Boys Like You by Jaye Pratt

 

My head rests on Mercer’s chest, his legs wrapped around each side of my body.

“What are you thinking about?”

I lift my head backwards looking up at him. “How crazy it seems to be dating five guys. You all seem to get the short end of the stick.”

He frowns. “How so?”

“I get all five of you, but you have to share a girl with four other people.”

His large hands grasp each side of my jaw, his thumbs caressing behind my ears. “It’s four of my best friends. Maybe it’s time you know my story, to put it into perspective.”

I watch the sadness in his eyes, I hate that he has a past so bad he almost wants to cry. “You don’t have to; I wasn’t trying to force information.”

He looks down at me and forces a smile. “I want to.” He looks up at the roof and takes a deep breath. “My story isn’t as bad as some of the others. I was six when child services took me. My only memory of my mum is of her being a drug user. Towards the end, she would vanish for days, leaving me home alone. We barely had food in the house, my clothes were either way too big or way too small. I remember having to wash my own school uniform every night, but I didn’t mind because school was my saving grace. That was when I got to leave the house.

“When she had new boyfriends, which was all the time, it was bad. The last one especially. The drugs made them paranoid, which led to beatings. Pay days were the only good days because they remembered to feed me.

“The day they came to get me, they were fighting with each other instead of hitting me. The police were at the door. I knew I wasn’t meant to answer it, but I did anyway. I made a run for it knowing that if they caught me I was toast. I flipped out when they tried removing me. They took me straight to the hospital. I had fractured ribs, a cracked sternum, a spiral fracture in my arm, and they said around forty percent of my body was covered in bruises. I was the size of a four-year-old. Child services were called by the school after they noticed I had no food most of the time and how small I was for my age. That was when I went to Mumma B’s.

I had an issue with women in authority, so I didn’t listen to her at first. Rocky, Levi and I would fight all the time. I would call Maximus names until Levi stood up to me and told me that no matter how angry I got, we were now brothers, and brothers stick together. I still tried to push them away but nothing I did changed that. When I started going to school with them, our roles reversed, and I became their protectors. To get to them, people had to come through me.

“Mumma B started me in self-defence classes with the other boys so we had an outlet. Knowing how to fight made us feel safe.” He pauses, planting a kiss on my forehead. “So, I don’t feel like I have the short end of the stick. These are my brothers. We have so many issues between us that we need someone who gets us, and that’s you. If that means you date one of us or all of us until we figure this out, we’re good with it.”

He lightly presses his lips to mine before pulling back.

“What happens if I pick one of you?” I move from between his legs to straddling him. “I don’t want to come between you all.”

“Then the rest of us respectfully back off, no matter what, even if it kills us.” I want to believe it will be that easy, but the more time I spend with each of them alone, the more I realise it will tear us apart if it came down to choosing.

“Thank you for sharing your story with me,” I whisper into his neck. His head drops back as I pepper kisses up and along his jaw.

“Did you finish your present for Rocky?” he says through moans. I stop and look at him, trying to read his eyes. Did Rocky tell him about my gift or does he mean the ‘other gift’ I told them about?

I figured after I gave Rocky his gift everyone would ask what it was, so I’ve been busy all morning making him another gift, one he can tell people about. Beth took me to print out a photo and get some supplies. With a hot glue gun, I glued a big spoon and little spoon together and attached it to the bottom of a photo frame. On the top it says ‘Big Spoon’, (a picture of a heart) ‘little spoon’. The picture is one someone else took of us spooning.

“It’s finished. Do you want to see it?”

His hands have a tight grip on my waist. “Yes please. Just give me a minute.” He adjusts himself with a grin.

I slide off his lap and I jump to my feet. “You know it’s only sex that’s off the table for now. There is plenty more we can do.” I haven’t pushed any of them to do anything they haven’t felt comfortable doing. Maximus is still learning to just touch me and he is getting so much more confident, Rocky is more adventurous than the rest, his hands bee line for my pants every time, Levi is a boobs man and spends most of his time there. Rory seems to be holding back the most. He keeps me busy every time we’re alone and our make out sessions are very tame, but if that is the pace he needs to set, I am fine with it.

Mercer swallows hard. “Damn it, JD, you can’t say things like that when we have to leave.”

I giggle as I bounce to the bathroom to grab the frame that’s been drying. “Now you know, and next time you don’t have to be so afraid to touch me.”

The only thing making out with all of them is accomplishing, is me falling for them all. It’s hard for me to wrap my head around how it will all work in the long run. I don’t want people thinking they’re taking advantage of me, when really, it’s more the other way around.

I hand the picture frame to Mercer and he laughs. “This is the best present ever.”

“That’s what he said about his other gift.” I throw my hand over my mouth. This whole being straight forward really makes me stick my foot in my mouth at times.

He arches his brow at me. “What other gift?” I shake my head. He places the frame safely on the small coffee table. “I will tickle it out of you.”

I squeal and make a run for the other side of the room. Mercer is on my tail. I feel like one of those girls in a horror movie that runs up the stairs, because that’s exactly what I do, I run up the few stairs to my bed and hide under the covers.

“JD, what other present did you get Rocky?” His fingers find me and he tickles my foot. I wave the white flag when I almost pee.

“Rocky knew something like this would happen and took a photo, because he said, and I quote, ‘I looked too hot not to share’.”

I take out my phone and start a group message.

Me: Birthday boy, I spilled the beans, it’s picture time

Mercer takes out his phone and waits

Rocky: I knew it. If you guys misuse this photo I will kill you all.

Downloading picture

Levi: I’m nervous, especially when Rocky sends photos

Maximus: I second that. Remember that rash on his nuts?

Rory: I can never unsee that

Mercer: This isn’t a picture of balls, it’s one of JD’s present to Rocky

Picture downloaded

A few minutes pass and no one replies. I look at Mercer and his face is blank. He is just staring at his phone.

Me: Guys??????

Rocky: They will all be in the bathroom about now.

Me: No way

Rory: Yes way, I want that for my birthday

Mercer: I second that

Levi: I vote xmas

Maximus: Sucks for all of you, my bday is next

Mercer: We will be late to your party, Rocky ; )

My phone vibrates with more messages, but Mercer is distracting me. Holding his weight above me, he presses his lips to mine. My hips buck as he grinds against me, causing the seam of my jeans to press in just the right place. I swear I can see stars as my body gives in, taking me over the top. Mercer shudders, his breathing heavy.

“Um wow,” he pants. “It has been a while since I came in my pants.” He laughs.

“You.” I look at his crotch. “In your pants?”

“I did.” He grins. “Now I better go clean up, and I think you need to fix your hair.”

Mercer grabs clean underwear from his overnight bag. I check my phone to see a million messages telling me to hurry up.

After our hot and heavy, extra-quick make-out session, Mercer drives us to Rocky’s house. There are cars lined up in his driveway and down the street.

“JD, you’re here!” Rocky shouts. As soon as we step foot in the front door, he makes a run for me, insisting we go meet everyone.

He wasn’t joking when he said everyone. I met his mum, who seems really nice, his grandparents, aunts and uncles. It’s all a little overwhelming. He must notice my discomfort and pulls me into the laundry room.

With my back pushed to the door and his arms either side of my head, his clear blue eyes look down at me. “Hi,” he whispers.

“Happy birthday,” I whisper back. “I have another gift for you.” His face lights up, and I slap his arm playfully. “Not one like that.” He makes a sad pouty face. “Here.” I put the gift bag between our bodies. He takes a step back and pulls out the photo frame. His face lights up as he studies it.

“This really does come in as a close second to your other gift. I don’t think anyone can top this.” He places the frame back in the bag and carefully places it on the floor. Closing the gap between us, he doesn’t hesitate. His lips touch mine, rushed, hard. When my lips part, his tongue fills the empty space and mine follows suit.

“Guys, you have parents looking for you.” Rory is on the other side of the door. Rocky steps back, allowing me to fix my hair while he grabs his gift bag.

I open the door and Rory has a smirk on his face.

“Explaining this to Savannah is one thing, but parents? I think we need more time.” Rory is right, I don’t know how the adults will deal with our current dating situation.

I follow the guys back out into the kitchen as Rocky’s parents walk in.

“Finally, I found you two. We’ve been looking everywhere,” Carmen says with a smile, while Rick looks at us as if he knows exactly what we were doing.

“JD had anxiety, she just needed a minute. She gave me my present.” He holds out the bag to his mum and she takes it, pulling out the frame.

“This is so sweet, JD, you did an amazing job.” She tilts the frame to show Rick.

“Are you two dating?” Rocky and I both look at her, unsure what to say. Rory saves the day.

“They’re not. Your son is a big baby and likes to be the little spoon while we watch movies, even though JD can’t see anything over him.”

“Isn’t that sweet of JD, Rick,” Carmen asks her husband.

“Very.” I get the distinct feeling he is wary of me, and why wouldn’t he be? He knows nothing about me.

“It’s time for our present now,” Carmen announces. We all gather in the living room. Rick blindfolds Rocky, who is bouncing with excitement. He’s led outside. A car is in the driveway that wasn’t there when we came in; a red Holden Commodore. My eyes see the huge red bow wrapped around the car and I instantly blush when I see Rory, Levi, Mercer and Maximus all staring at me. Obviously they had the same thought as me.

“Surprise!” Carmen yells, and I look over at Rocky, who first asks his parents if they’re serious, then he looks at the bow and laughs.

“JD, look how big this bow is.” I walk over to his side, and he whispers, “I could wrap this around your whole body.” I elbow him in the ribs and he just laughs and gets in his new car.

Rick tells him he has an appointment at the Department of Transport to take his driving test tomorrow.

“Can we at least take it for a quick spin around the block?” Rick nods and holds out his yellow L plates. Rocky has them on in two seconds flat. “Can JD come?” He looks at his father, unaware he has an issue with me.

“Why not? You only turn seventeen once,” Rick says, even though his smile is tight.

We end up doing three trips around their block. I turn my attention back to Rocky, my chest filling with joy purely because of how happy he is and the fact that for the moment, he is mine.