Page 22

Chapter Twenty-Two

IZZIE

W as it weird, showering in Jackson’s bathroom? Absolutely. But at least my hair is clean, and I don’t look like a slime creature anymore. I put my PJ bottoms back on, and Jackson’s T-shirt. It’s a team shirt with the Lions logo in the middle. It looks like a dress on me.

I solve my lack of shoes problem by grabbing a pair of slippers I spot on the shelf under the sink. I’m sure all rooms have them, but since I didn’t plan on dashing out of my room, I didn’t look for mine.

I’m a little nervous to go out and face Jackson again. I’m not sure why there are gremlins in my stomach. I take a deep breath and walk out, but freeze when I see that Jackson fell asleep sitting on the couch. His chin is dipped low, and his head tilted to the right, making his long bangs sweep across his forehead. The way my heart skips a beat tells me I quite like it when his hair is messy like that.

This couldn’t have been a better outcome. I can just slip out and go to the lobby to get a new a key without having to deal with another awkward moment. But instead, I approach him on soft feet. It’s like he’s magnet and I’m steel, unable to resist the pull.

Like a creep, I watch him sleep for a moment. He has a few scratches on his cheek, and a bruise on his chin. But despite being banged up, he’s still sexy as hell. Before I can stop myself, I touch his lips with the tips of my fingers.

He opens his eyes, and my heart skips a beat. Crap on toast. I pull my hand back fast, as if I got electrocuted. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you.”

“I guess I was more tired than I thought.” He yawns and uses his fist to cover it. Then he drops his gaze to his shirt and looks at me again. A couple seconds pass. I should look away, but I can’t. I’m feeling the pull at maximum force now. I’m pretty sure I stopped breathing. “You look good wearing my clothes,” he says finally, in a husky voice that makes my entire body tingle.

My face flushes. “I’d better go get a new key.” I start to move backward, but Jackson reaches for my arm, fanning the spark in my belly into raging flames.

“Wait. I’ll come with you.”

My heart is beating like a stampede, and I’m tempted to accept the offer, but that’s why I shouldn’t. “I’d better go alone. I don’t want to start rumors if we’re seen together.”

He stares at me as if he’s trying to read my mind. Then he releases my arm. “Right. That wouldn’t be ideal.” His voice is tight and cold now. He picks up his phone and acts as if I’m not in the room.

Disappointment washes over me, and I berate myself for feeling this way. “I hope it’s okay that I borrowed the bathroom slippers.”

“I don’t care,” he replies without looking at me.

I flinch. I’ve definitely overstayed my welcome. “Okay, then. Thanks for letting me use your shower.”

“No problem.” He still won’t meet my eyes.

Jesus. What’s the matter with this guy? I decline his offer, and he acts like a toddler who got denied candy. Now I’m irritated for thinking he was sexy. He’s still a jackass.

I turn on my heels and walk out in a huff. I’m glad the door is heavy and the hinges are designed to close softly. I’d have to pull it super hard to bang it shut, and I don’t want Jackson to know he annoyed me.

When I turn toward the elevator, I realize I’m not alone in the hallway. Gavin is standing a few doors down and staring at me.

Fuckity fuck.

“Darcy, huh? I thought you hated his guts.”

“This isn’t what it looks like,” I tell him.

He shakes his head, but what it kills me is the look of displeasure on his face. Like I somehow owe him an explanation for my actions. That pisses me off.

“You don’t need to say anything. I get it. Despite Darcy being a condescending ass, women still flock to him.”

“I didn’t ‘flock to him,’” I grit out. “I got locked out of my room and bumped into him on the way to the lobby.”

“Honestly, Izzie. I’m tired, and I don’t give a fuck.” He walks into his room and shuts the door in my face.

What the hell! Who’s the asshole now?

I keep walking down the hallway, ignoring the burning of my ears. Even though Jackson isn’t my favorite person, maybe he was right about Gavin. Well… they can both eat a bag of dicks. I’d better not have to deal with another jerk, or I might lose my shit completely. Those stupid Vikings fans had better pray I don’t cross paths with them.

* * *

JACKSON

Our flight leaves Vancouver early in the morning. I skipped breakfast, which wasn’t my intention. I kept snoozing my alarm until I had no time to do anything besides get dressed and head down to the bus. Thankfully, Chad’s waiting for me with a large cup of coffee in his hand.

“Good morning,” he says in a cheerful tone, and offers me the cup.

“Morning. Thanks for the coffee.”

He smiles. “No problem. I figured you’d need it, since you didn’t come down for breakfast.”

“I couldn’t get out of bed.” I take a sip of the coffee, burning my tongue in the process. “I’m surprised you did.”

He smirks. “Yeah. I never went to sleep. Thank you for bringing Jane here.”

“You’re welcome. So… the wedding is back on?”

“Oh, it’s so on.”

We start moving toward the bus. “Did you set a date?”

“Not an exact date, but Jane mentioned a wedding destination… maybe Seville.”

“Oof. Seville in the summer will be quite hot.”

“Yeah, I know. But I’ll do whatever she wants. She’s running the show.”

“What’re you guys talking about?” Alex asks as he stops next to us.

“Chad’s wedding.”

“Ah cool. I never asked you how you proposed.”

I raise an eyebrow. “Why do you wanna know, Kaminski? Planning a proposal of your own?”

His face and ears turn bright red. “No, no, no. Blair and I are in no hurry to tie the knot.”

Logan laughs from ahead. “Yeah, right.”

“Shut up, Logan.” He joins his brother, leaving Chad and me alone again.

We’re one of the last ones to get on the bus, but we always sit in the same seats toward the back. That means we walk right past Wickham, who’s sitting on the aisle. Chad yawns, and Wickman blurts out, “Late night for you too, huh?”

“You could say that,” Chad replies.

I would have ignored the snake.

“Now I know why Jackson brought the other sister as well. One for you, and one for him.” He smiles maliciously.

Chad turns around. “What did you say?”

“Oh, you didn’t know Jackson hooked up with Izzie?”

“What the fuck are you talking about?” I step closer to him.

He arches his brows. “Don’t play the innocent card, Darcy. I saw Izzie sneaking out of your room in the middle of the night, wearing your T-shirt. Now I know why you left the bar before anyone else.”

Fuck. He must have seen Izzie when she walked out of my room. I rest my hand on the top of his seat and lean forward, getting into his personal space. “Listen, you weasel. I didn’t hook up with Izzie. You’d better shut your mouth, or I’ll do it for you.”

He narrows his eyes. “Is that a threat?”

I stand straighter. “No, a warning.”

Everyone on the bus is staring at me. Since Wickham spoke loud enough for everyone to hear, I decide to do the same. “If I hear anyone spreading rumors about Izzie or Jane Bennet, they will answer to me. Is that clear?”

I hear mumbles of affirmation, and that’s good enough for me. I know the guys won’t blabber. The only snake in our midst is Wickham. It’s high time we get rid of him.

Once Chad and I are in our seats, Chad turns to me. “What was Izzie doing in your room?”

“She got locked out of her room, and I happened to bump into her as she was making her way to the lobby to get a key.”

“Okay… but why did end up in your room?”

“Some idiot Vikings fans pranked her. She was covered in slime. I told her she could clean up in my room before she went to lobby. I offered to go with her, but she declined. She didn’t want anyone to start rumors.”

“That didn’t work out, huh? Why is Wickham such a douche?”

I shrug. “Don’t know. Some people are simply born that way.”

Chad takes out his phone, my guess is to text Jane. He puts the phone away after a minute and asks, “There’s really nothing going on between you and Izzie, right?”

“No, of course not,” I reply, and immediately, a shard of guilt lodges in my chest.

I don’t know what’s going on between Izzie and me, but it’s definitely something.