Page 34 of Pick Me

“Well, Jackson, I know you think no one can stand to be in my presence, but some people like it. Some people even want to date me. Even more surprising, they want to have sex with me.”

He cringed at my tone, and I pushed past him, heading to my room and locking the door once I’d slammed it shut.

“Thea, wait—”

I stalked over to my bed, throwing my headphones on and blasting my favorite Bailey Hill album so I didn’t have to listen to an idiot like him anymore.

Chapter Eight

Jackson

With shaky hands, my stomach roiled as I stood at the kitchen island staring at Thea’s door. For what? Waiting for it to open again so she’d strip me down and kiss me against the counter. No. That was a ridiculous thought. Although, judging by her still smooth hair and lack of smeared lipstick, I’d go as far to guess she only let her date give her a peck.

I snarled, thinking about all the things I wanted to do to herdate.

No. Stop it.

I stepped back, my fingers curling against the counter as I tried to think about anything but Thea. When the cold sensation from the marble crossed my fingertips, my thoughts drifted to her sitting on the counter and pulling me in for a kiss. I’d gladly let her take it since I wanted to give her everything.

Shaking my head, I blew out a breath.

What the fuck was wrong with me?

I couldn’t eat without thinking about her. My dreams always morphed into stripping her naked, and everything in this damn apartment reminded me of Thea. The couch where she watchedThe Baseball Bachelor. The counter where she ate her grapes. The bathroom where she’d spray her floral perfume.

She was fucking everywhere.

I couldn’t get her off my mind since that stupid dinner with Matty and Britt, but I was almost certain if I spoke to Thea about it, she’d laugh in my face. She’d no doubt tip her head back so far she’d expose her long neck, and all I’d be able to think about was how the skin on her collarbone tasted.

Could I feel her pulse quicken as my lips skated across her skin?

Would she shamelessly clutch onto my shoulders, begging me for more?

And this was the problem.

Still leaning against the counter, I dropped my head and glared at my sweatpants-covered boner. What was I? Fifteen?

Fuck.

I needed to get a grip on something other than my cock before I was completely done for.

My dick perked up when I heard Thea shuffling across her room. I moved forward, pressing my ear against the door, and wondered if I could hear anything which would help me decipher who she went on a date with so I could throw a football at his head.

Wow. That one thought alone made me realize it was too late. Iwasalready obsessed with her. I wanted her so badly; I waspiningfor her. Something I’d never done before because frankly, I had better ways to increase my serotonin than chasing after girls when I didn’t need to.

But now there was Thea. The girl I’d put to the back of my mind so her brother would feel better about her starting college. Had he seen what I’ve only just realized? That I only had this kind of spitfire relationship with her. That every time she spoke, it sparked something deep inside me?

I couldn’t stop imagining Thea in every possible position doing unthinkable things to me, all thanks to Britt planting a seed in my mind that I was desperate to shake out.

The door was closed, and I was still on the wrong side of it. After failing out of one year already, I couldn’t go on like this. I didn’t want to suffer through another semester of summer school to ensure I could still graduate next year, so I needed to concentrate, which only meant one thing.

She needed to know I was having inappropriate thoughts about her, then maybe we could discuss ways to stop it.

With my forehead resting on her door, I blew out a breath before gently rasping my knuckles across it.

“Thea?” I said, then cleared my throat. I pressed my ear against it, listening out for any sound from her. There was nothing. There was no way she’d be asleep yet. She would’ve had to get out of that dress.

Maybe I could help.

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