Boys Like You by Jaye Pratt
I wake to the sound of a scream; it takes me a second to realise the sound came from me. My heart is pounding, there’s sweat dripping down my face, and my shirt is stuck to my skin from perspiration. The light in my room flicks on, Mercer is kneeling in front of me, asking if I’m okay. My hands and body are trembling, but I nod. Rocky comes flying into the room, skidding across the tiled floor, coming to a stop behind the couch.
“Just breathe, JD, we’re here,” Mercer comforts me. Maximus sits on the second couch. I notice he has taken his glasses off; his curls are crazy and in his face. He looks afraid. I feel horrible for scaring him.
“Is everything okay in here?” Beth asks. “I heard screaming.”
“JD had a nightmare,” Rocky answers.
“Maybe it’s a good idea for you to take the sleeping pills the doctor gave you, see if they make a difference.” I nod and she goes to get them and a glass of water.
Sitting up slowly, I’m joined on the couch by Mercer on my left and Rocky on my right. Being a two-seater, it’s very much full.
“Do you remember what your nightmare was about?” Mercer asks.
“Nope, just how I felt when I woke up.” I try to think, see if anything pops into my head but it’s just feelings. I was scared, actually terrified, to the point I feel sick in my stomach, wishing I knew what happened to me.
“Your hair is so shiny,” Rocky says randomly. I laugh, he’s trying to inconspicuously change the subject but he fails.
“Thanks, but I hate it; when I look at myself in the mirror it feels fake, and these nails, I want to chew them off – they’re not real either. I show them my nails and Mercer shakes his head.
“My dad would have a heart attack if he saw those.”
“Do you think your dad would know how to pry them off without taking my actual nail with them?”
“I’ll ask him in the morning.” He squeezes my hand as Beth comes into the room. She hands me a tablet and a glass of water.
“If you have any more nightmares, please wake me, that way we can let the doctor know.”
“Thank you, I’m sorry to be such a pain.” I hate being a burden. I take the tablet and drink the water. Beth takes the glass and says goodnight, reminding the boys to sleep on the floor. Rocky declares tomorrow morning is his day with me; he tells me how much I will enjoy watching him run. I can’t deny seeing him in his element is something I look forward to.
The guys insist that I should get in my bed; the sleeping pills will kick in soon and with my sore ribs it would be best to be comfortable. I agree. Rocky follows me up while Mercer throws my pillows and blanket up.
“We will be right here if you have another nightmare.” I nod looking into Rocky’s blue eyes; they’re almost hypnotising. He kisses my forehead; the light goes out and after a while my eyes grow heavy.
When I wake, Rocky is sitting on the step to my bed, watching me.
“That isn’t creepy at all,” I say, trying to stretch without hurting myself.
“I have your pain meds; you were stirring so I was waiting.” He smiles, handing me a couple of tablets and a glass of water.
“What time is it?” I ask.
“Five-thirty. I’m always up early. I have to be at the track by six-thirty and it’s a half hour drive from here. I’m working up to waking Mercer; he sleeps like a log.”
I decide to take a shower while Rocky wakes the guys. Going through the drawers, I find a pair of jeans and a simple grey shirt.
I take my time to inspect my injuries. Not much has changed except the colouring of the bruises.
After I wash and get out, I decide to try and hide some of the damage to my face. Beth put a blow-dryer and straightener in the bathroom. I do my hair as if it’s second nature. It’s not something I have to think about, and the same goes when doing my makeup. I still look like Quasimodo but I manage to hide a lot of the bruising. My eyes look super blue with mascara on. Mr Cole certainly has an eye for knowing what products best match a person's skin tone.
All three guys are staring at me when I walk back into the room.
“Holy shit, you look like a real girl,” Rocky mumbles. Maximus hits him in the chest with the back of his hand.
“As opposed to what? A fake one?” Mercer says.
“I still look terrible, and all the makeup on my face weighs a tonne, but I feel better.”
I look at the three of them standing side by side, all so different yet still incredibly handsome in their own ways. I notice Mercer has a slight bend in his nose; he must have broken it at some stage. Maximus is the shortest. He isn’t as stocky as Mercer or as lean as Rocky.
“Do any of you have a spare jacket? Mr Cole got me lots of jumpers and cute sweaters, but lifting my arms kills.”
Maximus walks over to a bag and pulls out a zip-up jacket and brings it over to me.
“He always has a spare jumper in his bag; Rocky always manages to lose his or gets it wet…”
“That’s what she said,” Rocky jokes, cutting Mercer off. I take the jacket and laugh at Rocky. Getting it on my arms is easy, even if it does swim on me.
Once I’m dressed and get my shoes on, the guys and I make our way to the kitchen where Beth is sitting with Dawson, making him breakfast. Each of the guys kiss her on the cheek, and Mercer starts making coffee. Maximus sits at the table and Rocky pours a glass of juice, also pouring me one, bringing them to the table before making himself some cereal. He asks if I’m hungry but I shake my head no.
“What do you boys have planned today?” Beth asks.
“I was hoping it would be okay if JD came to watch me train.” Beth looks at him with a quirked brow, so he quickly adds, “My dad will be there.”
“We need to organise a phone for you, JD, because I have a feeling the boys will be taking you out a fair bit which is fine, as long as I know where you are at all times. I don’t want to seem strict, but I have rules to follow and I need you safe. If you’re not in the house, you must have at least one of them with you. I can’t have you getting lost or anything happening to you.”
Mercer’s phone beeps. I watch him read the message while Beth is talking about my safety, nodding when it’s needed.
“Maximus says Rory will have his old phone; he just upgraded his contract. He’s messaged him to ask, but you know Rory – I don’t expect him or Levi to be up until at least lunch time. She can message you from our phones until we get it sorted,” Mercer assures Beth. She makes me promise to not overdo it today, and to come straight home if I get sore. She only plans to take the small children to the beach today, so she’s happy to give me a ride if necessary.
Mercer drives us to the indoor track where a man is waiting out the front. He’s wearing black Adidas pants and a zip-up jacket, holding a sports bag. He is handsome, his dark hair slightly greying. He smiles when he notices Rocky and I jump out of the car. We say goodbye to Mercer and Maximus, and as I watch them drive off, my nerves start to take over. Rocky takes my hand, giving a gentle squeeze as he introduces me to his father.
“Hi, you must be JD,” he says, holding out his hand, which I accept.
“That’s me, or it is until I know who me is.” He chuckles at my joke, as does Rocky.
“I’m Rick, Rocky’s extremely handsome father.” He doesn’t say it in a creepy way, just a joking kind of way. Rocky smiles, taking his sports bag from his dad.
“Not as handsome as your son,” Rocky adds. “How about we do this so I can spend the holidays hanging out with my friends?”
“Okay, but you have weight training tonight with Mercer.” Rocky rolls his eyes and walks off to get changed. I walk inside with Rick. The building is amazing. There are two full-size running tracks, with huge grandstands around the outside. Rick tells me there is another outdoor track for when the weather is nicer. I take my seat on the stands and wait for Rocky. My jaw drops when he walks out in his tight spandex-looking outfit and he smiles wide when he notices me looking.
“Might want to wipe the drool from your chin,” he jokes, putting his bag down beside me.
“I… Shut up. What do you expect coming out looking like that?” He laughs as Rick joins us.
“I’m going to warm up.” I nod at him and watch as he sits beside the track and starts stretching. Another runner sits beside him and starts doing the same warm ups, followed by slow laps. Rick stands by the side of the track, and after a while, they stop, listening to what Rick has to say, I tune out and stare as they both stand side by side. The other guy is just as lean and broad as Rocky. Running may just be the way to start a day.
After what feels like an eternity, I decide a few hours of this daily would be extremely boring. The upside is the eye candy. Rocky and his friend make their way towards me from the other side of the track, both in spandex outfits and special running shoes.
Do not look at his crotch, JD, keep your eyes up. Damn it, my eyes betray me. Holy crap, they should be illegal, they hide nothing!
When the guys reach me, my face must be bright red. Rocky just winks at me. His friend has red hair and light crystal-blue eyes, and he knows he is good looking; his demeanour screams player.
“Hey,” he says, holding out his hand. “I’m Mac.”
I stare at his hand and look at Rocky. It should be easy to reach out and make that connection, but for whatever reason, I can’t. It makes no sense when I can touch the guys without any problem, hell, even Rick was okay. But this guy? I just can’t. He retracts his hand, and strangely, he doesn’t seem offended.
“Mac, this is my friend JD.” Mac smiles and looks me over. He can’t be serious right now, I still look like a freak and he is checking me out.
“JD. Is that short for something?” Mac asks.
“Nope, just JD.” I try to tune him out, he eventually leaves and I’m thankful.
“Girls usually go crazy over Mac, especially with all the press around Prince Harry this year – he has given red heads extra sex appeal.”
“I’m good. I do declare you should wear spandex all the time – I don’t remember shit, but I know not all guys look like you.” His face goes red. “I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”
“You didn’t, just not a great time to give a guy compliments, especially ones where you’re checking me out.” He looks down.
“Oh,” I say, and this time it’s me who goes red.
“Yeah, oh.” He reaches around me and grabs his bag, pulling out a pair of sweatpants. “Will you be right to hang with my dad until I shower?” I nod and take my seat while I wait for Rick. I can see him talking with Mac, who keeps looking over at me. He is a decent-looking guy but he’s no Rocky. The thought of Rocky calms me. How crazy is that? I have zero idea who I am and where I came from, yet after a few days these guys have made a huge impact on me.
Rocky and all his energy; Mercer knowing a small touch calms me; Maximus just being in my presence, and his big brown eyes; Levi and the way he looks out for his friends without even knowing it; and Rory the way he looks at his friends with utter compassion in his eyes. The little things they probably don’t even realise they do – taking on a new friend, no questions asked, because she has no one. I have a feeling it’s how they all became friends; because each of them needed someone. Rick joins me, and I stand while we wait for Rocky. He asks generic questions about my memories, how I feel about not having any. I answer like I have when the doctor, Marlene, Beth and the guys asked; no memories, and I don’t know how I should feel when I don’t remember anything. I do add that maybe it’s a chance to find my true self because when I look in the mirror, I don’t feel like I should look the way I do, even though that sounds crazy.
Rocky walks out of the change rooms in his sweatpants and a white, long-sleeve, Hurley T-shirt and my knees go weak. Rick grabs my arm and steadies me It’s the damned black Billabong beanie that does it for me – it just screams sex appeal.
“He has that effect on a lot of girls,” Rick says with a laugh.
“I bet he does, I didn’t think he could look better in clothes than he does in spandex.” I cover my mouth; there I go again, saying shit before I even think whether it’s appropriate. “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that out loud, and to his dad.”
“Don’t sweat it, he’s almost seventeen, girls have been showing interest for a while. I don’t want to be ‘that dad’, but he doesn’t have time for a girlfriend – he trains for at least four hours a day and studies to keep that scholarship. And he has a job. I have seen so many girls think they can change that.” There’s no malice in his voice; he isn’t being cruel, just stating facts straight up. I can respect that.
“A relationship is not something I was even considering. He and the guys have been so great to me; I only want to be his friend.” Rick nods.
“What’s this about friends? Is my dad giving you the friend-zone chat?” I nod and Rick laughs, saying he will see Rocky at home tonight.
I take a deep breath when Rocky stands next to me. He is so damn tall, my head barely reaches his shoulder.
“Ready to meet Mercer? He’s outside, and I’m starving.” His stomach rumbles at the exact moment he says starving, which makes me laugh.
“Let’s go.”
Mercer is waiting by his Hummer, with Rory and Levi on either side, leaning on their respective cars.
I smile, not even caring about who I used to be, only who I am right now. I feel special and cared for – turning up washed up on a beach, I doubt I was anything special to anyone last week.