“I need to get going but I want to take you out tonight. On a date,” Jackson says against my neck.

Before I can respond, my cell phone rings. Jackson reaches over, grabs it, and hands it to me. Neil again. I roll my eyes and huff. I’m pissed he’s still calling—there’s nothing left to say. I silence the phone and put it down. Jackson gets up and starts getting dressed. He looks over and smiles, then heads out of my room. Maybe he saw the name? He doesn’t know who Neil is, though. I hear the voicemail alert and decide to check it real quick.

“Hey, Cat. I need to talk. I know you see me calling.” He takes a shaky breath. “I understand why you’re not answering, but please—I need you.”

I slump on the bed and put my phone on the charger. Simple things I can handle, but Neil? No, not today. My chest is tight and I’m suddenly nauseous. He didn’t need me three months ago, hell, seven months ago when he made his choice to sleep with Piper. He didn’t need me when he told me I wasn’t enough. Screw him. He can need her for all I care. Yet, somewhere deep in my heart, I know I’ll cave and answer my phone or call him back at some point. It’s unlike him to sound desperate. Something could be seriously wrong. Whatever. Not going there.

I get up, put my sweatshirt on, and head out to get coffee. Despite my tearfest this morning and the stress of this Neil predicament, the medicine kicked in. I lean against the door and watch as Jackson and Ashton laugh together. It warms my heart to see them getting along. I can’t recall if I ever saw her talk to Neil when I wasn’t around. Smiling, I walk over and start my coffee, allowing them to keep talking.

“Good morning, hot tits.” Ashton laughs as I roll my eyes. Please don’t let her embarrass me again. She turns to Jackson. “So you were about to tell me about your sexy, available friends, right?”

I bust out laughing and grip the edge of the counter for support. Of course she’s trolling for men. “For real? You’re trying to score a hot friend?”

“Hey, I’d enlist if I knew I could look at guys like him all day. I’m cooped up in a lab with nerds who think they’re hot.” Her grin is wide as she leans in, tilting her head to the side. “Don’t get all stabby.” She returns her attention to the sexy man sitting at my table. “Well?”

Jackson smiles and leans back in his seat, patting his leg. Grabbing my coffee, I smother my trepidation and snuggle into him. He looks at me brightly. “Why don’t you answer her? Any of my friends hot?” Oh sure, make me say it.

Deciding to play coy and give Jackson a taste of his own medicine, I say, “Well, there is this one guy.” I smile, turning my back to him as I lean on the table with both hands holding my head. “He was so dreamy. Almost made think twice about Muffin over here.”

She plays along. Her eyes widen and she grins devilishly. There’s nothing Ashton enjoys more than taunting people. “So he’s like super hot, then?”

“Oh yeah, I’m talking off the charts.” Jackson leans against my back and his body heat pulses through my sweatshirt. His hand grips my hip before slipping underneath the hem and splaying across my bare stomach. I gasp.

“What’s wrong, baby?” he asks as I turn and look at him over my shoulder incredulously. “Just curious who you think was off the charts?” Slowly his fingertips trail against my stomach. The shirt is baggy, so hopefully Ashton can’t see anything that’s happening.

I bite my lip and lean back against his chest. “It’s hard to say—” My words cut off when his finger slides against the underside of my breast.

Ashton smiles. “What’s wrong? Cat got your tongue? Or is it that Jackson’s feeling you up?”

Jackson leans back, laughing hysterically. Busted! My face is painted in red as I get up and put my mug in the sink.

Ashton yells at my back as I walk to my room. “Oh c’mon, hot tits. I’d touch them too if I were him. Don’t be like that.”

“I hate you both!” I yell back, laughing. Out of nowhere I’m airborne and squeaking as Jackson lifts me and throws me over his shoulder. We laugh as we make our way back to my room.

“I’m going to head into the city and get ready. I want us to go out and have fun. Pack a bag. You can stay at my place tonight,” he says with a serious look.

“What time?”

“I’ll text you details. I need to make some calls.” His lips press against mine and I lean into him. I don’t think I’ll ever tire of kissing him. Even though we’ve just started whatever this is, it feels like it’s been so much longer. It’s like every day I’m with him, a little more of the broken me mends, making me whole again.

Chapter Nineteen

After spending the next three hours agonizing over what to wear, I finally settled on my red, one-shoulder, A-line dress. My hair is curled and swept to the side and I’m pretty happy with the overall turnout. I’ve packed my overnight bag and threw my nude heels in there since I have to take the train into the city—there’s no way I’m running around in heels. Ashton is going out later, so she agreed to drop me at the station on her way.

Stepping out into the living room, I ask, “Well, what do you think?” She lets out a whistle.

“You look holy shit hot! Wow. He’s gonna be tenting all night long.”

“What?” I ask, dumbfounded.

“You know, be pitching a tent in his pants.” She giggles and nudges me.

“Grab your keys. I’m nervous enough without your asinine comments.” I huff and nudge her back. My nerves are out of control. I don’t know why since we’ve already slept together. We had a rather powerful talk today, but this seems so different—probably because our date is actually planned and I wasn’t roped into it.

We exit the house with Ashton’s arm around my neck. “No need to be nervous. You need to be you and he’ll see how special you are. I’m pretty sure he already does.”

“Just … I don’t know. Things got heavy this morning,” I say to her as we get in the car. “I don’t mean sexual heavy either. I kind of had a huge breakdown about my dad,” I admit reluctantly. It’s weird telling her this. Ashton and I share everything, but there are parts of my relationship with Jackson I want to keep to myself.

“Wow. You never talk about him. But he still wants to take you out, so it didn’t scare him off. Jackson seems like a good guy. He came over last night to see you. You were plastered and he stayed. He’s obviously into you.” She takes a deep breath while the words sink in. “I know it’s hard for you to see, but please don’t push him away. Let him see what I see.” She places her hand on mine and squeezes, offering me comfort I’m reluctant to receive.

“Thanks, Ash. I guess I’m just waiting for the proverbial shoe to drop.”

“Well that’s no way to live. Live for the moment.” The car stops as we arrive at the train station. Ashton turns to me with her lips pursed. “I know this is hard for you. Here’s the thing—nice guys like him don’t come around twice. From everything you’ve told me, he’s only been good to you. Yeah, he’s intense, but you guys have this insane chemistry. Stop fighting it!”