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“I like that you don’t watch rom-coms and you probably thinkDie Hardis a Christmas movie.”
Oleander pushed the donuts aside. “I love John McClane, but is it really a Christmas movie?”
“I’m impressed. Most action fansinsistit is.”
“I like to break the mold.”
Jackson smiled because everything about Oleander broke the mold. “Your first relationship?”
“Nowwe’re getting personal. But fine, her name was Nina,” Oleander said it with a sigh and looked up at him. “I’m bi.”
Jackson wasn’tshocked, if that’s what she was thinking, but he was surprised. However, he wasn’t going to judge Oleander based on her sexual preferences.
“I figured. So, tell me more about Nina.”
Oleander hesitated and Jackson reached for a donut, breaking it in half to hand a piece to her. A smile tugged at her lips as Oleander took a bite, chewed and swallowed.
“We were in college, and we hooked up once, twice and it became athing. All four years together, we made it work. Then after graduation, she was gone. Our relationship ended without a word,” Oleander paused. “A few years later, she popped up all over social media with a brood of kids and ahusband. Apparently, I was a four-year experiment.”
“Ouch.” Jackson winced.
“I got really picky about my relationships after that. And still…”
Jackson frowned, donut halfway to his mouth. “Still what?”
“I got fucked over a lot. I’m starting to think maybe the problem is me.”
“Or you just picked the wrong people.”
“Does that include you?” Oleander asked.
“Are we headed in that direction?”
“Are we?” Oleander sounded cautious and Jackson wondered what she was thinking.
“I hope so. I know you’re wary, so I’m not rushing you into anything.”
“What are you expecting out of this, Jackson?” She asked and Jackson remembered her asking this when they were sitting in the Barrel kitchen.
“What does anybody expect out of a first date?”
“Stop answering my questions with a question.”
“Okay,” Jackson laughed and brushed a hand through his hair, weighing his answer carefully before speaking. “I’m the kind of guy that falls for a woman right off the bat. I always worry I come on too strong and any chance I have of something more with them is gone before we even get ahead. I like you and I barely know you, so imagine what it would be like if I did get to know you.”
“You’d probably like me less, if I’m being honest.”
“I doubt that. But, I know you’ve got this wall up because of your past relationships and I respect that. But I also want to get past those walls. I want to seeyou. I want us to be more than two people who eat, kiss and flirt at a food truck festival.”
“You want to be my boyfriend.” Oleander said it as a statement and turned slightly on the bench to face him properly.
“I want to be your boyfriend,” Jackson nodded, finishing off the donut. “I want to be the person you turn to on a rough day, be someone who can text you at stupid o’clock and put a smile on your face. I want to get to know you, as much as I can, because what I’ve seen of you so far? I like that person a lot.”
“How are you still single?”
He shrugged and licked his fingers, watching Oleander’s eyes drop to his mouth. “Apparently women don’t like it when guys are open about their feelings?”
“You’re flirting with the wrong women, Jackson.”
