CHAPTER 5

EMMA

It had been two days since I’d arrived, and my room was finally looking lived in. It made me feel slightly closer to home as I figured out Nashville.

I missed home once I unpacked everything, but I would make do. Jackson was gone a lot with training and working out at the gym, I supposed, and I managed go into town a few times just to look around.

I even ate at the chicken place on my own again though I’d never give Jackson the satisfaction of knowing that. I wandered the main street, looking at some of the famous buildings and feeling the vibe of the town. It made me wish that I was more musically inclined than I was, and I noticed some celebrities across the street.

I called Willow as I wandered around. Before long, the conversation turned to Jackson.

“He’s not there a lot. I guess he’s training or something,” I said as I leaned against the wall of a building and looked at the Ryman Auditorium with a smile.

“I can just imagine him at practice with that team. You have to go get pictures!” Willow urged me.

I laughed and remembered what he said about bringing me along.

“Why? I am sure that Greg either called ahead and told them all to never talk to me or assigned Jackson that job. I don’t think I’ll be allowed to date while I’m here,” I sighed. “I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t date, isn’t it?”

“You’re gorgeous, Em! Why do you think that you’re not?” Willow chided me before she went silent. “I love your family, but they really sheltered you. They made you scared to go get what you want.”

“Hey! I’m here going to college, aren’t I?” I defended myself. She laughed.

“Yes, you are, and I am so proud of you. Don’t let college be the only thing that you own. Live a little!”

I smiled. I knew she was right, but I just felt so uncertain most of the time. I told her that I missed and loved her as she said that she had to go.

Willow was right. I could do this.

I kept window shopping, not wanting to go home quite yet. I knew that I had to do some laundry, and that was the chore that I enjoyed the least. I grabbed a coffee at a cute little cafe before I went back to my car.

I was reading a book on my phone at the cafe, just to kill time and looked up to see the singer of a band that Willow loved. I bit my lip as I took him in and subtly snapped a picture of him with my phone before sending it to her.

There were a lot of gorgeous men here in Nashville. There was no doubt about that, but I found that one lingered in my mind more than any other and he was my off limits roommate, who was also my brother’s best friend. I sighed and sipped my drink.

I shouldn’t be thinking about Jackson at all. I shouldn’t be thinking about his dark hair and sultry blue eyes, or his gorgeous body. I was a few steps away from seeing all of him the day I arrived, and I blushed at the memory. I also found myself smiling.

I sighed and watched the singer for a bit as he met with some guys and a blonde who was obviously his girlfriend. I was going to like people watching here more than ever and I thought ahead to football games, wondering if I’d get tickets. They were probably different from the high school games I had once went to.

I sighed, knowing that I had to get my clothes washed. I had a couple of days before school started, and I felt the need to get ready now, well in advance. I liked to be prepared and knew that it was a habit that drove people close to me insane at times.

I went back to the apartment and walked into silence. I assumed Jackson was in his room as I saw his car parked out front. I grabbed my dirty clothes and balanced the basket on my hip as I maneuvered my way through the small hallway.

Why wasn’t this place bigger? Didn’t athletes make insane amounts of money?

I surveyed the stackable washer and dryer and then searched the little closet for the detergent, knowing that he washed the sheets just a few days ago. Where was it?

I looked around, wondering where else it might be. I rolled my head back and considered the situation.

I walked down the hall to tap on his bedroom door. I couldn’t hear anything, so I knocked again before I heard a sound inside. I twisted the doorknob slowly as I pushed open the door.

“Jackson?”

I gasped as I caught sight of his bare chest. His hard abs and his thick arms were ripped. His eyes were closed so I stood there just drinking in his body. He was doing a slow and steady pull up on a contraption in the corner of the room. He was wearing earbuds, so he didn’t notice me at first.

By the time his eyes opened, I’d forgotten why I was even in his room. I didn’t even know that he was looking at me at first since I was so fixated on his body. I was starting to get aroused over this off limits man.

“See something you like?” His voice broke into my racing fantasies as I looked on helplessly, finally meeting his eyes.

I blinked.

“Oh. Oh. I… I was looking for the laundry soap and couldn’t find any. I didn’t mean to barge like this, but… my clothes are piling up,” I sounded like a stammering idiot and I closed my eyes.

I heard him hit the floor and opened my eyes to watch him wipe his face with a dark blue towel. Jackson looked amused as he walked up to me.

We locked gazes as I stepped backward into the hall.

“I used the rest of it this week and forgot to put the new bottle in the closet,” Jackson said, making his way towards the kitchen, his shorts dangerously low on his hips. His back was chiseled, and he was dewy with sweat as he reached under the sink. I would have never thought to look there. He presented me with the big bottle and grinned as I blushed a deep pink.

“Here you go.”

“Thank you,” I said as I wrapped my hand tightly around the handle. This apartment was shrinking and getting very hot. I turned to walk to the washing machine, wishing that I could escape.

I felt the way Jackson was looking at me as I started the washing machine, trying to keep myself calm. It was a huge bottle, and as my hand twisted painfully I bit my lip, not wanting to look like an idiot. He walked up behind me, leaning in as he reached around to help me. Jackson got the lid filled and dumped it in before rinsing it off. I swore that he moved painfully slow as he tightened the lid on the bottle and stepped back, brushing his hands.

“Thanks,” I said as I grabbed clothes to drop into the water. I was careful to not drop any bras or underwear as I loaded the machine.

Jackson looked amused with himself, but a dark look passed his face.

“You’re welcome,” he said as he got some water from the fridge. “It’s no problem about coming in. I work out often. You know that I’m a hotshot football star and all.”

He wasn’t looking at me, and I forced a laugh as I felt the heat continue to wash over my body.

Jackson smirked and headed back to his room. I finally let out my breath. I was stunned at the sight of him. His muscles flexed with the movement of him easily pulling himself up on the bar which I knew was not easy.

I got my own water and dropped onto the couch, needing the breeze coming through the window. I was flushed, and my mind felt blank as I stared at the TV that I hadn’t even turned on. Jackson was beautiful, and lust was cascading through me that I needed to contain. He was Greg’s best friend, my roommate. I couldn’t think about him like this.

My first time having sex was clumsy at best. It brought me no satisfaction and left me wondering what was so great about it. I even tried again a couple more times with the same guy and found it just as lackluster. When we decided to split, I was relieved.

Somehow, I knew that Jackson would be amazing in bed.

I heard the shower turn on. I pulled my legs up as I looked for the remote, turning on the TV to see a gorgeous blond. I realized that he couldn’t hold a candle to Jackson.

I was in so much trouble. I felt the aching between my legs and considered going back to my room to get myself off. I was dying but feeding the fire wasn’t going to help the situation. I needed to diffuse this, so I watched the show for a while.

When I heard the shower turn off, I switched to a sitcom, pretending to be interested in it. A few minutes later Jackson opened his door. He headed to the kitchen again and grabbed another water before dropping down on the couch a few feet away from me. “You like this show? I don’t remember you being a fan of sitcoms.”

“I haven’t seen that many episodes. Willow watched it. I was just killing time before I threw the stuff into the dryer,” I shrugged casually and felt his eyes on me.

“Want to order some pizza for dinner?” Jackson asked.

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

“Yeah. Sounds good to me.”