Chapter 22
JESSI
When I wake up in my newly decorated room, I know I didn’t fall asleep there. At some point Jack carried me. We talked. He left. But I don’t remember exactly what happened. Maybe he can remind me.
But Jack is gone by the time I wander downstairs. “Man, when he said he wakes up early, I wasn’t expecting this early,” I say to the empty kitchen.
My thoughts take over the minute I sit down to breakfast. I need to figure out what I’m going to do next. I can’t spend my days lounging on Jack’s couch while he works to support me. My dad gave me money, but I don’t want to be a mooch, so the pressure to do something is weighing on me.
An idea pops into my head. If I really want to leave Dad, Shannon, and Austin in the dust, I should at least explore a degree I can use to find a high-paying job.
After spending the day investigating colleges and potential majors and wondering why I even bothered if I don’t like anything I see, I decide to make dinner. I figure it’s the least I can do. I make fajitas and rice.
As I’m finishing, I hear the garage door open.
“What smells so good?” Jack yells when he walks in.
“I made dinner. I hope you didn’t already eat,” I say, my skin tingling with nerves. Will he think I’m intruding or getting too comfortable in his space?
He comes into full view, and I swear I have never seen anyone sexier. I totally get why some women find men with dirt-covered hands and grease-stained jeans hot. Jack is a beautiful sight.
“I could get used to this, but you know you don’t need to do this, right?” Jack says.
“I know. I want to!” I twist the dish towel in my hands and beam at his approval. Then I remember that I can’t stay here forever, as much as I love playing house with Jack.
What if he starts dating someone who doesn’t want me here?
I’m not sure why the thought of Jack being with another woman makes me cringe, but it does.
He’s made it very clear that I’m too young for him.
I need to get over my infatuation with him and stay on my side of the line.
“I can put the food in the warmer while you shower, or we can eat now. It’s up to you,” I tell him.
“Give me five and I’ll be right back!” He kicks off his riding boots, grabs the hem of his T-shirt, and rips it up over his head in one fluid motion.
I lied. He definitely got sexier.
He runs upstairs, shouting as he reaches the second floor, “Oh, and pick a movie. You wanted to watch one last night.”
I snort. I doubt I’ll be able to pay attention to anything after seeing him shirtless.
If the MC life doesn’t work out for him, he’ll have no problem starring in Magic Mike.
As the shower roars upstairs, I pick out a mafia movie. It’s my favorite genre and a film I’ve seen a thousand times. Plus, it doesn’t require much thinking power for me to get up-to-speed on events, should Jack distract me.
The man himself jogs back down as I’m setting the table. Sweatpants hang on his hips, and a backwards hat keeps his hair from dripping into his eyes. My stomach somersaults at the sight of him. I’m hungrier than I was before, but not for food.
He grabs his plate, which I’ve already filled with food, and tilts his head toward the living room. “Let’s eat in there while we watch the movie. What did you decide on?”
I grab my plate, pile on some food, and follow. “Casino, but we can watch something else if you don’t like it. I’m not picky.”
He flashes me a devilish grin. “We’re gonna get along just fine.”
I almost melt into the floor when he follows that statement with a wink. Does he know how tempting he is? I don’t think he has a clue.
Before we can get settled, someone knocks on the door. “If it’s Austin—” I grumble.
“It’s not,” Jack says as he pops up, runs to his cut to retrieve an envelope, and strides to the front door.
I don’t see who’s standing outside, but I can hear them speaking.
“Hey, Jack! I want to thank you, and tell the rest of the club thank you for me. This is going to help with my mom’s cancer treatment.
There’s no way we could have afforded it without y’all.
Whatever you need, if I can do something to help, just ask. You have a great night!”
“No thanks needed. Take care of your mom and bring her by when she’s feeling better.”
Jack closes the door and plops back down on the couch. This is twice he has done something like this for someone in front of me. Who would have thought a hot biker would be so charitable?
We eat our dinner in silence at the coffee table. It’s a comfortable quiet, though, two people enjoying a movie. When he’s done, I grab the dishes to carry them to the kitchen. He snatches the remote and presses a button.
“Don’t pause it,” I tell him. “I’ve seen it a million times. I’ll be quick.”
He sets the remote down and follows anyway. “It’ll be quicker if we do it together.” We quickly clean up the kitchen and plates then go back to our spots on the couch.
“Let’s order some ice cream,” he says midway through the movie. His eyes and smile are bight. There’s no way I can deny him.
“Okay, but we need to make a deal first,” I say.
“Try me.”
“I’m game if I get to pay for it. You paid for the groceries, so it’s only fair that I get to contribute in some way.”
He takes a deep breath. “Deal.”
That was entirely too easy, or maybe we are falling into a more comfortable rhythm, and he knows he can’t pay for everything.
He places the order on his phone and starts the movie again. “When they get here, you can pay them. I marked it cash on delivery.”
“Cool. I’ll have it ready.” I jump up to find my wallet and grab some bills my dad gave me.
After about twenty minutes, the doorbell rings. I open the door to a young kid. “How much do I owe you?” I ask, my eyes scanning the bills in my hand.
He eyes the receipt. “Nothing. This order was paid for with a card. It seems like a nice tip was also included. Thanks!” As he hands me the ice cream, he says, “Have a good night.”
I close the door and glare at Jack. “You think you’re funny, don’t you? I wanted to pay.”
He flashes his perfectly white teeth. “I know you did, but I also wanted to pay for it.”
I sigh. “Listen, we need some ground rules. If I stay for any length of time, I need to feel like I’m contributing.”
Jack pauses the movie again. “Jessi, I have been living alone, getting by just fine for the past decade. I appreciate the offer, but it’s not needed. Save your money. You probably want to go to college, and you’ll need it then.”
“Okay,” I say. “I think money is an issue here. I do need to save and probably make my own. However, let’s talk about how I can pull my weight right now.
” He tries to interrupt me, but I cut him off.
“Let me finish. This is important.” He quiets.
“What if I do laundry, clean the house, and cook dinner every night?”
He eyes me. “I like to clean, and no one should cook every night. That’s too much.”
Hmm. I’m racking my brain. “What if I do laundry, cook five nights a week, and clean up after dinner?”
He sighs and stops eating his ice cream. “Okay. You can do laundry. And cook five nights a week, max. I clean up after dinner. Deal? Oh, and I pay for the two nights we eat out.”
I sit up straight, my heart swelling at the fact that he finally compromised with me. “Deal, but if you have a date or are out with friends, I’ll cover my dinner those nights.”
He holds up his ice cream again. “I don’t date.”
“I know you aren’t dating right now, but that can change. And honestly, I don’t understand why you aren’t. I get that you don’t want children, but I’m sure there are plenty of women who don’t either, or they’d give it up to be with you.”
He sticks his spoon in his sundae and gives me his full attention, but I sense frustration in the way he carries himself. “Do you know any?”
I tap my chin with a finger. “Well, no. It’s not something I go around asking people.”
The corners of his lips twitch. “A long time ago, I came to terms with the fact that I’d likely end up alone.
It’s exhausting to date people who pretend to be someone and then, after enough time, they finally reveal who they really are and what they want.
Dating is a waste of time. It’s easier to keep it casual. ”
“What about love?”
He huffs. “What about it?”
“Haven’t you wanted someone to love, and to love you?”
He takes another spoonful of his sundae. “Once or twice, but not anymore.”
The finality in his words stings, but I force myself to brush my sadness away. “One more thing. I wanted to know if you would care if I tried to get a job at the club? I spent most of my day trying to figure out my next move, and getting a job seems like the most logical option.”
Jack chokes. “A job at the club. Are you crazy?”
I gulp. “If I ever want to get out of my living situation and support myself, I need to work. But if you think the club’s not right for me or too much in your space, I’ll find something else.”
When he doesn’t respond, I go on. “You have an incentive to help me get a job, though. It will mean I get my own place quicker, and I’ll be out of your hair. I do have that IOU in my back pocket.” I bat my eyelashes and put on the most convincing grin.
He studies me for several long moments. “If you really want a job there, I’ll help, but I have one condition.”
I raise an eyebrow. “What’s that?”
“If there are any problems, I want to know immediately. I mean it. Deal?”
I jump up. “Deal.”
He resumes the movie but grabs a blanket from the back of the couch. He must have gotten cold after the ice cream. “I can share,” he says, holding the blanket out to me.
I wave him off. I think it’s better if we have some space between us. “No thanks.”
After a few minutes, Jack slides the blanket off him and over to me.
“What are you doing? Did you get hot already?” I ask.
“No, but I can see you shivering. Since you didn’t want to share, I’ll give it to you.”
“Jack, don’t be ridiculous. Take it.”
“Jessi, I’m fine. I can grab a hoodie.”
I scoot over and wrap the blanket around both of us. “Fine. We can share.” But as I say the words, my skin sizzles, and I question whether I need the blanket at all.
I wake to the TV screensaver scrolling. Jack and I are both lying on the couch. I don’t remember moving into that position, but maybe our bodies were drawn together after we fell asleep. I try to sneak away before Jack wakes up. However, when I wiggle free, he startles and pulls me back to him.
“Stay with me a little longer,” he mumbles against my hair. “You’re warm and you smell good. Also, you have a beautiful smile. You should show it off more.”
I peer into his sleepy eyes, the smile I didn’t realize I was holding growing wider. “For the first time in a long time, I feel hopeful. I liked what you said about having a chosen family. I hope I have one like yours someday.”
He wraps his arm around me and tucks me close to his chest. “You will.”
As my eyes flutter closed again, I almost believe him.