12. Jameson
Chapter twelve
Jameson
The last week has been one of the best in a long while. Not only has it been a good time having JT hanging out and playing rounds with me out at Wild Bluffs, I also fill most of my spare minutes texting Bryn.
She has quickly become the first person I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last person I think about before I go to bed at night. This week she is in California, so I’m generally in bed before she is, and I may or may not have fallen asleep the past four nights before saying goodbye. Waking up to her text from the night before—her Good night, Jameo— sure as hell starts my day off on a good note. JT has been quick to point out my good mood every morning when I’m not quite as surly at breakfast.
Today, I’m nursing my daily cup of coffee when JT walks into the restaurant. Even though I’m enjoying his company, I wonder again why exactly he is here. I know he said Lila has been pestering him to come, but from the way he has lingered, his happy smile and good-natured jokes just a little slower than usual, I’m beginning to wonder if it’s not something more—something going on in his world.
He sits down, gesturing to the waitress to bring him his usual cup of coffee as well. “Morning, Jameo. Weather looks good today. Thinking we get in another thirty-six holes?”
I nod. “Yup. Sounds good. Want to hit up the gym before, or after?” It’s early September, and the mornings are still cool. It keeps us from getting too warm while we play, but we’re quickly approaching the time of year when it will be too cold to get out in the mornings. The staff won’t let you out on the course if there is still frost coating the grass.
“This afternoon sounds good. Or, you know, I could get us an airplane out of here this afternoon. We could head to, say, California, for the weekend?”
I shoot a glare at him, though inside I feel a spark catch. “California, huh? And what, exactly, would we do there?”
JT’s eyes light up into his usual good-natured smirk. “Oh, I’m sure we can find something.”
***
“I’m glad we were able to get in a quick round and a workout this morning,” JT says, navigating his rented dark blue Ford F150 down the road away from the course.
“Yeah. I am definitely not in a place where I should be skipping training. Especially not for an impromptu trip to California.”
“Sam says we should land just before dinnertime,” JT replies, referencing his virtual assistant who handled our last-minute plane request like a pro.
I glance down at my phone again as JT pulls into the private airfield. Surprisingly large for a town the size of Wild Bluffs, the airport is the only one in the area for private jets to land and refuel. It’s definitely not going to be a cheap trip for the weekend, but what’s the point in being this rich if you never spend it?
“Did you ask her out?”
I snap my head up from my phone and shoot JT a glare.
He rolls his eyes as he pulls into a parking spot. “What? Are we going to pretend like we aren’t going to California so you can go on a date with Bryn?”
“We are not going out on a…date.” I nearly choke on the word as it comes out of my mouth. Nope. Dating implies way too much. “I’m not even allowed to date right now.”
He grabs his bag out of the back, his eyebrows pulling together as he looks at me, the question clear in his eyes even before he voices it. “Okay. Not a date. But definitely flying halfway across the country so you can hang out with a girl. A girl who you’ve been talking to nonstop. A girl who makes you happier than you’ve been in a long time.” He nods like that isn’t the most ridiculous thing he’s ever said. “Got it.”
I scratch my hands through my hair. “Never mind. We should just stay here. She hasn’t even responded. I haven’t asked her anything yet.” I start moving back toward the car, even though I know from our numerous texts exchanged that Bryn has a bunch of big meetings taking place this week—it’s one of the main reasons she’s working in the California office rather than remotely from Wild Bluffs. “This was a mistake. I most definitely should not be thinking about starting anything with anyone.”
“Jesus, Jameson. You can’t be serious. Of course we are going. Not only are the pilots already here with the plane refueled and ready to go, but we also both know this is what you need. You need to get Alexis out of your system.”
“She is out,” I growl.
He looks me up and down, noting my hair sticking out from pulling my hands through it. “Clearly.”
With that, he picks up his bags and heads to the plane, leaving me with no option but to follow. As I finally settle down in a seat across from JT in the back, he says, “She’s not worth it, you know.” JT is rarely serious, but I can tell he is now.
“What do you mean?”
“Alexis. She was never worth the effort you put into her.” He pauses, clearly thinking. “But that doesn’t mean no one is. I’m not saying it’s Bryn, though I hope I get to meet her this weekend so I can have an opinion on the subject, but even if it isn’t, you need to stop letting Alexis ruin your life. She used you when you were together, and from the looks of it, she still has her claws in you.”
As I go to respond, my phone lights up with a text.
Bryn
Big plans for dinner at the hotel.
“Sounds like she’s free tonight. Want to come to dinner and meet her?”
JT shakes his head. “No way I’m crashing your first date.” He must note the panic that shoots through me. “Oh, excuse me, your first casual hangout that is certainly not a date with a woman you definitely like.”
As I feel the plane start to move beneath us, I still don’t text her back, unsure of what to say.
“Just see if she wants to grab dinner together. It doesn’t have to be a thing.”
Me
I am actually going to be in LA tonight. Want to grab dinner?
I wait a minute, but she doesn’t respond. Fine. I’m already in, might as well commit.
Me
I’m on the plane, but text me back where and when you want to meet. I promise it’ll just be fun.
Knowing the Wi-Fi is shit and tends to kill my battery, I turn off the phone and tuck it into the front pocket of my black backpack at my feet. I look over at JT, who is reading a book he’d pulled out. I’m about to ask him why the dust cover is removed when I note the darkness is back in his eyes, so I decide to leave it alone.
As I sat there watching Colorado disappear below me, the movement of the plane must have lulled me to sleep, because the next thing I know, the jolt of the wheels touching down at Van Nuys Airport is waking me up.
I glance around, notice JT on his phone, and quickly grab mine out. After what feels like forever for it to turn on, I text myself to forcefully push my messages through.
Disappointment crashes through me when only mine arrives. I am about to demand the pilots take me directly back to Colorado when my phone vibrates with an incoming message.
Thank fuck. It’s from Bryn.
Bryn
Oo. I can’t wait to hear about what could’ve brought you last minute to California. I can only assume it’s for your big break into the porn industry. Meet you at The Grill at 7:30? I got us a table under my name.
I smile, unnervingly pleased with the fact that I get to see her tonight. It also did not escape me that she thinks porn could be a future for me. It’s not in my immediate plans, but I don’t hate hearing that she thinks it’s an option for me.
Me
Sounds perfect. I’ll see you there. I’ll be the one with the porn ’stache.
***
“Jameson Walker, you are a bald-faced liar.”
She’s already sitting on one side of a deep booth. The traffic to get here caused the trip to take longer than expected. I ended up sending my bags with JT so I could get here close to 7:30 p.m. At 7:40, I know I’m late. At least I had the foresight to text Bryn to let her know I was behind schedule when it became clear my Uber would not make it in time.
“I told you I would be late,” I defend myself as I slide into the opposite side of the booth.
“That is not what I am talking about,” she says, pulling her best stern-librarian face. “You said you would be rocking a porn ’stache, and I was very much looking forward to seeing it.”
A deep chuckle rumbles out of me as I take in Bryn sitting across from me. Her hair is down, the light brown shining from the light above the table. She’s got on a deep navy shirt, and her eyes seem blue, different from the light brown I remember from last time.
“Your eyes are different.”
“What?”
WHAT? Why in the name of all things holy is that what decided to come out of my mouth?
“Uhm.” Shit. No going back now. “Your eyes. They are blue tonight. I didn’t think they were blue last time.”
She laughs, a real, joyful laugh that leaves me no option but to laugh along with her.
It takes her longer to calm herself than expected, but when she does, the smile is still spread across her beautiful face as she says, “I’ve never had someone point it out in quite that way, but, yeah, I have hazel eyes. They fluctuate at will, generally depending on what I’m wearing.” She looks down at herself. “So it makes sense that they look blue, given I’m wearing a blue shirt.”
“Hazel, huh? Who knew there was a word for color-changing eyes?”
“Most people, actually. I’m pretty sure it’s a well-known eye color.”
“Is it, though?” I scratch my chin. “I’m definitely above average as a person, and I didn’t know about them.”
Smirking, she throws it right back at me. “Might suggest your assessment of your intelligence is incorrect.”
“Oh, please.” I wave my hand down my front. “I am anything but average.”
“Sure, you might be physically above average; the ‘professional athlete’ title suggested that would likely be the case. But, if the rumors surrounding the professional sports world are to be believed, you likely aren’t even smart enough to tie your shoes without repeating the story about the bunny going in a hole.”
Her lips are tight and her eyes are gleaming, holding in the smile and pride she feels from her comeback, and it makes that little ember that sparked to life on the plane burst into a small fire.
“Oh, trust me, I’m quite able to get things into holes without the help of any kind of rhymes.”