Page 63 of Breakaway Heart
“Are you kidding?” Randy said in surprise, “He loves you!”
I looked back doubtfully at Jefferson while he made a squelching sound with his mouth and then went back to dozing.
“How do you figure that?”
“Oh, you’d know if he didn’t like you.” Randy glanced out of the window. “Here, you see that guy across the street taking his trash out?”
I leaned over and looked at a man trying ungracefully to open the trash can while holding two full bags in his hands, and then nodded.
“Here’s what Jefferson is like when he doesn’t like you.”
Randy walked to the door and held it open. Jefferson cocked his head at Randy to make sure it wasn’t a trick, then sprinted outside with more speed than I’d have credited him with.
From the window, I watched the man scream in surprise, throw his trash bags in the air, then hurtle for his front door as a wild bundle of fur came flying toward him.
Randy chuckled, then called out sternly from the doorway like a dad whose kid was in trouble, “Jefferson Franklin Wayne Gretsky DeNiro! You get back in here!”
Jefferson might as well have rolled his eyes as he stopped in his tracks, disappointed. Then he turned reluctantly and sauntered back to the waiting Randy.
“Sorry, Mr Peters!” Randy called across the street, “You have a good day now!”
“That was kind of mean, Randy,” I told him.
“Nah. He’s a Vipers fan, and he’s always yelling at his kids. We don’t get on. Especially Jefferson.”
Then an odd, giddy expression came across his face. One I’d seen many times since we’d gotten back here. Since he’d said all those words in front of thousands of people. And since my humiliating fall was shown over and over on television. “I Can’t Help Falling In Love With You” had become the track of choice for TikTok overnight.
“God, you look amazing. Why can’t I stop it?”
I blushed under his gaze.
“Whenever I see you, I can’t help it. Those gorgeous dimples when you smile, the cracks around your eyes, the nape of your neck, these cute wrists, thosefuckingeyes.
“Randy, stop.”
“I’m obsessed with looking at you. When I leave the room, I miss you, and I’m just waiting to get back.”
“I really think you should get your eyesight checked.”
“Hmm, maybe you’re right, let me come a little closer and check.”
I chuckled as he leaned over me with that shadow that made my heart beat harder. The touches he left on me that I never wanted to leave.
“I just like this, is all,” He sighed.
Randy Jackson,lovesick. Who would’ve thought it?
“I do too.”
And I did. I really did.
“I want to take you out. For real this time, Lucy.”
“I want you to as well.” I smiled back.
“Well…” He started.
I looked at him suspiciously, his face giving away that he had something in mind. His sentence stayed stuck in the air as he went out of the room before returning.
