Chapter Forty-One

Blake

Five Years Ago

I spent the day cleaning the house from top to bottom while Tommy was at school and hockey practice. His parents wouldn’t let him miss any more days, and I had a lot on my mind. I had hoped that it would help. I had so much to think about with Tommy, my mother, and the band that it was the only thing that kept me from losing my mind.

What if Mulligan didn’t make it? What if my mother started drinking again? What if Killian and Maverick killed one another? I stopped to wipe the sweat from my brow as a chill ran up my spine.

What if Tommy changed his mind about us?

I sighed and tried to push the negative thoughts from my brain. Maybe Killian and Maverick needed to beat the hell out of one another. It might be good for them to get everything out in the open. Maybe then we could all be friends again. Brothers, even. I snorted. That would be the day.

I moved into the kitchen and filled up a glass of water as I stared out the window over the sink. Spring was in the air. Buds were beginning to bloom on the trees, the birds were active, and the world was starting to come alive again. This was my favorite time of the year. Right before the bugs came back, the air became too hot to breathe, and the sun tried to kill you.

I would miss living here in Canfield. The nights spent with Tommy, before and after we got together, playing video games, and watching movies together in his parents’ family room. Hanging out with the band, playing gigs with our friends. I knew it was the right thing for me, but I was scared of the chance, of what might happen. What might happen to my mom when I wasn’t here to help her? What if she passed out and choked on her own vomit? What if no one came looking for her?

I fisted my hair in one hand and tugged on it. Guilt knotted my stomach, and I put the glass down before I dropped it. I couldn’t leave her. I would be worried every minute of every day that something would happen, and it would be all my fault. I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around myself. I tried to take deep breaths to calm my racing heart, the thoughts that wouldn’t stop, but it didn’t seem to help.

Big, strong arms suddenly engulfed me. “I’m here, Bug.” Tommy’s husky voice caused me to sag against his chest. He hummed softly and eased me into a sitting position, keeping me in his embrace. “Talk to me.”

I shook my head. “It’s stupid.”

“Nothing that has you this worried is stupid.” He tilted my head up. “Your mom?”

I nodded as my vision blurred.

“She’s going to be okay, Blake, I promise.”

“How can you promise that?”

Tommy’s dark eyes flashed with compassion. “Because I can.”

I twisted my head so I could claim his soft lips, and a low groan escaped Tommy’s throat. I spun around, fisting my hands into the front of his letterman’s jacket only to whine when he pulled back.

“Please,” I begged.

“Talk to me first.” Tommy tucked a piece of hair behind my ear.

I shook my head. “I don’t... Tommy!” I exclaimed when he lifted me up over his shoulder and walked toward the living room. He didn’t stop there. He carried me up the stairs, practically kicked the bathroom door open, and placed me back on my feet. I watched wide-eyed as he leaned into the bathtub, flicked on the shower, and closed the curtain. He dropped the mat onto the floor and raised a brow at me.

“Strip.”

“Tommy, wait.”

“Get naked, Bug,” he growled.

When I continued to stare dumbly at him, he removed my clothes for me. My shirt landed on the floor, along with my jeans, and then I was naked, my cock plumped to half-mast. He pointed to the shower.

“Get in.”

I wasn’t sure if I liked or hated this bossy version of Tommy. Although the ache in my balls and my racing heart told me what I couldn’t answer. I did as Tommy instructed, then he stripped off his own clothes to join me. When I tried to talk, he slanted his lips against mine and shoved his tongue into my mouth. He slapped my hands away when I tried to touch him, then reached for the shampoo, his hands messaging the product into my hair.

“You’re amazing, Blake,” Tommy murmured, his fingers pulling and tugging on the wet strands. “You’re smart, talented, funny, and perfect. You’re my sunshine on a cloudy day, the reason I smile in the morning.” His fingers slid down my back, over each vertebra of my spine. “I love you so much.”

I spun around. “I love you, too.” I cupped his head in my hands. “You’re the jelly to my peanut butter.”

“That so?” Tommy chuckled as he dipped his head to press a kiss into my collarbone. The sting of his teeth as he pricked my skin and sucked had me grinding my cock against his thigh. My entire body felt like it was on fire.

I groaned. “Mm, Gretzky, you’re—Ah, fuck.” My eyes rolled back when he wrapped his hand around my length. “Need you.”

“I know.” His lips were on mine again, his tongue inside my mouth. He pushed me back against the tile, his hands roaming all over my wet skin. “You’re going to be a household name, Blake Duncan.”

I whimpered as he kissed down my chin and jaw, dragging his tongue over my Adam’s apple. He found that spot on my collarbone that drove me wild and began to suck the tender skin. He pushed his thigh between mine, and I immediately started to grind against him. Low whimpers and soft gasps filled the bathroom as I chased my orgasm. Tommy’s fingers dug into my waist as he pinned me against him, dropping kisses over every inch of skin he could reach.

“Oh, Tommy! Oh—”

Heat streaked over my skin as I saw stars. My entire body trembled as I came, my knees nearly giving out from the force. Tommy kept me from falling, his strong arms holding me in place. He kissed me gently, dropped a hand to my cock, and spread the cum over my length. When he lifted his hand, I watched with hooded eyes as he licked it clean.

“There’s not an inch of you I don’t love. That I don’t want to taste, eat, or lick. Everything about you does it for me.” Tommy grinned.

That all but sealed the deal. I wasn’t going to leave Canfield behind. I couldn’t risk someone else sinking their claws into my Tommy. I would give up the world to keep him.

***

“I’m sorry, but what?” I stared at my mother like she had grown another head.

She had dropped a bombshell on me when I’d walked into the hospital room, prepared to take her home. Instead, she told me she wasn’t going back to the house. She was going to Florida.

Mom smiled. “I’m going to rehab.”

I had heard her correctly the first time, only the words didn’t want to register. Mom had never wanted this before. She’d begged, cried, and made broken promises whenever Dad had suggested it. Only to do the required time, come home, and start the drinking cycle all over again.

“Since when?” My stomach twisted.

“Sweetie.” Mom patted the mattress next to her. “It’s going to be best for both of us. I need time to recover from the stroke, and you’re going to California. You’re destined for bigger things than taking care of me.”

I shook my head. “No, I’m not. I’m going to stay here with you and Tommy.” Until he was drafted, but I would figure that part out later. Follow along behind him like a lost puppy.

“Blake.” She reached for my hand when I finally sat down. It was more because I was afraid my legs were going to buckle. “Honey, you can’t stay here. Don’t give up your dreams for me.” She pushed a piece of hair behind my ear.

My throat felt too tight. Bile filled my mouth, and I forced it back down. If I didn’t have my mother as an excuse, I would have to leave. Tommy would never let me stay for him. He’d drag me to California himself if he had to.

“I want to take care of you.”

“You’re young, in love, and have your entire future in front of you. You don’t need to take care of me anymore. Tom made sure of that.” The moment the words slipped from her mouth; her face flushed.

I jumped to my feet. “He made sure of what, Mom?” But she turned her head to pick at a thread on her pants. “Mom, what did Tommy do?”

“He found this rehab for me. He convinced me that it was the best thing. I don’t want to drag you down anymore, Blake. You need to spread your wings and fly,” Mom murmured. Her neck and ears burned red.

I fisted my hands at my side. “I bet he did.”

“Blake—”

“No, Mom, I think I have to go have a word with my boyfriend. Remind him of what I want and what needs to happen.”

It would be something I would regret for the rest of my life.