Page 9

Jackson

With shaky hands, my stomach roiled as I stood at the kitchen island staring at Thea’s door. For what? Waiting for it to open again so she’d strip me down and kiss me against the counter. No. That was a ridiculous thought. Although, judging by her still smooth hair and lack of smeared lipstick, I’d go as far to guess she only let her date give her a peck.

I snarled, thinking about all the things I wanted to do to her date.

No. Stop it.

I stepped back, my fingers curling against the counter as I tried to think about anything but Thea. When the cold sensation from the marble crossed my fingertips, my thoughts drifted to her sitting on the counter and pulling me in for a kiss. I’d gladly let her take it since I wanted to give her everything.

Shaking my head, I blew out a breath.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

I couldn’t eat without thinking about her. My dreams always morphed into stripping her naked, and everything in this damn apartment reminded me of Thea. The couch where she watched The Baseball Bachelor. The counter where she ate her grapes. The bathroom where she’d spray her floral perfume.

She was fucking everywhere.

I couldn’t get her off my mind since that stupid dinner with Matty and Britt, but I was almost certain if I spoke to Thea about it, she’d laugh in my face. She’d no doubt tip her head back so far she’d expose her long neck, and all I’d be able to think about was how the skin on her collarbone tasted.

Could I feel her pulse quicken as my lips skated across her skin?

Would she shamelessly clutch onto my shoulders, begging me for more?

And this was the problem.

Still leaning against the counter, I dropped my head and glared at my sweatpants-covered boner. What was I? Fifteen?

Fuck.

I needed to get a grip on something other than my cock before I was completely done for.

My dick perked up when I heard Thea shuffling across her room. I moved forward, pressing my ear against the door, and wondered if I could hear anything which would help me decipher who she went on a date with so I could throw a football at his head.

Wow. That one thought alone made me realize it was too late. I was already obsessed with her. I wanted her so badly; I was pining for her. Something I’d never done before because frankly, I had better ways to increase my serotonin than chasing after girls when I didn’t need to.

But now there was Thea. The girl I’d put to the back of my mind so her brother would feel better about her starting college. Had he seen what I’ve only just realized? That I only had this kind of spitfire relationship with her. That every time she spoke, it sparked something deep inside me?

I couldn’t stop imagining Thea in every possible position doing unthinkable things to me, all thanks to Britt planting a seed in my mind that I was desperate to shake out.

The door was closed, and I was still on the wrong side of it. After failing out of one year already, I couldn’t go on like this. I didn’t want to suffer through another semester of summer school to ensure I could still graduate next year, so I needed to concentrate, which only meant one thing.

She needed to know I was having inappropriate thoughts about her, then maybe we could discuss ways to stop it.

With my forehead resting on her door, I blew out a breath before gently rasping my knuckles across it.

“Thea?” I said, then cleared my throat. I pressed my ear against it, listening out for any sound from her. There was nothing. There was no way she’d be asleep yet. She would’ve had to get out of that dress.

Maybe I could help.

I growled at my own thoughts. Why didn’t I feel like I owned them anymore? Why did it feel like Thea had sunk her nails into my brain and was clutching at every nerve, controlling my thoughts?

And why the hell did that thought turn me on?

“Thea, I need to tell you something.” Wetting my lips, I said, “I can’t stop thinking about you. Fuck, that’s an understatement. You’ve taken over every single thought. I don’t want you going out with another guy because I don’t think he’ll ever be able to satisfy you the way I could, the way I want to.” I closed my eyes, biting my bottom lip. Was I taking this too far? Probably, but I wasn’t known for my subtlety. “Let me take you out on a date instead. I can’t promise I’ll be as charming or dashing as the dude you went out with tonight, but just give me a chance to show you I’m something other than your annoying roommate.” I paused, thinking about it all for a second. “Or at least let me sleep with you, I might be able to get some of my brain back then.”

My ears prickled as she shuffled around her room, which I took as confirmation she’d heard my request. Was she coming to the door? Why did I have visions of her opening it and pushing me against the counter so she could kiss me? Oh, yeah, because I was obsessed.

Five minutes went by, and the door didn’t open.

I knocked one more time, and although there was no response, that was answer enough. She wasn’t interested. She was trying to help me save face by leaving me out here to stew in my own confession.

Dammit.

I turned, resting my back against the door, and ran a hand through my hair.

Nothing. Not even a shitty retort to keep me at bay.

What was I expecting? She just got home from a date, one that went so well she was planning a second one. I wasn’t an idiot. I knew what guys would try after the second date, and it seemed she was all for it. She told me she kept him waiting tonight as a game. I had no doubts she’d probably invite him in next time to gloat. They’d go into her room, and I’d have to listen to them have obnoxiously loud sex.

I huffed, stalking to my room. This wasn’t me. I wasn’t supposed to be down bad for a girl with no interest in me. Not one iota.

Slamming the door, I paced my room, thinking about how stupid I was to admit everything to Thea like that. Now she knew I was obsessed with her and would probably rub it in my face in the morning.

The lights around the edges of my gaming chair were lighting up as messages were popping up on my computer. Liam, no doubt, wanted to do a live tonight and capitalize on his face going viral again. How was I supposed to work through level sixty when I couldn’t focus?

My ears perked up when I heard Thea moving in her room. So she was up. I bet she was texting her new man, telling him how obsessed her roommate was with her. Who was this idiot, anyway? I needed to talk to him. Muttering to myself, I grabbed my phone and decided to text the one person directly responsible for this.

Jackson: Britt. Did Thea go on a date tonight?

Britt: Why do you want to know?

Jackson: Because I do. Now, tell me who it was before I lose my mind.

Matty: Don’t speak to my wife like that.

Jackson: What are you doing here? I thought I was texting Britt privately.

Matty: Pay attention, you’re texting the group chat.

Matty: But also, don’t text my wife privately.

Matty: Ever.

Jackson: Possessive much? Is this how he won you over, Britt? I can imagine you like that kind of thing. Well, you know what? I like being bossed around in the sheets too, so if you want to be in charge for once, I’m here.

Matty: I’m blocking you.

Jackson: No, you’re not. You have too much fun with me to do that.

Britt: Is there something you need, J?

Jackson: Yeah, your help. You need to text Thea and find out who she was on a date with tonight.

Britt: Not going to happen.

Jackson: Why not? It’s a little text to your friend to ask what she was up to. I can even write it for you. All you need to do is copy the text, paste it into the chat, and click send. Then your work is done. That’s it. Simple.

Jackson: Hey Thea, what did you get up to tonight? Who are you dating?

Jackson: *Pointing up finger emoji* There you go. Now text her.

Britt: No.

Jackson: Really?

Britt: Really.

Jackson: I’m beginning to see why it took so long for you and Matty to get together.

Matty: Watch it.

Britt: I’m not doing it because if she did go on a date and hasn’t told you, then she doesn’t want you to know. Besides, she deserves some privacy. Living with you and her brother has got to be suffocating.

Jackson: So, that’s how this is going to go? You’re going to cast a spell on me so I can’t get Thea off my mind, and then you’re just going to leave me hanging like this? Desperately trying to figure out who she wants to date?

Britt: When did you tell us you couldn’t get Thea off your mind?

Jackson: Right now. I also mentioned it when I called you a witch, but you didn’t respond to that, so I’m going to pretend you didn’t see it.

Matty: You called my wife a witch?

Jackson: It was a term of endearment. Frankly, if I had a woman with such cosmic powers, I wouldn’t get her to use them to curse my half-wit teammate into crushing on his roommate.

Britt: You’re not a half-wit.

Matty: Hold on a minute. Was Britt right? Do you have a crush on Thea?

Jackson: I didn’t until Britt planted that little seed in my head! When I got home from dinner with you both, Thea was snuggled on the couch, and well, I think I literally caught feelings in that very moment. Feelings that are getting really hard to shake off. Even imagining a threesome between us did nothing. Suddenly, Thea came front and center … Literally.

Matty: A threesome between who?

Britt: Those feelings were there long before our dinner FYI.

Matty: Come to think of it, I was pretty sure you had a crush on her when she rolled her pink dinosaur luggage into the foyer of Aiden’s house. Then you just started yelling at each other.

He had a point. I remembered thinking she was a hot piece, not realizing she was Tanner’s sister at first. We were having a good time and joking around when she first got here. It was only after a month that things started to go sour.

Britt: Did Thea meet anyone new recently? Maybe that’s who she went on a date with.

Anyone new?

Mmm. Not that I know of … Wait a minute. The baseball and hockey guys. What were their names again? Henry and Bra-Brandon. Fuck. She met them two days ago. What if she was going out with one of them? What if she was going out with both of them? How the hell was I supposed to compete with two dicks? Both of whom were used to playing with their sticks.

I snarled and this animalistic urge to claim her took me over. Fucking hell, this needed to stop. This wasn’t right. She was my roommate and my best friend’s sister.

Matty: I think you should record yourself telling her. I want to see how that goes down.

I bit my bottom lip, thinking about it. I already told her, and she silently rejected me. It was no use. Thea didn’t want me even if my dick only wanted her.

What the hell was I supposed to do?

After sitting for a few minutes, an idea came to my mind. I needed to break the curse, and the only way to do that was to do someone else.

Yes. That was the only way forward. Screwing someone else would get her off my mind, but who could I call on such short notice? One girl came to mind, and I figured I’d at least try. Even if I didn’t sleep with her, at least going out with someone who didn’t live in this apartment might help get my mind off Thea.

Swiping out of the chat with Britt and Matty, I searched through my contacts, coming to one I hadn’t texted in over a year.

Jackson: Are you around tomorrow night?

I tossed the phone onto my bed before joining it and staring at the ceiling. This wasn’t the way I was expecting my night to go. Rejected by Thea and still thinking about her. Man, I was a glutton for punishment.