Page 55 of Pick Me

“And what kind of guys should I be looking for, then?!”

He gazed straight into my eyes as he walked toward me. Instinctively, I stepped back, thinking I was discreet enough that he wouldn’t notice. When I hit the wall behind me, I realized that wasn’t the case.

“You need someone with more fire and passion.”

I frowned. “Henry had plenty of passion. He’s obsessed with hockey.”

“No, T. Passion is seeing you in that dress and realizing there’s no better sight in this world… Except maybe it draped on the floor.”

“Why would you want to look at a dress on the floor?”

“I shouldn’t have to explain it.”

If it was on the floor, then it wouldn’t be on me? My eyes widened at the implication, which I had missed because it kind of sounded like flirting, and that wasn’t something Jackson and I did.

I swallowed as Jackson came closer.

“Is everything okay, Baseball Cap?”

I was trying to lighten the mood, but I didn’t know where to look.

“Everything’s great now that you’re back. I was worried about you. How are you?”

“I’m good,” I squeaked out. He towered over me, and I felt claustrophobic under his glare. “You know what? I think I’m going to go to bed. I’m exhausted.” I yawned, overacting.

“You need some company?”

Company? Was he suggestinghecould be my company? I tipped my head back on an overly obnoxious laugh because I didn’t know what else to do. Jackson had done a lot of weird things tonight and over the past few days but asking me to be his bed buddy had the be the weirdest, including those texts from Britt.

Was I going to accept his offer?

Not in this lifetime.

Chapter Fourteen

Jackson

Sitting on the couch, I watched Liam get his ass handed to him for what had to be the hundredth time today. At this point, it wasn’t even entertaining. He was playing so badly I’d launched my mic across the room an hour ago to avoid hearing his excuses. He was lucky he was pretty—otherwise, I would’ve ditched our channel years ago.

When I heard Thea’s door unlock and open, I smiled.

Fifteen hours.

Thea had been holed up in her room for fifteen straight hours, and I knew she’d have to come out eventually. No one had a bladder that strong, and I doubted she had the skill or arm strength to scale her balcony.

Tossing the controller aside, I sank deeper into the cushions, trying to look casual as I glanced over my shoulder. The second I saw her; I had to bite my cheek to keep from laughing.

Thea’s back was pressed flat against the wall, her hands splayed out like she’d been caught midheist, and she gasped when her wide eyes locked onto mine. “What are you… What are you still doing here?”

She didn’t move, which only made it funnier. Like she actually thought I was about to pounce.

To be fair, the idea had crossed my mind.

I smirked and turned back to the TV, making a show of stretching out. I’d gotten to her. She might not have believed the things I said last night, but she was thinking about them now.

Soon enough, she’d have no choice but to believe them, and I wasn’t leaving this apartment until we’d gotten this out of our system.

“It’s my apartment too. Figured I’d actually enjoy it.” I grabbed the controller again, unpaused the game, and feigned indifference to Thea’s presence—not that it was possible to ignore her.

---