Page 33 of Beneath the Hood

“Must be a good one,” I quip.

“The best.” He nods.

My fists clench at my sides, but it doesn’t stop me from asking questions I have no business knowing the answers to. “Is shejusta friend?”

“She’s…” He groans, looking up at the ceiling. “Yeah… she’s only ever been a friend.” His voice hitches and I peek at him from my peripheral. My chest squeezes tight when I see the grief etching itself on his face, and even though jealousy sears my insides, the look in his eyes has me biting my tongue, because I realize that it doesn’t matter who she is. Or that she always manages to steal his attention even when she’s thousands of miles away.

All that matters is his pain. And all I want to do in this moment is dive inside of his chest and grasp his heart in my hands, so she can’t hurt it anymore.

So I can keep it safe.

16

Jackson

“I’ve never seen it.”

My jaw drops open. “I’m sorry,what?”

Blakely shrugs, popping the last piece of avocado in her mouth then sucking the leftover mess off her fingers. My cock twitches, confusion and desire twirling together and weaving around the edges of my heart, making me wonder how in thehellI’m suddenly finding everything this girl does enticing.

Shifting in my chair, I put my napkin on the table. “I think I’m misunderstanding you, princess, because I could swear you just told me you’ve never seen Die Hard, and that is completely unacceptable.”

She smiles while she chews, her amber eyes lighting up as she watches me from across the table. “Only if someone’s looking for your acceptance.”

“And why wouldn’t you be looking for my acceptance, Blake?” I tease. “Still not living up to expectations?”

“You said it, not me.” She lifts a shoulder, stifling her grin.

Puffing out my cheeks with a deep exhale, I push my plate away, watching as she picks up her phone, her fingers moving furiously over the keyboard. The smile that lit up her face slowly drains away, a heaviness drawing her features down, making me want to lift away the load.

Smacking my hands on my legs, I stand, walking until I tower over her small frame. Her face lifts from her screen, brows coming together. “What are you—”

She screams as I dive toward her, my arms reaching around her waist, yanking her up and throwing her over my shoulder.

“Jackson!” she shrieks, laughing as her small fists pummel against my back.

A ball of excitement expands in my sternum, my grip tightening around her legs as I carry her through the open archway and into the living room. I throw her on the couch, her body bouncing on top of the oversized throw pillows.

“You. Stay.” I point at her as I walk to my small collection of DVDs.

Her giggle turns into a full belly laugh and once I grab the movie I twist to look at her, narrowing my eyes. “What?”

She blows out shaky breaths, her hands holding her stomach as she tries to speak. “Just... just... remembering how...oldyou are.” Her laughter finally wanes and she leans back against the pillows, sighing, a satisfied grin on her face. “Who hasDVDs anymore? It’s probably on Netflix.”

“I don’t even have Netflix.”

Her eyes widen as she shakes her head, but there’s a soft smile playing on her face as she watches me, her eyes sparkling. “You’re so different than anyone in my life.”

I start the movie and head over to the couch, sitting down next to her and picking up her legs to settle on top of my lap. “Well thank God you have me in it.” I wink.

She grins, her toes digging into my thigh. “You’re not wrong there.”

A warm feeling rushes through my veins, fusing my broken pieces back together as we sit on my couch watching my favorite movie and justbeing.

No expectations. Nothing left unsaid in the space between us.

It’s nice—the most content I’ve been in ages—and maybe that’s why when she falls asleep thirty minutes later, her legs curled around mine, I make sure to stay quiet so she doesn’t wake up. So she stays.

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