Chapter 27
Evelyn
Usually, I hate Sunday mornings. Most Saturday nights I drink at the college bars around campus, so I tend to associate Sundays with pounding headaches, dehydration, and a craving for junk food.
Not this Sunday.
This Sunday, I’m wide awake bright and early, full of energy and feeling refreshed despite all of the drinks I managed to sneak past Adelaide’s supervision at the pool party. This Sunday, I’m a complete and utter bundle of joy, because life is good.
We won big on roulette last night. I can pay off Michael Montgomery and safely return to school for the fall semester without worrying about that burden on my shoulders, and I’ve just spent the second night in a row with the sexiest guy I’ve ever met. Yeah. Life is fucking great.
“You’re very . . . smiley,” Jameson says as he walks into the bedroom, fresh out of the shower with only a towel wrapped around his waist. Beads of water drip from his jet-black hair and I can’t help but gulp as I not-so-subtly rake my eyes over his body.
“Well, Jameson,” I say, stretching out my arms from my cozy spot in the bed with a beaming smile, “that’s because I’m happy. Though I’m starting to think paying my share of a hotel room this weekend was a complete waste of money, because I have yet to actually use the bed I paid for.”
“There’s always tonight,” he says.
“And what are the chances of that ever happening?”
Jameson smirks. “Pretty slim if I get any say in it.” He crosses the room and presses his hands to the edge of the bed, leaning down to kiss me with a warm, smoldering gaze. I happily oblige.
Truth is, we have done nothing but kiss all damn night.
Maybe that makes me a tease, but it’s where my boundaries are at this exact moment in time, and Jameson has been respectful of the line I’ve drawn between us.
It’s not that I don’t want him to tear my clothes off, because oh my God, I absolutely do.
I just can’t shake the feeling that I hardly know this guy, and I’d have to be comfortable with the fact that I’ll never see him again afterward.
It really would be a one-night stand, and maybe it’s just easier to never know what I’m missing out on in the first place.
“Hailey’s been texting in the group chat,” I say as I break the kiss between us and reach for my phone on the sheets in front of me. “Getting Ubers to the Las Vegas sign in an hour. Would you like to come?”
Jameson still has his hands pressed to the bed and his face only inches from mine with a gentle smile on his face. He softly shakes his head. “I’m going to pass on stalking you to this activity for a change.”
“Oh?” I say, feeling my stomach sink with disappointment.
“I was trying not to check any emails this weekend, but I caved. Looks like there are some issues with one of our systems that need fixing sooner rather than later,” he explains with an apologetic frown.
“Obviously there’s not much I can do out here, but I can at least make some calls to talk through the problem with my team. ”
With all of the banter between Jameson and me this weekend, I kind of forgot that he’s actually some hotshot tech guy in Atlanta. I’ve seen the vengeful side of him, the fun side, the vulnerable side—but I haven’t seen the professional side of him until now. It’s attractive.
“At the risk of sounding stupid . . .” I bite my lip. “I know you said you work in tech, but what does that actually mean? Are you the guy who fights back against hackers?”
Jameson straightens up in front of me, hands on his hips.
“Not quite that exciting,” he says, then goes on to explain: “I’m a project manager at a healthcare company.
Currently my team builds the software hospitals use to manage patient records, and mostly I handle the big picture stuff.
Coding was my specialty at first, so I still jump in now and again when the engineers need backup. ”
“Oh, wow. So when I become a registered nurse one day, the systems I use at work could be systems you created?”
He flashes me a gorgeous smile. “Yes, possibly.”
“Okay, so you can’t come for the photo op at the Vegas sign, but .
. .” I smile sweetly at him and bat my lashes, hoping I look cute and endearing enough for him to agree to my request. “You know the big observation wheel? We’re going for drinks on that later.
Will you make it? I have your number now, so I can text you the details of when to meet us—”
“Careful, Evie,” Jameson warns, wagging a finger at me. “It’s starting to sound like you actually want me around. What will everyone say when I gatecrash yet another activity? I’m not sure you’ll be able to keep on convincing them you’re appalled by my presence.”
I pout my lips at him. “I’m pretty sure Addy already figured I was happy to have you around when she caught us making out at the pool party and then I ran off with you. Trust me, everyone would have more questions if you didn’t show up again.”
“In that case, text me the details.”
“Yay!” I cheer, jiggling my shoulders in an embarrassingly excited little dance, and Jameson laughs.
Suddenly, I feel kind of shy, like I’ve exposed all my cards.
I don’t want him to know I like him this much .
. . I push back the sheets, step out of bed in just my bra and panties, and grab my clothes from the floor.
“I better get ready and leave you to make your work calls.”
As I get dressed, Jameson’s gaze travels the length of my body.
He doesn’t even try to hide the fact that he’s checking me out—just stares, eyes brooding.
Once I’ve stepped back into my clothes, I move toward him, press my hand to his chest, and bring my mouth to his.
We sink into a deep kiss. A goodbye. He tastes like mint toothpaste and smells like cologne.
“I’ll see you later, baby girl,” he murmurs against my lips.
And shit, that’s how I know I’m in deep—because that God-awful pet name actually turns me on. I feel the butterflies in my stomach and the heat between my thighs. With a dramatic groan, I roll my eyes, push him away, and head for the door.