13
Noah
The look on her face is priceless as Jett shoots up from the blanket, her jaw slack.
“Wait. You know Silas Harrison? Like, know him?”
Chuckling, I slip my arm off the couch and pull her closer. “We grew up together. He and my sister dated for a while.”
I thought he and Oakley were solid. Hell, I expected him to put a ring on her finger pretty quickly, but they split right before he signed his entry-level contract. Oaks still won’t discuss it, so I’m clueless about what went down between them. I know she still keeps up with his games, and he always asks how she’s doing when we talk, but both of them remain tight-lipped about anything else.
Jett is still awestruck as I turn my focus back to the game. Or so she thinks. I can’t stop watching her.
This girl.
She isn’t mine—yet—but I already don’t want to let her go. I have never fallen this fast for someone. I rarely enjoy the company of others, found family excluded. Even then, it usually takes months of constant interaction, getting to know them on a deeper level, and connecting with them emotionally.
But this girl . This chaotic windstorm in pint-size packaging owns me on a level that is terrifying for a man who has experienced as much loss as I have.
For weeks, I have been battling my instincts, certain that logic would win out. Emotional connections do not happen at first glance. Love at first sight is a sham. Something that sells in the box office.
Except, it isn’t. Because I have been in love with Jett Taylor since the words “holy fireballs” slipped through her plump little lips. And as she sits here curled into my side while watching my childhood best friend lead his team to victory, I pray she will let me into her beautiful mind someday soon.
***
A crash followed by Sadie’s whimpering wakes me from a dead sleep.
I lay still for a few seconds, trying to gain my bearings. It isn’t until another crash is followed by the sweetest voice yelling profanity that I realize it’s coming from Jett’s loft. The realization kicks me into gear as I toss the covers off and rush toward the front door, grabbing my set of spares from the hook by the coat rack.
I’m not a creeper. I do knock. Twice, actually. But after a minute of Jett not opening the door, my patience runs out and I use my key.
I have never been more out of my league than I am right now. Jett and I have the same floor plan, but where mine is organized, clean, and minimalist, Jett’s is living up to my nickname for her. Pure and total chaos. It looks like a bomb went off. Everything from blankets to pens and notebooks to shoes and clothes cover the entire kitchen and living room areas. A few containers are dumped onto their sides. I assume that’s what caused the crashing sounds.
“Jett? Everything okay?” I ask, taking in her appearance. She is still in the same clothes as earlier, and every ounce of her screams frazzled .
“What the hell? You can’t just break into my apartment. Can’t you see I’m busy?”
I stay put, not saying anything. My face must look at least a little shocked. I can honestly say I was not expecting pure fire when I walked in.
“Ah, hell.” Jett turns away from me, tugging on her messy ponytail. “This is exactly what I never wanted you to see.”
Taking the opportunity to step closer, I gently grip Jett’s shoulder and turn her toward me. As I cradle her cheeks in my hands, I can’t help but marvel at how delicate she is compared to me.
“It’s three in the morning, and it sounded like someone had broken in. What’s going on?”
Her ears and cheeks have taken on a shade of pink that makes me want to never let her go as she fights back the moisture gathering in her eyes. I’d give anything to know what caused the spice to come out full force, but that can wait until whatever caused her panic is handled.
“Jett,” I whisper while tucking a loose hair behind her ear.
She leans into my palm but finally answers.“Squishy is missing.”
That’s…not what I was expecting. “Squishy?”
“Yes, Squishy.”
I don’t try to stop the grin that spreads.“And what exactly is ‘Squishy?’”
The blush that was fading quickly resurfaces.
“Nothing. It’s fine. You can go.”
Finally giving into the urge, I pull her close and wrap my arms around her. “No judgment, remember? Whatever Squishy is, I will help you look.” The sweet satisfaction of her burying her head deeper into my chest as she answers is the highlight of my year so far.
“It is a round character pillow that’s made of some kind of squishy material. Bright purple and turquoise. It was in a doom pile, but I don’t know which one.”
“Hell, I don’t know what a doom pile is, but I’m fairly certain Squishy is hiding under that big pile of yarn in the corner.”
Jett spins so fast, I expect her to tumble over. As her eyes locate the brightly colored item, her shoulders sag in relief. The sweetest smile when she looks back at me with thanks is worth the lack of sleep.
With the pillow squeezed against her chest, she slinks back into my arms, letting me hug her close.
“Want to talk about what caused the dumping of doom boxes at three in the morning?” I press. I don’t want to push her too much, but she needs to get whatever triggered this off her chest. I won’t let her stew in her thoughts if I can help it. Instead of fighting me on it, though, Jett spills.
“Joey, my ex, texted me wanting to meet up and talk. Apparently, he has things he wants to get off his chest.” I think the laugh she lets loose is supposed to be sarcastic, but it just sounds sad.
“Do you want to talk to him?”
She shakes her head against my chest, and I can’t help but hold her closer, kissing the top of her head.
“Do you want to hear what he has to say?”
Again, she shakes her head.
“Then don’t.”
“It’s not that simple.”
“Oh, but it is. ‘No’ is a full sentence. If you don’t want to do something, that’s all there is to it. No one can force you into it. We don’t need people-pleasers. We need self-pleasers.”
She keeps shaking her head, not looking at me. “He was good to me. Kept me on track. Tolerated me.”
“I’m gonna have to stop you right there, sweetheart.”
“What do you mean stop me ?” She glances up through her lashes, and I want to beat the guy senseless for causing such self-doubt in such a phenomenal human being.
“Listen carefully to me. Commit these words to your memory. You are beautiful, inside and out. Anyone who isn’t cherishing every ounce of you doesn’t deserve to breathe the same air as you.”
Our bodies are so close now from me pulling her against me that a piece of paper would not fit between us as I stare deep into those gorgeous green eyes, taking in the golden flecks.
“Embrace the chaos.”