Chapter 25: Chapter 25

After the creepy text, I received that night, I couldn't sleep. I closed my eyes but started to open again, scanning my room, afraid that if I fell asleep, someone would come into my room then... I didn't dare to finish the sentence.

The next day, I felt like crap. I was exhausted and there were bags under my eyes. I couldn't concentrate at school or work with my current state and I almost gave the wrong order to the customer earning a glare from Mrs. Hardy.

After my shift, Sean came to fetch me from the cafe. I showed him the text and his jaw was clenched, he grabbed the wheel so tight that his knuckles were white.

He didn't say anything afterward but just drive throughout town, probably to his house again and man, I was right. He quickly pressed the passcodes before the gate opened and he stopped the car in the driveway. He slammed the door shut making me jump a little then quickly headed to the house.

I followed him inside and I was startled because, unlike the last time I was here, the house was quiet and empty, but this time, guys are walking around the house. Some were sitting on the couch, standing near the door, and others were just walking out from the kitchen.

They all stopped and looked in my direction making me hide behind Sean's back.

"The hell are you all looking at?", Sean growled making the guys turned their heads away and doing their things like I wasn't there.

Sean took my hand guiding me upstairs to his room. He closed the door and began kissing me softly on the lips. His hands making their way to my waist then slowly touching the skin under my shirt which sends shivers to my spine. I couldn't help but grabbed his hair in my hands earning a soft moan from this lips.

He started to move to make me walked backward until my feet touched the bed and we both collapsed on it. Instead of him being on top, this time I was in charge. I sat on his lap with my legs around his waist then his mouth let out a moan.

I was about to go to his neck when he flipped us over that he was on top. I let out a gasp in the process while his lips formed a smirk. He attacked my neck which earned a moan from my lips. I felt when he sucked the skin of my neck making me moan louder. Then I felt something poking me on my stomach making me tense and so was he.

His eyes widen in surprise then pulled away from me. He laid his back beside me while recovering his breath. My eyes went down to his pants and it was tight making me blush in embarrassment.

He seemed to realize the situation that he stood on his feet scratching his neck. "I'm uh. I'm gonna go downstairs to the meeting with the guys", he said nervously.

I just laid there looking at him which made the situation more awkward.

"If you're hungry Mrs. Rhodes is downstairs in the kitchen and if you want, you can have a shower too", he added. When he saw there was no response from me, he continued. "So, are you gonna be okay by yourself?", he asked and I nodded in response.

"Alright. Uhm.. I'll see you later", he said quickly out of the room.

I sighed, still laying there while staring at the ceiling still processing what had just happened. We almost did it if he didn't pull away. But why did he stop? I knew he had the experience and probably had slept with many girls who were prettier than me. Maybe I didn't look appealing to him?

I shook my head decided not to think about it further. I got up from the bed, heading to the bathroom mirror to see my reflection. My hair was a mess from our previous make out and I saw something that made my eyes widen. There was a big hickey on the left side of my neck! I didn't have my concealer with me so the only thing I could do was bringing my hair to the left side, thanks to my long thick hair.

After checking myself again to make sure that the hickey was covered, I headed to the door and the kitchen.

When I was downstairs, the place was suddenly empty and there was no trace of Sean's gang mates in the house. Probably in the meeting with him.

I got to the kitchen and saw a middle-aged woman making dough. She turned to look at me and gave a friendly smile which I returned.

"You must be Valerie. Mr. Winter just told me that you might be coming down here to eat", she smiled. "I'm Mrs. Rhodes", she introduced.

"Nice to meet you, Mrs. Rhodes", I said suddenly felt comfortable with the lady. "Do you need any help?", I asked as she punched down the dough.

"No need, dear. Just sit tight there and I'll fix something for you to eat. What do you fancy?", she asked like a mother to her child.

"I'm not hungry right now. But I'll cook myself if I changed my mind", I said didn't want to trouble her.

"In that case, you'll be able to taste my famous pizza. I'm making it right now", she said proudly while she busied herself back with the dough.

We talked as she did the work, making me knew her better. She was 57 and her husband passed away 5 years ago from cancer. She had a daughter who was working in New York as a journalist but she rarely came back making her felt lonely at home.

I felt pity for her, imagining your husband was no longer in this world and your only child left to another town for work. This made me thought about my parents. They might not be saying anything but I knew they felt the same way like Mrs. Rhodes did.

I stayed seated there while Mrs. Rhodes putting some toppings, asking me if I had personal preferences. I just told her to put more cheese on it. What can I say, I'm a cheese lover. After putting the toppings, she put the tray of pizza dough in the oven and set the timer on.

We still talked for a little until the timer went off and the whole kitchen was filled with the pizza smell. Mrs. Rhodes carefully took out the tray using the glove and I couldn't wait to taste it because my stomach is already growling.

When it was cool enough to eat, I grabbed two plates from the cabinet, offering one to Mrs. Rhodes but she refused to say that I should have a taste.

"But you've been working hard making it. I think you should eat a slice", I said placing the plate in front of her.

She smiled gratefully and muttered thanks. I put a slice on my plate and took a bite. It was as good as it smelled and I couldn't help but moan in appreciation making Mrs. Rhodes looked pleased.

In the middle of my eating, I heard the front door open. "I can smell a pizza in here", someone sang and soon Georgina came inside the kitchen, looking excited with the food on the table.

"Oh, Mrs. Rhodes I love you so much and your pizza", she said as she took a slice making me and Mrs. Rhodes giggled at her remarks.

Not long, Mrs. Rhodes bid us both goodnight because she had to go home and it was already dark. We both said our farewells and told her to be careful.

"So, where's my brother?", Georgina asked as she took another bite of the pizza.

"He told me he went for a meeting with the guys", I replied bringing my plate to the sink.

I saw her nodded. I washed my plate and Mrs. Rhodes's then placed it to the side before wiping them dry.

"You know, you're the only girl he opens up to", she suddenly said.

"What do you mean?", I asked confused.

"Sean is a very private guy", she said. "Every girl he brought home, he'd throw them away from the next day, and boy, I once saw this chick tried to stay saying that she doesn't know her way home but Sean just kicked her ass out. I could still remember her reaction that day ", she laughed.

I laughed nervously didn't know how to react to that. The thought of him pleasuring another girl upset me.

"Then when I saw you that morning in my brother's shirt, you could say I almost choked on my spit", she laughed again.

"But I can see how much you change him though. Usually, he'd come home grumpy or yelling for no reason, but now he's happier", she smiled.

"I know you might think bad about what he is doing but trust me deep down, he's a really good guy", she added.

"And since he trusts you enough to tell you everything, I expect you to do the same and not betray him", she said sternly or should I say threatened? "He's been through so much and I don't want some chick messing him around, got it?", her eyes turned serious.

I quickly nodded and her face turned normal. "I'm glad we're having an understanding", she said showing her pearly whites.

Like a cue, Sean came inside the kitchen with heavy footsteps. He walked towards me planting a kiss on my cheek. "You've eaten?", he asked taking a seat beside me.

"Yeah", I said still nervous about my conversation with Georgina but she just acted as nothing happened.

He grabbed a slice of the pizza-eating it while he talked random things to Georgina with his other hand intertwined with mine under the table. Georgina kept chatting with Sean listening to every single thing she said. He laughed whenever she told a joke and inside, I smiled at their relationship.

I could see how close they were, making me envy a little since I was an only child. Now I knew why Georgina acted that way earlier because she loved Sean and didn't want anything to happen to him.

I would never hurt Sean. And that's a promise I intended to keep.