CHAPTER 5
EMMA
It had been two days since I’d arrived, and my room was finally looking lived in. It made me feel slightly closer to home as I figured out Nashville.
I missed home once I unpacked everything, but I would make do. Jackson was gone a lot with training and working out at the gym, I supposed, and I managed go into town a few times just to look around.
I even ate at the chicken place on my own again though I’d never give Jackson the satisfaction of knowing that. I wandered the main street, looking at some of the famous buildings and feeling the vibe of the town. It made me wish that I was more musically inclined than I was, and I noticed some celebrities across the street.
I called Willow as I wandered around. Before long, the conversation turned to Jackson.
“He’s not there a lot. I guess he’s training or something,” I said as I leaned against the wall of a building and looked at the Ryman Auditorium with a smile.
“I can just imagine him at practice with that team. You have to go get pictures!” Willow urged me.
I laughed and remembered what he said about bringing me along.
“Why? I am sure that Greg either called ahead and told them all to never talk to me or assigned Jackson that job. I don’t think I’ll be allowed to date while I’m here,” I sighed. “I guess it’s a good thing that I don’t date, isn’t it?”
“You’re gorgeous, Em! Why do you think that you’re not?” Willow chided me before she went silent. “I love your family, but they really sheltered you. They made you scared to go get what you want.”
“Hey! I’m here going to college, aren’t I?” I defended myself. She laughed.
“Yes, you are, and I am so proud of you. Don’t let college be the only thing that you own. Live a little!”
I smiled. I knew she was right, but I just felt so uncertain most of the time. I told her that I missed and loved her as she said that she had to go.
Willow was right. I could do this.
I kept window shopping, not wanting to go home quite yet. I knew that I had to do some laundry, and that was the chore that I enjoyed the least. I grabbed a coffee at a cute little cafe before I went back to my car.
I was reading a book on my phone at the cafe, just to kill time and looked up to see the singer of a band that Willow loved. I bit my lip as I took him in and subtly snapped a picture of him with my phone before sending it to her.
There were a lot of gorgeous men here in Nashville. There was no doubt about that, but I found that one lingered in my mind more than any other and he was my off limits roommate, who was also my brother’s best friend. I sighed and sipped my drink.
I shouldn’t be thinking about Jackson at all. I shouldn’t be thinking about his dark hair and sultry blue eyes, or his gorgeous body. I was a few steps away from seeing all of him the day I arrived, and I blushed at the memory. I also found myself smiling.
I sighed and watched the singer for a bit as he met with some guys and a blonde who was obviously his girlfriend. I was going to like people watching here more than ever and I thought ahead to football games, wondering if I’d get tickets. They were probably different from the high school games I had once went to.
I sighed, knowing that I had to get my clothes washed. I had a couple of days before school started, and I felt the need to get ready now, well in advance. I liked to be prepared and knew that it was a habit that drove people close to me insane at times.
I went back to the apartment and walked into silence. I assumed Jackson was in his room as I saw his car parked out front. I grabbed my dirty clothes and balanced the basket on my hip as I maneuvered my way through the small hallway.
Why wasn’t this place bigger? Didn’t athletes make insane amounts of money?
I surveyed the stackable washer and dryer and then searched the little closet for the detergent, knowing that he washed the sheets just a few days ago. Where was it?
I looked around, wondering where else it might be. I rolled my head back and considered the situation.
I walked down the hall to tap on his bedroom door. I couldn’t hear anything, so I knocked again before I heard a sound inside. I twisted the doorknob slowly as I pushed open the door.
“Jackson?”
I gasped as I caught sight of his bare chest. His hard abs and his thick arms were ripped. His eyes were closed so I stood there just drinking in his body. He was doing a slow and steady pull up on a contraption in the corner of the room. He was wearing earbuds, so he didn’t notice me at first.