Page 6 of Pick Me

Raising my hand, I said, “Can youpleasenot talk about those kinds of things with me in the room?”

“Yeah, J. I don’t really want to discuss that kind of shit with my sister around.”

“Should’ve thought about that before you let her live with us.”

“I didn’t …”

Tanner didn’t finish that sentence, and I knew why. He didn’t want me here. He had no choice. After two failed attempts at living alone, I was now stuck living with my brother and his annoying teammate because no one trusted me in any other capacity.

I didn’t like being a burden on people; I really didn’t. I’d just run out of options.

Jackson raised his hands, an audacious grin covering his face. “Alright, man. I won’t talk about how much P you’re going to get over the next week.”

Tanner’s shoulders rose, and although I couldn’t see his face, I knew he was pissed. There were other things going on with Tanner and his girlfriend, Aster, that he clearly hadn’t shared with Jackson just yet. Not surprising. Trying to have a heart-to-heart with that buffoon would be as pointless as talking to a giraffe.

“Not everything is about sex, you know. I’m visiting the Crossbills and staying with Aster’s parents.”

Okay, my flesh was crawling. Tanner saying the word sex was disgusting and wrong.

“What’s your point?” Jackson asked. “You can still have some fun when the parents aren’t looking.”

Tanner pushed Jackson, who laughed. “Have you ever had a serious relationship?”

“Haven’t needed to. I can get laid without one.”

And that right there was the pig I lived with.

“Charming, as usual,” I added, striding past them into our small kitchen. The apartment wasn’t huge, but the living room and kitchen were combined, making space for a kitchen island with a faux-marble countertop. One I was now leaning against as I plucked a few grapes from the fruit basket.

Jackson clutched his chest and looked at me in mock surprise. “Ouch. You wound me.”

I wanted to smack that smirk clear off his face. Out of all the people in the world to be stuck with for the next ten days, why did it have to be Jackson James? How would I survive the utter vapidness of being solely inhispresence every evening? Seriously, I was almost certain centipedes had more going on in their heads than that guy.

“And you make me want to vomit,” I quipped.

“Jackson. Thea. Can you please just pretend to get along until I leave the room?”

I crossed my arms, knowing full well I couldn’t agree to that, so I changed the subject.

“Where’s Aster? I want to say goodbye.”

Jackson slapped Tanner on the back. “Yeah, where is that spitfire?”

Tanner looked between us. “She didn’t want to have to deal with the two of you arguing so opted to wait in the car.”

“We don’t argue,” Jackson said with a huffed-out breath.

“And I’m not quarterback of Covey U,” my brother said.

Tipping on my toes, I pointed at the baseball-capped fool. “It’s all him. If he had an ounce of charm in any of that giant body of his, then maybe we’d be able to get along.”

“Charm? Are you seriously going to talk about charm right now? I seem to remember how far yourcharmgot you with that police officer after you tried to burn your sorority down, Pyro.”

“Pyro?”

“Yeah, your new nickname. I think it’s fitting, don’t you?”

I clenched my fists and held myself back from punching him square in the jaw. Not out of fear he would retaliate. No, that wasn’t him. It was purely because I knew he’d barely feel it, yet my hand would be broken.

---