I easily ignored Jackson most of the movie, but now that we’re all standing up and preparing to leave, it’s almost impossible to ignore him. Doubly so when he moves to stand beside me, heat radiating off of him in the chilly night air.
“I’m giving you a ride back home,” Jackson says matter-of-factly.
“Andy can give me a ride home,” I argue, lifting my chin defiantly.
“No can do,” Andy calls out from where she’s helping Colby and Eli fold the now dirty picnic blanket. “I’m not heading your way.”
“Where are you going?” I ask her bluntly.
Andy arches one single eyebrow at me. “Not home.”
“Sorry, I forgot about your moonlighting at Coyote Ugly.”
Andy snorts and throws a piece of popcorn at me. “You’re so annoying. I’m going to Mom’s. I don’t feel like sleeping alone.”
“Stay with me,” I whisper softly so that only she can hear.
“I’m fine, Harp.” But her words bely her statement. I know Andy. Something’s up and she’s not telling me, which is rare.
“Alright.”
“Let Jackson give you a ride home,” Andy murmurs.
Everyone is out to get me. When everyone is looking away, I kiss Andy’s cheek, feeling the skin move beneath my lips as she grins widely. My girl.
We all silently climb into Jackson’s car. Irritatingly, Jackson flips the heated seat on, and it pleasantly warms my now freezing ass. The deep black sky twinkles with stars, spread out before us above the county road that takes me home. Without asking for permission, I reach up to slide open the cover of the sunroof. A surprised gasp rattles through me when Jackson opens the sunroof so that the cool night air blows through the interior of the car.
Tipping my head back against the headrest, I stare up at the pitch-dark sky, my hair whipping in the chilled breeze. An inexplicable joy courses through me, a freedom I haven’t felt in years. I turn my head to take in Jackson, the slope of his strong shoulders, the tightness of his forearms as he maneuvers the car onto the gravel lane towards my home. I’d snapped at him earlier, but the man was annoyingly correct.
I am sarcastic and do my best to push people away. At the end of the day, the only people I’ve ever let in are family. Probably mostly because I don’t feel like I have much of a choicebutto let them in. What would happen if I let Jackson be my friend since he so badly desires my friendship? Nobody in this town will let him hurt me. Colby and Beau would kill him if he tried. He keeps showing up, keeps trying to be my friend, so I’ll let him. Because maybe then he’ll realize I’m nothing special and he’ll move on to something else. Something more worth his time.
“Okay, I give in,” I whisper into the dark interior of the car.
Jackson’s gaze slides to me for one long moment before returning to the road. “What?”
“We can be friends.”
A startled laugh escapes Jackson. “What changed your mind? You’ve been fighting me tooth and nail the entire way.”
I look away from him and back out the window, unable to let him see my face even in the dark. “Just changed my mind.”
Jackson hums thoughtfully just as he parks the car in front of my house. The front light I’d turned on prior to leaving glows brightly. Honey moves around in the back seat, jostling her vest and tag in a way that’s always comforted me. The sound of her nearness always settles my nerves.
“I’m sorry for being rough with you earlier,” Jackson apologizes, voice a low, sweet murmur. I suppress a shiver at his words.
I sniffle dramatically. “I accept your apology.”
Jackson pinches my chin between his fingers and turns my face to him. “Do you have an apology for me by chance?”
Saliva pools in my mouth at his touch and at his words. Instead of arguing, instead of pulling from his grasp, I whisper, “Sorry for throwing a tantrum.”
Jackson’s lips lift in one corner as his thumb sweeps just below my lips. “Sour on the outside, sweet on the inside.”
“What?” I ask, confused.
“A Sour Patch Kid.”
I roll my eyes. “You’ve been talking to Beau.”
