Mood: swipe left and tap the media box above to listen to Respect by the queen of soul, Aretha Franklin. Nobody deserves to be disrespected. This is Lydia's🖕song to Marc.

Get your popcorn, turn up the volume, and enjoy the show! 🍿😉

Lydia

The following day was one of the most eventful moments in my life. It was the day Jake and Marc met. They were like two rabid dogs ready to attack each other to death. I had never, ever in my life seen that side of Jake before.

The only other time I had seen him so raw was when he and I ran into Devon years later.

---

I woke up early because I set the alarm on my phone to make sure I got up in time to drive home and return Mom's car so she could drive to work.

I looked up to see Jake, bare-chested, and in his boxers. This is what it must be like for the countless women who have woken up by his side. I didn't want to be just another number. I was more than that. I meant more to him.

Reality hit me like a splash of cold water to the face. I had a mess to clean up, and that mess was my broken relationship with Marc Solomon. I thought I loved him, but after what happened, I was so confused.

I remembered the silent voice that told me that Marc was not the one for me. That voice felt so real. I should be feeling intense pain, but I felt a sense of relief. Like someone was opening my cage door, and I was about to be set free.

There was no freedom in my relationship with Marc. It was a sadistic prison of lust and lies. I felt the pleasure of being his girlfriend and the pain of being his girlfriend.

"Jake, I have to go," I said. He looked so beautiful asleep. I changed out of his shirt and into my clothes before heading into the bathroom to freshen up. After a few minutes-and using his toothpaste-I walked out of the bathroom to find Jake sitting on his bed.

"Going now, Missy?" he asked, followed by a stretch and a yawn.

"Yeah. I have to get my mom's car back before she goes to work; otherwise, she'll flip out." I averted my eyes as his muscles flexed while he stretched.

"Marc still there?"

"I don't know. I guess," I replied. "Maybe I should give him another chance. I'm sure there's a reason why he cheated. Maybe I did something wrong." That feeling of defeat sank back in. "Marc's too good for me, and he knows it," I said. Tears escaped my eyes again. I dabbed them away with Jake's shirt that I wore the night before.

"Fucking hell, Lydia! After what he did to you? Are you fucking insane?" Jake's eyes blazed with fire. "Lydia Coleman, you are blind," Jake said. "You are beautiful. You are kind. You're smarter than this. You are the perfect woman. Marc doesn't deserve you."

Jake wasn't joking. He was serious.

"Break up with him." Jake grabbed a T-shirt and put it over his head. He turned away and put a pair of jeans on and some socks. He then grabbed his jacket.

"Where are you going?" I asked.

"With you." Then he muttered under his breath, "Fuck Zach and Carr's advice to stay out of things."

Then, turning to me with a smile, Jake said, "You deserve better than this."

We got back to my place, and Mom was spitting chips. She complained that she was running late to work, and I threw her the keys.

"Your guest is still sleeping, but I expect you sort things out by the time he's awake," Mom said.

"Hi, Mrs. C," Jake waved at Mom. She ignored him, hopped in the car, and drove out of the driveway.

"Bye, Mrs. C," Jake said, as the car went down the street, then stopped, turned to the right, and disappeared.

"Phew, your mom has one mean temper," Jake commented, then let out a low whistle.

"I know, I know," I rolled my eyes. "I'm going inside."

We went in and saw Dad putting his dirty plate and cup in the dishwasher.

"Hi, Jake," Dad said. "Lydia, I left some coffee for you. There's yogurt in the fridge and some fruit. Jake, you're more than welcome to help yourself to coffee and breakfast too." Dad's eyes crinkled when he smiled.

He and Jake apparently bonded after summer. He didn't say much when I tried to get it out of him. He said he didn't want to break the code of trust. I guessed it must have been about Elsie, but maybe I was wrong.

Dad was always a second father figure to Jake. Not that Jake didn't have great parents. He had cool parents. It's just that he and Dad got along so well.

"Jake, can I have a minute alone with you outside?" Dad asked.

"Sure, Ben."

---

Jake

"Listen, son, I know you're trying to help Lydia, but I don't want things to get too messy," Ben said. "Things between Lydia and Marc are ugly as it is." He lit up a cigarette and took a big drag.

"Sir, Lydia deserves better than the shit pile of ass wipes who want to bang her." I couldn't hold back. Not even to Missy's old man. "I love her." There. I said it. Ben heard me say it once a few months back, and he heard me say it again that morning.

"Jake-"

"You told me to enjoy my youth. To sow my wild oats. That Lydia was trying to find herself and that she needed time. I've done that. Do you know what I found? Jack shit!"

"Jake, you and Lydia are so young," Ben said.

"I love her, Ben. I always have, and I always will. I want to see her happy. Mr. Football inside sure as hell don't make her happy," I shouted and pointed at Lydia's bedroom window.

Ben flicked the ashes of half a cigarette to the ground.

"She and I may end up marrying different people, but you never forget your first love. You sure as hell don't abandon the one person in life who matters to you, do you, Ben?"

Ben shook his head and dropped his cigarette to the ground, putting it out with his shoe.

"You better sort out your shit with my daughter, son." Ben walked away on his usual route to the train station.

Fuck.

---

Lydia

By the time Jake returned to the kitchen, the coffee I had poured for him was lukewarm. He frowned in frustration and released an exasperated sigh. He picked up the coffee I offered him, downed it, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. I offered him some fruit, and he took a few bites.

"Everything okay between you and my dad?" I asked.

"Yeah, sure, everything's okay," he replied.

I could tell by the emotion in his eyes that it wasn't entirely true. I raised my eyebrow at him, then took a sip of my coffee.

I heard footsteps going down the stairs. Uh-oh.

Within seconds, a beautiful monster was there, standing in front of me. Marc had on a long-sleeved shirt and a pair of jeans. He looked as hot as sin and guilt. Lust and lies, I told myself.

"Morning, Lyds," Marc said. Then he looked over Jake. "What the fuck is pretty boy doing here?" He glared at Jake.

I turned to Jake, who was ready to tear Marc apart. His eyes pierced into Marc's eyes, and they sneered at each other, teeth bared. All the signs of an attack about to start in the animal kingdom. Two dominant males about to fight.

"What the fuck are you still doing here?" Jake spat back.

Marc ignored him and turned to me.

"Did you fuck him, Lydia? Did you? Huh?" Marc smirked. "Oh, I bet you enjoyed that, didn't you, you little slut? And you called me a cheat? Like the pot calling the kettle black, little hypocrite."

"You're a douche, man! You're a fucking piece of shit," Jake shouted. His veins pumped with adrenaline, and he walked over to Marc, standing over him to intimidate him.

"Shut the fuck up, pretty boy! I wasn't talking to you." Marc stood rigid at Jake, fists clenched, and eyes wild like he wanted to rip Jake's handsome face right off.

I rushed to both of them and tried to push Jake away from Marc.

"Stop it, both of you, please!" I pleaded. "You have to stop!" I pushed Jake back gently, and at first, he refused to budge, but then he moved unwillingly as I kept touching him.

"Marc, it's over between us," I cried. I couldn't contain my emotions any longer, and tears ran down my face. "I never slept with anyone else but you in this relationship, and certainly not last night with Jake. But we can't continue this path."

"I love you, Lydia. You're killing me," Marc pleaded.

"This is fucking bullshit, man," Jake said.

"Jake, please," I pleaded Jake to let me talk. "Marc, I think you should leave. I loved you too, but it's over."

"Just like that? So easy for you to give up on us, and it's over?" Marc was emotional.

"You gave up on us when you cheated on me. And I know about your high school ex coming to visit you too," I said. "I heard the rumors, but I didn't think they'd be true. You slept with her too."

"Lydia, it was a mistake," Marc answered.

"Marc, please. Please just go."

"Fine. You know what? I'll catch the next flight back. Have a nice life, Lyds."

Marc then turned to Jake and said, "Good luck."

Jake muttered, "I don't need luck."

Within the next twenty minutes, Marc packed his stuff, ordered a cab, and took the earliest flight from my hometown back to the big city, where he would go back to campus life. Wild parties, football, drinking, sex, women, and victories. That's what it was all about for guys like Marc Solomon.

Eventually, they would grow up. Not everyone can be Peter Pan forever.

As for Jake and me, I needed some time to calm him down. I asked if he wanted more coffee, and he nodded. When I returned with his refilled mug, he was sitting on the sofa, checking his messages-probably from the women who missed him. From what I've seen on campus and at parties, as well as photos from his social media pages, Jake liked exotic-looking women. The type you see on the covers of Sports Illustrated. I didn't think I was his type.

"Here you go," I said as I stood in front of him with his mug of coffee.

Jake took the coffee from my hand and put it down on the coffee table. He pulled me closer to him and rested his head on my heart. Placing both arms around me, he tightened his embrace.

"I can feel your heart beating," he said, with his ear on my chest.

He breathed into me while I stroked his hair, which shone beautifully, revealing sun-kissed golden highlights between the dark strands. Jake had such an amazing heritage, which contributed to his handsome appearance.

His great-grandmother from his dad's side had gorgeous, dark skin, and his dad was of mixed heritage with those beautiful violet-blue eyes contrasted with his light-chocolate skin, high cheekbones, and wavy brown hair. This was where Jake inherited his beautiful tan skin.

I loved how he sported a golden tan all year round. When he wore sunscreen, his lean and muscular body glistened like he was a Greek god.

His mom was a pale beauty with a slim build, like an elven queen from a Tolkien book with translucent, smooth alabaster skin, blue eyes, and light-blonde, sleek, straight hair. Both parents were tall, especially his dad.

There you have it. Beautiful, beautiful Jake, in all his Olympian glory. With his beautiful head listening to my beating heart. I patted his golden-brown hair and kissed the top of his head.

"Mmm, that feels nice. Don't stop," he murmured into my chest.

A/N: If you liked this chapter, please remember to vote and/or comment. The story can use every bit of support. Thank you!