Page 55 of Jack

“What? That’s even worse! I’m not letting you inspect my…my vagina!” I said as I kept my legs tightly together, my face burning in embarrassment.

He chuckled. “Your vagina? Anyway, I’ve already gotten up close and personal with it earlier, what’s the difference if I see it now?”

“I don’t know, there just is! That was different because I was…I was…”

“You were turned on?”

“Yes! I was turned on.”

He got up and walked to the bathroom to take care of the condom. “Would it make you feel better if I let you inspect my penis, since we’re using anatomically correct terms.”

I shot him a dirty look. “You wish.”

He laughed. “You’re goddamned right I do.” He shook his head and grabbed a pair of track pants, his muscles stretching and flexing as he put them on. Maybe I did want him to inspect my vagina.

God, he’s turning me into a nymphomaniac.

*****

Jack and I were sitting on his couch eating macaroni and cheese and watching Happy Endings on Hulu, which I’d never watched but was hilarious, when his phone rang.

“Hey, Nik, what’d you find out?”

I didn’t realize that Nikolai was already in Michigan. I suppose if Jack and I hadn’t been so rabid to tear each other’s clothes off, I might have asked.

“When–”

Nikolai must have cut him off. Jack blew out an aggravated breath, popped off the couch and started pacing as he listened. He was still in a pair of track pants but had neglected to put on a shirt and I couldn’t help but to once again admire his tight body, still lightly tanned from the summer. His skin was surprisingly soft. I imagined with all those lean muscles his skin would be rough, like him. But it wasn’t. Following the lines of those sleek muscles with my fingers, my mouth, was a pleasure.

I realized I wasn’t even listening to Jack’s side of the conversation any more, I was just staring at him, and most likely drooling. Jack was so caught up in the conversation, he wasn’t paying attention to my intense scrutiny, at first. Then he noticed my staring, and probably my expression.

“Hold on, Nik.” He pulled the phone away from his ear. “You better be aware of what you’re broadcasting with that look, Ava.”

I smiled and shrugged but went back to shoveling macaroni in my mouth.

Jack shook his head and went back to talking to Nikolai. “Okay, cool. Thanks, Nik. Later.”

Jack flopped down next to me. “It doesn’t look good, Ava. Nik said that your douchebag ex got a hold of his father’s phone and found your contact information. The dad said he only got your number, but that he thought it wouldn’t reveal much because it’s from North Carolina. Which was a question I had planned to ask you, why the fuck you had an N.C. number when you’re from Michigan.”

“We thought we’d get phones from different states, so he wouldn’t know where I was if he ever found the number. How did Nikolai even get in to talk to Chad’s dad? He’s not exactly a man of the people.”

“Nik contacted Drago, a guy who used to work for Nik’s dad.” Meaning, he was in the Russian mob. “Apparently, your ex’s dad isn’t exactly running in good company. He’s shady as fuck, and Nikolai knew what cards to play to get him to talk. Of course, he initially denied anything was going on and said he took care of your family, so the matter was closed. Nik didn’t buy his shit, and he finally caved and admitted that your ex got your number.”

“Does he know where Chad is?”

“According to his father, he highly doubts that Chad would come all the way down here to bother with you, but finally admitted, after Nikolai and a few guys he borrowed from Drago leaned on him, that he didn’t know where he was and hadn’t seen him all day.”

“You think he’s here.” It wasn’t a question. I knew Jack had connected the dots and had come up with Chad as the culprit. I can’t say it was an illogical conclusion, it was just a conclusion I didn’t want to deal with.

“Well, he found the number, so he could have done some research or hired a PI, or something and figured out where you live. He has to be the asshole behind this shit.”

I didn’t know what to say. I didn’t want to believe Jack’s theory, but I was hard pressed to refute it given the evidence. I nodded. “It does add up, but it’s the last thing I want to believe.”

Jack turned to me and lifted his hand to tuck loose strands of hair behind my ear, then rubbed his thumb around the outer shell of it. “You know I’m going to take care of this asshole, right, Ava? I won’t let him come near you and when I get my fucking hands on him, he’s going to regret ever crossing the state line,” he asserted, his expression a mixture of ferocity, sincerity, and determination.

I felt unwanted tears of gratitude and astonishment prick my eyes. How had this person become so important to me in such a short time? I nodded my head, unable to get out any of the words trapped in my throat.

He continued to rub my jaw with his thumb and shot me a considering look. “Do you think your parents would let you come stay with me for a while?”

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