Page 119 of Steeling Her
When I walked her back to the dorm, Haley and Danielle were watching us. I couldn’t get a fucking moment alone with her. They had eyes like a hawk, watching our every move.
“How’d the date go?” he asks impatiently. He wants to know what she thought of the date that everyone helped me plan. I came up with the idea, everyone just helped me execute it. I didn’t even know where to start when I first decided this.
He’s like a little kid bouncing up and down, wanting to know what happened. I want to keep it between Carter and me. It’s nobody else’s business, but I know they’ll drag it out of me. Plus, I trust them both.
“It was good.” I act nonchalant, but it was the farthest thing from good. If I’d have known that dates were like the one I went on last night, I’d have dated a long time ago. I wish I met her years ago. I could’ve started all of this sooner.
“Good? That’s all you got, Jackson?” TJ chides playfully. His hand playfully slaps my chest, telling me they want more than that. While laughing, he turns the indicator on to the freeway.
“Alright, it was better than I ever thought it would be. I would’ve started dating a long time ago if it was as good as this,” I tell them truthfully. But what I should’ve said was that I should’ve started dating her a long time ago.
“Dude, just say it!” TJ laughs and turns to face me for a quick second before focusing back on the road. They both start to slap me on any free space they can get their hands on, telling me to “say it” over and over again, chanting in my face until I’ve had enough.
“Alright, alright, alright! It’s was amazing. There, you happy?” I laugh while the two grin at me.
“You hear that, Reg? Our boy is all grown up!” TJ pinches my cheek while I can feel myself heating up.
“And becoming a man! She’s a good one, bro, I’m happy for you!” Reggie pats my shoulder again, telling me he approves of her.
“Me, too, man, look at you! I’ve never seen you this happy in my life. And I agree with Reggie, she’s a good catch. Treat her right, or her dad and brothers will be on your ass as well as your career!” he jokes, and the three of us laugh again. It’s a good morning despite the lack of sleep I got. I’m exhausted but the events that made me exhausted were worth it. Once training is finished, I’ll go back to bed and skip my classes for the day.
“Don’t I know!” I chuckle. It’s like none of that drama ever happened; none of the fighting that happened between the four of us. I owe it to her for making me see some sense, and to accept that I have no control over who my sister and my best friend like. And if it’s each other, then so be it; it’s their lives, not mine. So, I need to step back and let them be. Carter made me see a little sense in their relationship, and I got Haley to think about mine and Carters.
Wait, it’s not a relationship, is it?
I mean, one date really doesn’t mean we’re in relationship.Does it? Do I want one with her?
“Yo, can I ask you guys something real quick? And don’t laugh at me either!” They both nod back, telling me to go ahead. “When you first went out with Cassie or my sister, how did you know they would be your girlfriend?” I ask.
“Wow! Is Nick Jackson thinking of finally getting himself a girlfriend?” Reggie asks, actually shocked by my question.
I deadpan him through the rearview mirror while he chuckles a little. I mentally reprimand him,Not the response I wanted, Reg.
“I haven’t asked Haley to be mine yet . . .” TJ says quietly, his knuckles turning white on the wheel when he says it. He seems irritated.
“You both need a good foot up your asses. Get a move on! Otherwise, they’ll walk into another man’s arms and you can’t have shit with them!” Lighting that fire under his ass, TJ races to campus to get to practice. We are approaching the car park. He swerves into a free space and he stops the car with a huge squeak of the brakes.
“I have to make a call, I’ll see you both in there,” TJ rambles and fumbles with his phone as we slowly get out of the car. As slow as possible, so we can overhear his and my sister’s conversation. I know he’s calling Haley right now thanks to Reggie’s encouragement.
“He’s totally calling your sister, isn’t he?” Reggie chuckles as we walk away from TJ’s car.
“Yup.” I pop the “p” at the end for added effect. I place my bag over my head and allow it to fall onto my shoulder across my body, protein shake in hand and ready to go for practice. Reg made me one when he was making his.
“To answer your question, I knew Cassie was girlfriend material when she ran into me in high school. Literally, she was racing around the corner because she was late handing in an assignment. She completely blindsided me, then she fell on top of me when I hit the floor. Once I looked at her, I was a complete goner. That look she gave me made me realize she was the one I wanted, that small little flicker of realization of who I was mixed with amusement.
“I was the big shot in our school, everyone knew it. I had girls lined up for me, but nothing compared to that look she gave me that day. I was tackled by a girl, and I couldn’t stop thinking about her. I felt even worse when I didn’t know who she was. I felt like shit when I was told she’d been in my classes since kindergarten. I needed to know who she was.” He opens the door for us and we both stride inside to change. “So, I asked around; turns out, one of the guys on the team slept with her best friend, and I found out her name. I went home and stalked her on social media for the entire night. I know, I was weird, but I couldn’t get that look out of my head.” He stares at an empty space, reminiscing about his first meeting.
I know what he’s talking about. Those beady eyes that just stare at you in amazement. That smile they send you that makes everything around you stop. That laugh that makes you seize up because you aren’t prepared when you hear it. Then you long to hear her laugh again by cracking jokes; good and bad.
“So, the next day, I made it my mission to talk to her and ask her out. Once I found her, it took hours because the school was huge. I sent the team around to look for her too. It was like a manhunt that day. Anyway, I found her and sat next to her in all the classes we were in. I knew I wanted to date her just because of her kindness, but she was so goddamn beautiful, I couldn’t pay attention in school or football. She was on my mind twenty-four seven.” I nod, knowing what he’s talking about still.
It’s the same with me for Carter; she’s stuck in my mind and I can’t get her out of it. I don’t want to, but I want to control the urges and thoughts I have about her, especially the not so innocent ones. Out of all my thoughts, I need to get them under control.
“When I asked her out first, she said no.” I laugh at him and he smacks me on the back of my head. But that didn’t stop me, not even a little. My laugh is echoing through the halls as we approach the locker rooms. “Shut up, Jackson, not all of us have those pretty boy looks that get us any girl we want.” He elbows my ribs, getting me to stop.
“Whatever,” I mumble, rolling my eyes with a smile. My looks have served me well through the years.
“Anyway, I kept annoying her. I got her number from her friend and I would message her the game times to come see me. The location of the parties, where she could find me when I was eating with the guys at the local diner . . . you get it. But I messaged her and messaged her until she gave me a shot. When she did, I wooed the shit out of her by taking her to a carnival because her friend told me she liked them. That night, we kissed . . . and don’t you fucking dare quote me on this! I won’t give you any advice in the future if you repeat it to the guys, Jackson!” I hold up my hands in surrender as we stop outside the doors where we can hear chatter and laughter from the inside. “It was the best fucking kiss I’ve ever had. I needed more from her. I had to see her again, and again, and again, until we were official. I knew she was the one when she looked at me that day when she ran into me. I knew by her eyes, as cheesy as it sounds. I just knew by looking at her. I wanted to marry her, I wanted her to carry my kids, and I wanted her love for the rest of my life. There was something invisible there between us, and no matter who got in the way, we’d always find each other.” He shrugs opening the door to the guys changing into the training kit.
