Chapter 8
JACK
Ilet the screen door slam behind me. What was I thinking, offering my teenage neighbor free entry to my house? I spent the last few months staying away from her and with one sentence I blew it all to shit.
I went out there to let her know I was next door if she or Austin needed anything—well, her, really. Austin is a little shit who doesn’t deserve anything. But when I saw Jessi’s red, watery eyes, I couldn’t resist comforting her. Something inside me wanted to ease her pain. Make her smile again.
The same spark that jolted my body the night in the garage hit me back there. But maybe there’s a reason we haven’t talked in months. Did I scare her? Could she see what was happening to me right in front of her? Does she think I’m a sick old man?
There have been multiple parties since that night, but Jessi has never once said a word about it or come back. Then again, I haven’t talked to her either. The truth is, she rattled me that night and made me question everything about myself.
But there’s nothing wrong with offering to help a young woman with beautiful eyes, right? Her father asked me for a favor, and all I’m doing is honoring it.
Maybe I’m going about it the wrong way. I don’t have kids—never wanted the responsibility—so maybe I don’t know what’s appropriate or not.
But I do know that leaving a teenage girl in a house full of boys is not appropriate.
I’ve seen the way they treat Jessi, and I’ve heard the things they say to her.
“Dammit. What am I doing?” I huff as I open the cabinet, searching for something to eat.
I haven’t been to the grocery store in weeks, and the shelves scream for attention.
But I’m not about to head back outside and risk seeing her again and say something else I’ll regret, so frozen pizza it is. Again.
Thankfully, I do have beer.