The Bet (North Woods University 1)

Cole releases me the moment Rem and Seb appear in the room. Cole swings his closed fist at Rem, but he’s too fast. Rem’s closed fist smashes into Cole’s face half a second later. The impact sends Cole staggering backward and the next thing I know, Seb is on him, tackling him to the ground. Sebastian starts raining punches down on Cole’s face too.

My body is shaking, the entire room spinning around me, and then Remmy appears in front of me, kneeling on the ground.

“Are you okay?” His eyes roam over me as if he is scanning me for injuries. He lifts his hands to touch my shoulders, but I don’t let him, instead I lunge at him, throwing my arms around him. I close my eyes and bury my face into the crook of his neck, inhaling deeply.

“You’re okay now, I’m here,” he whispers into my hair and waves of relief wash over me.

I know what he’s saying is true.

He is here now and I’m safe.

I can hear police sirens approaching in the distance, and I cling tighter to Remmy. He holds me in his arms, shielding me from Cole, from the blood I know that mars Sebastian’s fists, from the chaos going on around us.

He holds me together as I fall apart all over again. And still, as the world comes crashing down on me, I find he’s the only person I want holding me up.

“D-Did you call the police?” I ask him.

“Yes, didn’t you call the police before you called me?”

“No.” That fact only now occurs to me.

“It’s okay. They’re here now, that’s all that matters.”

The police fill the room, making it seem smaller and smaller, but Rem never lets me go. They handcuff Cole and drag him out of the room all the while I’m clinging to Remmy with a death grip.

“I’m sorry…I’m so sorry,” Remmy keeps repeating quietly and that’s when I realize I already know the answer to my earlier question.

Could I ever forgive him? Yes.

“I love you. I have always loved you and I don’t think that will ever change.” At my words, his arms tighten to almost pain around me.

“I love you too, Jules. So fucking much. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. I don’t know why I keep fucking up, but I do know that I love you and that I will do anything that I can to prove it to you if you let me.”

“I don’t want to be apart anymore,” I say. “I want to be with you…always.”

“And you will be. From this day on, it’s you and me, Jules. You and me.”

Chapter Twenty-Five

Remington

Two Weeks Later

Life went back to normal, or as normal as it could be. All that matters to me really is that Jules is mine again. I vowed to work toward being a better man, to making better choices.

I had plans, plans that involved me making up for lost time, that involved putting a ring on her finger and giving her my last name. I won’t ask her today, or even tomorrow, but soon.

Soon I’ll make her completely mine, as she was always meant to be. But before that, it’s important to me that she heal from the wounds I’ve created and the assault that Cole inflicted on her. She tells me often she feels safe with me, that she doesn’t want me to go anywhere without her, and I never will, never.

“Jules.” My father’s voice fills my ears, ripping me from my thoughts.

“Papa Miller,” Jules greets my father with a smile and releases my hand to give him a hug. Today is our first Sunday dinner together in well over a month and I’m basking in the glow of it. I’m still running daily, mainly to deal with the anger rushing through my veins over Cole, over being so stupid and immature. Plus, it helps me clear my head.

“How are you feeling, pretty girl?” my father asks her while I go into the kitchen to help Sebastian finish up dinner.

“Good. Feeling more and more like myself every single day.” Her confession warms my soul. I could only wish for the day when she was back to her normal cheerful self. I miss that side of Jules.

Sebastian nudges me in the shoulder, and I look over at him. He’s been wearing a permanent look of shame on his face over how he treated me for the last month and every time I see him, I want to wipe the look off his face. He’s my brother yes, and family, but just because we are family didn’t mean he had to believe me. I can’t blame him for reacting as he did, especially with all the evidence pointing at me, and him wanting to protect Jules.

“How are you doing?” he asks.

“Well, I would be doing better if you would stop looking at me like you’re sorry all the time. You want me to punch that look off your face?” I grin.