“It means I can’t leave you. I did it once and it almost killed me without even knowing it. I won’t do it again.”
Shaking my head, tears running down my face, I laugh and say, “I love you.”
His nostrils flare, his eyes darken. “Say it again.”
“I’m in love with you,” I say a little louder. I can hear giggling coming from the doorway.
“Again.”
“I’m so in love wi?—”
“One more time for the fans in the back!” Jackson yells.
Laughing I throw my arms in the air, jazz hands shaking and yell, “I’m in love with you, Gage!”
He throws his arms around me and swings me in a circle, I wrap my hands around his neck and can hear the hoots and hollers and whistles and groans—my oldest brother—from our totally intrusive family.
Laughing against my lips he says, “I love you, too, Casanova.”
Chapter 42
Francesca
After a night where we made it known how much we loved each other, I wake and stretch feeling deliciously sore. It’s never been like that before. Jackson took his time, finding every spot on my body that lit me up, and delivering a night I’d never forget. This is it. We’re a couple. Everyone knows. And he’s staying. I stretch and roll to his side of the bed but find it empty. The championship game is today so I’m sure he went for his early morning run to clear his head before meeting the boys.
I hear my phone vibrating, but I just can’t bring myself to move from this bubble. This love bubble that I can’t believe is real.
Smiling to myself, remembering all the words we said, I hear the front door close, and I finally sit up and grab hold of my phone to check the times. I have a ton of alerts, which make my heart race a little. Just as I open the one that says, “Gage moving on?” he appears in the doorway.
“Chess? Don’t read them.” He starts walking towards me and I’m unsure as to what he’s saying. I look down again at my phone as the first picture loads. It’s of him and Ava.
What the fuck.
I start scrolling, not really reading the words, just seeing picture after picture of him and Ava.
Ava sitting on his lap.
Ava leaning in towards his neck.
Jackson's hands on her hips.
Just like I found her with Nick.
“What? Jackson?” I question in disbelief, shaking my head.
“Don’t read it. It’s not true. I can explain.”
Now, I’ve seen enough movies and read enough books to know when a man says ‘I can explain’ it means he’s trying to cover his story.
But when Jackson says it, I believe him.
I don’t know if that makes me gullible or not. But knowing what I know about Ava, and knowing how the press spins stories, I owe it to him and myself to hear him out, at least.
He sits by me on the bed. I pull the sheets tighter around me, hiding myself and he takes my phone from me. “They’re making a story where there isn’t one.”
“I mean, it’s pretty bad. Why is she sitting on your lap? Why is she even in the same bar as you?”
“It was after the Almost Christmas parade. I was so messed up. I couldn’t believe what Tony did and then he told me I was signed with Goldman PR. I…I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t go home because you were across the street. I couldn’t go to Adam’s, because he hated me. I just went to the bar and started drinking. Ava was there, only I didn’t know it was her. Sh-she had some people with her, who were trying to talk to me, get an autograph. I wasn’t in the mood but they kept pushing. Next thing I know she’s on my lap. I pushed her away, Chess! I swear I did! But flashes were going off. I don’t even know who was taking pictures. Next thing I know, Tommy was there, pulling me out the back door. He drove me home. Ask him! Chess!”
