CHAPTER 13

EMMA

When I came out of the bathroom, there was a fight between two guys. Jackson was one of the men who pulled them apart, taking a fist to the jaw by the guy who was still able to keep fighting. That kept everyone focused on the situation instead of Jackson and I slipping off. It also took a while as Jackson ended up talking to the police and being looked at for any injuries.

We started to trickle out and head back to the hotel within a few hours and I yawned in the Uber that Bella got for us. She looked at me with a raised eyebrow and I did it again.

“I can’t wait to get some sleep before the flight tomorrow. It was a long day,” I said, hoping to distract the curiosity written all over her face.

“I’d say that it’s been a long night. What happened outside with Jackson?” Bella whispered.

I glanced forward and remained quiet. She seemed to understand and waited until we were in our room before she pounced.

“Spill.”

“I… we,” I wanted to tell her that nothing happened between us, but Willow wasn’t here, and I had to tell somebody what was going on. “You have to keep this between us, Bella. I don’t want to be part of the team gossip.”

“I can’t guarantee that someone else didn’t notice you leaving with him after he went all caveman on you. I know there was the fight when you two came back in, but honestly? You were glowing, and he looked like the cat that ate the canary.”

“Well, he didn’t,” I assured her as I walked to the bed and sat down. I played back the night and my body tingled with the memory. I licked my lips. “You know that I’ve known Jackson since I was a kid. His best friend is my overprotective older brother.”

Bella sat beside me and nodded with understanding eyes.

“I had a crush on him as a kid, but every girl did. I knew that he was off limits and at that point completely out of my league. Now, I moved here and we’re both older. I think he’s hot. But my brother will never accept this. I think the only reason that my ex and I managed to be together is because it was so brief and meaningless, and Greg and Jackson were too busy to notice. But this won’t go unnoticed and that fight at the bar might look like child’s play once my brother finds out.”

“Are you sure? It looks like this is more than casual sex to me. Maybe they’d understand that,” Bella suggested.

I stared at her for a moment.

“We didn’t have sex. He said that he wanted it to be right when we did. We just… it was amazing, Bella. I’ve never felt this way about anybody before.”

A tear slid down my cheek and she hugged me.

“What if I get my heart ripped out?”

“I like to think more about what if you don’t?” She held me tighter.

I smiled, remembering how much his kiss affected my body. That was because of Jackson and how I felt about him, not the fact that a man was kissing me. We crossed a line tonight that I’d never come back from, but I couldn’t regret anything. Not yet.

We washed off all the make-up and changed into clothes to sleep in, turning on the TV before settling in our beds. I looked at Bella and knew that I could trust her with this, just like I did Willow. I’d be talking to her soon and admitting all this as well.

I just wouldn’t mention it to my family.

We slept in as late as possible and took showers before meeting everyone for breakfast. I pulled on worn jeans and a Trojans T-shirt to wear and headed to the lobby with Bella. Nick was at the buffet with Jackson, talking closely as they waited for some of the guys to fix their plates. Seeing him again made me tingle inside, and I looked away to regain my composure.

This had to go unnoticed by the team and those close to it.

We got in line and fixed small plates compared to some of the guys, taking a seat with the other girls. There seemed to be a line of professionalism at times in this job, and the girls stayed off to the side. I was certain that line had been crossed many times but perhaps it wasn’t worth it in the end. I looked across the room to see Jackson looking at me with a smile. He was so gorgeous, and I smiled back.

I blushed as I remembered what happened last night and what else lay in store for me. I looked down as the fantasy continued to play and stabbed a few pieces of fruit.

I didn’t know what might happen now. We would go home, and he’d be with the team a lot for practice. We wouldn’t have a lot of time together, particularly with starting school soon.

We ate and talked amongst ourselves before everyone went to get their stuff for the bus. I packed hurriedly this morning and helped Bella finish, laughing at her panic. I watched as Jackson disappeared onto his own bus, just wanting to be able to hold him.

When I got home, Jackson wasn’t there, and I called out through the dark, empty apartment with a frown. I had no idea what he had going on with the team or him personally at this moment, and I accepted that as I locked the door and took my bag to my room.

I tossed the dirty clothes into the small hamper I set up and got my growing make-up collection into the bathroom where it belonged. I’d make Willow proud with how far I’d come and took pictures of every look just for her.

Once that was done, the apartment was still empty. I pulled on a big T-shirt to sleep in and crawled under the covers, surprisingly tired. A lot happened in the last few days and I smiled as I thought back. My phone flashed, and I glanced over to see that I had a text.

I’m headed home soon. I might slip into your room unless you want to be waiting for me in my bed.

I quickly typed out a response.

I’ll be waiting for you… in my bed.

I smiled and watched as another message came through. It was from Greg, asking if I was awake. I knew that I could put off this conversation, but I’d been busy and not calling back home as much as planned. I told him I was awake and a few minutes later, my phone rang.

“Hey, you,” I greeted my brother with as much love in my heart as worry that he’d see right through me. “How’s it going?”

“Everything’s fine here. We miss you,” he said and I smiled sadly. I missed them too, but I was living life now. I couldn’t ever tell him this part though. “How are you, Em?”

“Busy. School starts in a couple of days, and I’m all ready for that. I also got a job with the team.”

“What’s that all about?”

“I shoot the shirts into the crowd at the games! I met a girl who did it and she helped get me the job. Isn’t that great?”

“I hope you’re wearing more than the cheerleaders,” Greg muttered, making me feel like I was five all over again.

“I am. It’s a shirt and shorts. I’m away from the crowd for the most part, just running along in front of them,” I was standing up for myself.

“How’s Jackson with that? Has he put out the warning yet?”

I blushed furiously. “He gave the guys a proper warning. Don’t worry,” I assured him with a heavy sigh.

Greg went silent on the other end of the line.

“I just worry about you, sis. You’re so far away,” I heard the light apology underneath the worry in Greg’s tone and felt myself weaken from the defense I’d planned out in my head.

“Greg, you have to learn that I’m an adult now.”

“Yes, but you’ll always be my little sister.”

“I’m not that far away and I am okay here. I am making friends and having a great time.”

“Good. I can’t wait to visit and see the city with you two. Is Jackson keeping the groupies out of the apartment for you?”

“We don’t see each other too much. We’re at opposite ends of the stadium most of the time.” I played dumb as he laughed and said that he was glad.

I felt my stomach knot as he spoke, knowing that he’d want to punch Jackson if he knew what was happening between us.

We talked a little more about everything and nothing. I told him about some of the great places to eat in Nashville and he said that I’d have to take him for hot chicken when he came here. I agreed, and we talked for a bit longer before ending the call so I could get some sleep.

I tossed and turned in bed, concerned with Greg finding out about Jackson. I could see the good in the situation but he never would and there was a chance that he was right. It wasn’t like Jackson was suddenly going to want to settle down and get married to anyone, much less me.

I fell asleep, waking when a body slid into bed with me. I gasped as the scent of Jackson filled the room, smiling as he pressed close to me wearing a pair of boxers.

“Hi.”

“Hey, how are you?” Jackson asked as he slipped an arm around my waist to tug me against him. The shirt I was wearing was big and covered me, but his heated skin pressed against my legs as I stared into his face in the light from the moon.

“I’m good. I talked to Greg tonight.”

Jackson tensed, and I wished I didn’t say anything. “He wants to come visit.”

“I know,” Jackson said as he leaned against me to brush his lips against mine. “We’ll figure that out.”

“How?” I asked as he kissed me harder, tangling his hand in my hair as he deepened it. I stopped caring as our tongues moved together hungrily, moaning against him. He pulled me closer, shifting our bodies so I could feel how hard he was.

“I love the way your lips feel,” Jackson murmured before he kissed me again, pushing me to my back as he hovered over me. I kissed him again, needing more. I didn’t know if I’d be any good but God, I wanted him. I didn’t care about anything else as we kissed hungrily, feeling him press against my body.