‘It’s never too late to tell someone how you feel,’ Sonia assured him as she reached out to pat his hand.
A sudden breeze made Jackson shiver as the cool air slid over his sweat dampened skin.
Was it really that easy? Just tell Jillian how he felt?
When he was fourteen, his mama told him it was never too late to tell someone how he felt. Jackson had taken a chance that she was right. After talking to his mom, he’d marched straight to Jill’s house. When she came to the door, he’d told her that he didn’t want her to go to the Monster Mash with Zane.
‘And why shouldn’t I go with him, Jack? It’s not like you care.’
Jackson looked her in the eye so she’d know he meant what he was about to say, ‘I do care, Jill, because you belong to me. You know it, and I know it and even Zane knows it.’
Jillian gave him the biggest smile he’d ever seen. ‘Okay, I won’t go with him. I’ll only go with you.’
Then she threw her threw her arms around his neck, and he held on tight. If anyone else thought they were taking Jill from him, they were dead wrong.
Even if his mama was wrong, and it was too late, it was past time for him to find out. It was time to take the risk of opening his heart so they could have something phenomenal together. Something extraordinary and exciting and if the unthinkable happened then his grandpa was right. He would be the luckiest man alive because he’d had the love and devotion of a beautiful and talented woman.
It looked like he was going to need that Danny Zuko costume after all.
“Oh my God, this is so cute!” Jillian squealed. “Where did you get it?”
“The internet of course,” Shelby answered. “Do you think he’ll let you put it on?”
Jillian looked at Mufasa who was curled up on the love seat. “I guess we’ll find out.”
In all the years they’d been together, she’d never tried putting clothes on her dog, but there was a first time for everything. There was no way she was passing up the opportunity to have him wear a leather jacket that said T-Birds. It would be perfect for her costume since she was going as Sandy from the movie Grease.
“I can’t wait to see how he looks in it,” Shelby said.
“Me too, it’s just too bad no one else will see it.”
“Why wouldn’t they?”
“It’s not like I can bring him to the Monster Mash.”
“Yes, you can. Lots of people bring their dogs.”
“I know, but I have to take a two hour shift selling cider and candy apples,” Jillian reminded her. “I can’t have a dog in the booth with the food. That’s probably against health department rules or something.”
“You know Mom and Dad will watch him.” Shelby snorted. “That dog’s their only grandchild right now.”
At this rate, Mufasa was the only grandchild Jillian would ever give their parents.
When she was a kid, she’d always thought she was going to grow up and get married and have lots of babies; with Jackson of course.
They’d even had a pretend wedding when they were six. A wedding that didn’t include a kiss because Jackson declared kissing was gross.
‘Then how come grown ups do it?’ Jill asked.
Jackson looked thoughtful. ‘Maybe it’s not gross when you grow up.’
‘Everyone knows you can’t be married without kissing.’
‘Guess we’ll wait ’til we’re married for real.’
‘That’s gonna mess up our pretend wedding, Jack.’
‘No, it won’t. We’ll just hug. That’s not so bad.’
Jillian thought about it and decided she could live with that. ‘Okay, but when we get married for real, you better kiss me.’
Jackson gave her a lopsided grin. ‘I promise I will.’
“What’s that look for?”
Jillian frowned at her sister. “What?”
“You have this goofy smile on your face,” Shelby explained.
“I was thinking about something Jack said to me when we were six.”
“You remember something Jackson said when you were six?” Shelby was incredulous. “Hell, I can’t remember what I had for breakfast yesterday, let alone something that happened to me when I was six years old.”
“Believe me, I wish I couldn’t remember it either.”
“Why? Was it really mean?”
“No, actually it was very sweet. That’s the problem.”
“Sorry, you lost me.”
“I don’t want to remember the sweet things about Jackson because it makes it too hard to move on from him.”
“Who said you had to move on?”
“Jackson did when he said he was sorry he kissed me.”
A sympathetic look filled Shelby’s eyes as she reached for Jillian’s hand. “I’m really sorry, Jill. I wish it would have worked out for you guys. Jackson would have made a cool big brother.”
“That’s not what you said when you were five and Jackson put that garter snake in your jewelry box,” Jillian said, smiling at the memory.
“Oh my God, I forgot about that.” Shelby laughed and then gave her a mock glare. “And don’t act like you didn’t have anything to do with that.”
“I may have been the lookout while he did it,” Jillian admitted. “I guess I should have known better than to fall for a guy who’d put a snake in my little sister’s room.”
“And Jackson should have known better than to throw away the best thing that ever happened to him,” Shelby said softly.
Yeah, he probably should have, but he didn’t. And Jillian had to find a way to live with that.
Chapter Eleven
“Come on, buddy, it’s not that bad,” Jillian said.
Mufasa looked up at her with a pained expression as she adjusted the jacket. Getting a leather jacket on a dog wasn’t an easy feat, especially not when said dog was making his protests known with squirms and sighs.
“Oh my God, he looks so cute,” Shelby said from behind her, making Jillian’s shoulders jump.
Jillian frowned as she turned to face her sister. “What are you wearing?”
“My Halloween costume.”
“I get that, but who are you supposed to be?”
“Annie Oakley.”
“I didn’t know you were dressing up as Annie Oakley.”
“Why wouldn’t I? Annie Oakley was a total bad ass.”
“There’s not much to that costume.”
“What are you talking about? I’m totally covered.”
“Yeah, that’s what I mean.”
Shelby laughed. “It’s too cold to go out half-dressed.”
That was why Jillian was dressed as Sandy, the sweet Sandy with her Rydell High cheer uniform. Well, that and the fact that she loved the movie Grease. She’d seen it hundreds of times, including once in the town square with Jackson who hadn’t been happy to be forced to sit through it.
“Besides, Mom and Dad will be there,” Shelby continued. “Not exactly the best time to bust out my belly dancer costume.”
“You have a belly dancer costume?”
Jillian didn’t know why that should have surprised her. Shelby was always the more adventurous sister.
“Yeah, I do,” Shelby answered. “I’ll let you borrow it sometime if you want.”
“If I ever need a belly dancer costume, I’ll let you know. Are you ready to go?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve been waiting all year for this. Candy apples here I come.”
Laughing, Jillian leaned over and clipped Mufasa’s leash on his collar. The prospect of going outside made his ears perk up. When he realized they were going for a car ride, he trotted toward Jillian’s jeep with his head held high, making her laugh. He was apparently going to forgive her for forcing him to wear a jacket.
Staring at his reflection in the mirror, Jackson could not decide if he looked like a douche or if the costume was cool.
The leather jacket wasn’t bad. Beneath that, he wore a simple black T-shirt. The jeans wer
en’t terrible, a little darker and stiffer than he would normally wear, but the fit was good. Not that he should have been surprised. Even if Gramps didn’t know his size, it would have been easy enough to find out since they lived in the same house.
It was those motorcycle boots that had Jackson doubting himself. The only boots he’d ever worn besides his cowboy boots was a pair of steel-toed work boots. The motorcycle boots were too shiny and just plain weird looking, the cuffed jeans making them even more noticeable.
If it wasn’t for the fact that he needed to pull out all the stops to impress Jillian, he would have changed. And if this didn’t impress Jillian, he didn’t know what would.
Grease was one of Jill’s favorite movies. Even if she hadn’t told him so countless times, he would have known it the summer she’d dragged him along to see it when it was playing in the Town Square. She’d had the biggest smile on her face as she sang along with the actors.
Heaving another sigh, he grabbed his wallet and keys from atop his dresser. When he stepped out of his room, he burst into laughter. The sight of his grandpa dressed as Frankenstein, complete with bolts in either side of his neck, made him forget his own awkwardness.
Walt turned, but his expression stayed neutral. “What’s with the costume?”
“I thought it was time I cowboy up and claim what’s mine,” Jackson answered with a grin.
Walt cracked a smile. “Bout damn time you act like the man we raised you to be.”
“Hey, Dad, you about…” Vince’s question trailed off as he stepped into the hallway and took in Jackson’s appearance. “That’s one hell of a costume you’ve got there, son.”
“Thanks, I just hope Jill likes it since I’m doing this for her,” Jackson said.
“I’m sure she’ll like it,” Walt said. “Of course, it might take a bit of convincing for her to believe you’re serious.”
Jackson didn’t need Gramps to remind him how badly he’d messed things up. He just hoped Jill hadn’t reached the point where she’d given up for good.
Vince smiled. “I wish your mother could see you right now. She’d be so proud.”
“Listen, Dad, I’m sorry for what I said about you and about love,” Jackson said.
“I’m sorry too, for more than I can probably ever say. I just hope you can forgive me one day.”
“I forgave you the day you had your last drink.”
Before Jackson knew it, his dad had him wrapped up in a solid hug. Jackson couldn’t remember the last time he’d hugged his father or even his grandfather.
“If y’all are done hugging it out, we need to get going,” Walt said.
Vince released his hold, and the two of them stepped apart.
“Besides, I think there’s someone else our boy would rather be hugging,” Walt said and winked at him.
The thought of having Jillian in his arms where she belonged settled something inside Jackson. Even if he couldn’t convince her tonight to give him another chance, he wasn’t going to give up.
No matter what it took, he was going to get her back.
“There you girls are,” Sophia said.
Jillian and Shelby traded giggles at their parents’ costumes. Their father was dressed like a pirate. He had even gone so far as to clip a fake green and red parrot to his shoulder. Their mother wore a pair of black and white striped pajamas with a patch on the shirt that proclaimed she was a prisoner.
Sophia’s eyes lit up when she spotted Mufasa. “That leather jacket is just too precious,” she cooed and then laughed when she got a better look as she leaned down to pet him. “It says T-Birds. That’s great, Jill.”
“It was Shelby’s idea,” Jillian explained.
“Hey, everyone,” Garrett called, waving as he approached.
Jillian and Shelby laughed at his tan cowhide pants and matching jacket with fringes.
“Are you supposed to be Buffalo Bill?” Jillian guessed.
“Yep,” Garrett answered, grinning at Shelby. “What’s Annie Oakley without Buffalo Bill?”
“I can’t wait to see Jackson’s costume,” Sophia said. “What time is he supposed to be here?”
Jillian frowned. “Why would you think Jackson’s coming?”
“Oh, well, um…” Sophia cut a guilty glance in Shelby’s direction.
Jillian turned toward Shelby and narrowed her eyes at the look of panic on her sister’s face.
“Okay, look, don’t get mad, but we’ve been trying to get you and Jackson together,” Shelby admitted.
“Who is we and what have we been doing?” Jillian demanded.
“Me and Jackson’s grandpa, and Garrett’s been helping too.”
Jillian glared at Garrett who had the decency to look ashamed. “Exactly how have you been helping?”
“I haven’t done much really,” Garrett said.
“That doesn’t answer my question,” Jillian pointed out.
“None of this was Garrett’s idea,” Shelby said.
“None of what was Garrett’s idea?” Jillian huffed.
“Getting you and Jackson back together, it was all my idea. Well, mine and Mr. Wilder’s,” Shelby said. “I ran in to him at the diner a few weeks ago when I went in to get some pie. You know how much I love Dottie’s apple pie.”
“Get to the point, Shelby.”
“Right, so anyway, we were just chatting at first, you know, being neighborly and all,” Shelby continued. “And we got to talking about what a shame it was that you and Jackson never figured out that you belonged together. We figured maybe you needed a hand so we decided to help you out but only because we love you.”
“Help me out how?” Jillian ignored the part about her sister loving her.
Shelby was not going to get out of this by playing the I-did-it-for-love card.
“Okay, well, you remember that day I sent you to Dottie’s for pie and coffee?” Shelby asked, and Jillian just stared as she waited for her sister to continue. “After you left, I called Walt Wilder and told him to get Jackson to the diner, and that same night, when we went to the Come Again, Mr. Wilder and I planned for you to run in to Jackson there.”
Jillian looked at Garrett. “And I suppose you showing up that night was planned?”
“We thought it might be a good idea for Jackson to have a little competition,” Shelby answered for him.
“What?” Jillian snapped.
“Not me.” Garrett held up his hands in surrender. “I told her it was a bad idea.”
“And that didn’t stop you from going along with it,” Jillian said.
“It would have if I hadn’t seen the way Jackson was looking at you,” Garrett said. “I could tell he still cared about you, but he couldn’t admit it for some reason.”
“You knew about this too.” Jillian looked at her parents. “That’s why you invited Jackson to dinner when we ran in to him at the sweet shop.” Glaring at her sister once again, she added, “You planned that too, didn’t you? For me and Jack to see each other at Scott’s Sweets and for Garrett to be with me when he did? That’s why you didn’t want to come with us.”
Shelby nodded.
“How could you do this?”
“I just wanted you to be happy.”
“By tricking me and Jackson in to feeling something for each other?”
“By reminding you both that what you felt was still real and you belonged together.”
“And you never stopped to think about what would happen if this whole thing blew up in your face?”
Tears glistened in Shelby’s eyes. “I honestly didn’t think it would.”
“Yeah, well, that’s what you get for thinking,” Jillian scoffed. When her mother opened her mouth, Jillian held up a hand. “I’m sure you’re all sorry, and one day I’ll probably accept your apology. Right now, I have to get to my shift at the kissing booth.”
Jillian passed Mufasa’s leash to her sister before she spun on her heel and stalked off.
Jillian plastered a smile to her
face every time someone said hello or complimented her costume. It wasn’t their fault she was in a foul mood. No, that blame rested solely on Shelby’s shoulders, but she wasn’t going to think about that now.
Later she would deal with Shelby. For now, she wanted to salvage the evening and try to have some fun.
Jackson smiled as he took in the sights and sounds of the Monster Mash.
Music carried in the air courtesy of the DJ set up in the gazebo. Quite a few people were already out there dancing.
Young and old alike were dressed in costume. Some, like the witches and ghosts, were traditional Halloween costumes while others were racy; a shirtless fireman and a scantily clad bunny. Others, like Jackson in his Danny Zuko outfit, were somewhere in the middle.
There were lines at both the Ferris wheel and the photo booth as folks waited to take their turn at either attraction. Later, with Jill on his arm, Jackson intended to be among those getting his picture taken and going for a ride on the Ferris wheel.
Jackson glanced in the direction of the kissing booth and its equally long line. It seemed like his best bet for catching up with Jillian since she was supposed to be there sooner or later.
As he started that way, he spotted Shelby stomping toward him. A scowl was set on her pretty face. From the way Garrett was trailing after her, he figured the guy had something to do with it.
“Hey, Shelby,” Jackson said and then nodded at Garrett.
“What the hell do you think you’re doing?” Shelby demanded.
Jackson frowned. “What?”
“Don’t play dumb with me,” Shelby snapped. “If you thought Jillian’s kick to your balls hurt, it’s nothing compared to what mine will do.”
Jackson instinctively took a step back, and Garrett smirked.
“He has no idea what you’re screeching about, baby,” Garrett said.
Baby, huh? Jackson wondered if that meant anything or if Garrett actually thought the term of endearment was going to calm her down.
Shelby spun to face him. “I am not screeching!”
“Okay, you’re not screeching, but he still doesn’t know what’s going on,” Garrett said.
Sapphire FallsGoing for Wilder Page 11