5. Jane Air-Head #2
My jaw clenches. "Not as much as a kick in the shins!"
"Now," Jesse says, hesitantly reaching for the cereal, "didn't your parents ever teach you that violence isn't the answer?" His lips twist up as he pries the dented box from my rigid fingers, examining the damage. "Then again...they did raise a cereal killer."
"I—" Unbelievable. Is this real life right now? Is he seriously making dad jokes at a time like this? "I don't even know what to say. What...what is happening right now?"
"Well, I'm eating breakfast, and you're "—Jesse shrugs, pouring milk into the bowl—" you're having a tantrum."
My jaw drops. "A tantrum? A tantrum?!"
"Yes, a tantrum," he says, plopping down on a chair, cereal bowl resting on his chest as he looks up at me. He shoves a milky spoonful into his mouth before adding, "By the way, your tit's out."
"What—" My cheeks burn with crimson embarrassment as I look down at my exposed left breast, hanging over the towel's edge. "Oh my God!" Spinning around, I whimper. "Oh, Lord, please give me strength."
"Ask him for a bra too," Jesse quips from behind me. " Size...34C?" He pauses, a proud chuckle rumbling from his chest. "Right?"
"Excuse me?!" I whip my head around, shooting him daggers. "I beg your pardon?"
"Begging so soon?" He smirks. "Must be a personal record." Before I can release an onslaught of verbal assault upon him, he sits up straight, placing his bowl on the table. "So that was Rad on the phone." Jesse rubs his chin, eyes glistening with toying trouble. "You know, your brother."
"I know," I state slowly, chest rising with agitation. "You wouldn't let me talk to him."
"Mmm..." Jesse frowns. "Nah, I wouldn't do something like that."
"It just happened."
"Did it?" He cocks his head. "You sure?"
I see what he's doing. It's blatant now. So freaking obvious. He wants to rile me up. He wants to get under my skin. But he won't. I can't give him that satisfaction.
Must. Remain. Cool.
"Then maybe I misinterpreted your actions," I state, keeping my breathing level. "My mistake, Jesse ."
"Really?" This time his frown is genuine. "That's it?"
"What?"
"Shit, babe." Jesse clicks his tongue, slapping his hands on his thighs before standing up, his enormous frame hovering over me.
"You gave up far too quickly. I definitely thought you had a couple more rounds left in ya.
" He nods down at my breasts. "Whoops. Tit's out again.
" I snap my gaze down, and he lets out a sly laugh. "Kidding. "
Screw it.
Cool is a setting for my car seat, not my personality.
"What is wrong with you?!" I shove his chest. "Are you a child? Is this some sort of game to you?"
"A little bit, yeah," he says. "I don't know about you , but I'm having a fucking blast." He traces the pulsing vein on my forehead, the pad of his finger rough and textured. Like a feral cat, I swat it away. "Oh, come on. Lighten up, princess. Life's too short to get this worked up over a joke."
"I do not find what you're doing funny," I state, crossing my arms. " At all. "
"See? And this is why I told Rad you can't stay here. You're kind of a buzzkill, babe." Jesse shrugs noncommittally. "Plus, I have enough problems as it is, and babysitting a spoiled Southern belle just isn't something I can take on right now."
"Spoiled?" I scoff. "I am not spoiled, darlin'."
"Not spoiled? Shit, maybe you are funny after all." Jesse lets out a boisterous laugh as his phone vibrates. He reads the message, his smile melting into a frigid scowl. "Fucking Rad. Are you shitting me right now?"
I bite my lip, attempting to read the text. "Is that Beau?"
"Nope," he says flatly, grabbing the bowl of cereal off the table and circling the dining room. The airy brightness that was radiating from his body vanishes as he stomps away from me. "Let me show you around."
"Show me around?" I ask, trailing behind him. "What is going on? What did that message say?"
"You ask a lot of questions," Jesse muses, stuffing his face with empty carbs as he walks around the one-story house.
"This is the living room. You've seen the kitchen.
" He looks back at me, winking. "Clearly, you found the bathroom.
" He passes the guest room. "Your room." He nods at the closed door at the end of the hallway before turning around.
"And that's my room." Sighing, he walks back through the living room to the balcony that leads into the backyard.
With one hand, he opens the sliding door, revealing a gorgeous terrace with a wooden gazebo, a modest-sized pool, and various blooming flower trees. "And this is the yard."
"Why are you showing me all this?" I ask skeptically. "I thought I could only stay one night."
"The powers that be say otherwise," Jesse huffs, placing the cereal bowl on a side table before checking his watch. "Your brother went over my head. Looks like we're stuck together 'til they're home."
"Are you serious?" Relief washes over me. I knew Beau would be the solution. This means he wants me here. This means there's hope. "I can stay here?"
"Mhmm," Jesse hums, no longer in a playful mood as he heads to the foyer and grabs a leather vest off the coat rack.
"I'm gonna head out for the day. Don't burn the place down while I'm gone, yeah?
" He nods toward the kitchen. "There are some Chinese leftovers in the fridge if you get hungry.
" He gives me a knowing smirk. "Or cereal. "
"Uh—" Carbs on carbs on carbs. I mentally calculate how much cash I have left in my wallet. "Is there a grocery store around here? "
Jesse's brow perks up. "Thought you said you have no money."
"I have enough for an apple," I say, flicking my nails. "And maybe some fixings for a small salad. You know...something healthy ."
Jesse blinks. "I'm sure you'll find something in the fridge that fits your rabbit diet."
"Simply because I don't want to consume processed sugar or MSG doesn't make me a rabbit," I state with a huff.
"No, it just makes you incredibly difficult." Jesse sighs, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I'll pick something up for you on my way home tonight, okay? In the meantime, a couple of bites of human food won't kill you."
"Not immediately, at least," I groan. If Momma knew I was eating sugary cereal, she'd have my head on a spike. "Just leave me a set of keys. I'll look up directions to the store."
"Can't. Only got one set." Looping his arms through the vest, Jesse hikes the collar and grabs his keys from a metal bowl on the console table. He tosses me a smug side-eye. "Plus, you're not allowed to leave the house."
"What?" I ask, taken aback. "I'm not allowed to leave ? Says who?"
"El Presidente," Jesse says, a hint of bitter resentment in his tone as he opens the front door. His features harden as he looks back at me. "Don't leave."
"What is this? Thornfield Hall?" I glower at him. "You gonna lock me in my room?"
"If you leave while I'm out, then yes, I guess I'm gonna have to." He snorts, running a hand through his hair. "Thornfield Hall, huh? Funny."
"Why's that funny?" I ask, scowling. "Is imprisoning someone funny to you?"
"It's just fitting." Jesse's amused gaze floats across my scrunched-up face. "You're definitely a Bertha."
I tilt my head, impressed the man knows his literature yet equally offended he'd compare me to a violent, neurotic housewife from the 1800s.
"I am not a Bertha.” I hold my head up high. "If anything, I'm a Jane."
"Yeah." He chuckles, twirling his car keys around his index finger. "Jane Air-head ." My jaw drops to the deepest corners of hell, and he has the audacity to laugh at me. "Enjoy your castle, Bertha ."
Jesse's not a smart man, I'll tell you that. Now that Beau has stepped in to ensure that I cannot be evicted from this temporary nightmare of a living situation, my need to pander and play nice to my host is virtually non-existent.
You want Bertha, Jesse Paxton? I can give you Bertha.
"Oh, don't worry," I call out, smirking at Jesse as he struts toward his truck. "I plan on making myself right at home."