There have been multiple parties since that night, but Jessi has never once said a word about it or come back. Then again, I haven’t talked to her either. The truth is, she rattled me that night and made me question everything about myself.
But there’s nothing wrong with offering to help a young woman with beautiful eyes, right? Her father asked me for a favor, and all I’m doing is honoring it.
Maybe I’m going about it the wrong way. I don’t have kids—never wanted the responsibility—so maybe I don’t know what’s appropriate or not. But I do know that leaving a teenage girl in a house full of boys is not appropriate. I’ve seen the way they treat Jessi, and I’ve heard the things they say to her.
“Dammit. What am I doing?” I huff as I open the cabinet, searching for something to eat. I haven’t been to the grocery store in weeks, and the shelves scream for attention. But I’m not about to head back outside and risk seeing her again and say something else I’ll regret, so frozen pizza it is. Again.
Thankfully, I do have beer.
CHAPTER 9
JESSI
Iswoon, replaying Jack’s words in my head.You’re never a burden . . . Let’s stop pretending we’re strangers.Did he really say that to me? And what did he mean?
“I bet he’s being nice,” I tell myself as I wander to the kitchen. “He hasn’t said two words to me in forever.”
He told me where his spare key to the house was, though. I’m sure my lonely mind is playing tricks on me. He is just being a helpful neighbor and doing what my dad asked. If he’d wanted more, he would’ve talked to me sooner.
Still, that hasn’t stopped me from interpreting our encounters and searching for any sign that Jack might notice me beyond the neighbor girl next door. Did that night in his garage mean something to him, like it did to me?
Who am I kidding? I’m a child to him. He probably wants me to leave him alone like everyone else.
I stand a bit taller and try to shift my mindset. I won’t mope around all summer. I need to make a grocery list and meal prep for the week. Austin is on his own. I’m not his chef. It’s bad enough that I’m the only one who cleans this house when Dad and Shannon are away and every time His Highness has a party.
I open my notes app and peruse the empty shelves. For the next few months my focus is going to be on doing what’s needed to get me out of here for good.
I want to be somewhere that I’m valued and needed. I’m not sure what I will spend my life doing, but I know I won’t find it here.
As I grab my keys and walk outside, I hear loud rumblings from Jack’s driveway. I wave over at the three men parked on their roaring motorcycles. All three sport their cuts. I recognize them from the few times I’ve spied them over at Jack’s before. I give them a sweet neighborly wave that they return as they idle.
Jack walks out to greet them, following their gaze, then locks his eyes on me. His eyes pierce me and refuse to let me go. I painfully force the break and climb into my car. After I buckle, I sneak a peek back up. Jack’s talking with his biker buddies, and his laugh is an infection to my soul. I reverse my car out of the drive, but when I shoot Jack one more glimpse, he’s watching me drive away.
I can’t help but grin. Maybe the guy does like me after all.
CHAPTER 10
JESSI
My heart sinks as I snap the last meal-prep container and the garage door opens. Austin’s home, and I hope he’s alone. He terrorizes me even when it’s just us, but it’s even worse when his asshole friends tag along.
“Jessi, you home? Of course you are. You never do anything!” He lumbers over to me, leans against the wall, and sniffs. “What’s for dinner?”
“Nothing. These are my meals for the week. They are for me, not you. Got it?” I say with as much confidence as I can muster. “Have one of the many girls who throw themselves at you make you dinner, or better yet, take one of themoutto dinner. You know, on a real date.”
“Funny, Jessi. I don’t need to spend my money on these girls. They’ll do whatever I say to be seen with me.”
I make a gagging noise. “For real, those are my lunches this week. Don’t eat them.”
He smacks the wall. “Fiiiiine. I’ll leave them alone. I’m having some of the guys over tonight, so we’ll probably get pizza. If you are going to be here, try not to be a bitch to David.”
I barely pay attention as I head upstairs to my room.
It’s after four o’clock and I want to leave the house for a bit, especially if David is coming over. I consider texting Rachel. She and I haven’t been the same after my birthday party. I’ve held a bit of a grudge that she didn’t see the big deal in what David said. She thinks that I’m crazy for not wanting to sleep with him. Since that party, she hasn’t gotten any closer to Austin and blames me. It was my fault that David didn’t want to be around me, so they both stayed away. I’ll never figure out what makes Rachel so stuck on a guy who treats her like she doesn’t exist.
I retrieve my phone and give in to temptation to have my one friend like me again.
Me
