20. Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Nineteen
Lisette
“H ello?” Harmony whispers on the other end of the call. I take in her surroundings and I think she’s in her school bathroom. “Is everything okay?” Her eyes scan my face and surroundings.
“Yeah, sorry to call while you’re at school. I forgot they don’t let you use your phone.” I roll my eyes at the stupid charter school Ana put her in. “Where do you think I was going based on how I look?”
I lean my phone against the bathroom mirror and take a step back so she can see me. I watch her carefully as her eyes scan my frame. Slowly, a smile appears on her face.
“You look so cute when you actually try to. Why do you always wear baggy clothes?” Her eyes cast lower. “Your legs look so good in those. Wait, turn around, I don’t think I’ve seen you in tight pants. I need to know if we have big butt genes because this can’t be my adult body.” She glances down at herself.
I shake my head at her as I angle myself to check out my ass in my new jeans. “We have big butt genes. Eat more and stop following Ana’s new vegan diet. You hate it and I don’t know why you listen to everything she says.” I roll my eyes at her as I get back to the point.
“I don’t want to look like I tried to dress up.” I tug at my tight long sleeve. It’s cropped since all of my tight shirts show my belly and I know I look good, but I don’t want to look like I tried .
I woke up today in a really good mood which I’m trying to take advantage of. I had enough energy to wash my hair and style it. I wore something cute and did some light makeup in case my mood shifted throughout the day. Look good, feel good, and all that mojo.
Then I remembered Jackson, and I are hanging out today and I’ll be damned if I let a man think I got cute for him.
When he called me last night, I was in the middle of drowning my loneliness in a painting. As desperate as it sounds, hearing both he and Isabelle wanted to hang out with me made my whole night.
I don’t like inviting myself places—the fear of being unwanted or bothering is too great. Everyday I hold my breath when I call my friends or family, afraid they’re going to wake up and decide they don’t want to deal with me.
Then Jackson called me and all night he made me feel… important. He didn’t necessarily do anything, but him wanting me around made me feel like my presence mattered. Like I don’t take up too much space. Like I’m not too loud and annoying.
When men make me feel that way, it’s usually when I’m naked, and while I always tease Jackson about taking it there, he doesn’t look at me like a piece of ass. He doesn’t want me around for that, which I’m still trying to wrap my head around.
I’m aware that I can get that reaction out of him. That much was obvious at apple picking, but… he smiles when he sees me in my two day old baggy clothes. He laughs when I make sexual jokes rather than attempting to take me up on my empty offer.
I take pride in surrounding myself with people who make me feel good. It took a long time for me to recognize bad influences and will myself to stay away. No matter how badly the addict in me wanted them around; simply so I can have someone to blame my fuck ups on.
Jackson is a part of those people I surround myself with who make me feel good. He makes me think he’ll miss me if I disappeared off the face of the planet tomorrow.
“Well.” Harmony snaps me out of my thoughts. “I can spot a no makeup-makeup look from a mile away. If you didn’t dress like you don’t care about your health every day, I wouldn’t notice how much you tried.”
I bark up a laugh as I flip her off. She laughs in return before my phone goes off with a message. Grabbing my phone, I notice it’s from Jackson.
JJ
Good morning. I just dropped Isabelle off, are we still set for breakfast?
“Who are you smiling at?” Harmony teases and I quickly wipe my smile. The second I do, she lets out a gasp. “Do you have a date with Jackson ?” She gasps again.
“It’s not a date.”
As if she heard me say the opposite, she literally squeals. She starts shooting a ton of questions at me but I ignore her as I reply to him.
Hey, yeah breakfast is still a go on one condition.
*sighs*
LMAO
Fine, I'll just cancel.
I’m joking! What are your conditions?
Breakfast in bed, preferably yours.
I bite back another smile as his text bubbles appear then disappear. This happens a few more times before a picture comes through. It’s clearly a definition, and when I tap on it, I realize he Googled what PG-13 consists of.
Breakfast in bed can happen on the condition that our clothes remain on. I don’t make the rules.
That’ll make for a boring movie.
With you as the star? Doubt it.
This time, I can’t hide my smile if I try.
“Hello!” Harmony loudly reminds me of her presence.
“Go to class. Senior year is important.” I hang up on her before sending one more text to Jackson.
True, you’d bore the crowd though so let’s save breakfast in bed for when we make this rated R. I’ll see you when you get here, hot stuff.
He doesn’t reply, but with the sudden energy to clean, I decide to pick up my room, starting with the pile of cups and water bottles.
I finish my room fairly quickly and get halfway through with the living room when someone knocks on my door. Not expecting anyone, my brows pull together as I set the trash bag down and head for the door.
“Hey.” Jackson stares back at me, a bouquet of blue crocheted flowers in his hands.
I give him a once over and shake my head at how good he looks in casual clothes. Don’t get me wrong, he’s hot in everything, but now he’s in a black sweatsuit and this is my favorite look.
“You’re so beautiful.” He sounds out of breath and my defense response is an eye roll.
“I’m going out later today,” I lie, refusing to let him think this was for him when really, I’m just having a good day. “You didn’t need to get me flowers. We agreed this wasn’t a date.”
My eyes meet his and he simply smiles down at me before shrugging.
“I made it clear that I wanted you last night. We’re keeping it casual until I speak to your brother, but until then, I’m going to show you a glimpse of what you’re in for.”
I bite my cheek so hard, I can taste the copper in my mouth. “Flowers in a color I hate are what I’m in for?”
He stifles a laugh now. “I’m not ever going to win with you, huh?”
I shrug as I grab my keys from beside my door. “Why would I ever make anything easy for the male species?”
Jackson opens the diner door for me before I can reach it and I shake my head at him. He just paid for our breakfast and while I’m not considering this a real date, he’s earning all of the brownie points in my book.
He steps beside me before looking down at his watch, and I can see the diamonds in it glisten against the sun. “We have two more hours before we have to head to the pottery shop. Is there anything in particular you want to do?”
“Do I have a budget?” I smile over at him teasingly.
“Not at all. What do you want?” He doesn’t even hesitate and I realize he thinks I’m being serious.
“I’m not letting you buy me—” I cut myself off as my eyes land on his wrist and I remember he’s rich. My smile widens as I fully turn to him. “Can we make a trip to Apple?”
Thirty minutes later, we’re at the mall. The people at the front greet us and I smile in return as my feet take me to the iPad section.
“So.” I grab the one I want as I turn to Jackson. “Look at how pretty and huge this one is.” I let him see the back before explaining all of the digital art I want to try on an app the iPads come with.
When I finish my rant, he’s still standing like he’s listening in great detail. “You didn’t have to convince me, I was getting it either way.”
“Oh, I know.”
His smile grows as I look down at the device.
“I just have no one to talk to about my art. I think I want to start going out and drawing in public. Like at cute parks and stuff, soak in the sun or what not. This will just make that easier.” I shrug, knowing I probably won’t have the energy for that on most days, but it’s about setting intentions, so I let myself believe my words.
“Well, I like hearing you talk about things you enjoy, so you can always tell me all about it.”
My eyes meet his and he watches me for a beat before nodding behind me.
“So we should get the pen thing, too, right?” He goes in search of them and I follow behind him with a smile.
“If you insist.” I shrug. As we pass the new AirPods Max, I stall in my steps. Closing the distance between myself and the table, I grab a pair and when I press the noise cancelling button, the busy room goes silent. My jaw drops.
I play a song on the phone that’s connected to it and my jaw drops further. One of the employees in front of me laughs at my reaction. Pulling them off, my hearing comes back. “These are pretty cool,” I admit with a laugh as I set them back down.
“Is there anything I can help you with?” She nods at the headphones.
“Yes.” Jackson steps up beside me. “Can we get the new iPad and the pen?”
She asks us which one specifically and Jackson tells her we’ll take the newest version of both.
“Would you like to add WiFi and cellular data to the iPad?” The employee looks up from her tablet. “You’ll be able to make calls without having your phone near you.”
I glance over at Jackson and he nods. “Yeah, can you also add the two year Apple care to both?”
She types into her iPad and after I put in my information, she asks if we want anything else. Before I can say no, Jackson speaks up.
“Can I also get the headphones and a case for everything?”
I almost tease him into also getting the cool headphones for me, but the iPad is what I came for, so I don’t push it.
After he sorts through the colors and also requests two new chargers, she gets the products for us.
“Alright, your total is $4,159.03.”
My brows slightly raise, but when I turn to Jackson he simply hands her a black card without blinking.
“You two have a good day.” She hands me the bag and we thank her before bidding her goodbye.
“Thanks, sugar daddy.” I smile up at Jackson as we walk out.
He lets out a low laugh as he shakes his head at me. “Anytime, sugar baby.”
I bite back my smile as I look back down at the bag, my eyes landing on the headphones. “I’m totally going to be borrowing these whenever I’m at your house.” I take them out of the bag to admire them through the box.
“What do you mean?” He lets out a low chuckle. “They’re yours. The chargers too. I didn’t need anything.”
“What?” My eyes snap up to his.
“Why would I need headphones ? I wouldn’t be able to hear Isabelle burning my house down.” He laughs again, but I can’t shake my shock. “She’ll actually just steal them from me, so please don’t let her use them. The minute she realizes she likes them, she’ll want them, and she doesn’t need those.”
I gaze up at him, a smile I can’t shake on my face. “The iPad and pen are appreciated, but you did not need to get me anything else.”
He looks down at me before shrugging. “Want to return them?” He stops in his tracks, throwing his thumb over his shoulder.
“Hell no.” I shove them back into the safety of my bag and he laughs from beside me. “They’re all appreciated. I owe you some sugar later tonight.”
He laughs up a storm as I quicken my steps to get my own door.
I let out a frustrated sigh when my pot plummets. My shoulders sag as I brush the hair from my face, but I go still as I feel the wet clay on my forehead.
At the sound of Jackson’s giggling, I slowly turn to him. I keep my glare set on him before my eyes cast down to his perfect vase.
“Why are you so good at this?” I’m supposed to be the artistic one here and I’m failing miserably, which feels like a huge hit to my pride.
Jackson only shrugs, as if he’s not even trying. “I took a pottery class in college.”
I let out a scoff. “Yeah, like a hundred years ago.”
His jaw drops before he splashes some clay water at me.
Glancing back at my blob of clay, I take a minute to appreciate us being alone and I’m only failing in his presence. Bay was supposed to be here with me and we booked the couple session since it was longer than the group one, but Jackson isn’t the worst pottery companion. He’d be the best if he wasn’t kicking my ass at this.
“You’re so cute when you mope,” Jackson voices with a laugh before rising from his seat.
“Screw you.”
“Mhm.” He doesn’t entertain my jab as he drags his stool behind mine. “Here, we can do it together.” He brings his chest to my back and I unconsciously melt against him, soaking in his warmth and manly scent.
He brings his arms around mine before dipping my sponge in water, soaking the clay. “You just need to have patience.” He keeps his face so close to the side of mine, his beard prickles my cheek. When I take in a breath, I can smell his aftershave and I almost tease him about cleaning up for this date, but he speaks up first.
“Here.” He guides my hands to the clay. “Step on the peddle.”
I give it a light push and the wheel under our hands begins to spin. His hands engulf mine entirely as he helps me shape the clay. I feel my heart pounding in my chest as he dips our fingers into the center, creating a hole in the clay.
This should not be as intimate as it is and I’m not sure if it’s just my mind finding ways to make everything sexual, but his veiny hands look hotter now as they’re dripping in wet clay.
“What shape do you want?” His warm breath touches my ear and I try to reply but my voice doesn’t come out strong enough so I simply shrug in return. “Flower pot or vase?”
I shrug again, and this time, his deep chuckle sends shivers down my spine.
“Are you actually upset about struggling with this?” He presses closer against me before I feel his face in my neck. I suck in a breath of surprise as he places one soft kiss on my neck.
Turning my head, our faces are incredibly close, our noses practically touching. My heart rate quickens and my eyes cast down to his lips just as he licks them.
“I’m not upset,” I find myself saying.
“No?”
I shake my head in response, my eyes on his mouth. A smirk tugs at the corners of his lips before he leans forward. I do the same but before our lips can meet, he kisses my cheek.
“PG-13, sweetheart.” He faces forward again and I use the rest of my strength to get my heart rate under control.