A Touch Of Sin [BxB] - Chapter 19: Chapter 19

Jake's POV:
I flick my cigarette to the ground and stamp my foot on it. I watch the boy stand on the veranda, looking like he's giving himself a lecture. I cock my head as he turns and re-enters the house.
If he thinks he's staying the night, he can think again.
I wince, unclenching my hands and seeing blood. I hastily wipe my hands on my jeans, itching for another cigarette. I don't usually smoke when I'm not drinking but ever since my fight with Cal, I've been on edge.
A few moments later, the boy re-appears, wearing an idiotic smile on his face. He touches his hand to his lips and I feel all my self-control boil to the surface.
If he kissed him, he's dead.
I stalk over to the guy. Number nine. Whatever his name is. He's almost at his car but with my long legs, I'm there before he's even got his door opened.
I slam my hand against his shoulder and he cries out, banging into his car. Before he has time to recover, I spin him so that he is facing me. I charge my hand straight into his gut. I feel the whoosh of his breath in my ear as he doubles over, falling to his knees. He's sucking in big gulps of air as he falls to his side. He groans, clutching his stomach.
"Hope it was fucking worth it," I spit at him, before turning around and stomping back to my car, shaking with rage.
***
Callum's POV:
Leaving my phone to reboot on the bathroom bench, I take my time lathering my skin with foamy soap and my hair with shampoo. I lean back against the tiles and replay every moment from tonight in my head.
I really like Rhett. He's nice, casual and fun to be around. I'm looking forward to our catch-up next weekend.
My phone begins to vibrate the moment it's switched back on, but I ignore it.
The warm water feels amazing running through my hair and down my body. I'm wrapping my towel around my waist when my phone rings again.
"Rhett?" I answer in surprise. "You missing me already?"
"Cal," he gasps out and the sound has goose bumps prickling across my skin. "I knocked but you didn't answer."
"I was in the shower," I explain, already on the move. "Are you still here? I'm coming."
He makes a pained sound and I increase to a jog, my free hand gripping my towel so it doesn't come flying off. I wrench the door open, to see Rhett doubled over, hugging himself.
"Jesus!" I exclaim, hooking my arm around him and pulling him inside. "What happened?"
"I had a run in with your... with Jake," he groans.
I lead him to the lounge and place him down. It's not until he's seated that his words finally register.
"Wait, what?"
"He sucker punched me in the gut," he moans. "I think I'm going to be sick."
I hastily rush into the kitchen and retrieve a bucket from under the sink. Rhett cradles it to him, his body trembling. I begin rubbing circles soothingly over his back as he leans over it, dry-heaving.
"I've never been punched before," he mutters. "Scared the shit outta' me."
"Well, it's not exactly normal for someone to stalk you and then beat you up at your car," I exhale, shaking my head. "I'm so sorry."
"You have nothing to apologise for. His issues are not your issues," he says before groaning again. "This really hurts."
"I bet," I mumble, continuing to rub his back.
"I'm sorry. I didn't feel okay to drive."
"Please don't say sorry, I'm glad you didn't try to go home," I say gently. "Do you want to crash here tonight?"
"I don't want to be a nuisance."
"It's fine, honestly. I'd rather you be here."
He gives me a grateful smile, before hunkering over the bucket again. I dial Ma's number and head into Pa's office, which hasn't been touched since his death. I once suggested that we convert it into a spare room and rent it out, but Ma started crying and I never brought it up again. When she answers, I explain what's happened and like I expected, she's fine with Rhett staying.
I glare down at the unread messages and missed calls from Jake. I want to scream at him. Taking a deep breath, I delete our message thread without reading what he's said and delete him from my call log. In fact, I'm extremely close to blocking his number entirely. If he rings me one more time tonight, I will.
When I return, Rhett must have been sick, because he's now in the kitchen scrubbing the bucket. I wince, feeling even worse.
"Maybe try having a shower," I suggest.
Nodding, he places the bucket upside down in the sink and walks towards me, his hand over his stomach.
"I think I'm in shock," he mutters. "Can't get my heart rate down."
"Probably. Getting jumped like that is enough to leave anyone a bit shaken," I sigh. "He honestly doesn't think."
"Bit weird that he was sitting at your house."
"Yeah," I agree, not mentioning that he often rocks up unannounced.
I place my arm around Rhett as we walk up the stairs. My phone begins to ring. Reluctantly, I pull it out, to see Jake's name across the screen. Rhett glowers at it. I decline, go into his contacts and block his number.
"You don't need to do that," Rhett says.
"I want to."
I lead Rhett into my room. I rummage through my drawers and pull a pair of shorts out. I toss them at him.
"Do you sleep in a shirt?"
"Not usually," he answers. "May I?" he inclines his head to the bathroom.
"Go ahead."
I tidy my room while I wait, not that it's very messy anyway, before launching Netflix.
Droplets of water glisten on his chest as he emerges, his hair wet and floppy. I gulp, my eyes dipping over his torso. Damn, he looks good. And he has abs.
"You checking me out, Cal?" he smirks, rubbing the towel into his hair.
"Yep," I admit. "Do you want the guest room or do you want to stay in here?"
"Would it put too much pressure on everything if I stayed in here? I can crash on the floor?"
"It's fine," I say. "You can hang the towel over the door." He throws it over and I watch his muscles flex as he does. "Do you want to watch a movie?"
He nods, crawling in beside me, both of us knowing I'm not making him sleep on the floor. I open my arm out. He sidles up to me, resting his head on my shoulder, his body heat seeping into mine.
"Thanks," he whispers.
"You're welcome."
***
We both fall asleep during the movie and I wake the next morning in his arms. I quietly slide out from his grip and shower. When I return, the bed is made and Rhett is dressed in what he was wearing last night.
"Morning," I greet him.
"Morning," he replies.
"How are you feeling?"
He lifts his shirt to reveal a welt sashed across his stomach and a wicked purple bruise wrapped around it. I exhale, shaking my head.
"That looks painful."
"It is," he sighs, rubbing it before dropping his shirt back down.
I don't bother apologising again, it's neither of our fault this happen.
"Are you hungry?"
"Starving," he says sheepishly.
We wander downstairs and Ma is in the kitchen already.
"Good morning!" she chirps. "I'm Rose, you must be Rhett."
"Hello," he greets her politely, giving her a firm hand shake. "Sorry to meet under these circumstances."
She shakes her head. "Not at all, you're not in the wrong here." She gives him her motherly smile that she reserves, usually, only for Ellie and I. "Now, let's fix you boys some breakfast."
"I don't want to be a bother," Rhett says awkwardly.
"You aren't," Ma and I say in unison.
I wonder what Ma thinks of all this. Pa wouldn't have liked Rhett, I know this for a fact. Along with being egotistical and extremely opiniated, he was also racist. He often made inappropriate comments and jokes. He would hate that I went on a date with him. Maybe even more than Ellie dating Haze. Ma is a lot more open-minded than my father was and I honestly think she wouldn't care. If she can accept me being gay, which Pa certainly wouldn't have, I think she would accept this, too. Not that it would make any difference to me.
Ma rattles off a series of questions to Rhett. He's the type of guy that parents would want you to hang around, personality wise. He's polite, smart and nice. All the good things parents look for in their kid's friends. It's also refreshing not to be panicking, thinking he's going to blurt out something inappropriate or rude. He handles himself great.
"I guess I better go or I'll be late to school," he says once he's finished and also offered to wash up (Ma's eyes lit up when he asked that). "Thank you so much for having me."
"Pleasure, Rhett!" Ma beams.
Rhett gathers his things and I walk him to the door.
"I am really sorry about what happened," I say, even though I told myself not to.
He smiles at me. "It doesn't change anything, Cal."
"I'm glad."
He leans in, kissing me softly on the cheek. "Thanks for letting me stay. I'll message you."
"Okay," I reply, touching his arm briefly. "Talk soon."
I wait until he's driven off, before shutting the door.
"I like him!" Ma yells out.
"Me too!"
"Come back," she shouts.
I sigh, jogging back in. "Yeah?"
"Are you being safe?"
"Ma!" I groan, head-butting the door frame.
"This is the second boy you've had stay over this week, Callum, I need to know you're being sensible."
"I haven't done that with anyone yet, okay? And if I decide to, I'll be smart. Please drop it," I moan, pulling my hoodie up and covering my face in pure shame.
"Okay, okay," she concedes. "I do really like him, though."
"That's good."
"Are you going to be a good boy at school today? When you see Jake?" she asks. "Hmm?" she adds when I don't say anything.
"I'm probably going to hit him."
"Callum Browning, you will not."
I yank my hood back down and look at her. "High chance I will."
"Violence doesn't solve anything," she purses her lips at me and I understand the double meaning. I didn't know at the time, but Ellie explained it to me a little after Pa died, what used to go down between him and Ma. It makes my blood boil.
"It's the best way to deal with him, though," I point out.
"You'll get yourself in trouble," she warns, placing her hands on her hips. "With your school and with me."
"I can say I won't but it'll be a different story when I see him," I tell her honestly. "I'm really pissed."
She exhales. "Please be sensible, Callum."
I take the stairs two at a time back up to my room, pushing the sleeves of my hoodie up.
Jake is going to regret this.