“Yes.”
“Good. I made extra. Pour yourself a cup. I don’t have any fancy creamer, but milk is in the refrigerator. I need to go to the grocery store. I figured we could go together, assuming you choose option two.” He lays his palms flat on the counter. “Onceyou’re ready, I’ll walk you to your house to get the things you need.” He taps his knuckles on the counter, then heads back into the garage.
I’m left standing there, speechless. Well, if this is how he talks to people, I understand why he spends a lot of time alone.
I pour myself a cup of motor oil. Opening the fridge, I find a half-empty milk carton, a bottle of hot sauce, leftover pizza, and a case of beer.
“Doesn’t he eat?” I ask myself. “He can’t possibly live on pizza and beer.” He’s right. We need to go grocery shopping ASAP.
I guzzle down the cup of coffee, then open the door to the garage. “Over my dead body am I calling Dad home, so you win. I’ll stay with you. For now, anyway. You ready?”
Jack stands to his full height and takes a rag from his back pocket. He wipes the grease from his hands and smiles at me. I can’t help but return it.
“Yep,” says Jack. “Let’s go.”
CHAPTER 16
JESSI
As Jack escorts me across the lawn to my house, my eyes dart to the houses around us. Does anyone care that I’m heading toward my front door wearing my neighbor’s T-shirt and with said neighbor dangerously close to me? I mean, they don’t know the T-shirt is his, but still. They can probably guess.
No one calls out to me as I reach the door and twist the knob. Austin’s such an idiot that he didn’t even lock the door.
Nothing happens as I step inside either.I guess the coast is clear.
The still place reeks of alcohol. My feet stick to the floor as I tiptoe over used red cups. People are passed out all over—some I recognize and some I don’t. Thankfully, David and Austin are nowhere in sight.
“I’ll make this quick,” I whisper to Jack, who hovers at my shoulder.
I run upstairs to pack a small suitcase, enough to cover me for a few days. I’m not planning to stay with Jack for the next however many weeks Dad is gone for, or Shannon too for that matter. Austin will get over it, Jack will cool off, and I’ll be able to go home. I can work on figuring out a plan today. As muchas I would love to fantasize about spending my days with my sexy neighbor, this scenario—being babysat rather than living my best life—is my worst nightmare.
I creep into my room, and my stomach drops as I clock the bloodstained bed. Flashes of last night fill my head. David . . . everywhere. Me . . . helpless.
I take deep breaths and remind myself to focus and get the hell out of here. I find my phone on my bedside table and grab it. My eyes swipe the two missed messages that flash across the screen:
Rachel
I can’t believe you did that to David! You finally decide that you want to mess around with him on the exact same night I tell you I’m going to shoot my shot with him. Unbelievable. No wonder you don’t have any friends, you back-stabbing bitch.
Shannon
I talked to Jeremy already, and he told me to text you. The condo had availability through August. I’ll be back to send Austin off to school. Try to stay out of trouble. Austin said you caused a scene last night. I swear if you make me end my trip early because of some fit, I will ensure your dad ships you off to an out-of-state college next year. It wouldn’t kill you to learn some independence.
I laugh.The audacity and hypocrisy of her telling me to become more independent while she sips champagne in Cabo on my dad’s dime.
Not ready to deal with any of it, I power off my phone and march downstairs.
I find Jack in the kitchen, surveying the picked-over meal-prep containers. “Something tells me that Austin didn’t make these for the party,” he says.
“No,” I huff. “I did, for my lunch and dinners next week. Then those drunk assholes helped themselves.”
He hovers over my shoulder, filling me with peace and making my heart flutter. I wonder if he feels this way too. A pull toward me. Probably not.
“I eat like shit,” he says. “I have no idea how to cook, and most of the time I have leftover pizza and beer in the fridge. Want to teach me how to cook like this, and then we can both have meals for the week? These look pretty good, even if most have been eaten.”
I eye him with a mischievous grin. “Of course. It’s the least I can do. Especially after seeing what you keep in your refrigerator.”
Jack jerks his head toward the door. “Don’t hate on my bachelor lifestyle. Let’s get out of here.”
