Page 20 of Redemption

I might be tempted to ask if he’d come here for me, but I was too scared to hear his response. Instead, I asked, “Aren’t you worried Greer will see you?”

He’d put me in an incredibly awkward position.

“At the moment, I’m more concerned about you.” His expression was sincere, and I tried not to read too much into that comment. Jackson was older. Hot. He probably thought of me like another little sister.

I tightened my grip on my bag, exhausted after a long shift and ready to go home. “I already have four older brothers. I don’t need another one.”

His expression darkened, but I turned and started walking toward my apartment.

“Sloan.” He grabbed my wrist, his hold light yet commanding.

“What?” I asked, glancing at him over my shoulder.

“Just…” He looked as if he was going to say something else then stopped himself. “I’m sorry if I startled you. I read about a string of assaults on campus, and I was worried about you.”

I softened at his words. I wanted to ask why, but I knew better than to push. Besides, it would be nice not to have to walk home alone at night just this once. “Okay. The company would be nice.”

We fell into step beside each other. We talked about work, school, Greer. My family. I kept stealing glances at Jackson, his eyes connecting with mine every time.

We slowed as we neared my apartment, and I wanted to linger in this moment with him. But this was reckless. What would we tell Greer if she happened to see us together? What would she think?

“I should—” I gestured toward the building. “I should head in, or Greer will worry. Thanks for walking me home.”

“Anytime. Seriously. Call me if you ever need anything.” When I said nothing, he pressed. “Okay?”

“Okay.”

He lifted his hand as if to touch me. I wished he would. I held my breath, waiting for it. But then he dragged his hand through his hair.

“Wait.” His arm brushed against me, and I wanted to sink into him. Into his strength and assuredness.

“Are you free tomorrow?”

My heart leaped at his question, but I told it to calm the hell down. “Yeah. Why?”

“Come by my place. I want to teach you some self-defense moves.”

“You do?” I asked, lighting up.

“Yeah.” He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly bashful.

“I love that idea,” I said, and I meant it. I loved that Jackson didn’t want to coddle me but empower me.

“See you tomorrow.” He smiled.

“Tomorrow.” I smiled back, almost giddy. I turned and headed toward the door to my building, feeling his eyes on me the entire time.

“Will you still be able to FaceTime while you’re gone?” Brooklyn asked, jolting me from the memory.

“Of course.” I knew it would be difficult to keep up with our daily text messages and twice-weekly calls. But I would do anything to reassure her.

“I wish I could go with you,” she mumbled in a glum tone.

She’d been saying that for years. I’d hired a sailing coach at one of the local marinas for her. And we’d been sailing together every chance we got. One day, she’d be ready. One day, Nate had agreed.

“How’d it go with Jackson?” Emerson asked, entering the room.

“Good.” I smiled brightly, still feeling off-kilter. “Yeah. Good.”

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