Jax takes a closer look at the jacket inside the collar. “Medium should be good, right?”
I have no fucking idea. I just stare at him blankly.
He chuckles, thrusting the jacket in my direction. “Should be fine.”
I take it from his hands, holding it up in front of me and smiling. I can already picture Brooke in the jacket, looking like a sexy little biker babe. Throwing a long leg over my bike to climb on. Wrapping her arms around my waist as I rev the engine.
My eyes return to Jax, who’s watching me curiously.
“Holy shit… youlikethis girl, don’t you?” he asks incredulously.
I grunt, wiping the dumbass smile off my face.
Jax steps closer, giving me a playful shove. “I’ve never seen you put in this kind of effort. Admit it, youlikeher, bro!”
I roll my eyes, shoving him back. “Whatever, man. I’ve just never wanted to bone a chick this badly.”
Even as I say it, I know it’s a lie. There’s something about Brooke that’s gotten under my skin- and I don’t think fucking her will get her out of my system. As crazy as it sounds, my wolf isn’t the only one who wants to claim her.
“Damn. Never thought I’d see the day…” Jax teases.
I shove him again, turning around to head up to the register. On the way, I glance down at the tag on the jacket, inwardly cringing at how much it’s going to set me back. Brooke’s worth it, though. It’ll be worth it if this gets her to agree to go for a ride. I can’twaitto take her up to Pine Mountain.
Jax follows me to the register, flirting with the salesgirl while I make my purchase. Then he follows me out of the store, coming up beside me as I start down the sidewalk.
“So’s she your girlfriend now or what?” Jax asks, waggling his eyebrows.
This guy won’t fucking let it go.
“Would you stop?” I groan, slinging the bag with the jacket over my shoulder.
Jax laughs. “I’m just givin’ you shit, bro. You know you deserve it after all you’ve doled out every time one of us has gotten involved with a female…”
I stop in my tracks, turning to face him. “I’m notinvolved, dude.” I point a finger at his chest. “Andyousaid you weren’t going to say anything…”
He holds up his hands in surrender, blue eyes wide. “Hey, I’m not gonna say anything to the guys about it. I told you I wouldn’t.”
I scowl, looking down at the pavement, kicking at a crack in the sidewalk. A pause stretches between us.
“You know…” Jax says quietly, “If youwereinvolved with her, it wouldn’t be abadthing. A girl like her could actually be good for you.”
Yeah, and what would I be for her? A fucking wrecking ball.
“Can we just drop it?” I grumble.
Jax slowly nods, turning to start down the sidewalk again. I walk with him in silence, shoving my conflicting feelings to the back of my mind. I’m not planning long term here; I’m living for the moment. That’s what Ido. And in this moment, all I want to do is get Brooke on my bike.
And with any luck, the jacket in this shopping bag might be just the ticket.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
Brooke
“Alright, so what are we doing?” I ask, approaching Theo at the complex gate. “Surprises are great and all, but I can’t really dress for the occasion if you don’t tell me what we’re doing.”
It’s silly to even say that since I spent an hour getting ready for this casual hangout with Theo. I put in my contact lenses, curled my hair, and agonized over what to wear for a good twenty minutes. I ultimately settled on a tight pair of black skinny jeans and a white cropped t-shirt. It’s Fallon’s shirt- she must’ve left it in my room at some point and it wound up in my laundry. It’s not something I would typically wear, but when I’m around Theo I feel a little confident, a little sexy. Like I’ve said so many times, nobody looks at me like Theo does.
The outfit has its desired effect. Theo rakes his gaze over my body, his eyes lingering on my exposed midriff.