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At Halloween, when my brother and Jackson still walked with me for trick or treating, I always zeroed in on a few different kinds of candy bars. I’d give up everything else for them and looking at the stack here in Bella’s kitchen, I knew that they were all here. Jackson remembered the little things about me and my childhood, and I felt the last piece of my heart tumble into my stomach.
We cleaned up our books and Bella stumbled back to bed, telling me good night as I dropped back against the pillows. I was tired, but my mind was racing as darkness settled in and everything went quiet.
I slept lightly and got up to shower for my test in the morning. I barely managed to slide some jeans on and get my hair into a ponytail before I grabbed a sweatshirt and rushed out the door. Bella still had an hour to sleep, but we planned to meet for lunch and discuss how the tests went.
On the way out, I tossed Jackson’s note into the kitchen trash. I didn’t need it. He chose Greg and so did I. There was no need to hold onto the apology and I locked the door, rushing to my car to make it to school in time for the test. That was what mattered, not my silly fantasy about Jackson and the future that I wanted us to have.
CHAPTER 18
JACKSON
The trip to Oakland was one of the longest that I’d endured playing for any team. I was glad for the win but wanted to get home to see if Emma came back to the apartment. She wasn’t returning my calls or messages, but I had hopes that she missed me as well.
On the drive from the stadium, I stopped to get some hot chicken to bring back. I knew that she loved it and wanted to surprise her and romance her back into my life. She’d only been gone for a few days when I left and maybe got over everything. After I got the chicken, I jogged into a store to buy some chocolates before I went home. I was tired and sore but hopeful that Emma was there.
I unlocked the door and set everything down on the coffee table.
“Em,” I called out as I walked through the small apartment and into her room. My face fell as I looked around, seeing everything that made this her space gone. Emma moved out while I was in Oakland, taking advantage of the empty apartment. I felt disappointment surge through me as I leaned against the wall.
Greg was going to fucking kill me for this. I had to go screw everything up and make her leave and it was going to affect everything.
I walked back into the living room and felt my stomach growl as the smell of the food filled the room. I hadn’t eaten a lot on the road and that weakened me with the game and exercise, so I dropped down to eat as I thought about my next approach.
I assumed she was staying with Bella. I had dropped Nick off there a few times and didn’t know the apartment number, but he could tell me. If she wasn’t going to come to me, I’d go to her. I needed to talk to Emma and make things right. I’d initially chosen Greg over her to do the right thing, but being without her was too much to take. I needed Emma in my arms and my life. I realized that Greg was just going to have to accept that.
I sent Nick a text to ask what Bella’s apartment number was and broke down what was going on. I didn’t think that he’d agree with my plan to get her back with his earlier advice, but Nick admitted that he’d never seen me care about a woman the way I cared about Emma. Maybe it was worth a shot to make it work with her and let Greg adjust. Nick teased me that I hadn’t slept with any women since she moved here, and I admitted that he was right. That urge was gone. I just wanted Emma in my bed.
I knew that she might be at the other apartment studying, and went to her favorite local Thai place. I ordered a variety of food for her and Bella, tipping them heavily when I asked the driver to take over the wine and chocolate for me along with the food. I didn’t want to take it over since I wasn’t sure how she was feeling right now but this would get my point across. The young guy agreed, smiling as he took the bag that I offered him. The girls behind the counter were giggling as I turned to leave, hoping that this worked. I missed her and needed to have Emma in my life.
