CHAPTER 23

EMMA

The first home game in a while was coming up, and we practiced as much as the guys did, or at least it felt like it. We had a job to do.

I started staying at Jackson’s apartment on a nightly basis. It was amazing to make love every night and fall asleep in his arms. I loved every moment we had together. We were keeping things under the radar, but I knew that my feelings for him were written all over my face.

We were all at the stadium for the game and I sent him a quick text to wish him luck. It was risky but there was a good chance that he wouldn’t see it at all. They all turned off their phones and focused on the game and I put mine into my purse before I changed into my outfit.

Tonight my hair was curly and pulled up into a high ponytail. I had a dark winged liner on and red lipstick to give me the pin-up look, and I stood at the edge of the stands and looked over the field. The guys were coming out and the others started running along the stands. I followed, shooting two shirts into the audience as the cheerleaders started chanting.

The crowd went nuts, and I leaned against the railing out of the way of the fans to watch. I saw the guys split up and frowned when I noticed Jackson sitting down with his helmet off, looking dejected. Was he out for the entire game?

I kept watching, hoping to see him get up and run in but Jackson stayed on the sidelines. My spirits sank as he hunched over, barely watching the game while I forced myself to perform for the fans. We were winning, after all. Joe was doing great out there and ensuring a win as he usually did, and I looked at the smile on the coach’s face.

If this kept up, Jackson was going to snap. He was born to play football and was skilled at it. Leaving him on the bench wasn’t going to help anybody, and they’d lose a great player because Joe was a liar. I knew that he told a story about that night that caused Jackson to look like some sort of psychopath, as if Joe wasn’t at fault in any way. Joe made everyone believe him, but I knew that he had a dark side.

I did my job but turned the others down for dinner after the game. I went to Jackson’s place and unlocked the door with the key that I had, setting down the takeout on the counter. I hoped that it would cheer him up, and I sat down at the table, waiting for him. Jackson went out sometimes with the guys but tonight I knew that he wasn’t going to be in the mood.

I was right and soon he was unlocking the door. I’d showered and changed into a little lace teddy that Jackson liked, and he closed the door as he stared at me.

“Hey,” I met his eyes, seeing the disappointment as I smiled sweetly at him.

“What are you doing here? I thought you’d be out with everyone.”

Jackson dropped his bag and ran a hand through his hair as I walked up to him.

“I wanted to be here,” I said as I cupped his face. I leaned up to kiss him, feeling his hot mouth against mine as I closed my eyes. Jackson tilted his head and deepened it as he dragged his tongue against mine.

“I didn’t play one down. Not once.”

Jackson pulled away and then kissed me again as I slipped my arms around his neck. His kiss was needy, and I knew that he needed me not to talk, but to help get his frustrations out.

We made our way back to the bedroom where he tore off his shirt and tie before kissing me breathless again. I loosened his pants and slid them down as he pushed me down on the bed. Jackson was hard and naked as he pressed against me, kissing my lips and body as I dragged my fingers through his hair.

He moved down my body, making me come hard against his tongue as I cried out his name. Jackson crawled back up and asked me to turn over on my stomach, his voice rough with want. I did, craving him deep inside me as I raised my ass in the air. Jackson gripped my ass as he slid inside me, pumping hard as I moaned.

He slapped my ass, making me jerk forward with a cry. Jackson pushed deep inside me and fucked me before he spanked me again, making me tense with pleasure.

I cried out as I came with him, feeling his heat deep inside me. Jackson dropped beside me as I stretched out deliciously and smiled.

“You make everything right,” Jackson said as he moved to hold me.

I let him fall asleep wrapped around me, memorizing the feel of his body against mine. I loved Jackson. It might have started as a crush, but it was full-blown love.

I was making breakfast for him one morning while he jogged. Jackson came in, telling me that Greg was on the freeway and on his way over. I gasped, and we decided quickly that I should go to Bella’s, since this was no way to break the news to him about us. I changed and left with a quick kiss, pulling into my apartment as my phone rang.

“Hello,” I said, trying to sound casual.

“Hey, sis,” Greg greeted me.

“How’re you doing?”

“I’m great. I’m in Nashville. What are you doing today?”

“I just went for some breakfast with Bella. What a surprise,” I tried to sound happy and legitimately shocked as I sat in my car. I knew that I wouldn’t be seeing a lot of Jackson now and sighed.

“Let’s do dinner tonight. Jackson had his car beat up, and he needs to take care of that, but we’ll be free later.”

“What happened?” I walked past his car on my way to mine, but I’d been in a rush, not noticing anything.

“Someone bashed his headlights in. It must have been late because he didn’t hear anything, and nobody reported it.”

I frowned. I hadn’t heard a sound, but I couldn’t say that.

“I wonder why?” I asked as Joe came to mind. That would get Jackson riled up and ready to go after him.

“He says there some kind of thing going on with another player. Come over later and we’ll grab dinner. I can’t believe that you don’t live here anymore,” Greg said as I considered my answer.

“I think he enjoys having it to himself,” I offered weakly. He ended the call and said to come by later as I slumped back. I made my way into the apartment and Bella gave me an odd look from the couch.

“Greg popped in for a surprise visit,” I told her.

“That explains why you’re here. I’m guessing that he has no idea that you’re with Jackson?”

I shook my head.

“You’re nineteen, Emma. Stand up for yourself. Tell him that you’re a big girl now and can do what you want.”

“It’s not that easy. Though I managed to get out a little bit, I’m terrified to tell them about Jackson. Once Greg knows, everyone will know. I don’t want to think about what might happen. Wouldn’t it be easier to just let this go for his stay?” I tried to plead my case, but she just gave me a long stare.

“If it were me, I’d tell him that I was with Jackson. Fuck being scared. You’re living here on your own and in a matter of months, you’ll be staying back at that apartment. You are now, as far as I’m concerned,” Bella shrugged. “I think that waiting is going to be worse than just telling him, Emma. It’s obvious when the two of you are together that there’s something between you. No matter how you try to hide it, it’s going to show at some point. Stand up for yourself.”

“Yeah,” I said, feeling torn inside as I dropped beside her. I hated not being over at that apartment, in bed with Jackson. A part of me hated that I wasn’t seeing my brother when he first arrived the way that I should. Despite my issues, Greg was my brother. I hated the idea of hurting him in any way.

My stomach growled. “Want something for breakfast?” I was already telling one lie and I might as well make some part of it reality.

I went out for some donuts and coffee. It turned out that Bella had been up most of the night and she grabbed her coffee to head back to her room for a nap. I settled back and looked around as I decided what to do. I could nap or study, and I figured that studying was the best idea.

I managed to read a few chapters before dozing on the couch and woke up to my phone ringing. It was Jackson, who managed to sneak away from his apartment.

“Hi,” I said, blinking slowly.

“I’m sorry about this morning. He caught me off guard. Are you okay with dinner tonight?” he asked in a low voice and I smiled.

I ran a hand through my hair. “I want to have dinner with you. Both of you. We’ve done it a million times.”

“We weren’t together then. It’s going to be hard to act like we’re just friends for the weekend,” Jackson sounded as frustrated as I felt, and I closed my eyes. “Maybe we should tell him.”

“No. He’s only here for the weekend. It’s just a few days and then we’ll be alone again. I don’t want to ruin his time here,” I protested. He sighed on the other end of the phone. “We’ll tell him. Just not now.”

“Come by later. We’ll take him for hot chicken.” Jackson gave in and I said that I’d see him soon. I hung up and dropped my head back, knowing that I was doing something wrong. I couldn’t hide this forever. I told myself that it was just a few days and we could deal with all this another time. Everything would be fine.

Later, I took a shower and got ready to go see my brother. I put on some skinny jeans and a long-sleeved plum shirt and pulled my hair back as I stared at myself in the mirror. I was older now and I could make my own decisions, but I still felt like a child.

When was that going to change?