“Kinda has to be with a name like that. Last time Iwas here writing with Dad, she ate my Italian loafers!” Jett says, looking back at me like I’m Aphrodite herself. “It’s just, Ireally,reallydidn’t want to stop. That dog’s days are numbered.”
I groan in frustration and start apologizing again, but he helps me off the chair and takes my chin in his hand.
“You know that feeling, waking up from a dream you don’t wanna wake up from?”
All Isee are those softer than a cloud lips again, and dammit, Iwant them back on me so bad Icould cry. Isound like Ifell off the cover of the world's cheesiest rom-com and hit my head on the way down, but Icouldn’t care less.
“If this is a dream, Idon’t wanna wake up at all, Jett.”
His grip on my jaw tightens as he pulls me into him, his stupidly big mouth enveloping mine with no chance to escape. His cock strains through his trunks, hard length pressing against my belly until Ican’t think or breathe. Iwant to drop to my knees right here on the pool deck and show Jett Ifinally understand what desire is. When Luci starts howling at us through the glass, we jump backwards.
We sigh and curse thatfucking dogwith a frustration-filled huff. We give up for now, walking around the pool towards the house with Jett’s hand firmly planted on the small of my back. Itfeels like it's belonged there all along. Ihonest to God can’tbelieveIjust had my close, long time family friend’s dick pressed against me so close Ilost my mind.
The realization that Ihaven’t come to my senses and will not stop until Ihave him inside me is, frankly, just as surprising.No,this isn't like me, but Idon't feel like that perfectly curatedmeanymore, anyway.
“Want me to make sure your family’s distracted so you can mess with the camera footage? Ithink the conversation will go a lot better with them havingnotseen that.” Inod. “You want me to stay for that lovely chat tonight? Ican help—”
“Jett, they love you, but—”
“But you’re their Baby?”
“Exactly,” Isigh, not wanting to have the conversation at all, but knowing it has to be done.
Sometimes arguments involving Jett can turn into a three-ring circus, and Ihave a feeling handling this myself might be … less messy. I’m not too worried, though, because Iknow nothing is going to stop me. Idon’t need a lot in my life, but I’m ready to admit it now. IneedJett.
Chapter 11
Maddy
It’s nearing midnight, the best time to have deep conversations in my household, when everyone non-related has finally left. As soon as Jett went home,Ikinda had to force him to, Iopened my phone and stared at the photo Itook of us in the pool house so long my eyes began to blur. Imade myself put the device in time out, left it on my bed, and closed the door, picturing myself happily running up to text him after the talk with my family.
I head downstairs and throw myself on the couch between Lola and Mum. Jude’s on the floor wrestling his boxer puppy, Jimmy, named after his second favorite guitar player, and Dad, our first favorite, is perfectly zen, lying back in his black leather La-Z-Boy throne.
The only emotions Ishould be feeling are lust and nerves, nervous and horny. But Ican’t help playing the scene from my and Lola’s favorite movie, Clueless, over and over in my head. When the trumpets sound and the lights flash through the mist of the fountain, you can practicallyseea light bulb turn on over Cher’s head when she proclaims her sudden realization that she is, in fact, in love with her ex-stepbrother.
I keep replacing the name Josh with Jett, and Ican’t stop doing it. Obsessively. On a loop. How could Ibe in love with Jett? That’s absolutely insane! Ijust discovered we’re even attractedto each other ten hours ago.
An hour earlier, Igot so tired of feeling hysterical that Itook Dad up on his offer of a Xanax, but it doesn’t seem to be helping. The desire for Jett bubbling through my veins like molten lava is so foreign, so unsettling,that Iwant to scream and cry and call a therapist.
“Baby,” Lola whines, “why did you feel the need to drive away that beautiful boy with your fake ass stomach-ache story?”
I fidget with the faux fur blanket on my legs. “How do you know it was fake?”
She rolls her eyes. “Because I’ve known you your entire life? Because you’re only good at lying when you’re getting paid for it? Because you were magically better when he left? Swimming ‘round with Jett for hours like nothing was wrong!”
“Fine,” Ihuff. “My stomach didn’t really hurt. Um, Iactually wanted to talk with you guys about that reason…”
My mum sniffs dramatically. “It better be a good reason, Baby! He’s our favourite boy witch on telly, Ihated that he had to leave so soon!”
My dad grabs a red stress ball that says ‘keep calm and carry on’and begins squeezing it harder than necessary. “Warlock, Jewels! Aboy witch is called a warlock! And he makes a damn good one, plus, he was handsome and polite and didn’t have a stick up his arse or look like a bloody blonde Ken doll for a change! So what the fuck was wrong withhim, Baby?”
I start chewing on a fingernail, and my mum slaps my hand away from my mouth. “Well…”
“Out with it, Baby!” Jude shouts, and Jimmy barks at me.
“It’s not that there was anything wrong with him, that’s the thing. Ididn’t realize it till he was already here.”
“Christ, Baby! Realise what?” My mum starts jiggling her knee, which is never a great sign. Itoss my blanket overherlegs.
