Page 5

Thea

I threw my door open, letting it hit the wall with a thud. When Jackson didn’t look my way, I glared at his grimy baseball hat and snarled.

How could a person wearing a headset be so loud?

“Can you please keep it down?” I gritted out, making my way to the living room.

Jackson was too focused on the game to notice me. His thick thumbs furiously moved across the controller, his eyes glued to the TV.

“I know. I know. I promised I’d fix it before the Mafia boss found us,” he said. I assumed he was speaking to that guy who didn’t want vegetable ears, and followed his intense gaze to the screen, then bursted out laughing.

“Hold on a minute. Is that supposed to be you?” I pointed at the extremely hot, tattooed and pierced bad boy working on the car in the game. Hot as hell; if he were real, he’d be mine. Then I turned to my overly muscular roommate and laughed some more. Sure, Jackson was good-looking, and without his shirt on, he was a sight to be seen. However, he was a good boy playing bad.

His eyes flicked to me for barely a second before going back to the screen. He answered with a growl, confirming my suspicion.

“Wow. You really think highly of yourself, don’t you?”

He ignored me and chomped on his popcorn obnoxiously loud.

I shook my head, my fists tightening in anger. “I can’t believe you.”

That got his attention. His light eyes burned dark as they connected with mine, and a chill ran up my spine. In any other circumstance, I might even say that glare highlighted his chiseled features. “My night. Remember?” It was a threat. One I knew he’d never follow through on. Much like his character on screen, as much as Jackson liked to pretend he was a bad boy, he really wasn’t.

“Trust me, it’s hard to forget with all the grunting out here. Seriously, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were fucking a moose.”

I ignored the yelling coming through Jackson’s headset and considered giving him a lecture on how loud it was when the rancid smell hit me. I thought the burned, overly processed cheese popcorn was bad, but right next to Jackson were perfect slices of bologna.

“What the hell are you eating?” I was going to hurl. Honestly, why did I ever think this man was attractive? He wasn’t. Everything about him was obnoxious, overbearing, and repulsive.

Nothing. He said nothing, so I stalked around the couch and tore that stupid little microphone off his head.

“Hey, what was that for?”

I tossed it across the room, not caring when it hit something. That would be Jackson’s problem to figure out.

“You’re wearing your headphones, but you’re being so loud I can’t listen to my music in peace.”

“That wouldn’t matter if you could actually keep your promises and maintain a healthy social life.”

I raised my brows. “I told you I’d be quiet in my room. We didn’t agree to the schedule until it was too late to arrange anything.”

He laughed sarcastically. “I’m going to need a second, L. Do you think you can handle the mob boss on your own?”

I covered my ears. “Why are you talking so loudly?”

He pointed at the floor by one of the cabinets. “Because you threw my headset across the room, I need to make sure Liam can hear me.”

I followed the point, noting the headset looked fine and intact. Little noises came out of it, which I assumed was Liam. “Ugh. This is so pathetic.”

Jackson stood, watching me closely the entire time.

“I don’t care what your problems are. Just deal with it.” He shook his head, stalking over to and grabbing the headset before making his way back to me.

With my arms folded, I glared at him. “You’re an inconsiderate asshole, you know that?”

“And you’re always looking for trouble.” He stepped forward, forcing me to step back, then Jackson grinned. I stared right back at him, refusing to be the first one to break eye contact, tipping my chin all the way back.

Was he always this tall? Wide, yes, but tall too? My neck was hurting.

“Oh, what’s wrong, Pyro? You scared of me?” His smile grew when I took another step back. I wasn’t afraid of him. Like I said, Jackson was a teddy bear under his muscular exterior, but I was already tired of sharing the same space as him. With every step back I took, he stepped forward. We did this dance a few times until I’d somehow walked all the way back to the door of the apartment.

How the heck did I get here?

With my back against the wood, there was nowhere else to go. I looked down in search of the doorknob, and by the time I’d found it, Jackson’s big paw was above my head, holding the door shut.

Asshole.

I was surprised at how close he was. His breath fanned my face as he took me in. No words. Just our panting breaths from arguing filling the air. He crouched down, and I pushed to my tiptoes, attempting to get some space between us.

He didn’t move. In fact, my squirming only encouraged him.

“Jackson … What are you doing?”

“You tell me.”

His nose skated across mine, and his got closer. Was he about to kiss me? Why did that thought send a small thrill up my spine?

“Is this what you want, Pyro?” Our lips were practically grazing, but I refused to move or give him any reaction. Mocking me was what he got off on, and this was just another way for him to do it. He’d known I had a crush on him when I started at Covey U and had only rubbed it in my face since. The worst was the day I was at their house, and he walked Grace straight to his room. He did it to make a point that I’d never get someone like him.

Well, if he wanted a fight, I fight to kill.

With one hand on the doorknob, I placed the other on his chest, leaning into his touch, and while gazing into his eyes, I whispered, “You have no idea how long I’ve been waiting for you to ask me that” in the sexiest voice I could muster. His movement stuttered as his eyes tracked mine. I leaned forward, pressing my lips to his for the slightest of seconds, which shocked him enough to pull his head back.

“Uh,” he drawled, studying me with furrowed brows. “What was that?” His voice was husky and laced with confusion, which gave me just enough time to kick him in the shin and shove him to the floor. At least I finally found a use for those self-defense classes Tanner forced me to take after the incident.

Then I turned the doorknob, slipped through the door with a cackle, and looked at him one last time. “Screw you, Jackson!”

With his hands on the floor, his chest heaved as he watched me from the other side of the threshold, and a sinister smile replaced the confusion on his face.

“Too easy,” he said, making me frown. Why wasn’t he annoyed? Then he lifted his foot and tapped the edge of the door, shutting it in my face.

I stepped back, staring at the door as though it could tell me something.

What the …

I rushed to open it but heard the all too familiar lock before I could turn the knob.

“You can’t be serious?” I said, waiting for him to respond.

“Jackson?”

No answer.

“Jackson?”

I jiggled the handle, confirming what I already knew. He’d locked me out. I slapped the door, banging so loud I knew he could hear it.

“Jackson! You locked me out,” I yelled at the door, barely able to hear myself with how hard my palms were hitting the wood. When my arms started hurting, I stopped, then heard Jackson’s low, hearty chuckle behind it.

He loved this.

“Jackson. I’m outside,” I whispered.

“I know, Pyro.” Although his voice was muffled, I heard it loud and clear.

Brows furrowed, I glared at the wood, hoping my anger would seep through it.

“Then let me in.”

“No.”

“Why not?”

“I’ll let you in at ten thirty. That was the deal. It’s my night, so you’ll just have to suck it up until I’m ready to open the door.”

I choked on a sarcastic laugh. “You can’t be serious?”

“I’m as serious as I am about practicing safe sex.”

I visibly cringed at the thought of Jackson having sex. Why did I feel like there would be a lot of grunting going on and not a lot of pleasure?

“Is that why you’re practicing the safest form of sex? Celibacy.”

“Do you really think mocking my sex life will do you any favors in this situation?”

I rested my forehead against the door. “This isn’t funny anymore. Let me in.”

“Like I said, Pyro. The door will be unlocked in three hours. Until then, find someone else to annoy.”

“Three hours?” Jackson walked away—he was such a heavy-footed jackass—and my blood pressure spiked. He was really going to leave me out here.

“Jackson. No. I’m in my pj’s! I don’t even have my phone!” I slammed my fists against the door, knocking incessantly.

“Should have thought about that before you broke your own rules.” I could barely hear him, but it was enough to make my blood boil. I’d get back at him.

“Jackson!” I screamed, slamming my hand against the door faster. I only hit my palm across the wood for a few more minutes before the pain started to radiate down my arm.

He wasn’t coming, and the minute he got the headset on, I was almost certain he’d forget about me.

Out here and alone.

I rested my back against the door before sliding down it and landing on my butt. The apartment block was secure, so I didn’t have to worry about anyone coming in I didn’t know, but I had nothing to do.

Except maybe count the water stains so I could tell the maintenance man about them later.

Well, shit.

Jackson had screwed me over and it was my fault.

***

It’d been eighty-four years … Okay, that was an exaggeration. I had no idea how long I’d been out here, but I was cold, which was an amazing feat, considering I was in a fluffy onesie. Sitting with my back against the door and my head in my hands, I’d given up a long time ago trying to get Jackson to notice me out here. Apparently, that stupid headset could cancel out any noise.

Including my beautiful rendition of Bailey Hill’s latest hit.

My eyes were closed, my back ached, and all I could think about was how much I missed my bed. I shouldn’t have left it. I should have just let Jackson get on with his night and tolerated his insufferable grunts.

As I took in a deep breath, I smelled something new. Not the stench of that bologna Jackson had earlier. No, this was delicious. This was hot, melted cheese waiting to deliver itself into my mouth.

I popped my head up, looking around the hallway. No one was coming out of their room, so I flicked my gaze to the stairwell.

I heard their feet and muffled voices before I could see them. “Why didn’t you ask her out?” a guy with a deep voice asked.

My heart rate spiked … Could these guys help me?

“What’s the point?” another voice replied. The smell grew stronger, and I was salivating like a starving dog. What I wouldn’t give for something to eat or drink right now. “She’ll reject me like everyone else in this college.”

I sat up, combed through my hair in an attempt to look approachable, and plastered a smile across my face as the voices drew closer.

“It’s because you’ve got a bad reputation after—”

Both guys stopped and stared at me like I was an alien, and wanting to break the tension, I raised my hand, wiggling my fingers—an attempt at a cute wave—and smiled.

Damn, why couldn’t I be wearing one of my cute crop tops or something.

Each was cute in their own way, but the guy with the baseball jersey and holding the pizza narrowed his eyes as he took me in. I wanted to say he was checking me out, but I feared Jackson might’ve had a point about the onesie. It was giving off the wrong impression here. I sat up a little straighter, hoping the fluff wasn’t hindering seeing me as a normal girl.

“You have pizza?” I asked, ignoring the questionable glares and the fact that my stomach was roiling from hunger. The pizza was from Covey Crusts, the best thing about this college.

“Looks like the football team has another fangirl stalker,” the one in a baseball jersey said. No emotion. No interest. Just monotonous.

My mouth dropped. “Excuse me?” I said, my voice flaring with anger as I clutched my chest. “I am not a fangirl.”

“Then why are you wearing that?” The baseball jersey guy tipped his chin and raised his thick eyebrow at me.

My fingers curled against the fluff. He had a point.

“Are you looking for Jackson James?” the other one asked, with a soothing smile making his dimples pop.

The mention of his name sent anger through my veins. He’d left me stuck out here with no food, no drink, no entertainment, ruining a perfectly good night for me.

“No, I’m not looking for that neanderthal.”

I glared up at the guy giving me a goofy smile. Wait a minute. Did they think I was here to sleep with Jackson?

A shiver ran up my spine, and I felt compelled to clear up the misconception. “I live here.” I used my thumb to point against the wood. “I’m locked out, and my roommate isn’t back until ten thirty.”

“You live there?” Baseball Jersey asked.

I nodded.

“I’ve never seen you, and we live a floor up.” He elbowed his goofy-smiling friend. “Henry, have you?”

Henry shook his head. “No, I think I’d remember an outfit like that.”

Wow. Were all men at Covey U destined to make me feel like shit?

“I’m Tanner’s sister.” I didn’t even have to say his last name. Everyone knew him around here.

“You are?” Henry asked as he looked at his friend. “Brandon, did you know he had a sister?”

Ah, Baseball Jersey had a name. Brandon and Henry. I’d never heard of either of these two, but that was because I didn’t care about any sport except for football. How could I? I was trained to love it.

“I don’t know. She doesn’t look like Tanner, though,” Brandon said. I curled into myself, feeling more self-conscious than I’d like to admit, then I turned on the sass, my usual way of getting over my feelings of inadequacy.

“Don’t get me started. That boy has the facial features of an angel.” I rubbed my hands across my chubby cheeks. “And his cheekbones are to die for.”

“I don’t know, you look pretty good to me,” Henry said before turning to his friend. “You know what? The more I look at her, the more I think I recognize her.”

“You do?” I smiled. Maybe they weren’t so bad.

“Yeah.” He wagged his finger down at me with a small smile on his face. “You were in the school paper, right?”

I frowned, knowing exactly where this was going.

“You burned the sorority down, didn’t you?”

Was that incident going to haunt me for the rest of my life like the last one?

“I didn’t burn it down. There was an issue with the wiring.”

“You know what,” Brandon said, “I think she is Tanner’s sister; they have the same eyes.”

“You been staring into my brother’s eyes? Sorry to tell you, he’s taken.”

“I haven’t—”

I raised my hand. “Look, it’s fine. Like I said, my brother is gorgeous, so I get it. Who wouldn’t want to be with him. It doesn’t bother me. What does bother me is that your pizza is going cold while we’re talking.”

They looked down at the greasy box of deliciousness.

“And I just wanted to know if you two would let me hang out with you for a couple of hours while I waited for my roommate to get home?”

They looked at each other with unease. I couldn’t blame them, given I was staring at their pizza box like it was a football player squatting to tie his laces.

“Uh.” Henry nodded. I ignored the unease because once they got to know me, they’d realize I was harmless.

Brandon, the one holding the pizza—and my destiny—didn’t respond.

Was he going to leave me out here?

“Come on. What do you guys want for a slice of pizza? I’ll do anything.”

Just as they were about to answer, my balance was thrown off by the door moving behind me. When it opened, I fell to the floor, landing between a thick set of legs. Dang, even in sweats, I could see how muscular Jackson’s thighs were.

Jackson didn’t look at me. He was too busy grinning at my new friends. “Hey guys. What are you doing out here?”

“Jackson,” I muttered, stopping my hands from wrapping around his ankles and digging my nails in since I didn’t want to be locked out again. “What are you doing? I thought you weren’t going to open the door until ten thirty?”

“Haven’t you checked the time? Oh, that’s right. You can’t. It’s ten thirty, Pyro.”

“Is it?” Had I been out here wallowing in my own misery for that long?

“I thought you said no one was home,” Henry said, and I rolled onto my side, using Jackson’s sweatpants to help me up. He might’ve had a point about them being too tight to cut the circulation off, because they didn’t move.

“I didn’t think he was in. He was supposed to have a girl over.”

“No, I wasn’t,” Jackson said behind me.

“It’s okay. We all know the real reason you were pretending you weren’t home is because you were jerking off and were too embarrassed to admit it.”

The guys went silent, so I continued, gesturing in a way that made it easy for them to understand. “It takes him a while. He needs absolute silence to get the sprinklers going, if you know what I mean?” I winked.

“Pyro.” The warning did nothing to deter me. Jackson left me outside on my own for an evening. He could suffer a few embarrassing comments.

“Anyway, it was nice talking to you guys, maybe I’ll see you around sometime.”

I strolled past Jackson, brushing him on the way.

“It was nice meeting you—” Henry said before the door slammed.

“What were you doing out there?” Jackson asked, stalking behind me.

I flittered my hand in his direction. “Oh, out there? Well, you told me to make some friends, so that’s exactly what I did. Made friends.”

“You can’t be serious?” He laughed bitterly. “With Brandon and Henry?”

Ah, so he knew them. “Yes, what’s wrong with that?”

“Nothing if you’re fine with getting disrespected.”

My lip curled, and the false bravado took over. “Maybe I like a little degradation.”

He answered with a scowl, giving me time to subtly admire his bare chest. When did he do that? “Did you take your shirt off so your fangirls could drool over you?”

He glanced down at his chest as though he hadn’t realized he was striding around the apartment with his six-pack out. How could he not? His nipples were sharp little points from the cold.

His hands rested on his pecs before moving down his chest slowly. I couldn’t help it, I followed their movement. He might be an asshole, but he sure was a nicely packaged one.

“Nah, my camera’s only set up in my room. All of this is for your eyes only.”

And there was that devilish smirk of his. Mocking. Again. It wasn’t enough to lock me out of the apartment for the evening, he had to show me what I was missing.

“You’re a pig,” I snarled before turning on my heel and stomping to my bedroom.

“Leaving me already? You were the one desperate to stay in with me.”

I didn’t even bother responding to him. He was an ass, and my reaction would give him too much power.

I hated him.

After slamming the door to my room, I strutted over to my bed, snatched my phone, and texted my brother.

Thea: That idiot that you call a best friend is the biggest idiot to have ever idioted on the face of this planet.

Then I tossed my phone back onto the bed before falling onto it and stewing in my anger, thinking about all the ways I’d get him back.