Shit, I’m really regretting not kissing him earlier.
I get my ass home and try to put him to the back of my mind as I get my homework done, but Brooke’s endless text messaging makes it incredibly hard.
Once I’ve caught up on everything I need to do, I venture downstairs and drop down onto the couch beside my sister, Chloe, who has her nose stuck in a book, most likely not even noticing me beside her.
I grab the blanket and pull it over my legs as I snuggle into the cushion and start scrolling through all my social media accounts. After Jesse outed me, looking at social media was the hardest thing in the world, but now that the dust has settled, things are finally starting to look up for me. In fact, they already have and I’m so much happier for it.
Mom busily cooks dinner and both Chloe and I groan. Mom has absolutely no skill when it comes to cooking, but every few nights, we’ll find her in the kitchen, desperate to prove herself.
An hour later, Chloe and I are choking on our dinner, but somehow make it through to the end before giving mom wide smiles and thanking her for a beautifully, yummy meal.
My little book nerd sister goes up to her room and locks herself away while I offer to do the dishes and give mom a break for the night. By the time I finally make it upstairs and close myself off in my room, it’s well past 8 pm and I’m exhausted. I get dressed in my pajamas and throw my phone down on my bed before laying down on the floor to do a few exercises.
I hear Chloe huffing in frustration in the bedroom next door and it’s not long until she comes barging through my door, demanding my full attention. “Do you care to explain why Jackson Millington is currently throwing rocks at my bedroom window? Do you have any idea how freaking annoying it is while I’m trying to read?”
I fly up off the ground, gaping at my sister as though she’s gone insane. “What?” I demand. “You’re not serious?”
“Yes, of course, I’m serious. Would you do something about it?” She says with a frustrated groan. “Because I’m only one more rock away from grabbing one of the little turds and throwing it right back at him. Maybe I’ll even aim for that ridiculous car of his.”
I roll my eyes at her dramatics as I make my way out of my bedroom. “What’s he doing here?”
“I don’t know,” she snaps. “I didn’t exactly shove my head out the window and ask what he wants. Besides, you’d have a better idea than I would. I wasn’t the one sneaking out of school today holding his hand.”
My eyes bug out of my head. “You know about that?”
“The whole school knows about that.”
“Shit.”
“Elle, seriously?” she demands. “Go and get rid of him.”
“But I’m in my pajamas.”
Chloe rolls her eyes. “So? It’s just an old shirt and a pair of cotton shorts. He’s a guy. He probably thinks they’re just normal clothes.”
Damn it.
I reluctantly make my way into Chloe’s bedroom before we both creep over to the window and peer out. “I see you, Elle,” Jackson calls, making me want to run down there and slam my hand over his big mouth.
I cringe as I stand front and center in Chloe’s floor to ceiling window and pry it open. Wind blows the curtains back at me and I push them aside so I can step out onto the small balcony. “What the hell are you doing throwing rocks at my little sister’s window?”
“Shit. Your sister?” he chuckles before wincing and holding his rock-filled hands up. “Whoops. Innocent mistake.”
“Jackson,” I groan. “Why are you here?”
He beams up at me and my heart races seeing that goofy grin. “I wanted to talk to you.”
“Have you ever heard of a cell phone?”
“Don’t have your number,” he fires back, making me wonder how long we can keep this shit going. “Besides, I wouldn’t be able to see that angry little crease between your brows if I was to text.”
I cross my arms over my chest. “I don’t get an angry crease between my brows.”
Chloe scoffs as Jackson laughs. “Yeah, babe. You do.”
“Jackson?” I snap, trying to keep him on track. “Why are you here?”
“Alright, alright,” he says, looking over the front of my house and studying it closely. “Call me cliché throwing rocks at your window to get your attention, but I really wanted to see you. I’ve been thinking about it all day and I don’t think our conversation from this morning is over.”
“Well, I’m sorry you drove your ass all the way over here, but it was definitely over.”
Jackson shakes his head, grinning once again before bounding forward. My mouth drops as I watch him plant a foot on the lower level window sill and catapult himself up. He grabs hold of the bottom of the balcony before using his momentum to throw himself up and over the railing, placing himself right in front of me.