Chapter 13
Jackson
Our sausage fest is sitting around a large round table at the back of Moose’s.
We’re already a round of beers in. I’m surprised we got Adam to come out tonight.
He still hasn’t heard from Chelsea. I’m afraid to tell him it’s time to cut his losses, but I don’t want to add to his bad mood.
When I stopped at his house earlier, I saw that some of her stuff was still hanging around his house, as I’m sure some of his stuff is at hers. It’s a messy situation.
Plus, he’s been working his ass off, so I’m glad he took time out tonight. Billy is being his usual self, scanning the crowd for his next victim. If the guy wasn’t so damn charming, I’d consider him a creep.
Tom is on duty tonight. Instead of college, he enlisted, did his four years, then came back here and got on the local police force. Serving and protecting, which is right up his alley. He’s quiet and reserved, a watchman in all sorts of the word.
Just then, I see the girls walk in. Fuck, Chess looks hot.
Jeans that mold to her hips and make her ass look outstanding.
A pale green tank top with thin straps that drops in the back, leaving her beautiful skin exposed because her hair is up in that ponytail again.
And those heels, hot shit, those will star in my fantasies later tonight for sure.
Britt saunters over to Bobby, who leans back in his chair, his eyes roaming her body and up to her face. He leans in and runs his hand up her thigh, saying, “hey gorgeous, can I buy you a drink?”
“You can, but just so you know, I don’t kiss on the first date.”
“Who said anything about kissing?” he retorts.
She smacks his arm; I groan because I don’t need to picture my sister and her husband in any sort of way. She warns us guys to stay on our side of the bar until the girls are done catching up, then they’ll grace us with their presence.
I watch Bobby follow her with his eyes as she walks to the other table. Those two are so in love, it makes me sick. Don’t get me wrong, I love that he’s so good to her. But, dude, it’s my sister. I don’t need to see it in real time.
Ok, fine. I’m jealous. I think I’d like having a girlfriend, someone to rely on. It’s been a long while since I’ve felt I’ve been able to trust someone to like me for me, and not for what my name is. Like, a long, long while. Maybe never. I glance back at Francesca.
I trust her.
My thoughts are so fast it even catches me by surprise.
I continue to watch Chess as the girls grab a booth not too far away from us but in a perfect line of sight for me to keep an eye on her.
“Stop eye fucking my sister before Adam sees you,” Billy says. “Even Stevie Wonder can see how hard you’re staring.”
I raise a brow at him. “She’s my girlfriend. I’m allowed to look.”
He scoffs, “You don’t gotta convince me. I see what I see.”
I just roll my eyes, trying to dissuade his words.
Billy relaxes a little, but I tense up at his next words. “Relax, hot shot, I’m not going to spill your secret.”
“You’re in on the secret. Knock it off.”
He gives me a patronizing smile.
“Not tonight, bro.”
He shrugs.
I take another pull from my beer, continuing to watch her and can’t stop the questions that are racing through my mind right now. Could we be together for real? Would she even want me? Do I want her in that way? Better question, would I be good enough for her? And what would Adam say?
I know the bro code. Knew it many years ago, it’s why I never went for more. But seeing her now that we’re all adults. It’s something to consider.
Am I really considering this? I know what Adam said, but that was so long ago. She doesn’t want me like that anymore. I had to essentially twist her arm to get her to agree to our arrangement.
Our arrangement which has me leaving at the end.
No, I have to let her be. I can’t ruin her and then take off.
But it doesn’t mean I can’t flirt and play around with her. It’s all in fun. After all, she agreed to it.
She gets up to head to the bar to order another round. I stand and announce I’ll get us a round to ensure Bobby gets some tonight. He punches me. “That’s your sister you’re talking about.”
“She’s your wife now so she’s your problem.” The guys laugh and start ribbing Bobby, so I take my exit.
I approach Chess as she leans against the bar, waiting to order.
“You look good enough to eat,” I whisper in her ear.
She jumps a little, hand to her throat, and blushes. She glances back at my table, probably looking for her brothers’ reactions. I bump her lightly with my hip. “We’re allowed to be seen together, you know? In fact, it’s expected now.”
“Jackson. You were warned to stay on your side for now.” She gives me a smug look.
“I’m not scared of Britt.”
She gives me a doubtful face. “Okay, a little,” I relent, and she laughs.
“Enjoying your night?” she asks.
“Very much. The view is spectacular.” She eyes me, knowing I have a direct line of sight of her. I let my eyes brush slowly down her body, then up again.
She drops her eyes, and her blush deepens.
“Don’t be embarrassed.”
“I’m not.”
“It’s too much? Too fast?”
“I’m just not used to your word kink,” she squints, her eyes taking on a playful twinkle.
“But you like my kink. Know how I know?”
“How?” she asks breathlessly.
“Your eyes darken. Your nipples get hard. And I can smell how turned on you are.”
“Jackson!” She blushes deep again.
“Want to come over tonight?”
“No.”
“Liar.”
The bartender approaches, having fulfilled the order of another couple at the end of the bar, and I step back slightly, as to not crowd her after our heated exchange.
I let her order, then place mine as well, letting the bartender know to put it all on my tab.
He turns back and starts grabbing beers and pouring shots.
I turn towards her. “You’re allowed to come over if you want.”
“Keywords being ‘if I want’.”
I smile and tangle our fingers together. “I’d like you to. How about that?”
“I’m sure you would, playboy.” She pauses then lowers her voice and leans in. “You don’t have to try so hard, you know? I know this is the show we’re looking to portray.” She stills, her brows furrowed. “This is for show, right?” Cautiously glancing around to make sure no one hears her.
I frown slightly as she waits for me to answer. I’m not sure how to answer and I don’t want to confuse things.
Yet anyway.
I’m good at that. Fucking up a good thing. I might as well let the water boil over and jump right in.
I’m such a jerk.
I drop her hand and swipe a piece of hair behind her ear. “What do you think?”
She stutters a little, eyes wide. “I-I’m not sure… you’re good at the flirtation and charm thing,” she stands a little taller and hardens her gaze. “I’m sure you’ve used those lines a million times. Tell me, do they work?”
She’s mad. Either she’s thinking of things she’s heard or she’s doubting who I am.
Or worse, she thinks I’m playing her.
I know that thought crossed my mind earlier, but the more I talk with her, the more I don’t want her to be a plaything. Chess deserves so much more than that, even if all I can offer her is ‘right now’.
‘Right now,’ I’d be a hundred percent all in for her.
I give her an out because I don’t want to muddy the waters, but my mind is racing.
“Yes, showgirl,” I brush her arm as she blushes deeper. “It’s for show. We need to be seen, right?” I choke out the words.
When she looked back at me, the phrase 'for show' didn't feel so good.
This overwhelming feeling to tell her I’m not playing comes over me.
Get it together, Jackson. It won’t work.
“Here you go guys, enjoy!” The bartender places all the drinks down loudly and pulls us from our trance.
“You better take those back to the guys before they dehydrate.” She grabs her three beers and three shots and heads back to Britt and Farrah. I watch her, then grab the four long necks and go sit with the guys.
I sit at my table, a feeling of being watched rushes over me. I take glances at her, and I see she’s been doing the same. So, she’s keeping an eye on me, too. I shouldn’t have toyed with her. I know her emotions are everywhere, but I needed to see how she’d react to the idea of us.
How I’d react to speaking it out loud.
I’m a coward, though, and chickened out before I could put a thought together and voice the words I really wanted to say.
I see her do a shot and slam it down. The girls are getting a little loud. Another round comes over and she eyes me and takes another shot.
I chuckle to myself. This is on a fast track to not ending well.
I take out my cell and shoot a text.
Me: Slow it down, drunky
I see her glance at her phone, then do a double take when she sees my name. She reads it, then glances at me and back to her phone, a slight smirk on her lips.
Chess: And if I don’t?
Me: You won’t get to come over tonight.
Chess: What will I get instead?
Ooh, I like this Chess. A little alcohol to loosen her up and let her true feelings come out to play.
Me: If you’re asking for a spanking, that can be arranged.
I grin as I see her shuffle her phone. I’m getting to her. Maybe this doesn’t have to be one-sided after all. I send another text.
Me: Chess, relax. My hands will only ever make you feel good.
I see her shoulders relax slightly. She likes the talk. She’s just not sure how to handle it.