Just Once (Book 1 in the Just Once Series)

Chapter Fourteen

Brook’s POV:

It’s my birthday! I’ve only just realised that today is my 18th birthday!

It’s silly really, but since I woke up wrapped in Jack’s arms, the only thing I could think about was him.

We had spent another hour in bed until we’d heard my mum and Nate getting up, after that, Jack had kissed me once more and then sneaked back into his own room.

I was sitting at the kitchen table now. My mum had made me my favourite breakfast, pancakes with sugar and lemon juice, yummy.

She was grinning from ear to ear, almost shaking with excitement; it made my smile even wider.

“Mum, if you bounce much more, you’re going to fall off your chair,” I warned jokingly.

Jack came into the kitchen a second later as Nate was laughing, nearly spilling his coffee everywhere.

“Happy birthday Brook,” Jack smiled as he entered the kitchen.

“Thanks,” I smiled, blushing softly as he moved towards the fridge. As he passed behind the back of my chair, his hand brushed softly across my arm and I knew he’d done that purposely.

“Nate,” my mum was grinning as Nate rolled his eyes.

“Ok, ok, Jack, sit down a second for me, son,” Nate smiled.

Jack took a seat opposite mine and nodded, “What’s up?”

“Well,” my mum squealed excitedly, “I’m sorry, ok, ok,” she laughed.

“As you both just turned nineteen and you know, turning eighteen  and nineteen is special for different reasons,” Nate began smiling happily, “we figured we’d give you both a present to make you nineteenth’s memorable,” Nate finished and looked to my mum, who clapped.

“We’re taking you two to a beach resort near Florida for the whole week!” she screamed.

“Wait... what?” I gasped, excited giggles welling up and out of me before I could stop them, “We’re going on holiday?”

“Yes!” mum shouted, “And we’re leaving today, you have an hour to pack!”

“You’re joking, right?” I asked smiling, looking towards Jack who winked and grinned back at me.

“Nope, you better start packing, love,” Nate smiled.

The next five minutes went by in both me and mum hugging and jumping up and down screaming in excitement like little kids.

There is no excuse for my behaviour, all I have in my defence is that I have always wanted to go to America and I was super excited!

“I can’t believe you guys, you are the best!” I laughed as I hugged my mum and Nate happily.

“You need to go pack, the flight leaves at eleven,” Nate said with happiness shining in his eyes.

“Ok, wow,” I smiled. This was the best birthday ever.

I dashed out the room and up the stairs, very aware of Jack following me, I cast him a huge smile as I headed into my room and he grabbed me, before I could enter my room.

“You happy?” he asked now, smiling as he seemed to take in every detail of my face, which made me blush.

“Yes, more happy than I have been in a long time,” I whispered back and he pressed me up against the wall, moving in closer to me and resting his forehead against mine.

“About the holiday or me?” he whispered back and I bit my lip.

“Both, but more about you,” I whispered back honestly. His hands gripped my waist and he pressed his lips to mine softly.

He pulled away far too soon, “If I don’t let you go now, you’ll never get your stuff packed in time,” he smiles as he moves away from me.

“Well then, I better go pack my stuff before you come looking for me again,” I tease and he grins.

“You can bet your life on it, Brook. I’ll be packed and ready to leave within forty minutes, and then I’m coming for you,” he growls softly and laughing, I hurry into my room.

            In total, it took me nearly an hour to pack and get everything ready, I was just sitting on my suitcase, trying, and failing, to zip it closed when Jack came into my room.

He raised his eyebrows at me questioningly and I just shook my head.

“Don’t ask,” I muttered now as I jumped a little and tried again to zip up the case.

“Do you need any help?” he offered and I shook my head.

“I’m fine,” I said stubbornly as I tried a different technique and kneeled on the side of the case. The zip moved no more than an inch and I held my breath to stop myself from screaming.

“Brook, Jack, come on, we’re leaving!” my mum shouted.

I let out a small panicked scream and attacked the zip.

“Stupid, fucking, good for nothing, zip ass case,” I muttered under my breath angrily as I let go of the zip and sat back, my fingers red and sore.

Laughing softly, Jack kissed my forehead, kneels down next to the case and zips it closed. He made it look so damn easy, I just sat there, gaping at him.

“You can thank me later, right now, we gotta go,” he smiles as he holds out his hand and taking it, he helps me to my feet.

“How did you do that?” I asked now.

“With my manly strength,” he teases, kissing me softly, before picking up my suitcase, “I’ll meet you downstairs, hurry up, baby,” he said now as he left the room and I grinned.

Grabbing my phone, my bag and my passport, I follow him down a second later.

I found my mum already in the car with Nate as Jack puts my suitcase into the butt of the car.

“Thank you,” I said gently and he winks silently.

I get into the car and buckled up as Jack closes his door and sits next to me.

“Right, have you two gotten everything? Passports, suitcases, toothbrushes, sun cream?” she asked as she ticked things off her list. She had a bad habit of having a big list of things, which she checked off. I was thankful it was only ever used on holidays.

“Yes, mum, I’ve got everything,” I assured her now and she muttered to herself as she ticked something off her list.

“Jack, have you got everything?” she said now as Nate pulled the car out the drive and onto the road.

“Yup, everything is packed and in the car, Maria,” he assured her.

“Brook, are you sure, you know how bad you are at forgetting things,” she double checked.

“Are you sure you have everything, mum?” I asked now with a smile, she was just as bad as me.

“Yes, I’ve got passports, suitcases, clothes, spare clothes, toothbrushes, sun cream, extra underwear, swimming suits, the house is locked up and...” she paused and rustled through her bag, “I forgot the tickets!” she screamed, making Nate hit the brakes.

I laughed and smiled as Jack slipped his hand into mine. He’d moved his leg so it was knee to knee with mine, hiding our linked hands. Nate reversed and I smiled brightly, if this was only the start of our journey, I couldn’t wait for the middle!

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