He shrugged as he leaned closer. “Then that’s it. There’s no question. This is the twenty-first century. That kind of stuff is in the past. I’m sure there are other ways for your family to form partnerships.”
If only. But Jet didn’t know my parents. They were going to make sure that the Livingstone empire stayed in the family, by any means necessary.
He must have read my response on my face because he scoffed and stood. “So that’s it? You’re not going to fight this? I mean, come on.” He swallowed so hard that I could see his Adam’s apple bob up and down. It was tearing him up inside, and I hated that.
I reached up and grabbed his hand, reveling in the freedom touching him brought. I mean, I’d spent the whole day fighting my feelings for him, but now I could reach out and entwine my fingers with his. Like it was as natural as breathing.
“I’m not leaving until Monday. We can still spend tomorrow together. It’ll be fine.” Even as the words escaped my lips, I knew things were not going to be fine. I was pretty sure my heart was going to break into a million pieces.
“But...” His voice drifted off as he closed his eyes for a moment and then glanced down at me. “Brielle,” he said as he sat back down on the cot. He folded my hand in both of his and glanced over at me. “I don’t want to let you go.”
I rested my free hand on his and nodded. “I know. It’s okay. You’ll be just fine. I promise.”
And I did promise. If I went to Italy, then the deal would go through. Brit and his mom would get better jobs. They could get out of the slums they were living in. It would be perfect.
He slipped his hand out from under mine and reached up to tuck my hair behind my ear. “But who will drive me crazy?” he asked as he brought his hand back to cup my cheek. He ran his thumb over my lips, and all I could do was respond by leaning into his hand.
I felt so safe here. Like no matter what, Jet was going to take care of me, protect me. For the first time in my life, I felt wanted. I felt like I belonged, and that was all I’d ever wished for.
“I’m sure you’ll find someone else,” I whispered. The words physically hurt to say, but they were true. Jet was amazing. Any girl would be lucky to have him.
His finger pressed against my lips. “I won’t ever find someone quite like you,” he said as he slid his finger down and pressed his lips to mine.
My tears flowed freely now, and Jet must have noticed because he pulled back with a concerned expression. He reached up and gingerly wiped each cheek.
“When you cry, it makes me want to kill whoever is hurting you,” he said, his voice gruff and full of meaning.
I shook my head. “Don’t,” I said as I reached up to hold one of his hands. I brought it down to rest in my lap.
“Brielle, I can’t help it. I need to protect you. I think it was what I was born to do.” He leaned in and rested his forehead against mine. “I was meant to find you outside the hotel.”
I laughed as I glanced up at him. “Why were you there anyway?”
He pulled back and a strained look flashed in his eyes. “My dad. I figured he might head back to the hotel once he got more liquor inside of him. I was waiting to see if he came back.” He glanced over at me. “I’m glad I did.”
I pulled his hand up and wrapped it around my shoulders. He must have known what I was trying to do because he shifted and pushed until he was leaning against the wall. I followed him, bringing my feet up and resting my head on his chest.
His arm was warm and tight against my body as he held me. I could feel the beating of his heart, but this time, it was slow and steady. I tapped my fingers on his chest in time with it.
“What are you doing?” he asked. His chuckle rumbled in his chest.
“I like your heartbeat,” I said.
He reached up and engulfed my hand in his, stilling my movement. “I’m glad I can please you.”
Heat flushed my face as my eyes widened. He laughed.
“Dirty mind, little one.”
I shrugged. “Sorry.”
His laughter died down and silence filled the little shack. It wasn’t awkward or filled with words not spoken. It was just calm. For the first time all day, I could breathe.
Sure, my future was still set in stone. Plans were still in motion. But right now, lying with Jet, listening to his heartbeat, and feeling him breathing, I was happy.
This was where I belonged.
“Thank you,” I whispered.
I felt Jet shift as he looked down at me. “For what?”
“For letting me get on your bike. For taking care of me. For showing me your life.”
“You sound like you’re dying.”
For all intents and purposes, I was. My future was all planned out, and it didn’t include him.
“Before I forget...” I shifted until I was half-sitting, resting my weight on my hand. I reached into my bra, and Jet’s eyebrows shot up.
I gave him an exasperated look, and he just shrugged.
“The money I owe you,” I said as I pulled out the twenties and pressed them into his free hand.
He started at me for a moment and then back down to his hand. “What?”
I snuggled back into his chest. “You need it more than I do. Besides, we had a deal.”
I wasn’t sure, but it felt like Jet suddenly stiffened. I glanced up to see his jaw was set and his gaze had turned stony.
“What?” I asked.
He glanced down at me. “I don’t want this,” he said, handing the money back over.
I stared at him. “What?”
He met my stare head on. “I don’t want your money.”
“But, Jet—”
He shook his head as he slipped off the cot. “Brielle, are you serious?”
I sat there, the coolness of the air hitting me, but I didn’t really notice. The punch to the gut was stronger. “I promised you,” I said.
His jaw clenched as he glanced around the shed as if he were trying to figure out what to say. “It’s not about the money. It’s not about a promise. I...” He knitted his eyebrows together like he was hoping I’d pick up on what he was trying to say.
But I wasn’t going to listen. It didn’t matter how he felt. He needed the money. For him. For Cassidy. For Brit. I wasn’t going to let his pride dictate whether or not he took this money. I made a promise and I was going to keep it.
“You’re being ridiculous,” I said as I gathered the bills and slipped them back into my bra.
He scoffed. “I doubt that.”
I stared at him. “You need this. For Cassidy? For Brit?” I tucked my hair behind my ears as I met his gaze. “You can’t afford to act like this.”
He met my gaze as if he were trying to challenge me back. “I can take care of my family.”
I knew that was true. I sighed as I nodded. “I know. I guess, I just wanted to help out too.”
His expression softened and his shoulders slumped. He sat back down on the cot and glanced over at me. “I know,” he said.
He leaned back on the headboard and brought his arm up. He tapped his chest, and I hesitated before I snuggled up next to him.
I sighed as I drew circles around on his sternum. “That was crazy.”
“Hmm?”
I laughed, the memory of the day washing over me. “I never thought that I would meet a guy and fall in love with him on the same day.” My fingers stopped moving as soon as the words left my lips. I hadn’t meant for them to come out, but there they were, hanging in the air.
Jet’s grip tightened, and I felt him move so he could stare down at me.
“Fall in love?”
I closed my eyes for a moment. I wanted to take the words back and loved the fact that he’d heard them all at the same time.
He pulled me closer to his chest. “Do you love me, Brielle?”
I pinched my lips shut, fearing what else I was going to confess. “No,” I whispered.
“Lie. I heard you.” He pushed me up so he could
see my face.
I kept my gaze down, fearing what looking at him would do to me. But he wasn’t going to let this go. Instead, he pressed his finger under my chin and tipped my face up until I had to look at him.
“Do you love me?” he asked again.
Heat rushed to my cheeks, giving away my feelings. He held my gaze, and I could see the earnestness there. He wanted—no, needed—to know.
“Yes,” I whispered.
He straightened as his expression turned intense. He leaned close to me, until he was only inches from my face. “I love you too,” he whispered.
A shudder rushed through my body as his words engulfed me. It was exactly what I wanted to hear and what I feared. I needed his love like I needed air to breathe. He was my lifeline in my crazy, depressing world.
I met his gaze, and, before either of us could speak, I leaned forward and pressed my lips to his. This time, I kissed him with all the feeling inside of me. Our lips moved in unison as we explored and devoured the other.
We kissed like it was the last time we would ever kiss. Because come Monday morning, that was going to be true.
But right now, we were two lost souls who’d found their missing half, and we were going to make every second we had left count.
I’m not sure when we fell asleep. We spent most of our time together snuggling on the cot and telling each other stories. There were a few times that I could remember Jet shaking me awake, telling me I’d fallen asleep.
I must have done it again, but he didn’t wake me up.
It wasn’t until the sun streamed in from the small window in the back that I finally woke up. My neck felt crimped and achy.
I winced as I pulled myself up, rubbing my strained muscles.
Jet’s head was tipped to the side and his eyes were closed. It was like his arm was stuck in its position, and I could see where my ear had made a mark on his skin.
I softly giggled as I stared at him. Even in the morning, with the sun streaming down on him, he was the best-looking guy I’d ever seen.
And he cared about me.
My heart sang.
He must have heard me because he shifted on the bed and peeked through one eye. “Morning?” he asked.
I nodded. “Looks that way.”
He groaned in protest as he shifted until he was no longer propped up but was lying down on the bed. “It’s way too early.”
I nodded as I reached out and rested my hand on his chest. He mumbled under his breath but brought his hand up to wrap around my fingers. He held my hand as his eyes drifted closed.
I wished we could stay there forever, just me and him in this shed. But we couldn’t. I was leaving in less than twenty-four hours, and we were going to make the most of it.
“Come on,” I said as I tapped his shoulder.
He groaned again but sat up, keeping his eyes closed. “You’re mean in the morning.”
I shrugged as he stood. “We’ve got less than a day to spend together. We are going to do everything.”
His shoulders slumped as he turned to face me, his eyes now slits. “You’re still going?” he asked.
I put on a brave face and nodded. “Of course. It’s my duty,” I said, trying to make light of the situation by striking a superhero pose.
He didn’t look amused as he stared back at me. “Haha, you’re not that funny.”
I swatted his arm as I climbed off the bed. “I am too,” I said.
He shook his head.
I waved away his response as I tiptoed over to my shoes and slipped them on. Then I folded my arms as I watched him hunt for his jacket. “Thanks for bringing me to your secret hideout.”
He turned to look at me, an unamused expression on his face. “You make me sound like a twelve-year-old boy with a sign that says no girls allowed.”
I laughed, imagining twelve-year-old Jet with a dirt stained face and a spear he’d whittled himself. “Ah, that explains it,” I said, everything suddenly coming into place.
He furrowed his brow. “What?”
I shrugged. “You. The stick.” I mimicked him scraping the piece of wood outside the hotel yesterday.
Jet grabbed his jacket and slipped it on. “Do you always talk crazy this early in the morning?”
I shrugged. “I’m not normally around other people this early in the morning, so I have no clue.” Then I waved to his jacket. “What are you doing?” I asked, motioning toward my dress. Why I was stupid enough to wear this thing last night confounded me.
“Ah,” he said as he bent down and pulled out a plastic tub. He reached inside and grabbed what looked like a pair of sweatpants. “Here,” he said, throwing them my direction. “Maybe next time wear a dress you can ride a bike in.”
I scoffed as I shook the pants out and then slipped them on over my dress. “I wasn’t expecting to come to your love hut last night.”
He chuckled. “Love hut?”
“Yeah. I’m assuming you bring all of your girlfriends here.”
He stopped moving to turn and stare at me. “All my girlfriends?”
This was a fun conversation. “Do you do this a lot? Repeat what the other person said?”
He snorted. “Only when they are talking crazy. Do you hear what you’re saying?”
Why was it so unrealistic for me to think he had a lot of girlfriends? “You’re saying you don’t date a lot?”
He pushed his hands through his hair. “I’m kind of honored that you think I’m this guy that gets all the girls, but no, I’m not some ladies’ man and this isn’t my love hut.”
I studied him. He was serious. “Then why the secret shed on the beach?”
He glanced around and then his uneasy gaze settled on me. “This is where I run to when things get out of hand with Dad.” He shrugged as he stuffed his hands into his jacket pockets. “This is my safe haven.”
I studied his furrowed brow and downturned lips. Then my feelings for him heightened as his words washed over me. He was sharing this with me.
He was letting me in. Trusting me.
And yet, here I was, keeping something important from him.
Man, I was a jerk.
“My parents are partnering with the family they want me to go to Italy with so they can build those hotels they were talking about on the news.” The words tumbled from my lips.
Jet stopped moving to study me. “What?”
“That’s why…”
He kept his gaze on me for a moment before he crossed the floor, stopping inches from me. “Is that why you have to go?”
I glanced up at him. My lips parted as I took in his frustrated gaze. I didn’t trust my voice, so I just nodded. “Yes.”
He growled as he stared at me. “That’s ridiculous, Brielle. You can’t just live your life for other people. For me.” He wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me close. “Do what you want to do.”
I reached up and rested my hand on his chest. I could feel his warmth on my fingertips. I wanted this. All of this.
But I also wanted to help his family, and I knew in the long run that would make him happiest.
“It’s what I want,” I whispered.
He held me close for a moment before he let me go. I tried not to read into the fact that he couldn’t meet my gaze. Pain was etched across his expression.
Instead, I pushed my hair from my face and smiled at him.
“Let’s go,” he said, keeping his gaze on the ground.
I nodded and allowed him to open the door for me. I stepped out into the morning sun, trying to make myself feel better about all of this. But I felt terrible.
My last day here in Atlantic City with Jet was going just great.
Not.
Chapter Sixteen
We walked in silence to Jet’s bike. I wasn’t sure what to say to him. I could tell he was upset with me. That he wanted me to say that I didn’t have to go to Italy. That I had a choice, even though I knew that wasn’t the case.
I couldn’t stay if i
t meant his family would be hurt. I cared too much about them. If only he saw that, then things would be different.
Why couldn’t he just see that I was doing this for him?
Just as we neared his bike, my phone chimed. I pulled it out; Mrs. Porter had texted me.
Intrigued, I swiped my screen on and read her text.
Mrs. Porter: I think you should get back here.
I stared at her words. Why would she say that? I’d already agreed with Mom and Dad that I would come back tonight.
Me: What’s up?
I waited for her to respond. Jet took the time to inspect his bike.
Mrs. Porter: Things are happening. You should get back.
I loved Mrs. Porter. She was like a second mother to me. So the fact that she was asking me to come home worried me. Normally, she’d support my decision to stay out. To live my life before my parents forced me to live the life they’d picked for me.
Me: Be there in five.
She texted me a thumbs up, and I slid my phone back into my bra. I turned to see Jet leaning against a nearby fence. He had his legs stretched out in front of him and his hands shoved into his pockets. He looked so thoughtful, staring out at the ocean.
I hated interrupting him when he looked this calm. But I needed to get home.
“Can we stop by the hotel?” I asked as I walked over to him. “I could use a clean pair of clothes and a good teeth brushing.”
Jet glanced over at me. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
I furrowed my brow. My parents were controlling, but they weren’t the type to lock their daughter in a dungeon. “I’m sure it’ll be fine. Besides, they know I’m not coming back until tonight, and they’re okay with that.” I linked arms with him and then leaned my head on his shoulder. “I’ll be fine.”
He sighed and I felt his shoulder sag under me. Then he nodded. “Okay. Let’s get this over with.”
The ride back to the hotel was faster than I expected. I felt as if I blinked, and suddenly, he was pulling into the alley behind the hotel and turning off his engine. He glanced over his shoulder at me. I slipped off the helmet and climbed off his bike.
I took a deep breath as I handed the helmet over to him and straightened my hair. “I’ll be back. I promise.”
Rule #5: You Can't Trust the Bad Boy (The Rules of Love) Page 14