Chapter 10
10
J ackson paced around his living room. He considered driving to Antonio’s to see if he spotted them, but knew he’d never hear the end of it if anyone realized what he was doing. But what would he do? Spy? Try to see if she was having a good time?
He couldn’t take this. His family had nagged at him for years, telling him to get together with Mia. But he thought they were only friends. She hadn’t dated much. Neither had he. The dating pool in a small town isn’t the greatest, but it’s better than what they did. They leaned on each other. They both got companionship in each other. The only thing they lacked was the physical portion. And while he had thought of Mia in that way before, he never let it get beyond friendship.
But tonight, damn.
She looked beautiful when leaving on her date, and suddenly he didn’t want her out with anyone else. He needed her home with him.
He sat down on his couch and stared at the television, which was playing reruns of an old sitcom. Every car that drove by had him looking out the window, but it was never them. His leg bounced and after another car drove by, he growled and stood, snatching his car keys off the table. Just when he flung his front door open, Jeff’s car pulled into the driveway.
Jackson immediately stepped back inside and shut his door, hoping he hadn’t been spotted. But even if he had, it wasn’t a big deal. She didn’t have any brothers to look out for her. He was just keeping her best interests in mind.
He cringed. Brother. The last thing he wanted was to compare himself to being Mia’s brother.
He looked through the small window beside the door and watched as Jeff held the car door open for Mia. When her eyes flashed to his house, Jackson pressed his back against the wall, hoping like hell she didn’t see him. After a minute, he took a chance to peek out the window again, only to find Mia and Jeff standing at Jackson’s door.
Mia’s eyes met his through the window with a confused look on her face. He pulled the door open and looked at both of them.
“Fun date?”
Mia raised an eyebrow. “Yes. Hey, I was wondering if I could get my spare key from you. I’ve locked myself out.”
Jackson couldn’t help himself. He chuckled. He already had his keys in his hand, so he stepped outside, closing his door behind him and walked toward her door.
“You could just give me the key. I’ll bring yours back,” Mia said.
“Nah. I got it.”
He unlocked her door, but instead of heading back to his place, he smiled and stepped to the side. Mia looked at him with an incredulous look on her face, tipping her head slightly toward his place, signaling for him to leave.
“I’m waiting,” Jackson said.
Mia raised an eyebrow. “For?”
“You know the drill, Mia. You locked yourself out.”
Her face flamed as she shifted on her feet. “You’re joking.”
“Nope.”
Mia clenched her teeth together and gritted out, “All hail superhero Jackson. His services have saved me once again from distress. Your subject is most grateful.”
Jeff snorted from beside them, and Mia narrowed her eyes at Jackson, motioning for him to leave.
Jackson pretended he didn’t see it and smiled brightly at Jeff. “Well, it’s a work night. I hope the date went well.”
Jeff gave Jackson a confused look before turning his attention to Mia. “I had a great time tonight. Maybe we can do it again soon?”
Jackson’s eyes swung to Mia, whose eyes flickered between him and Jeff.
“Yeah, that sounds fun.”
Jeff leaned in as if he were going to kiss her, but Jackson cleared his throat. Jeff looked at Jackson and chuckled, shaking his head.
“Have a good night, Mia. I’ll call you later.”
He smiled at Mia and tipped his head in acknowledgment to Jackson before walking back to his car.
‘Bout fucking time.
Mia waved at Jeff as he pulled out of her driveway before turning her attention to Jackson. “What was that about?”
“What?”
“The whole macho thing.”
“Whatever do you mean?”
Mia rolled her eyes. She opened her front door and stepped inside her house.
“Goodnight.”
But before she could close it, Jackson stepped inside after her. He knew she didn’t want him there, and it was obvious she was irritated with him. The crease between her eyebrows made it clear as day. Normally, he wouldn’t try to irritate her, and he wasn’t trying now, but he needed to know how it went.
“Please, come on in. Enjoy yourself on this work night ,” she said sarcastically.
He chuckled. “How was the date?”
“Good.”
Jackson didn’t know what he wanted her to say, but that response damn near gutted him. He cleared his throat.
“So you’re going to go out with him again?”
“That’s the plan.”
She walked down the hallway toward her bedroom, and he followed her. He stopped in her open doorway just as she was about to close the door.
“Um… excuse me. I need to change.”
“Oh.” He took a step back, not realizing where he was. “Yeah, sorry.”
She closed the door, and he immediately wondered what her panties looked like beneath her dress. Did she dress up for him in case something went further? He had seen Mia in a bikini, but never in her underwear. While one could argue they covered the same thing, there was something more intimate about seeing undergarments that not everyone else had the privilege of seeing. And knowing that there was a possibility she would have invited Jeff into her place and something could have happened had him clenching his jaw.
He didn’t like that thought at all.
Mia opened her bedroom door wearing sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt. She was just as beautiful in her casual clothes as she was in her sundress. There was no need for her to try. She was a natural beauty.
As he watched her walk down the hallway toward her living room, he followed and wondered when everything had changed. Was Miles right that it may have been there all along, and he just hadn’t realized it? That he had been so terrified over losing his best friend that he had convinced himself they could never be more?
She sat down on her couch and turned on the TV. Jackson watched her for a minute before rubbing a hand across his jaw.
“Okay, well, have a good night.”
She looked at him in confusion. “You’re leaving?”
He shrugged. “Yep. It’s a work night, after all.”
He forced himself to walk away and went to her front door, only looking back at her confused face before giving her a small wave and leaving. Jackson immediately hopped into his truck and turned it on. Then he pulled up a text thread with his three brothers.
Jackson: You all were right. I want Mia. I need help.
He scrubbed a hand over his face. Admitting it felt good. It felt right . And now that he knew it, he needed to call in reinforcements. She had been seeing other people, and he couldn’t stand it anymore.
Noah: Do my eyes deceive me? Or did he just say we’re right?
Ethan: Pretty sure I see it, too. What changed your mind?
Jackson: She wanted to kiss Jeff, I think.
Miles: Did she say that?
Jackson: No, but I was standing there.
Noah: …
Ethan: …
Miles: …
Noah: Please tell me that wasn’t as creepy as it came across.
Jackson: She locked herself out of her place. I was letting her back in. Can you all meet up? This will be easier in person.
Noah: I’m down.
Ethan: Me too.
Miles: Emma is in bed. Come to my place. Bring beer.
Jackson backed out of the driveway and stole one last glance at Mia’s house, where he swore he saw her watching from the window.
Jackson, Ethan, and Noah sat around Miles’s kitchen table while he finished prepping a charcuterie board. They each had a full glass of beer, courtesy of the local bar where Ethan had stopped to get a few growlers.
Miles walked over to the table and set the board down in the middle before taking a seat.
“Dude, do you just keep this stuff lying around?” Ethan asked.
“Of course. I’m a chef. I’m always prepared for company.”
“This looks great, Miles. Thanks,” Noah said. Jackson and Ethan followed suit. Miles just tipped his head in acknowledgment and took a drink of his beer.
“So, what’s the plan?” Miles asked.
Jackson shook his head. “I don’t know. Should I just tell her?”
“You need a grand gesture,” Noah said.
Ethan nodded. “Yep. She’s into books. That’s what the hero does, right? She’ll want the grand gesture.”
“I have to have a grand gesture just to tell her I think I like her?”
Miles snorted. “Think, my ass.”
Jackson shot him a dirty look.
“Crash her next date,” Ethan said.
“That seems excessive.”
“No, Ethan has a good point. She’s going out with Jeff, right? I could let Jeff in on it,” Noah said.
Jackson raised an eyebrow. “He wouldn’t be upset if I tried to steal Mia away just when they started dating?”
Miles and Ethan looked at Noah. He just shrugged. “Nah. I think he’s good.” Then he took a long pull of his beer.
Jackson looked between his brothers, eyebrows furrowed. They were all acting weird. Why would someone who was actively dating Mia just roll over and let another man tell her his feelings… while on a date?
He tilted his head and studied his brothers, who all became far more engrossed in the charcuterie than they were prior.
“For fuck’s sake,” Jackson muttered. “What did you do?”
“I may have encouraged him to ask her out,” Noah said.
“Why?”
“ You weren’t interested, and she deserves to be with someone nice.”
Jackson felt like he had been slapped. Of course Mia deserved someone nice. She deserved the world. But could Jeff give it to her? Could he treat her the way she deserved to be treated? Like a queen?
He sure as fuck couldn’t. Only Jackson could treat her like a queen. He was the only person who knew what books she liked to read: steamy, friends-to-lovers, small town romance. And her favorite food: French toast. Her favorite thing to do in the summer: hike. Her favorite animal: cats.
“I’m going to get her a cat!” Jackson yelled as he slammed his fist on the table, making all the guys jump.
Miles glared. “Shh. Emma is sleeping.”
“A cat?” Noah and Ethan said in unison.
“She loves cats. I’m getting her a cat.”
“A cat? You’re getting her a cat as your grand gesture?” Noah asked.
“It’s genius. She’ll love it.”
His brothers exchanged looks.
“Um, as much as I’m sure she’d love a cat, I think you should probably just tell her how you feel,” Miles said.
“You guys just told me I need a grand gesture.”
“Yes, of letting her know how you feel .”
Jackson blinked. “Getting her a cat shows how much I care about her.”
“Daddy.”
All four guys turned toward the little girl at the end of the hallway, rubbing her eyes.
“Hey, peanut,” Miles said. He stood and walked to her, easily picking her up. “What are you doing awake?”
“I heard something loud,” Emma said.
Miles threw a glare at Jackson, who looked sheepish. “Sorry.”
“We’re just talking to Uncle Jackson about something, and he got overly excited,” Miles said. He carried Emma over to the table and sat in his chair with her on his lap.
“What are you excited about?” she asked.
Jackson leaned forward in his seat and whispered. “Can you keep a secret?”
She perked up and leaned forward. “Yes.”
“I’m thinking about getting Mia a cat.”
Emma’s eyes lit up. “Can I come over and pet it?”
“Of course you can.” Jackson looked smugly at the guys. “See? It’s a great idea.”
“She’s six. Obviously she thinks it’s a great idea,” Noah said.
“I’m six and a half.”
Noah smiled. “I’m sorry, Emma. She’s six and a half.” He raised his eyebrows at Emma and she gave one curt nod in approval.
“It’s doesn’t matter. Her opinion still counts,” Jackson said. “Hey, Emma. Do you think it’s a good idea for me to get Mia a cat?”
Emma nodded. “Yes. And I think you should marry her and let me be the flower girl.”
Miles snorted.
“Marry her?”
“Yes,” she said matter-of-factly. “You love her, so you should marry her.”
The fact that she stated it so easily and it didn’t scare Jackson had him wondering if he should marry her. Hell, he was considering it.
They had a pact, after all.
“Interesting,” Ethan said. “He’s considering it. It only took Emma saying it even though we suggested it already.”
“Kinda weird,” Noah said. “Perhaps we should have Emma relay all our advice in the future. Maybe then he’d listen to us.”
Jackson rolled his eyes and picked up a cracker before stacking salami and cheese on it. He had a lot to think about.