CHAPTER 6

JACKSON

I was heavy lifting as Nick spotted me at the gym. He was my closest friend on the team and a great guy, but he couldn’t stop talking about his new girlfriend. She was a local model who was getting known in the industry and he thought that he was hot shit because she was sleeping with him.

I kind of hoped that she’d drop him on his ass since he was seemingly getting serious. He was a bigger player than I was, at least before he met this girl at a bar. She was hot with pale blonde hair and dark blue eyes, but I thought Emma was better.

Shit. I had to stop thinking things like that. It was getting harder to separate the fact that she was Greg’s sister and not the gorgeous woman living with me and starting to haunt my thoughts when she wasn’t around. When we got pizza the other night after I caught her staring, it took forever for her to get comfortable again. Even then, I could still see that she was uneasy, and I hated it.

There was a part of me wanting to rejoice that she wanted me — I was sure of it — but the bigger part of me didn’t want things to be weird. We’d known one another for too long and were living together for the time being.

“Jackson?”

I blinked and saw Nick staring at me. “Where the hell were you?”

“Just thinking.”

He shook his head. “It’s my turn, asshole. Get up.”

I slowly sat up and tried to focus on my burning muscles over the lust that was racing through my body again. I wiped down the bench and stood to spot Nick for a while.

“I was saying, Jackson, that I could fix you up with one of her friends. We could all go out together some night. It would be a sure thing.”

“Nah, I need to stay pure for the game,” I replied and we both laughed. I knew Nick was aware of my reputation and was joking, but I hadn’t once thought of another woman since Emma moved in.

Nick started to lift after adding some weight to the bar with a smirk, and I waited to assist him. I normally loved my time in the gym, but I’d been so distracted lately everywhere I was. Everyone noticed, and Coach was even on my ass right now.

I looked across the large room as Nick breathed heavily. I knew that he was showing off and thinking that a new girlfriend changed his life, but there was so much more to it than that.

“Need me to take some of that weight off for you?” I teased.

“Fuck off. This is nothing,” he shot back. “What’s wrong with you?” Nick asked. “You’ve been off for a few days. What the hell is going on?”

How to respond? I’d never been into a woman for more than a few dates before. Hell, I’d never had a girlfriend who lasted longer than two months. They were always more into me than I was into them.

“I’m just thinking about the season. I want it to be a good one,” I deflected and helped him with the weights as he winced, holding on until he had a good hold again.

“Bullshit. You don’t get nervous, you cocky asshole. If there’s one thing that you don’t worry about, it’s football.” Nick said. I narrowed my eyes at him. “Even as second string, you know that you’re good out there. You wouldn’t be here otherwise.”

Nick finished with the weights and sat up, looking at the clock. I leaned against the wall and looked down at the floor.

“Let’s get out of here. Get some food and hang for a while. We don’t have to eat perfect yet, right?” Nick said.

We grabbed our stuff and headed out to Nick’s truck since he offered to drive. We drove to a small diner on the edge of town that we loved for the food and low-key atmosphere. I led the way to a back booth. We each took a side, and I leaned my head back as he observed me.

The usual afternoon waitress walked over, greeting us with a warm smile.

“Hey, boys. The usual?”

“Always, Vi,” Nick gave her a big smile, and she giggled as she walked away. Violet was a good ten years older than us but there was some harmless flirting. I knew that nothing would happen in reality.

“So, spill.”

“I can’t stop thinking about this girl.” I watched Nick raise an eyebrow and smile knowingly. “I’m going to start sounding like you, Nick.”

“The right girl isn’t a bad thing, Jackson.”

Nick looked at me quizzically as Violet brought us two big glasses of water.

“This one is. I can’t even think about her without getting my ass kicked,” I reached for the glass and took a long drink as he did the same.

“Is she the one who’s living with you?” Nick pressed.

I nodded slightly, and he laughed.

“My friend Greg will kick my ass for even thinking about her,” I muttered.

“She’s in college. A big girl. Does she want you, too?” Nick asked.

I ran a hand through my hair. I had seen the glances Emma gave me when she thought I wasn’t looking. Ever since she walked into my room to see me working out, things had intensified between us although nothing had been said.

“Look, Jackson, I doubt that she’s a virgin. She’s old enough to be out the house.”

“She’s nineteen, yes. I can’t think about her that way, Nick. I’ve known her since she was a kid. I’m best friends with her brother. I can’t do it.” I knew that I was trying to convince myself as much as Nick.

“I’m sure that she doesn’t look like that kid anymore. Right?” he challenged.

I glared at him.

“No. She’s fucking gorgeous now. More than that, she’s sarcastic, smart and funny as hell when she lets herself go. She’s perfect and I can’t touch her,” I insisted as Nick watched Violet come over with our burgers.

“I have never seen you with an issue on getting a girl,” he mocked as I smiled at Violet.

“Thanks,” I said as I pulled my plate to me. “It’s not an issue of getting the girl. The issue is her brother. He’s overprotective, Nick. I was told to keep her away from any guys here. Greg didn’t bother to tell me to stay away since he knows I’m too smart for it,” I explained, trying to express the seriousness of the situation.

“I don’t see the problem. You are both grown up now and anything would be consensual.”

“I wish it were that easy,” I picked up the burger and took a bite. I savored the greasy meat. I was going to hate going back to my game diet, but I’d still find a way to cheat. I always did and worked out that much more because of it.

“It is. What they don’t know won’t hurt them. If you want her and she wants you, make a move. It might pay off.” Nick grabbed his own sandwich and bit into it.

I longed for it to be so easy. Someone would be visiting before too long and if I was involved with Emma, it would be obvious.

We finished, and I pushed away my plate, feeling restless. “Want to come by and play a game?” I asked.

He glanced at the clock and nodded.

“I’ll take you back to your car later? Maybe your roomie can give me a lift?” He joked, and I shot him a dark look.

“Consider the warning I mentioned as a personal one. Keep your hands off her.”

Nick held his hands up in surrender. “Hey, remember, I’ve got someone now.”

I wasn’t even sure if Emma would be home. I knew that school didn’t start for another week or so, but she had been out exploring. I got the impression she was avoiding me sometimes since she didn’t seem to have any new friends in Nashville. I hoped that she wasn’t meeting any guys, and I pushed the thought away as we walked out to Nick’s car.

We drove to the apartment and I looked around the lot for Emma’s car. I saw it and wanted to groan. I grabbed my bag and carried it to the apartment as Nick looked around the complex. “You know, you might win the girl if you get a better place. You’ve been signed. Get a condo at least.”

“I know. I just moved here first thing and didn’t think too much about it. When she came here, I thought about it,” I glanced around to make sure that nobody was in earshot. “Besides, she’s not staying with me forever. It’s just until she’s settled,” I kept my voice low as I walked up to the door to unlock it, peering inside to make sure Emma was up and dressed.

Hell, I longed to come home and find her waiting for me naked. Fuck.

I didn’t see her. Nick got a bottle of water. He was right about getting another place, but I just let it slide. I was so busy during the season and time just passed, at least until I had Emma coming here. He sat down and looked around slowly.

I heard a door and leaned over to see her coming down the hall.

“Hey, Emma, I brought Nick back with me. He’s my best friend on the team.”

Nick offered her his hand.

“It’s good to meet you,” he said with his charming smile as I resisted rolling my eyes.

“Nice to meet you too,” Emma smiled sweetly before turning away and walking to the kitchen.

Emma got some water from the fridge. She looked at me and she grabbed another one, handing it to me when she came back over.

“Thanks,” I said.

“Sit and watch the pros at work,” Nick suggested. “We’re playing Madden.”

Emma took a seat in the recliner and opened her bottle, sipping it slowly. I watched as Nick looked her over, thinking to myself that she looked hot today.

“So, this is a video game?” Emma asked and we nodded. I got the game going, and she watched in amusement as we picked teams and started to play. She was quiet as we played, laughing as we started to bicker about the plays and the rules.

“Don’t you two play this for a living?”