Page 40 of #Lovestrong

Declan

Jackson and I literally have to get up and untangle the girls from the smooshed space they got themselves stuck in. Too bad neither of us can stop laughing long enough to really be helpful. It's great to have Lena laughing though. I was really worried she'd be a mess today, and I'll always be here for her, but I don't know how to help her past her pain. Not given what she's been through.

After we drag the girls apart, they both flop on the couch, still giggling at their own stupidity. Jackson and I just stare at them, shaking our heads. Girls can be so strange sometimes.

"You guys awake?" My mother hardly makes a sound as she descends the steps. Stopping at the bottom, she looks from Jackson and I to the girls and raises her eyebrows.

"Don't ask," I say with a smile.

She shakes her head and chuckles before walking over to join us. "Your father and I have some stuff to do with your sister today. Do you kids need anything while we're out? Your dad thought maybe y'all might like dinner on the grill tonight, so we’re going to hit the grocery store."

I glance at Lena, and she shakes her head gently.

"I think we're good, Mom. Dinner on the grill sounds great though."

She reaches out and pats my back. "You kids behave while we're out. We'll be back in a few hours."

After she heads back upstairs, I hold my hand out to Lena and pull her off the couch and into a hug. "Let's go get some coffee. Plus, I want breakfast. I'm starving."

"Mmm, breakfast sounds good. What are you going to make?"

"Uh . . . pancakes? I can do that, eggs, and bacon without screwing it up."

She pushes up on her tippy toes and kisses me, making my heartbeat kick into overdrive. "Sounds good to me."

I smile to myself as we head upstairs, my nerves settling just enough for me to really enjoy the possibilities today brings. I don't know why Lena's being so damn brave about everything, but I spent a long time lying next to her last night, silently thanking God for whatever is behind her courage.

I've never been one of those kids who thumps anyone with my beliefs, and religion isn't even something Lena and I have really discussed, but I thank God every day for bringing her into my life.

She's my biggest blessing, and despite us being young, she's the only foreseeable thing in my near or distant future. She's everything I want in a partner.

Candice and Lena sit at the kitchen island while I start taking out the stuff I need for breakfast. As I'm cracking eggs in a mixing bowl, my favorite country artist kicks on the overhead speaker system. Jackson's voice, which isn't bad in terms of skill, echoes from the living room, growing louder until he's next to me, belting out Garth Brooks as he starts making pancake batter.

I sing along with him while the girls chat quietly, and every time I glance over my shoulder at my beautiful girlfriend, she picks that exact moment to look at me too. I've never been this happy, which is strange because I've always felt like I live a blessed life, a full life. I never knew I was missing anything until now. I was missing her.

Thirty minutes and almost an entire Garth Brooks album later, Jackson and I start setting what I think is the best breakfast I've ever cooked out on the counter. Scrambled eggs with cheese, chocolate chip pancakes, and crispy bacon. I smile in satisfaction as I sit down across from Lena, trying to contain my laughter as she and Candice dig in before Jackson and I are even comfortable.

"When's soccer practice start, babe?" Jackson says before taking a huge forkful of pancakes to his mouth.

"Not this Monday, but next Monday. First practice game is that Friday, too." Candice shoves an entire piece of bacon in her mouth and groans happily. "Lena's starting at center forward. How frickin' cool is that?"

My eyebrows shoot up as I stare at her. She hadn't really mentioned how tryouts went, only that she made the team. Being a starter is a pretty big deal for any sport, so she's got to have some skills.

"I'm gonna be on the sidelines with Jackson, cheering like one of those overzealous boyfriends. Just watch."

Lena shakes her head and looks down to hide the grin on her face. "Oh, don't do that. I'm so out of practice. Tryouts were the first time I'd been on a field since . . . "

She takes a deep breath and bites her lip, the sadness pooling in her eyes again. Candice reaches over and gently puts her hand on Lena's shoulder, squeezing it just a little.

"It's okay, Lena. You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to. We're here for you, no matter what."

Lena looks up at Candice and smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. "I know. My therapist says I should try to talk about it as much as I can."

Candice nods her head in agreement, never taking her eyes off Lena's face. Their friendship is going to grow into something really wonderful. I can tell just by watching the way they interact with each other. And I can't think of a better person than Candice to be there for Lena.

"Is that what the scars are," Jackson asks quietly, setting his fork on the table. "The ones we saw while we were doing the parking spaces?"

Lena nods her head and then tucks her hair behind her ears. "The one in my shoulder went straight through and wrecked just about everything around it. My side wasn't as bad because the bullet went through Cam first. Missed my lung by half an inch, the doctor said. Cam and the others weren't so lucky."