CHAPTER 3

EMMA

I put down my phone on the arm of the couch and thought back over the morning.

Being greeted by Jackson wrapped only in a small towel was funny, but it reminded me he had a hot body and that I still had some feelings for him. Feelings that I had tried to forget over the years he’d been away. He was hot as hell now and I felt every bit the teenager I was.

My eyes had roved over his muscled form in the doorway and I had tried hard not to giggle. I couldn’t help but look over his chiseled torso as he ran a hand through his hair, saying something under his breath.

When he’d said that he was going to get dressed, I almost told him not to.

Jackson was one of the most arrogant guys in school when I knew him before. He and Greg practically ran the place, making me glad I went to high school on my own most of the years that I was there. I still lived in my brother’s shadow, but I was a completely different person than him.

I was the shy, studious type. People would mention him to me, but I just lived my life differently than he did. I was surprised Greg chose working with numbers for a living after playing football for a few years.

I stood up and grabbed a bottle of water from the nearly empty fridge. I guess Jackson ate out a lot. I remembered his offer to take me to dinner and then go shopping. I smiled as I realized that he was trying to make up for the fact that he forgot I was coming today.

I heard him down the hall and wandered down there to see if he needed any help. I looked through the open door to see a bed and dresser inside the modestly sized bedroom.

Jackson gave me a wry smile. “Hey, I think that we can toss the sheets into the dryer and have this put together for you pretty quickly. What do you think?”

“It’s fine,” I assured him. “Thanks again for this.”

“It’s no problem. I can show you around and get you used to Nashville until you find something else.”

I wondered if he was looking forward to living alone again already as I watched him stuff some things into a duffel bag. I moved so he could get by. This apartment was going to feel small quickly.

“Why don’t we get your stuff in your new bedroom now.”

I started with my suitcase. I set it on the bed and started to unpack, as I felt someone watching me. I glanced up to see Jackson watching me as I held a couple of bras in my hand. I blushed immediately.

“Will this work for you, Em? We can get anything else that you need while we’re out.”

“It’ll do. I am just going to get some stuff unpacked and I’ll be out in a while,” I assured him.

He nodded and turned to go to the living room.

I had called my mom while Jackson was clearing out the room to tell her I made it safely, assuring her that he was expecting me, and everything was ready. She sounded relieved. I ended the call quickly as I felt bad about the white lie, but I didn’t want to worry them.

I called Willow next and she answered quickly.

“Long time, no chat! So, how was your ride?”

“It was good. Unfortunately, Jackson wasn’t ready for me when I arrived,” I kept my voice low as I spoke, hanging up some shirts.

“What did you do?”

“I offered to get a hotel, but Jackson refused.”

“Seriously, Em?”

“He did fix everything up pretty fast for me.”

“How is the room? How is the apartment?”

“I thought it would be a little nicer. I mean, it’s fine, but kind of small. Older than I expected. I should just be grateful that I have a place to stay for now until I can find something else.” I hated to sound ungrateful and pushed the doubt about staying here away. “This is temporary, and he only agreed because Greg forced him to.”

“Jackson grew up with you. By the way, is he as hot as he looks in his pictures?”

“Oh my God, he answered the door in a towel,” I said quietly. “As I said, he wasn’t expecting me.”

“Ha, that’s what you think? Did you see anything good?”

“Kinda, but I can’t think of him that way! He was shocked and obviously not ready for me. He got dressed right away and helped me bring my stuff into the place. It isn’t like that.”

“If it were me staying there, it would be. What a chance you have.”

“I’m like a little sister,” I said as I reached for another shirt. “Jackson is so out of my league to begin with.”

“I don’t know. We’re all out of high school now. He has to have matured, right?” Willow said.

I sighed.

“I’m just here to go to school and break away a little bit. I don’t need to complicate anything so quickly. I need to prove that I can handle being on my own.”

I thought about that goal, reminding myself that I was going to be a junior in college.

“You’re living with a pro football player, Em. That’s everything.” She was silent for a moment. “I already miss you.”

“I miss you, too. I can’t believe we can’t just pop over and hang out. I’m worried about making friends,” I confessed.

“Everything will be fine. You’ll probably be hanging out with fellow engineers in no time.”

“I guess I’ll see what happens if I get a job before school starts. If not, I’m sure to get to know someone at school.”

Suddenly, being away from Chattanooga seemed scary. I only knew one person here, and I was just an annoying little sister to him. I took a deep breath and closed my eyes.

“You are in Nashville, Em. Do you know how many celebs live there and how much fun you can have?” Willow said.

She was right. I giggled.

“I’m sure Jackson has friends who you’ll end up meeting. It’ll be okay. If not, I’ll come visit.”

“Me or him?” I teased.

“You, silly. If he offers to introduce you to some of the other players, go for it. They can take you all over Nashville and it would be a great way to start your new life there.”

Willow was full of insane ideas that I’d never consider. I was just the quiet girl in the corner. Willow was the one who changed any room that she walked into.

After we ended the call, I sat on the bed. Of course I noticed how hot Jackson was, but I didn’t have a chance.

He was a pro football player and when he was in high school, he was a player in the other sense of the word, too. I could only imagine how it was now that he was a big deal.

I stuffed the suitcase into the bottom of the closet. I took out the picture that Willow had given me only yesterday, which seemed now a world away, and found a nail in the wall above my new dresser. I could make this work even though it was strange.

There was a knock.

“Yup?”

Jackson poked his head in with a smile. “It looks lived in now. Are you hungry?”

“I am, yes. The drive and the unpacking has worked up an appetite,” I looked down at my clothes. “Do you mind if I take a shower before we go?”

“Not at all. There are fresh towels in the bathroom in the hall. That one is yours so fill it up with your stuff if you want.”

“Thanks. I’ll be out soon,” I said.

He nodded and ducked out of my room. I grabbed fresh clothes and walked to the small bathroom. I started the hot water and step under the steady spray, grateful to wash away any grime.

I stood there for a moment, amazed that I was in Nashville. Not only that, but I was using Jackson Cooper’s shower. I laughed as I squirted some body wash into my hand and closed my eyes.

This was almost too surreal.