All That Remains Read online

  “What did you do to her?” she hisses softly so her voice doesn’t carry.

  “Nothing! I swear. I helped her at the library one day and then -”

  She gasps as the word library hits her. “She’s the girl, the one you mentioned? How did you not know her name, it’s been weeks? And she never mentioned you to me!”

  “We haven’t exchanged names. I got the feeling she hates jocks so I never told her who I was and she refused to tell me. She thinks I’m cocky.”

  “No kidding, you?”

  “Ha, ha,” he deadpans.

  “You’re right, by the way, she doesn’t like jocks. Actually she’s not a big fan of guys in general.”

  Austin’s face tightens, “Why?”

  “I don’t really know.”

  “Jules, get yourself over here so I can show you how it’s done,” West calls.

  “You and I are going to talk about Cassie later,” Jules points out, grabbing his arm and pulling him along with her.

  “Hey, Jules, I need you to know one thing,” Austin says and he stops walking and looks at her seriously. “I’m not upset about us. I am thrilled for both you and West, okay? You’re meant to be together and I’m good with that.”

  “You’re one of my best friends, Austin,” Jules whispers, throwing her arms around him. “I was scared things would change. You stopped coming around and barely answered my messages.”

  “No, candy girl. I love you and I love West. Nothing is going to change. I just needed a few weeks.”

  “I get that,” Jules agrees, letting him go and giving him a look. “So, I bet I can get more goals than you.”

  “Ha! You’re on,” he agrees and they rejoin their friends.

  * * *

  Despite the cool demeanor of Cassie towards Austin for the remainder of the night, Jules has the time of her life. Surprisingly, she makes one field goal and Austin makes none. She can happily knock another item off her bucket list and she has bragging rights over a Rutledge boy; life is sweet.

  As they drive away from the stadium with her hand in West’s, she’s struck by how much her life has changed again. This time for the better.

  “I’m so happy,” she mutters when they’re almost to the house.

  West kisses her knuckles and shoots a smile her way.

  “I didn’t think I’d be this happy again after the storm.”

  “I’m happy, too. I never thought I’d find a love like this.”

  “Isn’t that a song?” she teases and West laughs.

  “If it is, I wasn’t quoting it. Seriously. After my mom died, I didn’t want to attach myself to anyone. You changed that for me.”

  “I really need you to stop saying such amazing things to me, Rutledge. You’re going to spoil me.”

  The truck pulls into the driveway of the house West shares with his brothers and he turns to her, his face dead serious. “Let me spoil you then, because I will never get tired of telling you how much I love you,” he says, leaning over the middle console and touching her hair.

  “And I will never get tired of hearing you tell me how much you love me,” she replies, pressing a light kiss to his lips. “Nor will I ever get tired of showing you how much I love you,” she says suggestively and West’s eyes darken with passion at her words.

  Coming around the truck, he carries her into the house, nodding at Mindy and Carson who are standing in the kitchen talking while Jules laughs and covers her face in embarrassment. West takes her straight to his room where he drops her on his bed.

  “Show me,” he orders, his voice hoarse with desire as he leans over her.

  “My pleasure, Number Twelve. My pleasure.”

  Thirty

  West

  “Rise and shine, princess.” West rubs his nose along Jules’ neck and kisses along the smooth curve.

  Jules gives a half moan, half sigh as she stretches and her fingers move into the hair at the base of his neck holding him close as she moves her body closer to his.

  “Sleeeeep,” she grumbles, burying her face into his shoulder. “Wait, why aren’t you in bed?” she asks sleepily as she realizes he is on top of the sheets.

  “We’ve got things to do, love. We’re celebrating your birthday today.”

  “Can’t we lay here all day and celebrate?”

  His mind contemplates the pleasure he would take in that. “Don’t you want breakfast? I thought we’d get pancakes and then I have a surprise for you.”

  Her longs fingers play with his hair as her lips start to kiss on his bare shoulder. He’s lying alongside of her and she finds his hand on her hip and pulls it up, guiding it under the thin sheet covering her body and placing it on her warm naked curves.

  “I can skip breakfast, if you can,” she whispers and she pushes his hand lower.

  “Well hell, I guess we can do brunch,” West moans, pulling the sheet down to her waist.

  “Or linner,” Jules purrs.

  “Dunch.”

  “Yes, we’ll do dunch.” She laughs before his lips crash into hers.

  * * *

  Once they are showered and dressed a few hours later, they grab lunch at a deli and West surprises her with his idea for the day.

  “You can totally say no to this, okay?”

  Popping an olive from the salad bar in her mouth she smiles, “Okay.”

  “Dani wants to meet you.”

  “Dani? Oh, Dani!” Jules sits up and West holds back a smile as he watches her look down at her clothes and fiddle with her hair.

  “You’re gorgeous,” he reminds her, reaching across the table and grabbing her hand mid-primp.

  “But, I’m not dressed to meet her and, oh wow.” She breathes in and takes a long sip of her iced tea. “The thought makes me incredibly nervous.”

  “Babe, we don’t have to. It’s your day. I just, Dani called the other day to wish me good luck for the game and to ask about you, of course. She mentioned they were having visitor hours this weekend and it got me thinking.”

  “I’d love to meet her.”

  “Are you sure?” he asks, searching her face for any hesitation. When she agrees, they finish their lunches quickly and hit the road.

  Crestdale Victory Center is located outside of Houston, a little less than two hours away from A&M. The drive flies by as they sing along to the radio and talk about random things.

  “I can’t believe you were this close to Tyler the whole time and I didn’t know.”

  The comment comes out of nowhere and West debates on discussing it or dropping it. Before he can make a choice, Jules drops another bomb.

  “Hey, my parents want me to come home next weekend. They were pretty ticked I didn’t come this weekend for my birthday and I didn’t want to have it out with them by phone, so I blew them off. But, I should go, if for no other reason than to see Jase.”

  She sounds as if she is asking for his thoughts and he has to bite back how he feels about her seeing her mom and dad and telling them they are together. He trusts Jules but he worries her parents, or her dad specifically, might try to bully her into not seeing him.

  He decides to avoid a discussion about her parents and sticks to a safer one, for now. “How is Jase, by the way? Still terrified of storms?”

  “He’s better. He isn’t a fan of bad weather still, but he’s not as scared as he was. He still loves Star Wars and he loves football. Of course, my dad has a lot to do with that.”

  He avoids talking about her parents, again.

  “I wish I could go home with you, but I’m stuck until after playoffs. I mean, we could make the trip on a Sunday, but that’s a lot of driving and I doubt coach would be happy.”

  “And playoffs run the next few weeks, right? When will the championship game be?”

  West grins. “If we make it to the championship game it would be December fifth.”

  “What about Thanksgiving, you won’t be able to come home to Tyler?”

  “Babe, we haven’t done Thanksgiving in Tyle
r since the year my mom passed.”

  “Oh, that’s right. You came home early last year.” He notices her shudder and he squeezes her knee, leaving his hand to rest on her thigh. He doesn’t allow himself to think about the year before. They still have several weeks before they hit the anniversary of that night and there’s no reason to allow himself to dwell on it right now.

  “Yeah, I can’t wait till football is done to go home,” she says. “I’ll go home this weekend and confront my dad.”

  The truck pulls into Crestdale and she stops talking as West gives his name at the entrance gate. Jules looks out the window as they drive around a winding road and park. He takes a moment to address her before he looks at the place he lived for seven months.

  “Jules? Whatever happens with your parents, I’m here for you. You know that, right?”

  “Of course.” She unbuckles her seatbelt and sits forward, twisting in her seat. “Nothing they say will change how I feel about you, West. Once my dad is aware you weren’t at fault for anything that happened, he will understand. I promise,” she says sweetly, leaning across to kiss him.

  “Also, you realize Dani has issues, right? I mean, we haven’t talked about her much and she’ll probably act completely normal, but watch what you say. She’s more fragile than she acts.”

  She nods and they exit the truck and walk towards Crestdale’s main doors.

  * * *

  Walking into the main building is surreal. When he was admitted almost a year ago, it was with a reluctant and disbelieving attitude. He agreed because Jules’ father was adamant he would not let him see her until he got counseling. He agreed because that same night after her dad left, his own father sat him down and told him how his mom wouldn’t want him to keep punishing himself. He did it for Jules and his mom; he thought he was fine. It wasn’t until he met Dani that he realized he wasn’t as fine as he thought.

  He smiles at the front desk workers and nurses, recognizing them all, and they come around to hug him and say how happy they are to see him looking so good.

  “You know Dr. Steel will be angry you came on a Sunday,” the head nurse over weekend shifts admonishes him.

  “I know. Maybe we could keep the visit to ourselves?” He winks and asks about Dani.

  “My lips are sealed, gorgeous,” she teases back. “As for Dani, she’s where she’s always at. Or she was last time I made rounds.”

  Thanking the ladies at the desk, he holds Jules’ hand and heads to the courtyard where he knows he’ll find his friend sitting in the shade of the large oak trees. The hallways of Crestdale are all painted a light creamy yellow color. The brick walks devoid of artwork, with the exception of a landscape picture or two. He sends a fast glance Jules way to see her reaction to where he spent his time and catches a glimpse of her chewing her bottom lip.

  “You okay?” he asks when they round the corner and approach a set of glass doors leading out into the common area.

  She nods silently.

  They open the doors and enter back into the late afternoon sun; the October air today finally has a small touch of fall in it.

  “There she is.” He points towards the largest tree.

  From where they stand, they can barely make out the person lying under the tree, but West knows. It’s the spot they used to sit under daily, and her sweat pant covered legs are propped up with her knees in the air. Jules squints across the paved commons.

  “It’s her favorite spot,” he explains. “Come on.”

  “Old habits die hard?” he asks when they make it to Dani’s side. Her eyes are closed and she doesn’t move, except for her mouth. Her lips crack a small smile and West smiles in return, happy to see her again.

  “So nice of you to finally visit me,” she says sarcastically, turning her head their way and opening her eyes.

  Dani sucks in a deep breath and sits up, pushing her black hair back as she takes in Jules by his side.

  “I brought someone to meet you,” he points out.

  Dani rises as West steps forward and lets go of Jules’ hand. He hugs her hard as she whispers, “I missed you.”

  After a few moments, West pulls back and looks her over. Her tall frame looks skinnier than before and he wonders if she’s been sliding back into a depression since he left. It’s easy to fall back into old habits.

  “I missed you, too,” he tells her as he looks back at Jules, who smiles.

  “You didn’t lie,” Dani grumbles playfully. “She is beautiful.”

  Jules’ cheeks go pink and she moves closer to hug Dani, gushing, “I’m so happy to meet you.”

  Dani’s big eyes grow even larger as Jules holds her and West laughs. Like him, Dani finds it difficult to accept affection from others. It was one of the things they bonded over in the short month they’d hung out together at Crestdale.

  When Jules finally lets Dani go, they sit in the grass together.

  “I have to admit, when West kept giving me updates and you two weren’t together, I thought my sending the letters didn’t work and I truly thought you must be the coldest girl on the face of the earth to be able to resist those words.”

  “Resist those… Dani, did you read my letters?” asks West, shocked.

  “Oh, just one or two. I didn’t want to send them if they weren’t good.”

  “You weren’t supposed to send them at all,” he reminds her, and Jules giggles as Dani makes a face at him.

  “If I hadn’t, I have a feeling you’d still be moping around,” counters Dani.

  Jules bumps into West shoulder with a smile. “I’m totally fine with her reading them and I’m absolutely grateful she mailed them.” She turns serious and looks at Dani sitting across from them. “Seriously, thank you for mailing them. I needed the push.”

  “Sometimes we all need a push. You’re welcome.”

  They spend the next two hours sitting under the oak and talking. Dani asks about school and talks about her newfound love of football, thanks to West.

  “I wish they televised your games, but I’ve been watching your brother.”

  “You could come to a game, you know,” West points out and Dani frowns, offering an unenthusiastic ‘maybe.’

  When it’s time to go and they’re standing at the main lobby again, Jules excuses herself to use the restroom, giving Dani and West a moment to speak alone.

  “Dani?” he asks seriously, and she shakes her head.

  “Don’t, West.”

  “Don’t what? I didn’t even say anything.”

  “No. It’s what you’re not saying. I recognize that voice. I’m fine.”

  “Are you?”

  She nods and looks out the glass door to the parking lot. She swipes at her cheek and then faces West. “I’ll be okay. This summer has been harder than I thought. You left and I got a little depressed.”

  “I’m sorry, D.”

  “Don’t be stupid. You don’t have to be sorry. I’m so happy for you and for Jules. She seems pretty amazing.”

  “She is,” he agrees.

  “I want that someday.”

  He decides to pull her into a hug. “You’ll get it, you need to take care of you first,” he says, repeating advice she once gave him.

  She snorts, pushing him away and rolling her eyes. “Using my words against me, huh?” She laughs before telling him seriously, “I’m trying. I had a slip back, but I’m recovering.”

  “Can I help in anyway?” he asks, taking her slender hand in his.

  “Just be happy. Make your dreams come true and live.” Her face changes into a smile and he looks behind him to see Jules returning.

  “Hey, Jules, you keep this guy in check, okay?”

  “No worries, I plan on doing that for a long, long time.”

  They hug and Jules thanks Dani, again, for mailing her West’s letters and promises they will come back soon to visit. Once they’re back in the truck and on the way home, Jules finally asks all the questions he’s sure she’s been dying to ask.

/>   “You told her to come to a football game. Can she come and go as she wants?”

  “At this point, yes. She was only sixteen the first time her grandparents sent her to Crestdale. She’s been in and out for two years now. Once she turned eighteen, over the winter, she was technically able to leave. She doesn’t have an order to be there. It’s voluntary.”

  “Why does she stay then?”

  Dani’s story is Dani’s story and West doesn’t feel right telling it for her, even to Jules. Instead, he explains it the best he can. “Remember all the guilt you felt after Tanya’s death? Dani’s family died and she feels the same. She hasn’t gotten over it yet. She wants to, though. She’s smart, baby,” he tells her when he sees the sadness overcome Jules. “She stays at CVC because she wants to get better.”

  “When we first walked in there, I started to feel sick to my stomach because it felt cold and lonely and I hated knowing you had to be there,” she explains, and he nods, recalling her quiet looks before she met Dani. “Dani changed that. I could see how much she cares about you and I’m glad you were able to be there for her and her for you.”

  So many things happened over the last fifteen months; each bad moment leading to something good. The realization puts a smile on his face. The tornado brought them together. The car wreck got him help and introduced him to Dani. There is a purpose to the madness, he allows. He’d stop believing in the purpose for a while but now he is reminded of Jules’ words at the vigil two months ago. Studying her sitting next to him in his truck, he feels a peace he’s never felt before and he repeats her words to her.

  “Sometimes happy endings take time.”

  * * *

  “I have one last thing for you,” West tells Jules a few hours later when he’s bringing her back to her dorm after dinner. He’d given her a leather bound journal at the restaurant for her to keep at her bedside, but he wasn’t done.

  They park and West gets out, pulling his seat forward and producing a white box with a pink bow on top. He’s smiling at Jules as she walks around the front of the truck.