Anger bordering on rage coursed through her at his audacity and at herself, for not seeing it coming. Of course he showed up now. Of course he acted like everything was fine and that he hadn’t ignored her entirely for most of her life and dipped completely after her mom died and pawned her off to Caroline when she dropped out of college on what he probably thought was a whim. But now that it had worked out, he’d swoop in, like he’d been there all along, a loving, supportive father who wanted to nurture her dreams.
Fuck. Him.
Angling her way through the teams of spectators exploring the outer courts, she circled back toward the players’ exit and ran into Jack, her face almost colliding against the Nike swoosh logo on his black T-shirt.
“Indiana?” he said as she pushed past him. “Indiana, wait.”
She whirled around and snapped, “What?”
His eyebrows shot up. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” she said, trying to step around him again. People around them in the busy hallway, athletes, coaches, and staff alike, were staring at them. Most of them probably had no idea who she was, but they definitely knew Jack.
“You’re not fine,” he said, leading her away from thecrowd and down a separate empty hallway. “What’s the matter? Maybe I can help.”
Indy ran a hand through her hair. “My dad is here.”
Jack studied her carefully. She liked that about him. He always thought before he spoke. “And that’s bad?”
“Of course it’s bad. He’s only here because… because…”
“He’s your dad. He’s here because he wants to support you.”
She twisted her mouth into a pout. Jack didn’t get it. She hadn’t met his parents, but she knew the Harrisons were a happy family.
“He’s here because I’m interesting now. I’m doing something worthy of his attention, so he showed up.”
“Indiana…” he said, sighing heavily, his eyes softening… pitying.
Pity was the last thing she wanted him to feel for her. “Don’t. My dad is an asshole. He’s always been like that, but I don’t need you to feel sorry for me, okay? I don’t need your pity.”
“I don’t feel sorry for you.”
“I…” She trailed off. “What?”
“I kind of want to go shake him for not realizing what an amazing daughter he has, but I don’t feel sorry for you.”
Her heart fluttered. “You think I’m amazing?”
Jack ran a shaky hand across the back of his neck. “You know I do.”
He reached out and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. His hand didn’t fall away, but hovered over her cheek. He blinked down at her, hesitating for a moment before hishand descended, large and warm against her skin. Breathing in deeply, she leaned into the touch.
This wasn’t the lightning bolt attraction she normally felt around him but a slow, burning ember, comforting and safe, and she wanted this, too, this wall around the world keeping all the bad shit away, helping her forget how hard all of this was simply by being there. She collapsed into him and he held her close, one hand cradling the back of her head, his thumb brushing soothing circles just below her ear, coaxing her breath back into a slow, even rhythm, her temper cooling, all the tension in her sliding away.
Finally, she pulled away and he let her go, but she didn’t step back and neither did he.
“Thank you,” she said softly, and when she looked into his eyes, all his work to calm her down went to hell in the best possible way. Her breath caught and she wet her lips, his gaze flicking down to follow the motion. She was close enough to hear his shaky exhale.
“Indiana, I…” He trailed off, finally bending his head to hers.
The electricity that accompanied their innocent kiss a few weeks ago was like a tiny little sparkler compared to the fireworks display exploding behind her eyes as his tongue gently nudged against her lips, deepening the kiss. He held her firmly at her hips, his fingers flexing with every stroke of his tongue, pulling her closer. Then she felt him tense, and in the next second he was gone, putting several feet between them, staring at her.
“I’m—”
“Jack, I swear to God, if you fucking apologize.”
“I wasn’t going to.”
