Jasmine studies us for a full minute before sitting down and getting to work. “How did this happen, you two? Your mum said in her book that Jett was like a son to her, that Maddy was dating a charming, British actor … how he was such a gentleman?”
“Bullocks,” Jett mutters.
“I guess things have changed a lot since that book went to press,” Isay stupidly.
“Mads, we’re going to be sitting with Jasmine a while. She is an incredibly accomplished painter; she doesn’t want to hear pre-planned soundbites. She’s working miracles over there, at least tell her the real shit.”
I narrow my eyes at him. Then he barely whispers loud enough for me to hear, “This is her process. Let it all out. She’s signed an NDA, don’t hold back.”
A let out a deep exhale of frustration, and his eyelashes flutter, making it hard to stay mad at him like that. “Jett and I…” Where the hell do Istart? “We met eight years ago, at the hottest twenty-five under twenty-five event hosted by Seventeen magazine. From that moment, it was instant … well, Ithoughtit was instantfriendchem.How was Ito know that he liked me? He threw candy at my head and hit on my mum!”
“I was immature! That was my way of giving you attention.”
“You know plenty of other ways to give attention, Jett. You had two very hot people pressed up against a wall after that shoot, ready to fuck them both, and neither one of them wasme.” Icounter.
“You didn't want me! You told me you didn't date and Irespected that, even though you were full of shit, Mads. You clearly enjoyed dating pretty blonde boys. Like hello, Ihave Instagram! Ihave eyes!” Idon't know if he hears the frustrated little growl in my throat as he tilts his eyes towards Jasmine. “The truth is, Mads wouldn’t look at me twice because Ireminded her of her dad. She was heavily into the anti-rebel, the Ken doll, the polo player, anyone that was the antithesis of rock ‘n roll. But one can only hide from their true selves for so long, you know?”
Well, that stings.
Jasmine nods. “Oh, Iknow. Ispent years as a failed ballerina because Ididn’t want to be like my hippie, artist parents, and here we are.”
I huff a deep breath and glare at him. “I wasn’t doing that on a conscious level. It’s not like I’m the first girl to go after Prince Charming. It’s not my fault he turned out to be a cheater and…”
“Over the weekend, in the pool house, you saw me for the first time, Mads. Like really saw me, after eight years. Just because, what? Because you needed a rebound? Ihave abs now? Because my hair is tamed? Is that it, hmm? My skin is clearer, my jaw line is blah blah … You know how that sounds?”
“I always saw you!” Ihuff. “Being around you has always felt right.”Fuck if I’m going to be called shallow. Think, pathetic brain, think.“Its just that … my brain wasn’t fully formed until now. My immature, idiotic mind knew Iwasn’t ready to fall like this. Ittold me to be with people that couldn’t get under my skin like you, to keep you at arm’s length until Iwas ready.”
“There’s that fire in the eyes.” Ihear Jasmine pressing her tiny paintbrush into the canvas, Ipeek left to confirm, vivid green paint is applied, more forcefully than she needs to.
He clamps his hands around my waist and stares into my damnsoul.“Being with me isn’t for the faint of heart, Mads. Icare about you, and Iwouldn’t waste your time if Ithought you couldn’t handle me. If Ithought you weren’t ready. You’re stronger than anyone gives you credit for. Ithink you’ve realised by now that this isn’t a casual first date for me, that Imeant it when Isaid Iwanted everything. That my heart belongs to you. Itold ya how badly Iwanted inside you, but Ididn’t just meanthere.”His hand falls from my waist to ghost briefly against the heat between my thighs, and Ishudder, “I also meant here.” His nails gently scratch my scalp, and Itry not to moan in front of Jasmine. “And here.” He places his palm over my heart and lets it stay.
“That’s it, Jett,” Jasmine adds a dot of white paint, swirling it around in my green to make his soft pastel sea glass shade.
My heart must be beating so hard his hand practically lifts off my chest with each beat, but he keeps it there.
Jasmine notices. “Jett, is that going to hurt your arm if you keep your hand there? Ireally like that.”
“No problem at all,” he says, his eyes on only me.
“Can Ipaint the bandage or is that a sore subject?” She eyes his hand curiously. “I can pretend it’s not there.”
Jett laughs. “Should she leave it in, Mads? Areminder of our insane family’s involvement?”
I shake my head. “Why not paint it in? Not every relationship starts with a mandatory blood oath.” Jasmine clearly knows enough about Dad to not question further. “Talking to my family about you that night, especially my siblings, it was like they could barely handle the idea of us hooking up. Thatthis could only be sex, and it would be fleeting. That I’msewing my wild oatswith you or something, that it could only be lust and Ithought maybe it was. Itdoesn’t feel like that anymore, Jett, not after what you just said. Not after escorting me to my interview today, making it fun and comfortable for me, I’ve never felt anything but comfortable around you, just so you know. The way you kept me calm, making sure my needs were met … Prince Uncharming would never. He’d be much too worried about howhelooked in the camera.”
“You see why this escalated so quickly, Mads? How it went from one kiss to this so fast? How we couldn’t even keep it casual for one date?”
“Our history.”
“I’m connected to your family through the heartbeat, the DNA of rock ‘n roll, Mads. But you and Ihave slowly built something different, haven’t we?”
“Wehave, we were building it, I’m so stupid for thinking it was just a friendship we were building. Ifeel like Iwas blind for so long. Ihate everyone making this about me being superficial when really Iwas just an idiot.”
“I’m sorry, Mads. You’re not superficialoran idiot. Iwon’t bring that up again. And you might want to not bring up Asshole Archer again, Imean, you’re free to, but if Ihear one more time how he didn’t take care of you, I’m going to jump on a plane and go knock his posh fuckin’ lights out.”
“Yeah, okay, I’ll stop if you do. Though that would be really fun to watch.” Ismirk, and Jasmine laughs softly. Having her here, listening to a conversation of this magnitude, is just so freaking weird, but Icontinue, “When you were with Dad today, Mum said, ‘If he follows you into that interview, you’ll know his feelings for you are more than lust.’ You know Ihate when my parents are right.”
His big, pink lips turn up at the corners, and my heart turns to mush. “See, Jewels gets it! I’m in this thing, Mads, and you’re looking at me like you are, too.”
