Francesca
Ipeek out my front curtain and notice Adam's truck is at Jackson's house. He must have stopped in right from work. I already saw Britt and Bobby walk over. She sent me a text earlier to make sure I was coming. She’s been checking on me more and more, making sure I’m okay with everything. Living across from my long-time crush and now working on the festival with him, I’m sure she’s waiting for me to have a breakdown.
I knew I was going to agree to Jackson's plan the minute he proposed it. And really, when my dad brought it up at dinner the other night, I thought about it then. I thought about how I could help him because I want him to succeed. Football is his life, his love.
His only love.
There’s no room for anything else that serious.
I check myself in the mirror once more, happy with my jeans that make my ass look great and a blue tank that is casual enough to make it look nice without looking like I’m trying overly hard. I adjust my ponytail; grab the bottle of wine I had chilling and head out my front door, down the porch and onto the street.
Taking a deep breath and crossing the proverbial ‘too late to turn back now’ line, I walk up the steps to Jackson’s house and knock on thedoor.Britt opens the door and pulls me into a hug. The house is loud, everyone is laughing and messing around.
“Hey girl, you look hot!” She eyes me up and down. “What’s the occasion?” She raises a brow.
I knock into her shoulder with mine. “Knock it off and stop reading into things.”
“Whatever you say,” she says as she grabs my hand and drags me into the kitchen.
Jackson's house is about the same layout as mine. But his kitchen is larger and has a long middle island with stools all around it. He’s got stainless steel appliances and the entire back wall of his home has windows with sliding glass doors that showcase his back yard which has a brick patio with a built in BBQ, a pool, gorgeous wicker furniture set and strings of white lights strung up all along the patio. Elegant and tasteful, not overdone. For being a superstar in the NFL, he doesn’t flash it around.I'm really beginning to think that those stories of him were highly fabricated.
“Chessy!” Adam comes and grabs me in a hug, lifting me off my feet.
I slap him on the back. “You just saw me three hours ago, you fool!”
The twins come and kiss me hello and Jackson walks over with a glass of wine for me. He gives me a wink, then turns back to check the oven.
“You cook?” I’m shocked. He could burn water growing up.
“Don’t look so surprised! When I moved into my own house with my first paycheck, I taught myself. There’s only so much pizza you can order.”
“He’s a pretty damn good grill master. It’s why we always BBQ over here,” Billy adds.
“Yeah, and you’re a cheapskate and don’t like to clean up, so you dine and dash at my place.”
Billy just shrugs his shoulders and grabs another beer.
Pretty soon, everyone heads outside to the patio and grabs a seat. Jackson sits at the head of the table, everyone filling in around him. I walk out and Britt scoots down so I can slide in next to her, withJackson on my left. I give her the eye and she just smiles and begins passing plates.
"So, Billy, how was your date with Carla?" Jackson asks.
"Clara." He thinks for a second. “Carol? Yea, definitely Carol," he grins. "She was a good time, fun, adventurous.” He wiggles his brows, and we all groan.
"Is she finally going to be a repeat?"
Billy is the resident stud, love 'em and leave 'em, he's always respectful but he doesn’t do second dates. Ever. I'm surprised he’s able to meet new women. I’m unsure where his inability to settle down came from. Maybe he’s living up to the hype of our last name. A Casanova, through and through.
He looks at me like I've got three heads. I put my hands up in defense and laugh. “Just asking bro! I can't wait for the day some woman walks in here and knocks you on your ass."
"Don’t you threaten me. I’m never settling down." We all laugh at him.
"You’re going to run through every chick in the County if you keep it up."
We fall into a comfortable night of eating, talking, and laughing. It’s so good to be here with everyone. I’ve missed my family.
“So, there is a reason I invited you guys here tonight. I have something to tell you all. Well,wehave something to tell you.” I look up and he’s looking at me. I glance at the rest of the table and they’re all staring at us. Britt is the only one smiling.
Jackson stands, getting a little closer to me, and puts his hand protectively around the back of my neck. It feels like ownership. And boy, do I want to be owned by him. A shiver runs through me.
