Page 2 of Jaded Soul

“Mmhm,” is all I say. I don’t know anything about love, relationships, romance, or novels, for that matter. “Whatever you say.”

“When are you going to find someone?”

“Wow, you didn’t waste any time jumping right in, did you?”

Even though I can’t see her, I know Fiona is rolling her eyes at me. “Jett, it’stime. You’re not getting any younger, you know.”

“Thank god for that,” I mutter.

Fiona laughs, then grows serious. “I love you, Jett. I just want you to be happy. You sacrificed a lot to come back and raise me, and now it’s your turn to have a life.”

My gaze sweeps across the diner until I find Rowan. She's behind the register, wiping down the machine while humming softly to herself. I can barely hear it, but it's a sad tune. She looks far too weary for how young she is - early twenties if I had to guess. I want to know her story and every single thing about her, but I can't. I shouldn't. Plus, I can't seem to get my mouth and brain to work at the same time whenever she's around.

“I have a life,” I answer after a moment of silence. “The club, my brothers, and my annoying little sister are about all I can handle.”

“Annoying? Me?” Fiona gasps dramatically. “I’ll let that slide, but only because I know you know I’m right.”

I grumble incoherently and wipe a hand down my face. “I don’t pressure you to go off and date people,” I finally respond.

“Would you like me to detail my dating life?”

“Nope. No, no thank you. Never mind.”

“Cuz there’s this one guy in my physics class…”

“La-la-la-la-la I can’t hear you,” I repeat until she erupts in a fit of giggles.

“I’m kidding, I’m kidding,” she assures me. “Boys are gross. They all have cooties and you’ll beat them up if they look at me the wrong way.”

“Exactly. I’m glad something I taught you stuck.”

Fiona laughs again, making my heart a little lighter. I love my sister and I want her to have everything she’s ever wanted. Everything I do, all the money I make, it’s all for her.

Looking back at Rowan, I sense a monumental shift deep in my chest. Maybe my sister is right. Maybe I need to find another reason to keep going. Maybe I’m ready for one more person in my life.

Or maybe I’m delusional.

“I gotta go to class,” Fiona says, pulling me from my thoughts. “Love you, Jett. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do!”

I chuckle. “Bye, Fifi.”

“You know I hate it when you call me that,” she hisses.

“I have to give you some shit every now and then,” I tell her with a smirk.

We hang up, and my attention is once again drawn to Rowan. Her porcelain skin, round cheeks, and button nose are almost too much for me to take in. She’s delicate and precious - the exact opposite of me.

My eyes follow the motion of her hand as she tucks a few strands of her dark hair behind her ear. Rowan inhales deeply, closing her eyes and tilting her head down as she exhales. Her shoulders drop along with the cheerful mask she's always wearing. For this brief second, Rowan allows the fear and anxiety to overwhelm her. I can fucking feel it suffocating her, the rough waters dragging her down and pulling her further and further from shore. I want nothing more than to be the one to swim out and save her.

The bell above the door rings, alerting Rowan to a new customer. I watch as she forces herself above the surface of the emotion she’s drowning in, taking another breath and slipping on her mask.

What are you hiding beneath that smile? Where did you come from? How can I protect you?

All questions I can’t seem to bring myself to ask.

I slip a fifty-dollar bill out of my wallet and leave it on the table as a tip, just like I've done every other day this week. I can'tseem to say anything with my words, so providing Rowan with some decent tip money will have to do.

It’s for the best. I don’t need a woman.

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