Page 31 of Pick Me

When he walked out of his room, his hair was a mess and his eyes were wild. It looked like he hadn’t slept in days. With his lips loose, he gave his head a shake like he was a wet dog, and I cringed.

“Ah, Baseball Cap. Sorry to see you’ve graced me with your presence this morning.”

After checking the time, I flipped my phone over so he couldn’t see what I was looking at. It was nearly midday, and I hadn’t heard a sound from his room since I’d woken him up at seven.

He snarled as he stomped his way into the kitchen, barely acknowledging my existence. Odd. Usually, he’d be ready with an immediate retort. He walked around the island and scratched his belly, and I couldn’t deny checking out his abs. How could I not? They were so defined and muscular, and if he didn’t want me to, he’d at least wear a shirt.

“Recovered from your nightmare yet?” I asked with too much glee. Finding Jackson sweating and uncomfortable in bed had brought me bounds of joy because it proved he wasn’t as perfect as he liked to make out.

He opened the refrigerator door and scoffed. “I’d hardly call it a nightmare,” he grumbled.

“I beg to differ. You were tossing and turning in the bed, calling out for someone.” I crinkled my brows, thinking back to the memory, knowing it would be one of the fondest I’d have in college. “Leah? Mia? Who exactly were you running from?”

He shook his head, ducking farther into the fridge. Who knew what he was doing in there; I just admired his ass while he did it. Like I said before, the guy was nice to look at, he was just terrible to listen to.

After what felt like years, Jackson emerged from the fridge holding a carton of milk and looking at it precariously. I knew what he was thinking.

“I hope you’re getting a glass for that, Baseball Cap. Don’t want you spreading any of your germs.”

His smile cut to a smirk as I popped an orange slice into my mouth, and the citrusy tang exploded against my tongue. I closed my eyes at the sour taste, and when I opened them, Jackson’s face had drastically changed.

He was frowning while watching me chew, and I suddenly felt a little self-conscious under his glare. After swallowing, I said, “Are you going to get a glass?”

Still staring, his eyes dilated. Wait, was Jackson on drugs? It would explain how he was able to stay up so late to play his games, but it didn’t seem very Jackson-like.

“Are you okay, Jackson?” I tilted my head, and he jumped. I’d only ever seen his face like that one other time, and it was this morning after I woke him up from his nightmare.

He cleared his throat before walking over to get a glass. “I’m fine.”

As I pulled another segment from the orange, I could feel Jackson’s glare on me. “Don’t look at me like that.”

“Like what?”

Orange slice in hand, I pointed in his direction. “Like I shouldn’t be eating this. It’s fruit. You can’t judge me.”

“I wasn’t.”

Rolling my eyes, I brought my attention back to my phone, flipped it over, and was instantly met with Henry’s face. I still hadn’t decided if I would message him.

“Who are you texting?” Jackson asked, his voice a little huskier than usual as he peered over the counter, trying to get a better look at Henry.

I plucked the phone from the counter and stuffed it into the pocket of my sweatshirt.

“If you must know, I have a date,” I quipped, masking my anxiety over lying with smugness.

“A d-date?” His lips parted and his eyes went wide. What an asshole.

“Yes.” There might not actually be a date yet, but Jackson didn’t need to know that.

“With who?”

“None of your business, and don’t bother texting my brother about it. He already knows, so you don’t have to worry your pretty little head about me tonight… or even tomorrow morning.” Was I reaching? Yes. Did I care? No.

Jackson’s brows furrowed before it all clicked in that tiny little pea brain of his. “You mean you might not come home tonight?”

“If things go well, who knows,” I said, bluffing my way through this conversation like it was my job. I was one hundred percent coming home tonight. I still hadn’t figured out where I was going, but it was nice to keep him guessing.

Jackson cleared his throat, forcing me to bring my attention to him as I popped another orange slice into my mouth.

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