“You mean emotionally, or like… dick game not hitting?”
I shoot him a glare. “My dick game always hits.”
“So, I’ve heard.” He nods slowly, looking thoughtful. “And seen,” he adds, amused, reminding me of a party back when we were young and stupid.
“You think she’s in this for real though?”
I don’t answer right away, debating how much of Jessica’s personal information I can share. Then I blow out a breath and say, “She was a virgin.”
His head whips toward me. “Well, fuck me sideways.” He whistles low and sits back. “So, either shereally likes you or she’s got ‘lose it to a pro athlete’ on the bucket list.”
“Yeah, between ‘learn Spanish’ and ‘see Niagara Falls.’”
He shakes his head, chuckling. “So now you know what it’s like to pop a cherry. Welcome to the club.”
I narrow my eyes. Something clicks. Is he talking about my—
“Motherfucker,” I grind out, eyes wide and horrified.
Laughing, Jace leans back with his arms crossed behind his head. “Look, man… it’s better knowing your sister’s only been with one guy and not greasy college fuckboys in a frat house with a mattress on the floor. And that guy just happens to be your gorgeous, talented, athletic, rich, best friend in the whole world.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, trying to block the image. “Makes it easier for my hit list to have one name on it.”
We pull into my driveway. The engine hums low as my automatic lights flick on. Light spills from Jace’s house next to mine; Melody’s still awake and waiting.
Jace unbuckles but doesn’t move to get out yet. He looks over at me. “Look,” he says, voice serious for once, “if you actually give a shit about this girl, and you clearly do, then you need to get out of your own way.”
“Huh?”
“Stop pretending you’ve got it all figured out. Stop assuming you know where her head’s at. You’re asking if this thing between you two is just sex? You can bet your arrogant ass she’s wondering the same thing.”
I never had to think too much about how to make a woman like me — it just came naturally. But now that I’ve got Jessica, it comes down to keeping her. Which is something I’ve never wanted before.
“What do you suggest, Romeo?” I ask.
Jace shrugs. “Ask her about anything. Talk to her and open up as well. Don’t just fuck her and freeze up after. That’s not what a man does when he actually likes someone.”
I can’t believe Miami’s biggest man-whore is giving me love advice. Well, former man-whore.
“Since when did you become such an expert on feelings?” I ask.
“Since Melody,” he says, a warm smile softening his face. “When you know, you know.”
“Right.” I try to figure out what ‘I know’ means. I know I never want her to leave.
“Goodnight, house pet.” He claps my shoulder, then opens the door with a grin. “We’ll come over for coffee tomorrow.”
“Sure.” I nod, and he closes the car door behind him.
I watch him walk up his driveway for a moment before I kill the engine and step out. The front door clicks shut behind me. For so long I’ve come home to silence. Now, I come home to the soft murmur of the TV and a speaker playing Madonna. It drifts through the air, the faint sound of her singing overlapping with the house.
I round the corner into the kitchen, eyes taking it all in.
Jessica’s in a matching pajama set, long blonde hair tied high, ponytail bouncing as she moves around my kitchen. There’s flour on the counter and somehow none on her. She’s humming, singing under her breath, dancing as she stirs something in a bowl.
I don’t make my presence known. Instead, I lean against the wall and watch her, curious to see what she’s like when she thinks no one’s watching.
I’ve never wanted anything to stay the way it is more than this.
