“Hi,” he said quietly.
“Hi.” I fought a grin, still hardly able to believe this strong, scary football god was mine.
“What?” he asked.
“I just can’t believe we’re here, after everything.”
“Believe it, babe.” He dipped his head, nudging his nose against mine, stealing a chaste kiss. “Because you’re mine now and there’s no escaping me.”
“Good job I have no plans to run then. Now,” I slid my hands up his chest, “Fess up. What did you say to George to get him to give me a position?”
“It was nothing a few play-off tickets couldn’t solve.”
I balked. “Tickets. That’s all I’m worth? Wait until I see him.”
“Don’t give him a hard time over it. I think he would have agreed without me throwing in the tickets to soften the deal.”
“How did you even know... Asher,” realization dawned on me. “Asher told you.”
“He was only trying to help.” Jason pulled me closer, his lips finding the soft skin beneath my ear. “I missed you.”
“It’s only been a few hours.”
“Too fucking many.”
“Is this the kind of boyfriend you’re going to be? Needy?”
Jason lifted his head and frowned at me. “Needy? I’d handcuff you to me if I thought it wouldn’t cause some serious trouble with your parents.”
“Jason!”
“What?” He played dumb. “I can’t help it if all I can think about is kissing you, getting inside you.”
“Ssh, you can’t say things like that to me here.”
He leaned back in, brushing the shell of my ear with his lips. “Babe, I can say whatever the hell I want.”
He was so bad.
So very bad and so very all mine.
It was going to take some getting used to.
“What did Principal Finnigan say?”
He took my hand and started leading me across the street to his car. “He’s yet to make a decision. But it’s not looking good for Asher.”
“I still can’t believe he did that.”
“Really?” His brow shot up. “Because when I think about it, it’s exactly the kind of crazy shit he would pull.”
“He’s a good friend.”
Jason opened the passenger door for me and I slipped inside, waiting for him to get in. Once the door slammed shut behind him, the air in the car turned thick. “Do you wish it’d been him?”
“What?” I asked taken aback.
“Do you ever wish it was him you’d fallen for?”
“No.” I didn’t even need to think about it. “There was never a choice, Jason. You don’t get to choose who you fall in love with.”
“You love me, Giles?” His eyes slid to mine, dark and uncertain and so vulnerable it made my heart melt.
“I love you so much it terrifies me.”
“Good.” He leaned across and kissed me. “We can be terrified together.”
Ten minutes later, Jason pulled up to his house, and cut the engine. “Nervous?” he asked, reaching over and tangling our hands together.
“Nervous? What could I possibly have to be nervous about? I’ve been in your house more times than I can count. Hailee’s mom loves me.” It came out smug despite the butterflies fluttering in my stomach.
“No one’s home, babe.” His smooth laughter filled the car.
“Oh,” I stuttered, heat spreading through me. “Where are they all?”
“Hailee’s with Cameron, and Denise and my dad are off doing whatever the fuck they like to do on an evening. The house is ours for at least the next four hours.”
“Oh.” This time I gulped.
“Hey,” Jason’s hands glided up my arm until he was brushing my neck. “You good?”
“Yeah.” I blinked over at him. This was Jason. Nothing I hadn’t already experienced—and survived—before.
“No pressure, okay?” His eyes searched mine. “We can go in there and watch TV and eat our body weight in chips. Or we can go in there and do homework. I just really, really want to go in there... with you.”
“Okay.”
“Yeah?”
I nodded, finding the courage to step out of his car. I don’t know why I was so nervous suddenly. I’d let him claim me in front of half our class today at school. But this felt different.
This felt like coming out to each other, and after everything we’d been through, there was a little voice at the back of my mind whispering for me to be careful. To not jump in headfirst with him in case he had a sudden change of heart.
But it was too late.
I was already in deep waters hoping Jason would throw me a life raft.
Hoping he would be my life raft.
We entered the house in silence. It was the same four walls, the same collection of gaudy ornaments lining the shelves, and family photos Hailee’s mom had scattered over the walls. Everything was exactly the same.
But I was different.
We were different.
“Is this weird for you?” Jason asked, no doubt sensing my hesitation.
“A little. I just... I never thought we’d get here and now we are and I’m so happy, I am. But—”
“You’re worried I’ll hurt you again.” Shame washed over him. “Wait here.” Jason dropped a kiss on my head before disappearing down the hall.
I stood there, arms wrapped around my waist, wondering what the hell could be so important he had to abandon me.
When he returned, he had that sheepish look again. “Jason,” I said, “what did you do?”
He was holding a white plastic bag. “I was trying to think of a way to show you I want this. That I’m serious about this.” He motioned between us. “So I got you something.”
I peeked over, trying to see what was in the bag. But nothing could have prepared me for the Penn hoodie he pulled out.
“I wasn’t sure of your size.” He handed it to me. It felt soft and heavy in my hands.
“I don’t understand...”
“Well, you’re going to need one come next fall.” Nervous energy radiated from him. “I have one too, but mine’s black.”
“You’re telling me you got us matching hoodies?” My heart swelled.
“Well, yeah.” He lowered his face, rubbing the back of his neck, looking up at me through thick dark lashes. “Isn’t that what couples do?”
I had no words.
None.
I think Jason had stolen them all right around the time he completely stole my heart.
“I know I said I don’t want you there, at Penn, but I was just lashing out. Of course I fucking want you there.”
“Four years, that’s a long time.” I smirked. “What if things go south and we have to be around each other all the time?”
“Not possible.” He hooked his arm around my neck and pulled me flush against his chest. “I already told you, we’re endgame. So if you have doubts, I suggest you run now. Because I am locking you down for the next four-and-a-half years at least.”
“Only four-and-a-half years?”