Page 11

Jackson

When I turned on my heel to leave, Grace stood there staring at me with a tapping toe. I inwardly cursed myself. Messaging her was the biggest mistake of my life. Did I really think she’d be able to get my mind off the crushed girl in her bedroom?

“Where are you going?” Grace asked. Her voice was pointed, and I could tell she had her nose tipped without looking.

“I thought we’d leave and give Thea some privacy.”

I came waltzing in here with a girl, hoping I’d stop thinking about the one I wanted. I knew she’d be home, but I didn’t expect to find her flaunting her perfect body around the apartment. Fuck. My brain was fried for her. That bikini made her tits look amazing, and it almost felt like she did it on purpose.

Had Britt told her this was my plan, and she was hell-bent on stopping it?

I let out an annoyed breath before strolling over to my bed, sitting down, and leaning my back against the headboard. Grace, unfortunately, didn’t take the hint and followed behind me.

“Now, where were we?” she asked, plopping herself on my lap without asking if it was okay. I raised my hands when she tossed her gray sweater across the room, leaving her in a pair of purple leggings and a matching bralette.

She looked cute, but she was no Thea. Thea’s curves were deadly, and I wanted a lethal dose.

When Grace bent down to kiss me, I turned away.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” I gritted out even though it was a lie.

She groaned before leaning back a little. “Thea ruined the mood, didn’t she? I knew it.” She shook her head before her hand dropped to my crotch where I was certain she’d be surprised to find a flaccid dick. “She’s the definition of a pick-me, I swear. Always trying to get your attention but failing miserably.”

“She’s not trying to get my attention, believe me.”

“You sure about that? Did you see the way she looked at you just now? With her big pouty lip. So desperate. So eager. So embarrassing.” I swatted her hands away before shifting my hip so she’d fall onto the bed beside me.

“Yeah, you know what, Grace, I’m not in the mood. I think I should take you home.”

“Good idea. I’ve got this little drawer full of things that will get your mind off the travesty we just endured.”

“No. You’re misunderstanding me. I’m not interested tonight.” Or ever. “I was going to walk you home to be polite.”

Her face fell, and she sighed. “No need to walk me home. I’ll probably go back to Covey’s Cantina and hang out with some of my friends. If you aren’t interested, there are plenty of guys who are.”

She raised a brow, and I knew what she was doing. She was mildly threatening me for leaving her. I was honestly surprised she thought I cared.

“Well, that’s great. Saves me the walk. I assume you know your way out?” I said before grabbing her sweater and tossing it in her direction. It landed on her face, but I wasn’t in the mood to apologize.

As she pulled the fabric over her head, I started ushering her from the room, wanting her out ASAP. Once her arms were through the holes, I grabbed her purse and shoved it toward her.

“Okay, well, if you change your mind, you know my number.”

“That I do,” I said with a large fake smile. “See you around, Grace.”

With that, I slammed the door on her and flopped back onto my bed.

Staring at the ceiling, I noted the paint looked a little like Thea’s skin pre-fake tan.

Well, shit.

Thea fucked up my sex life, and I was starting to wonder if she was doing it on purpose because she wanted to see how a guy like me could handle life sexless. Something I knew she had to endure, but I didn’t realize she was going to punish me with that fate too.

I rolled my eyes, reminded that her headboard was next to mine with a wall between.

I bet she was sitting on her bed, smiling smugly about this. She would have taken off all that tanner, thank goodness, because she looks so much better natural. She would have removed whatever shit was on her lip, and she was probably lying in her bed now, wearing some silky number as she grinned to herself.

I had no doubts she was getting off on the fact I wasn’t getting off.

Her fingers were probably down her panties, and she was—

Wait.

I opened my eyes, looked around the room to confirm I was alone and no one could hear what I was thinking.

What the fuck was that?

I’d turned down guaranteed sex, yet my dick was at half-mast thinking about my best friend and teammate’s sister.

Again.

I wanted Thea, and that little fact was impossible to ignore—so I wasn’t going to. Dragging myself out of bed, I stepped into the dimly lit hallway and made my way to her door. My pulse hammered as I leaned in, straining to catch any sound from inside.

When I heard nothing, I knocked.

“Thea,” I whispered, my ear pressed to the wood.

Still nothing from her.

Screw it. I exhaled and started talking about my feelings again. One day, she’d open this door for me, I was sure of it.

“Thea, I just … I’m sorry about that. Grace was …” I paused, pinching the bridge of my nose. Man, did I feel like an idiot. It was the only time I ever thought I could relate to Matty. Pining over a girl with no interest in you. Only, Britt was waiting for him. Thea. Well, I doubted Thea would even open this door, let alone wait for me for any length of time. “A mistake.” The words came out easily because it was the truth.

“I need you to believe me when I say I’d never do anything to intentionally hurt you. Not now, at least. I know in the past I’ve been an asshole, but I’m putting that all behind me now. Never again will I do anything to intentionally upset you.”

My shoulders relaxed, and it felt good that I’d gotten it all out there.

“Thea?”

Silence.

I ran a hand through my hair. “Okay. I get it. You don’t want to talk. Just … for what it’s worth, Grace is gone. I kicked her out for talking shit about you. That means you can gallivant naked in the living room again if that’s what you want to do. I’ll stay in my room the entire night so you can have the place to yourself like the schedule says.” As much as I hated to admit it, Thea’s orange bikini-clad body was all I would think about tonight.

Still nothing.

“Okay. I get it. You don’t want to talk. Good night, Pyro. I’m sorry again.”

With a heavy sigh, I turned back toward my room, my shoulders slumped. Well, that was the second time I’d admitted my feelings to Thea and got nothing back. Was I glutton for punishment, or did she know exactly how to keep me hooked? I guess I’d never know.