Chapter 9
You don’t need luck, girl. You’ve got this
“Do I look okay?” I asked Cassidy as I twirled in front of the full-length mirror attached to the wardrobe door.
“I haven’t really ever gone on a date before.
Mase and I, we just kinda hung out together most days, and it often involved workout attire.
And Jay and I, we happened, and then we went out, but mostly with other people around at first. It was never a date date where you don’t really know the other person and have to make small talk. ”
Tonight, I was wearing dark-blue jeans I had paired with a sleeveless black lacy top, a charcoal knitted cardigan with an open front, and black knee-high boots my roommate had lent me.
I had curled my hair in loose waves and was wearing minimal makeup and silver hoop earrings.
Looking at my reflection once again, I added a coat of petal-pink lip gloss and smacked my lips together.
“Is it too much?”
“Mel, stop. You look gorgeous. Jett would have to be blind not to see it.”
I huffed a long breath. “Thanks.” I grabbed a cream fake-leather purse and a hot-pink one from a hook by the wardrobe door. “Which one?” I posed for her with both.
Sitting on her bed and staring at me, she rolled her jaw back and forth for a few seconds. “Pink. I love the touch of color. It just gives the entire outfit a little je ne sais quoi.”
“Geez, Cassie. Are you sick? You never wear colors, and now you think they look good on me?”
She flicked her wrist. “The keyword is on you. It looks good on you, roomie. I would never be caught dead wearing pink, but when you’re the one wearing it, it works.”
I chuckled. “Thanks… I guess.” I checked the time on my alarm clock.
“Jett will be here any minute now.” I sat on my bed, facing Cassidy.
“Do you think it’s too soon? Should I cancel?
We could go to that Kappa Sigma Gamma party instead.
I heard they hired a DJ. Dancing could be fun.
Or maybe we stay in and watch that documentary you’ve been talking about. ”
I reached for my earrings, about to take them off, when my roommate leaped to her feet and tackled me until I tumbled onto my back on the mattress, both of us laughing.
“Stop. You are going. It doesn’t matter if you never see him after tonight. For once, think about yourself first and have a great night and forget about everyone else. You deserve to have some fun. And if he kisses you, then that’s a bonus. If he doesn’t, his loss.”
She rolled away from me, and we rested on our backs next to each other. Butterflies fluttered in my chest. Maybe I could do this. Let go for a night and have some fun with a nice guy and see what would happen. No strings attached, no complication, no bittersweet history between us.
“Unless you’re secretly pining for Mason.”
I hit her with a pillow. “No. I thought I’d made myself clear every time you’ve broached the subject since I came back earlier.”
“You can’t seriously tell me that encounter in the athletic building hallway wasn’t hot. I was swooning just from the way you described it.”
“Shut up. Did you miss the part where I told you he played me and then insulted Jett?”
She grabbed my hand between hers. “No, I didn’t. I’m sure the chemistry between you two was off the charts. Just sayin’. Anyway, forget about him for a night and enjoy yourself, okay?”
My phone chimed with a notification before I could reply.
“He’s here.” I moved to my feet, smoothed down my top with my fingers, and rolled my shoulders back. “Wish me luck.”
“You don’t need luck, girl. You’ve got this.”
Jett waited for me in his car, a silver sedan, nothing too flashy or brand-new, a big change from Jayden’s orange and black sports car.
He smiled at me, a dimple appearing on each side of his mouth, and some of the jitters inside me lessened.
I waved at him, and he climbed out and pressed a chaste kiss to my cheek when I neared the vehicle.
“Look at you.”
Heat crept up my face. I returned his easy smile, fidgeting with my fingers as we faced each other.
In my short existence, other than with Mason and Jayden, and now Donovan—but he didn’t count because he had no chance of ever being a potential boyfriend—I had never been super comfortable with a lot of guys.
Blame it on the Nathan Bellevue episode, but I had a hard time putting my trust in guys I didn’t know.
Jayden had been different because he was my cousin’s best friend, who had vouched for him, and I knew Jeremy would have kicked his ass to another galaxy if Jayden had hurt me when we first got together.
That winter, I dated Jayden because it seemed like a good way to get over Mason.
I had never thought he and I would go the distance.
We were both looking for a distraction. Jayden had broken up with his long-time girlfriend a few weeks before, and I had a bruised heart to nurse.
Despite everything, we clicked. He got me.
And I got him. We were an unlikely pair, but the entire time we’d been together, we made it work.
Until we called it quits. Dating Jayden had helped me grow in so many ways, including becoming more assertive when I needed to be.
Gifted football player and drummer in his free time, he always had a bunch of people trying to befriend him just to bask in his glory.
He wasn’t interested in the circus and did things his own way, pushing most people away.
I liked that about him. He didn’t care about what other people thought of him, not succumbing to the pressure.
Sure, he could be cocky at times, and a bit of a jerk, but never when it came to us.
He had always respected me and treated me like I was the one for him.
Sometimes I missed who we used to be, but a part of me had always known our time together would be short-lived and that he would never be the love of my life.
It was what I had hoped for when we got together that winter.
I didn’t want to get too attached to him so that losing him one day would destroy me.
In the end, my wishes were granted. Just not in the way I expected.
Since we ended our relationship, I’d missed him more as a friend than a boyfriend.
I pushed the thoughts of my ex away and returned my attention to the boy standing before me.
Jett sidestepped to open the passenger door, and I climbed onto the seat while he rounded the vehicle to sit behind the wheel.
He buckled his seatbelt and turned to face me.
“Okay, we have a few options. The show starts at eight, but there are a few warm-up acts before Justin Ward takes the stage. We can eat there and watch them, eat somewhere else first and catch one—or none—later, or grab takeout and eat in the car and chat and only show up for the main event. I’m open to all suggestions. ”
“I’d like to eat there and watch the opening acts.
There’s this girl. Julia Powell. She’s set to be the next big thing.
I saw an interview where she said she was offered a two-year permanent show in Vegas, starting next year, opening for a group I can’t recall the name.
I’d like to see her if it’s okay with you.
She only agreed to open for a few of Justin Ward’s shows because they used to go to high school together and she lost a bet to him back in the day. ”
“Totally fine with me.” He fired the engine. “How was your swimming competition earlier?” he asked after a moment. “Jules mentioned it last night. I think it’s pretty cool that you’re a swimmer.”
Brownie points for remembering stuff about me. “Great. They’re called meets. I placed three times.”
“Impressive.”
“Thank you.”
Another stretch of silence lingered between us.
“Fun fact. Coach gives us ribbons after every meet when we place even though they’re usually reserved for high school, and college meets don’t use them. He says everyone deserves a little positive reinforcement and we should celebrate our victories.”
“I like that. I had a coach who gave us plastic medals after each game if we won when I was little. I collected a bunch and was so proud. I felt like a big deal.”
“Jules said you play hockey.”
“Yep. I’m on the college team. We’re second in our division.”
“Any desire to go pro?”
“Nah. I love the game, but I much prefer medicine. The choice is an easy one.”
“Good, it’s great that you’re following your heart,” I said. “Not a lot of people do.”
“My father wished I’d play football for the longest time, but I was happier with a puck and a stick.” He let out a nervous laugh. “I try to stay real to my passions and not let other people rule my choices.”
“I like the sound of it. For the record, I much prefer hockey nowadays.”
“Something you hate about football?”
I snorted. “The players.”
Jett glanced at me with one raised brow. “Why? I thought everyone loved football players.”
“Long story. I’m trying to stay far away from them as much as possible.”
He grinned. “Does it mean you may accept an invite to come see me play then?”
I returned his smile. “I might.”
He nodded. “Awesome.”
It turned out that Jules was right when she’d claimed her brother and I would be a great fit. We both preferred romantic dramas to sci-fi movies and scary stuff to sitcoms. These days, Jett listened to Billie L. Savage on repeat while training at the gym, and so did I.
“Favorite song?” he asked me as he parked behind the small venue.
“What If I told You So,” we both replied at the same time.
“Are you kidding me?” I asked.
He shook his head. “Nah. The chorus gives me shivers every single time. And that piano intro, it’s something else.”
“Yes. I hope they do a North American tour eventually.”
“That would be insane. A music festival would be best. Imagine if Robert K and Sun Ray opened for them. It would be epic.”
“Ohmygod, I’m gonna pray for it to happen. I always listen to ‘If It Had Been You’ to get in the mood before a meet.”