Page 17 of I Just Want to be Yours

Tearing my eyes away from the soothing waves to look at him, I nod. “High Noon?”

He smiles, and I try my best to return the gesture.

It turns out Braden’s cousin having a boat was only the tip of the iceberg. Braden’s cousin is rich. There’s no other way to put it. His modern contemporary home has access to the bay with its own private dock and an infinity pool. I figured we’d have to at least trailer the boat somewhere, but all Braden had to do was lower the electric lift, and we were ready to go.

Matt wanted to drive, so Braden hands me a drink and sits on the bench across from Rae and me.

“Thanks.” I give him another small smile before popping the top and taking a sip. The bubbles in the seltzer dance across my tongue, the cold drink easing some of the summer heat. My hair whips in the wind as I look out over the water. The sun’s reflection dances on the water’s surface, and the palm trees look almost frozen in time as we zoom past them.

Before we left the apartment, I may have sent Jackson a sexy picture in my bikini. It was nothing crazy, but I’ve never sent him anything like it. He hasn’t responded yet. It’s Sunday, and I don’t think they have a show tonight, but maybe it’s his turn to drive the van.

Rae looks back at the impressive house behind us. “So, what does your cousin do for work?” When she looks at Braden again, she adds, “And are they hiring?”

He gives her a flash of white teeth as he rakes a hand through his blond hair. “Pharmaceutical sales I think?” He lets out a laugh. “Don’t be fooled, though. He hates his job.”

Rae lets out a sigh. “Well, I better love teaching because I can almost guarantee I’ll never have an infinity pool to console me if I don’t.”

Braden looks back at Matt. “Hey!” he yells over the sound of the motor. “She wants an infinity pool!”

Matt gives a sharp nod in his LSU hat and Oakley sunglasses like he understands the mission he’s been given.

Rae shakes her head, but amusement pulls at the corners of her mouth. “I don’t think he realizes how high up he’ll have to be at Disney to make that happen.”

“Did he hear back from that guy who thinks he can get him an internship next year?” I ask, remembering something Matt mentioned a few weeks back. He loves the Happiest Place on Earthmore than most people I know, and since his major is hospitality, it’s practically a match made in heaven.

Rae nods before weighing her head back and forth. “Yeah, but I mean . . . it’s Disney.” When Braden and I glance at each other, she goes on to say, “Disney is huge, so the fact that his dad knows someone might help, but it might not. It’s just too big of a company.”

“Hey, Rae!” Matt calls out over the roar of the boat. “Can you get my phone out of your bag? I’m sick of Braden’s shitty music.”

Rae gets up at the same time Braden flips Matt the bird, and I have to laugh.

I would have never said anything, but he does listen to shitty music. Dating Jackson has definitely rubbed off on me. Iknow for a fact he’d have something to say about Braden playing America’s Worst 40.

Braden’s eyes widen playfully as he registers my reaction. “You hate it, too?”

To this, I just shrug. “My boyfriend is in a band.”

“Right,” he says with a laugh. “Hey, how’s that going by the way?”

I blink. “Uh . . . he only left yesterday.”

A nervous laugh leaves his lips. “No, I know. I just meant in general.”

“Oh.” It’s been a while since I’ve had to come up with an answer for this question. Rae used to ask how I felt things were going with Jackson in the beginning. After he left for tour the first time and we technically decided to give things a shot, she’d ask if I had heard from him and how I was feeling about it all. But back then, it was so new, and I was still trying to figure things out. She hasn’t asked that question in months. I think she stopped asking as soon as he was here for the summer. By then, she didn’t have to check in with me. She could see exactly how things were going for herself, and when we’re together, Jackson and I are undeniable. My phone buzzes in my lap, and I use it as an excuse to buy myself a little more time before answering. I don’t know why, but I feel like I need to choose my words carefully around Braden.

Jackson:

Jesus fucking Christ, Margot. Are you trying to get me to turn this van around?

I don’t bother fighting my smile as I stare down at my phone. I just laugh and glance back at Braden. “It’s good.” I look back at my phone and shake my head, my bemused smile only growing. “It’s really good.”

11

jackson

We’ve beenon the road for a couple of weeks, and it feels like a breath of fresh air every time we stop to stretch our legs or get out to play a show. I’ve been driving for a few hours now, and exit after exit, mile after fucking mile, it’s all starting to look the same. I’m over it. I’m trying not to think about the fact that I still have an hour and a half left in my shift. My fingers reach for the dial, and I change the radio station, desperate to get away from the same used car lot ad I’ve heard at least six times. Unfortunately, there’s no Bluetooth in the van. I’m not even sure this thing has an AUX-in socket.

If the guys were at least talking, it might not be so bad, but everyone is doing their own thing. Marty has headphones on while he bobs along to a song no one else can hear. Brady is asleep in the back, his open mouth on display in the rearview mirror. Dave sits next to me, but he’s been staring at his phone with a look of determination for the past hour, and I know better than to interrupt that look. It’s the look he gets when he’s emailing contacts, researching venues, contacting studios. That look means he’s almost in overload, and all it takes is a pebble in his shoe to make him explode.

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