. It was even worse when the actual team he played on in high school lost, which wasn’t very often with him on it.

He looks just like dad with his really short black hair and dark blue eyes. His face is composed of angular features and a full mouth that hardly ever smiles. You wouldn’t even know that Jaden and Caden are twins unless you were told. Yeah they pretty much have the same face but Caden is blonde with pale blue eyes. Caden also smiles all the time and doesn’t take life as serious.

Jaden is an offensive lineman. And he is damn good at his job. He made headlines last year for his only one allowed sack and sixty-seven pancakes record during senior year of high school. It got him a full ride and a starting left tackle position on the team.

The whole family comes out for his games. Which includes my four other brothers and sisters plus three in-laws and two grandkids. And we all have jerseys with his number on them. It’s crazy but I would do anything to support my brother.

I usually sit with my iPod and read drowning out the game but tonight I am on a mission to find my mystery guy. And my first stop is Grace. She is on the sidelines in her uniform with the rest of the cheerleaders. She knows each and every football player and I’m hoping she knows whose house we were at last night.

The game hasn’t started yet so I have a better chance of questioning her. “Grace!” I call out from the rail at the bottom of the stands.

Her blonde head whips in my direction when she sees it me she gets the big goofy grin and runs over. “Hey hon, I was hoping to catch you before you went home with your brothers this morning but somebody didn’t come home!” she squeals at me, hugging me through the rail.

“Yeah about that I have a quick question before I need to get back to my family.” I tell her grabbing her hands.

“Shoot.”

“Whose house were we at last night?” I try to hide my excitement over finding out lover boy’s name.

“Oh I have no idea hon. Cassidy just called and invited me over giving me directions. I didn’t even think to ask. Why?” she asks me putting her hand on her hip.

“Crap, you were my best bet. And I will explain tonight when you get back to the dorm.” I sigh in frustration. I could always ask Jaden but then he would probably figure it out and kill him.

“Well ok, but I’m dying to know where you were so I’m going to skip the after party. I had enough last night; my head has been killing me all day.” She frowns and walks back towards the cheerleaders.

I could’ve gotten her to ask the other cheerleaders but I’m pretty sure I have seen the girl I punched last night before and it was at one of Graces practices. I can’t believe I did that either. I’m not prone to violence but give me a little alcohol and piss me off, I’ll start throwing fists.

I’m never drinking again either. Sarah told dad that I was hung-over so he gave me an hour lecture and I had to mow the lawn. And those are two things I hate. I can’t stand the disappointment in his eyes and I always get a cold after mowing.

I head back up the stairs to my family feeling defeated. I’m never going to find out who he is and its killing me.

“Well what did she know?” Jessica asks the second I get back to my seat next to her.

“She didn’t know just got directions from another cheerleader.” I reply picking up my niece Hailey who had toddle over to me. She’s one year old and the spitting image of my brother Forest. She’s got his golden locks and bright blue eyes but her cheeks are chubby and she’s well a girl.

“Darn I was hoping she knew! We will find him I swear Teag.” She says grabbing my arm and smooching Hailey on the cheek.

Laughing I say, “You sound like you are more invested then me!”

“Well you are my last single sister so I have to live vicariously through you.” She laughs along with me. “Married life is boring and I will only have sex with one man for the rest of my life.” She wiggles her eyebrows suggestively.

“Ha! Okay Jess I’ll give you every gory detail from now on.” I smirk and bump my hip into hers.

Declan

I’m sitting on the side lines in full uniform watching the game. I’m a red shirt freshman and proud of it. I love that I don’t have the pressures of the game but all the practices. I get to stay in shape and keep my skills sharp but none of the anxiety.

I’m trying to get my masters in law so I’ll be in school for a lot longer than four years. I was all-state my senior year and I had several scholarships thrown out there but I wanted to stay in Arkansas with my little brother.

My dad thinks I’m crazy but he isn’t ever around and Marcus would be here mostly on his own. My dad owns a big company and travels a lot. Since he started it here, he built his house here and started his family but then my mom ran off with her trainer and we haven’t seen her since. Hardly ever see my dad either. He is always off on some business trip or a vacation.

Good riddance I say neither one of them did anything for Marcus or me but ruin our lives. So instead of waiting around for them to raise us, I did. And I think I did a good job at least were Marcus is concerned. He’s a good kid and his head is in the right place.

I concentrate on the game and cheer Jaden on in my head. He’s a good dude and I’m glad he’s on my team this time. We met a couple of years ago when he still played as defensive linesman. He broke my collar bone and I broke his arm. We have been good friends ever since. We talked on the phone a lot but since we played on rival teams we didn’t go out in public. I used to joke that he was my mistress. He didn’t find this funny. Football is Jaden’s life and I don’t blame him. He can go somewhere with it.

He also has a younger sister that goes to school with us. I bet I can get him to let me talk to her. He and his twin are way too protective of her. It gets to the point where I don’t think they let her do much of anything.

She might know my mystery girl. Girls notice everybody. Or at least Claire does and I’m not asking her.

I’m not friends with any girls myself and I know I hookup a lot but I don’t form relationships with any of them. And I stay away from the cheerleaders since Claire is on their team. Speaking of which they have been giving me death glares all night long, guess they know about Claire’s nose. I guess I can count Grace out of that. Jaden has the hugest crush on her and I don’t blame him. She’s smoking hot and the sweetest person ever. Her and Claire do not get along.

The game is almost over with ten seconds on the clock and us with the ball. Doesn’t matter if we score though since we are already winning twenty-two to twelve, which will put as at six wins and two loses. And with it being a win Jaden should be in a great mood.

*****

After the game and showers Jaden and I walk out to my truck. Betty is my baby. She is a 2012 Chevy Silverado with an extended cab and six inch lift. She was a graduation gift from my dad. He may not ever be around but he is a great gift giver.

“Where’s the party at tonight?” Jaden asks as we climb into the cab. The interior has nice plush black leather seats softer then a baby’s butt.

“Over at Kyle’s his parents own a cabin out in the woods. He told me he’s gonna have a bonfire and a couple of kegs.” I put the keys in the ignition and get her revved up.