Her brothers best friend

Chapter 3

Della was home alone. The weekend trip got cancelled because something came up on the farm. Della understood but she didn’t want to wait. But honestly it was probably for the best. It was raining nonstop around here. But the weather was phenomenal. Cool and breezy. Comfortable for sweats and a hoody. She got a phone call from uncle frank. She answered it.

“Hello.” She said.

“You doing okay baby girl?” He asked.

“Yeah why?” She asked.

“You’ve been home alone for a while and aren’t bothering me.” She laughed. He said she is never a bother. He loves her. Ever since her dad died overseas her brothers raised her and uncle frank was her new dad.

“I’ve been enjoying the silence.” And she was. It was the best chance of her screwing her head on straight. She was thinking.

“Well I know you don’t want to hear this but Jared’s missing.” He said. No! Not Jared!

“What?!” She felt a lump in her throat.

“Joes injured and Jared went missing. The boys are coming back and then I’m goin with them to look for him.” He said. Not her brother! Not her favorite one! “You going to be okay lady bug?” She could hear her the concern in his voice. She had to swallow the lump in her throat.

“Yeah. Please bring him home.”

“You know I will try.” He fell silent. He knew he can’t promise that he will bring him home. That’s not how being a seal worked. Jared was everyone’s favorite. Life of the party. Always down for anything. This had to be hard for him too. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” She said. He hung up. She burst into tears. She walked into the house. She closed the door and pressed her body against it and slid down it. Not her brother! She knew this was a reality. Any mission could be his last. She didn’t think it would happen though. There was a knock on the door. Who was bothering her right now? She wiped her face and her nose.

“Who is it?” She asked. They didn’t have a peep hole or anything.

“Open up.” She knew that voice. Joe.

“No! Leave me alone!” She yelled. She wasn’t talking to him.

“You shouldn’t be alone.” That angered her. Even if she shouldn’t be alone she wouldnt ask Joe to keep her company. She opened the door. Joe must have seen an expression or something on her face. He backed up.

“You listen to me! You leave me alone! my life was great until you showed back up again! My brother is missing because of you!” She wasn’t sure how much truth was in that last sentence but they never had anything happen when Joe was away. “Move back to wherever you came from!” She said. He was quiet. Why did that scare her? Also why did that excite her?!

“Della…” his voice was low and deep. He sounded displeased.

“No. Go home!” She said. She was so angry. And she wasn’t even sure if she was angry at Joe.

“Della listen…”

“I said go home! Leave me alone!” She cut him off. It looked like he was losing his patience.

“Della…”

“Go away! If I need someone I’ll call anyone but you!” She yelled interrupting him. He grabbed her by the throat and slammed her against the door. She was shocked and turned on. She loved how close his body was to hers. She opened the door she held onto it and Joe fell inside the house on the floor with a hard thump. Great now it would be harder to get him to leave! She didn’t want to deal with this right now. She started walking towards the stairs.

“Della.” He said. She was ignoring him. Maybe he would leave. She heard him behind her. He grabbed her arm. Gently. She turned around and jerked her arm free. He pushed her against the wall. “I never left!” Joe hissed in her face. She couldn’t hide her surprise. Why was she getting so aroused with how rough he was being with her? Why did she just want to wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him senseless. She pushed Joe off of her.

“You expect me to believe that?!” She yelled.

“I live less than 5 miles down the road!” He yelled. She shook her head no. She didn’t believe him. She crossed her arms.

“I don’t believe you.” She said more calmly.

Joes pov

“I don’t believe you.” Della said rather calmly. Joe couldn’t believe it. How did he prove it?

“You started dating Cruz on march 16th. You had your first sleep over with him in August. He stayed in your room. You guys stayed up talking.” As he described things her eyes got wide.

“Are you stalking me?!” She looked scared. That was not the reaction he wanted. “Get out! GET OUT!” She tried to push him out the door.

“I wasn’t stalking you! I was watching you! I know everything you’ve been through in the last two years!”

“I said get out!” She yelled. He did. She slammed the door and he heard it lock. He didn’t hear her. He hopped into his truck and went home. He tried texting her. Nothing. He tried calling her. Straight to voicemail. He got up and went to the woods. He climbed the one spot he knew he could see her from. Nothing. All the curtains were closed. Even her brothers rooms were closed. But Jared’s room had a light on. She must be in there.

Della’s pov

She just slammed the door on Joe. She locked it. She started crying again. She went over and closed every curtain in the house. He was not going to see any more of her life! The last room was Jared’s. She cried before she even got in the room. She closed his curtains and then collapsed on his bed. Inhaling his scent. She wishes Joe was here to comfort her. Hold her. Her phone vibrated. Joe.

‘Are you going to be okay?’

She rolled her eyes and turned her phone off. For now. Just to think. She will turn it back on in a bit. She wasn’t his responsibility. She closed her eyes. She grabbed Jared’s pillow and cuddled it. Inhaling him. Calming her. She fell asleep.

The door bell rang. She shot up in bed. What time was it? What day was it? She grabbed her phone and turned it back on. She got up and walked downstairs. She opened the door. Joe. She rolled her eyes and went to close it.

“Hey I come in peace. Uncle frank is worried and I said I would check on you.” he had two cups of coffee and offered her one. She took it and walked outside to the porch and closed the door.

“Thank you. I’ll let him know I’m fine.” She went to walk back inside.

“When was the last time you ate?” He asked.

“Yesterday.” Her phone was vibrating. She pulled it out. She looked at the date. She slept for 3 days! As if it all hit her stomach it growled. Really loud. She saw Joe smirk.

“I take it as really early yesterday.” He said.

“It was 3 days ago. I’ve been sleeping.”

“Go change. I’ll take you out to breakfast.” What?! NO! He was the last person she should be spending any time with.

“No that’s okay. I can make something here.” She went to walk in the house. Joe followed. “Hey you aren’t welcomed in my house unless my brothers are around. You’re their friend not mine.” Joe smirked.

“Go shower. I’ll make you something for breakfast.”

“No. Go home Joe.” She really can’t be left alone with this guy.

“No.” He pushed past her. She rolled her eyes and walked up the stairs. She stripped and showered. she took her time. The hot water felt great. She took well over 45 minutes. She got dressed. She put on sleep pants and a vneck. It was low. She took it off and changed her bra. If there is any cleavage there will be a bra blocking it. Joe won’t get to see anything. She already gave him an eyeful on accident.