Found By You (The Found Series) Read online

  Chapter 4

  Looking back and forth between an empty hallway and a sleeping baby, I think I’m still in shock. Not that I’m a double standard type of person, but I’ve only seen single mothers. Once in a blue moon I see a single father. It made me think he was even hotter than before.

  I want to ask him where Rhys’ mother is. What type of person just leaves their child, a baby at that, and just disappears? It makes me want to crawl up in a ball on my bed and cry. Jackson looks exhausted, now I can see why. Between trying to finish school and taking care of an infant, it is a lot of work. I really feel for him. I guess I’ll just mind my own business. Ma always says that “unless it concerns you, keep your nose out of it, no matter what.” Damn my mom and her ways!

  Looking back at the baby once more, I sigh and head back to my room.

  Just as I’m about to relax on my bed, the doorbell is going off. Remembering that baby Rhys is asleep, I try to hurry and answer it before whoever is at the door, rings it again. Just as I get to the middle of the step, I see Jared answer the door. He shakes his head and looks to the steps and sees me. He jerks his head to the door and mouths ‘good luck.’

  There’s only one person he would say it about; Blake, my boyfriend. I groan. I used to think I loved Blake, after a few months I realized I liked him, or the idea of him. When we first got together, it was nice and he was romantic. We met at a party that I went to with Britnie. We talked all night and exchanged numbers. Britnie thought he was cute, but an ass.

  Jared knows how I feel about him. My brother and I are really close and don’t keep secrets from each other. He said he would kick his ass if I needed him to.

  Blake’s family comes from money, not that there is a problem with that. My family has a little bit of money, but it was ingrained in us, at an early age, to work for what we want. He has always been a flashy person, whereas, I’m low-key and drive the same car I had gotten for graduation.

  I smile a fake smile when I see him standing in the doorway. I’ve been trying for 2 months to break it off with him, but because I’m too nice, I still haven’t figured out how to tell him. We have only been together for about a year, but I have got to do it soon. He just isn’t the one for me and I’m tired of living a lie. It hasn’t always been like that though. It started about 4 months ago when he kept coming over smelling like perfume or was half drunk. I never said anything, but I am no longer standing for it. I knew something was wrong, but I turned a blind eye.

  “Hey.” he says nonchalantly.

  “Hey, Blake.” I answer back to him.

  He pulls me to him and kisses me. I try to pull away, but he deepens the kiss. I groan, but not in a good way. He takes it as though I want more and pulls me in tighter. I try and push him away, but he tightens his arms. This time, I knee him in his leg. I was aiming for his groin, but he is so tall.

  “What the fuck Blake?” I whisper harshly.

  “What? You liked it, I know you did.” He says arrogantly.

  I wipe my mouth and say, “No, I didn’t you asshole! I was groaning to get you off of me, not to have you kiss me longer!” I am more than disgusted right now that he did that. Not only that, but his mouth tasted like perfume.

  “I’ve told you before about doing shit like that, Blake. It pisses me off and why the fuck do you smell and taste like perfume?” I ask him. At this point, I can see my brother watching us from the kitchen area. He tilts his head, as if asking if I need help. I shake my head ever so gently no.

  Blake chuckles, which brings me back to what had just happened and he says, “Oh come on, baby. It was nothing.” Ah, so he is admitting something without actually saying it. Gross, he just had his fucking tongue in my mouth. I want to vomit.

  “What exactly was ‘nothing’, Blake?” I ask. He just shakes his head and chuckles again. I should’ve broken up with him when I wanted to months ago. He’s just pissing me off now.

  “You need to go, Blake. Right now.” I say firmly. He steps closer to me and says, “I don’t think so Avery. We’ve been together almost a year. You’ll get over it.” The fucking nerve of this asshole. Ugh. I’ve had enough.

  “We are through asshole. There’s the door. Goodbye.” I say as I walk over to the door and open it.

  He doesn’t move. I see Jared coming up behind him. “Everything ok, Av?” Thank God my brother has enough sense to check on me, just in case.

  “Yeah, I’m fine, Jared. Blake was just leaving. And just so you know, we aren’t together anymore.” I say to him. He nods in understanding. Blake is flaring his nostrils at this point.

  He looks at Jared and then back to me and says, “Fuck it, I’m out of here.” He strolls out the door quickly and I slam it behind him.

  Good God, what a relief!

  Jackson

  Hearing the doorbell ring, I looked up as Jared gets up to answer it. He comes back and his face looks like he wants to murder someone. “Motherfucker.” He says as he slams his fists on the table making Colin look up. Derrick left a little bit ago so it’s just the three of us left.

  “What the fuck dude? What’s wrong?” Colin says to him.

  “Blake.” Jared spits out and Colin curses under his breath and his nostrils start to flare. By the look on both of their faces, whoever this Blake character is, he isn’t well liked.

  “Y’all want to clue me in on who Blake is?” I ask them.

  Colin shakes his head as Jared releases a deep sigh and says, “He’s a piece of shit that’s dating my sister. She’s wanted to break things off, but has been putting it off. He isn’t good enough for her and he’s a shady bastard. He’s lucky I haven’t broken his goddamn legs yet.”

  She has a boyfriend? I never would’ve guessed. She is beautiful, but the way she was looking at me, I wouldn’t have known. “Gotcha.” Is all I say back.

  Jared looks at Colin and says, “Keep him in here while I check on Avery.” They share a look and Jared leans on the wall closer to where he can hear what’s going on with his sister.

  “Watch me?” I ask Colin. “Yeah, apparently Jared has a feeling and he’s usually never wrong.” He says with a smirk. I don’t think I want to know what he means by that. I see Jared making his way to the other room and I look back at my papers. My guess is he’s going to make sure everything is alright. It takes everything in me not to go and join him. I need to get my head back in the game and off of my friend’s sister.

  Chapter 5

  Finally! I am single. I know I should’ve done it a while ago, but damn me for trying to be nice.

  Once I tasted perfume on him, that was just the final straw. No way in hell am I staying with him. Especially now. No way, no how.

  “What the fuck was that?” My brother asks. I know he wouldn’t wait long for details. I was hoping I would be in the clear, at least until his friends were gone. I was dead wrong.

  Sighing heavily, I turn around to face him. “Nothing, Jared. It was just time. I shouldn’t have waited as long as I did.” I give a partial lie.

  “Bullshit Av, I saw the entire thing. You might wanna call him and ask for your tonsils back. He’s lucky I didn’t break his fucking face. I know he is or was your boyfriend, but damn show a little bit of respect. That fucker is damn lucky, that’s all I’ve got to say.” He looks at me expectantly. When he realizes I’m not going to say anything else, he asks, “So, are you gonna tell me another lie or are you gonna quit the shit and tell me what really happened?” and he crosses his arms for effect. I guess I may as well tell him.

  “Okay, so when he kissed me, I tasted perfume in his mouth...”

  “How does someone’s mouth taste like perfume?” Jared interrupts.

  “He smelled like a woman. Her perfume must have been strong because I could literally taste it in his mouth. So anyway, when he kissed me, I tasted perfume and I groaned, but not in a good way. I wasn’t enjoying it. I guess he took that as a sign that I liked it and tried to kiss me harder. I tried to pull back, but I couldn’t. That�
�s when I kicked him. I was aiming for his nuts, but he is tall, so it hit his leg instead. He all but admitted it without actually saying it. I told him we were done and that’s that.”

  I can tell Jared is pissed. He is quiet. When he is silent like he is now, he is slowly plotting. His nostrils start to flare. He uncrosses his arms and steps in front of me and whispers, so his friends don’t hear more than they already have. “If he even so much as contacts you and I find out about it, I’m breaking that fucker’s legs. Just know that much.” He kisses the top of my head and goes back to the kitchen.

  I stand there, replaying everything in my head. I’m not surprised by what my brother just said. He is very protective of me. He is my protector, always has been. It was the same way when we were in school. The boys knew better than to hit on me and the girls, well, they just swooned over him. I wasn’t a part of any cliques, but I was still somewhat popular. I got decent grades and was a part of a few sports. No one really messed with me though, they knew better.

  I love that Jared has always looked out for me. It’s what made us close. I never went against anything he said to me, I knew he was doing it for my own good.

  And to think all I wanted to do was come home and take a bubble bath? I didn’t even get to do that. Instead, the house was full of people, along with a baby, and then Blake and his bullshit. Man, I need a nap or something. I shake out of my daze and head to my room.

  Chapter 6

  My bed is exactly where I need to be. Cuddling up with my kindle to start a new book and relaxing is exactly what the doctor ordered. Not really, but this is perfect.

  After a while, I stop reading because my eyes feel like they are going to fall out. I look over at the clock and see that I’ve been reading for over an hour and a half. Damn. That reminds me, Ma should be home shortly.

  The guys are probably still downstairs, busting their asses to get their project done. My brother might be badass in a literal sense, but he is a smart person too. He was valedictorian of his class. There were 267 people in his graduating class and he was at the very top. See, a smarty pants, in both senses.

  A cry breaks through my train of thought. Baby Rhys must be hungry again. I’m afraid to even go in there. I feel as though I overstepped my boundary last time, even though I had no clue it was Jackson’s son. I am in awe that he wants to do it himself along with school. I know he is probably killing himself in the process.

  Rhys starts to cry again, and this time, I waste no time going to him. Even though I work with babies and kids all day long, I just love being around them, even in my free time. I peek through the door and see him whining and chewing on his little hand. Man, this baby is friggin adorable as hell. He looks just like Jackson; he is a really cute baby.

  Picking him up, I console him and rock him. He needs to be changed, so I look around to see if there is a diaper bag somewhere. I find one on the back of the door that I am guessing is his because I’ve never seen it before. Making my way over to the bag, I open it up and get his stuff out. I lay him on the bed and start to change him. He starts to whine and cry again. If I had to bet, my money is on this little Chubbs being hungry again. After quickly changing him, I start snapping his clothes back up when Jackson walks through the door with a bottle.

  “I’m sorry he bothered you. We are trying to get the project done and when I heard him I was trying to hurry up and make his bottle.” Jackson says and then looks down. Did he really think that a baby crying would bother me?

  Smiling at Rhys, I say, “No, he wasn’t a bother at all. He’s a really cute baby. I’m actually surprised you haven’t yanked him from me yet.” I didn’t mean to say it so bitchy, but that’s how it came out.

  He looks at me for a minute, sighs and says, “Look, I’m sorry I was an ass earlier, it’s just me who takes care of him. When I came here before, your mom said that it was ok for him to be up here while we try and get some work done. I really didn’t mean to act like an asshole. I’m not used to people, especially females, wanting anything to do with a baby. You surprised me is all.”

  Well shit. That’s the most I’ve heard come out of his mouth the entire time he’s been here. I know he doesn’t know me and I know he wants to do it all, but he needs to get some work done and hey, I’m not doing a damn thing.

  Looking down at this handsome chubby baby I say, “Why don’t you let me feed him and take care of him for a bit while you’re working with the guys? I’m not doing anything and I’d love to keep this little man here company.” Jackson sighs and looks at me. “Look, it’s nothing against you, but I barely know what I’m doing. This may make me seem like an asshole, but I doubt you know what you’re doing either.”

  I’m guessing my brother hasn’t told him what I do for a living. Guess it’s time to one up him.

  “I understand where you’re coming from and you seem like a great dad, but I do this all day long.” He looks at me weird, so I explain more. “I work at a daycare and have been since I was 18. I’ve babysat kids since I was 16, so I’ve been around a lot of them. If you want to go and finish your work, go right ahead. I have no problem taking care of Rhys while you do it. It will keep me busy and you will know that he is being taken care of. Kill two birds with one stone.”

  He looks as if he’s having a hard time deciding. I just continue to rock Baby Rhys. After what seems like forever, Jackson hands me the bottle and says, “Okay, you win. I’m right downstairs, so if you need me, please come down and get me. Please.” It’s almost as if it pained him to let me feed the baby. I feel so bad for him. He seems like a caring guy except for being a little arrogant.

  As I take the bottle from him, my hand touches his and it’s as though an electric current just went through my body. What the hell was that? He looks at me with those sparkling green eyes open wide as if he felt it too. “You have nothing to worry about. Seriously, go and do your work. I’ll let you know if I need you.” I give him a warm smile, sit down in the rocking chair, and begin to feed baby Chubbs.

  Jackson

  Shit. Rhys is crying again. Thankfully the guys never once say anything about me leaving to take care of him. They really are a couple of good guys.

  When I enter the room, I see her once again holding my son. She seems to love holding him. When she tells me what she does for a living, I am shocked. Then it hits me. No wonder she has no problem wanting to hold Rhys.

  At first, I start acting like an asshole, because that’s how I usually am. I have to be like that. My demeanor quickly changes, though. I have to keep reminding myself that she has nothing to do with why I am like this. It’s only ever been just me and Rhys since he was born.

  I can tell I make her happy by agreeing to her feeding my son. The only weird part is when our hands touch, I feel a spark. I wonder if she does too.

  Chapter 7

  After I start to feed Rhys, Jackson finally leaves the room. I know he is still in the room, even though I’m not looking his way. I could still feel his eyes on me.

  Honestly, any friend of Jared’s, is a friend of mine. I know architecture is hard. In Jackson’s case, he has a son to take care of on his own, too. With both of these challenges, I can see why he looks haggard. That’s why I don’t mind helping him.

  I wonder when he has time to work. Heck, if he even does work. I know Jared has about three classes in the same day, four days a week. If Jackson’s schedule is anything like his, when does he have time for Rhys? I’m not thinking about it in a bad way; I just know it’s definitely got to be hard. I wonder if anyone helps him. It’s really driving me crazy that I know nothing about him, yet want to help him in any way I possibly can.

  Rhys drinks two and a half ounces in no time. Time to burp this little man. Gently rubbing his back in circles a few times does the trick. He burps three times very loudly. I can’t help but laugh at him. It’s just the cutest thing ever. You would swear a grown man burped. Looking at him and smiling, I ask Chubbs, yes I officially named a baby I’ve known less tha
n 24 hours Chubbs, “Hey handsome, did that feel good? You sure were loud about it.” He just smiles showing those cute dimples that I’m seeing for the first time. He is the spitting image of his dad.

  I give him the rest of his bottle and he drinks it all with no problem. After his bottle is empty, I burp him once again. The same thing happens. He burps very loudly, three times. I laugh again. It really is the cutest thing. I get up from the chair and walk over to the bed. I sit up against the pillows, put my feet on the bed so they are flat against the mattress and my knees are bent up. I put Chubbs on my legs, so it’s as if he is laying on my legs, but up at the same time. He is just looking at me, with his adorable and sparkly green eyes. I am talking baby talk to him and he is eating it up, smiling and cooing away. He is such a happy baby, from what I’ve seen.

  We play for a little while and then we hear a knock on the door.

  “Come in.” I say not even looking up.

  I figure it’s Jackson checking up on me, but it’s my Ma, Savanna. She must be getting home from work because she’s still in her scrubs. She’s not a nurse, but she is a Certified Home Health Aid. She works with mentally disabled adults who are in group homes. She’s been doing it for years and she loves it.