Page 37

Chapter Thirty-Seven

JACKSON

T his week went by in a blur, and before I know it, it’s time for our celebratory parade. My teammates and I are about to board our respective open top buses, and despite the rain, we’re all exhilarated. The parade starts in North Beach and goes all down to South Pointe, where the stage is set.

Chad and I are on the same bus as the Kaminski twins, and both are drunk and loud already. Chad and I need to drink a lot to catch up. I definitely need something stronger than beer. I’m a little tired and sore, and my throat was scratchy this morning. I hope I’m not getting sick.

While we wait, Chad calls Jane. She’s recovered from surgery, but now, she’s dealing with early pregnancy symptoms and puking her guts out.

With the phone glued to his ear and his brows creased, Chad starts to pace. I can’t hear the conversation, but I can guess Jane isn’t feeling better. It sucks for Chad and for me. Izzie was supposed to come with her sister, and if Jane doesn’t come, I’m not sure she will.

If she doesn’t, it’s my own damn fault. I should have told her how I felt during one of the numerous times we talked on the phone during the week. I got it in my head that I had to tell her in person, but our schedules have been too crazy and we haven’t seen each other.

After a couple minutes, Chad ends the call and turns to me.

“How’s Jane?” I ask.

“She’s still feeling pretty rough. Izzie is with her now, so that makes me feel a bit better.”

“So… they aren’t coming.” I try to hide my disappoint, but I don’t think I manage.

He shakes his head. “No.”

“The weather is miserable anyway. They can watch on TV from the comfort of the couch.”

“Yeah.”

Logan joins us, throwing his arms around Chad’s and my shoulders. “Are you ready to party or what?”

Alex comes over, holding four miniature bottles of Fireball. “I got the shots!”

I grimace. “Couldn’t you find anything better?”

“Don’t wanna? I’ll drink yours.”

I take one of the bottles from his hand. “Give me that.”

We take our shots, then it’s time to hop on the bus. Fireball is not my go-to choice when it comes to shots, but I can’t deny it does help with the tiredness. I’m alert now and ready for the show.

* * *

IZZIE

I won’t deny it, I was disappointed to miss the parade, but I couldn’t go without Jane. She was my excuse to be there. Jackson did invite me to go, but we’re not together, and the last thing I want is to be seen canoodling with him in front of thousands of fans and cameras. So I kept Jane company and watched the whole thing on TV, which was okay, until they showed the players with their families and I saw Caroline hanging all over Jackson. Jealousy swept over me like a tsunami. She didn’t miss out on supporting Jackson at such an important event for him.

Maybe I should have gone. Fuck .

Regret is a bitch, but there’s nothing I can do about it. I head out before Chad gets home, because I have a shift at Triana. Usually, time flies when I’m at work, but tonight, I keep looking at the clock and checking my phone. Part of me expects Jackson to show up, but as the end of my shift approaches, the likelihood that he’ll surprise me is low. There isn’t a text from him either.

I’m in a foul mood, and it doesn’t help that I keep replaying the scene of Jackson and Caroline together, having a good time.

The restaurant is now closed, and I’m wiping the bar with excessive force when Manuel comes over. “I think that spot is clean.”

“What?” I snap.

“Que te pasa, tia?”

“Sorry. I’m not in a good mood tonight.”

“I noticed. Is it because you didn’t go to the parade to celebrate with your boyfriend?”

“He’s not my boyfriend,” I grit out. “But yes.”

Manuel’s brows arch. “What? He didn’t invite you?”

I sigh, slumping my shoulders. “He did, but Jane wasn’t feeling well, and I didn’t want to go without her.”

He snorts. “Since when do you need your sister with you to do stuff?”

His comment irritates me further. “I don’t, but I don’t want anyone to know I’m fooling around with Jackson. Without her there, it’d be obvious.”

He rolls his eyes. “Ay que drama.”

I hit his arm with the towel. “Stop making me feel worse.”

“Why don’t you stop by his house and surprise him, if you feel so bad?”

I bite my lower lip. “I don’t know if he’s home.”

“But he could be home.” He wiggles his brows up and down. “Where’s the confident Izzie I know?”

His question gives me pause. I am confident, and I don’t like how my relationship with Jackson has made me so insecure. I should go see him tonight and figure out once and for all what we’re doing. I’m done with all the question marks.

* * *

A s I approach Jackson’s house, the gremlins in my stomach gain strength, making me queasy. I almost turned around a few times on the way here. I’m shaking when I finally park in front of the house and feel immense relief when I see that the lights are on. He’s home.

But then insecurity rears its ugly head again, paralyzing me. I check my phone one more time, hoping I missed a text from him. No such luck.

“Come on, Izzie. You can do this.”

I get out of the car and square my shoulders as I walk to his front door, but I need a couple of steadying breathes before I ring the doorbell. My heart races while I wait for Jackson to answer the door.

I’m smiling when it finally opens, but what happens next feels like a sucker punch. Caroline is standing on the other side, wearing one of Jackson’s button-down shirts and nothing else. My stomach drops through the earth, and my heart shrinks into nothing.

“Oh, it’s you,” she says all smug and shit. “What do you want?”

My pulse is pounding in my ears, and nausea hits me hard. I want to cry, but I won’t do it in front of her. Through the lump in my throat, I manage to say, “Nothing, not a damn thing.”

I pivot as fast as I can and stride back to my car lest she see the tears in my eyes. My hands are shaking as I start the car and then peel away from the curb, burning rubber. It doesn’t take long for hot tears to roll down my cheeks. I wipe them away quickly, but they keep coming.

I can’t believe I was so stupid as to allow myself to care for that son of a bitch. Jackson Darcy is a major asshole, and my heart is in pieces.

* * *

JACKSON

“Who was at the door?” I ask, walking into the living room.

I feel like shit. My head is pounding, and my throat is on fire. There’s no doubt now. I am sick. My skin is clammy, even though I just took a shower.

“No one.” Caroline comes into view, wearing one of my button-down T-shirts and no pants.

“What the hell are you wearing?”

She blushes. “Oh, my clothes were wet from the rain, and I wanted to change into dry ones. You don’t mind, do you?”

“I do mind. Put some pants on, for fuck’s sake.”

Her eyes widen. “They’ll be huge on me.”

Chills run down my spine. I just want to go to bed and sleep. Chad left the celebration early, and I was dumb enough to share an Uber with Caroline. I should have stopped her from coming inside my house, but I was already feeling like roadkill.

“You should go home. I’m sick, and I don’t want to give you the flu.”

She walks over, smiling in a way that makes my skin crawl. Or maybe it’s the fever. I don’t know.

“I don’t care. Let me take care of you, Jacks.”

I step back. “I don’t need you to take care of me. Just go, Caroline. I’m not in the mood for your games.”

She pouts. “This isn’t a game, Darcy. I’m legit worried about you. I’ll make you chicken soup.”

“You don’t cook.”

She throws her hands up in the air. “Fine. I’ll order some chicken soup.”

“You know what? Whatever. I’m going to bed.”

I go back to my room and lock the door behind me to be safe. I don’t trust Caroline not to come in here while I’m sleeping. She already went through my stuff while I was in the shower. I locate my phone to text Izzie, but then I remember it died a while ago. I plug it in to charge so I can finally talk to her. She’s the only person I want taking care of me right now. I close my eyes for a second, and oblivion takes over.