Hope for Him (Hope Series Book #2) (12 page)

She eyed my bowl and shook her head.

"What is wrong?" Kayla asked.

"Nothing." I took my bowl to the kitchen table.

"Mama." Jack came around the corner and ran up to me and climbed up on my lap.

At least, my son loves me.

I squeezed him and rubbed his back.

"Hey Sweetie, you want to go see Jackson, tomorrow?"

"Jaja?"

"Yes."

He jumped off my lap and ran into his room.

"Where is he going?" Kayla asked.

"I don't know." I turned back to my cereal eager to get to the fruity milk chaser. "Jackson wants me to meet his girlfriend."

"Oh shit."

"What? It's not that big of a deal."

"Oh, right. Your soul mate wants you to meet his girlfriend. Yeah, no big deal."

"I can't make it a big deal. He likes her, and if I don't want to lose him as a friend, I have to accept that."

"You are so mature about this." Kayla stood in front of me with her hands on her hips. "You don't have to be, you know. You’re twenty years old, for goodness’ sake."

"I'm also a mother. I don't have the luxury of being a stupid lovesick teenager."

"You still a full-blooded American woman and Jackson is your man."

"That's the thing. He isn't my man. He never was."

"But you want him to be?"

"Yeah, but it's not up to me, now is it?"

"Well, no, but there are things we can do to push him in the right direction."

"Like what?"

"You have to look hot."

I scrunched my face.

"Not slutty hot, but sexy hot,” she continued.

"Okay."

"And you have to bake something and bring it. Guys love a woman who can cook."

"What are we, in the fifties?"

"Some things never change. Seriously, bake him some brownies or cookies. Something gooey and you hand it to him and lick your fingers. He eats it and he licks his fingers and then all he can think about is licking you."

"Kayla." She needed to stop. All I could think about was licking Jackson, and it made me all tingly inside. 

"Oh, you should invite me, too. I can distract her while you and Jackson spend some time together."

"What will that do?"

"I think Jackson needs time to remember how much he loves you, that's all." She sat on the couch and leaned into me like we were conspiring to blow up the state capitol. "And, at the same time, the girl—"

"Tiffany."

"Really, her name is Tiffany?"

"Yeah."

"Well, Tiffany will see you and Jackson and Jack together, and she will see how you are made for each other. If she is any kind of a lady, she will bow out gracefully."

"Or she'll sink her claws in further."

"They've only been together for a couple of months, how much of a hold can she have?"

Jack walked back into the living room and dragged his Seminole stuffed animal and his backpack. He was ready to go.

At least one of us was.

J
ackson Latre Mitchell

On the field, I led my team to a blowout victory. The next morning, I woke up wishing I had a game plan in place for this dinner. How was a supposed to deal with Tiffany and not worry about Carrington?

She texted first thing.

Carrington: Can I invite Kayla to dinner?

Jackson: Sure.

I called Richard and Jeff and invited them as well. If she brought reinforcements, I needed them, too.

Tiffany was the line. We were on opposite sides, but I had a feeling, by the end of this night, the lines would be all confused.

Carrington parked by the curb and got out of the car; I could see her through the window. She opened the back door and leaned in to get Jack. One of my frat brothers had declared she had the most epic ass. He was right. I flashed back to how it felt pressed up against me, all round and firm. Tonight, she wore a black mini skirt and a shirt that was long in the front, but crisscrossed in a way that showed her lower back and framed her ass. She knew how to accentuate her best features.

"Baby," Tiffany entered the foyer as I ogled Carrington through the front window.

"They're here," I turned away from her and, willing my hard on to go away before I opened the door.

Jack walked up the walkway but took off running when he saw me. His little legs moved fast as he yelled, "Jaja."

I bent down to scoop him up and he clung to me. His exuberance made me smile, and I was so happy he was such a happy kid. I had known this little guy since before he was born, and I was hooked. I couldn't wait to see him grow up.

Carrington’s smile floored me as she approached, but her expression shifted as Tiffany walked up behind me. No one would have noticed, except me.

My shoulders tensed when Tiffany touched my back. She grinned and bit her lip, her eyes on me holding Jack. Some girls see their guys with kids and think about what a great father they would be...I had a feeling Tiffany saw me holding Jack and thought we were a little too comfortable. I waited for her to challenge me on it, with a look or a sigh, but she didn't. She stayed true to her word and wanted me to feel comfortable continuing a relationship with Carrington.  She blinked her eyes, turned and watched Carrington and Kayla stroll up the walkway.

I relaxed a bit when the sound of bass overflowed out of a black SUV pulling up to the curb. Richard and Jeff arrived ready to relieve the tension from the situation. I left Tiffany at the door and walked out to hug Carrington. With Jack as a buffer between us, my mind stayed on more wholesome thoughts.

In the split second of our hug, I inhaled her sweet scent and my hand lingered on her back. She shifted away from me.

"Jackson, you know Kayla."

I hugged Kayla, but she didn't hug me back. Her eyes bore into me.

"Hello, Jackson. How are you?"

"I'm good. It's good to see you, Kayla. How are your parents?"

"They’re fine."

Richard and Jeff scurried up the walkway, both up to no good. They waited behind Carrington and Kayla.

When I ignored them a little too long, Jeff took it upon himself.

"You must be Carrington." Jeff took her hand and kissed it. She smiled and giggled. He held her hand a little longer than necessary.

"Carrington, this is Jeff," I said.

"I know who he is. Nice game yesterday." Jeff rushed for a hundred and twenty yards and three touchdowns.  Richard said he'd been watching himself on
SportsCenter
all morning.

"Oh, so you're a fan," Jeff said.

"I love the Seminoles," Carrington said with a coy smile. Could she not flirt with my running back? Was that too much to ask?

"Carr, you remember Richard?" I asked.

"Yeah. Of course, how are you?" She walked over and gave Richard a hug. He seemed surprised and hugged her back.

"I'm good. It's great to see you, Carrington. Welcome back to FSU."  They separated and I could have sworn he tossed her a wink.

What the fuck is going on? 

I had a sudden urge to kick his ass down the street.

"Well, let's not stand out in the front yard like hooligans. Come inside," Tiffany said.

I set Jack down and Kayla took his hand. She walked toward Tiffany, and I followed. Jeff caught up with me and Richard and Carrington brought up the rear.

I caught him leaning in and he whispered something to her. She giggled and touched his arm.

Doesn't he realize I have the power to make him look very good or very bad on the football field?

"Hi, you must be Tiffany?" Kayla asked.

"Hello, and you are?"

"Kayla Griffin."

"Griffin?" Tiffany asked and narrowed her eyes. I shook my head, and she dropped it.

She knelt down. "You little gorgeous thing. You must be Jack."

Jackson hid behind Kayla's leg and when Tiffany reached out to touch him
,
he took off and ran back to Carrington.

We all watched him run away. I turned to Tiffany and she stood up and cleared her throat and walked back into the house.

"I hope you all are hungry. We have tons of food,” she yelled over he shoulder.

Everyone settled in the living room. I helped Tiffany with the food and drinks.

"So, that's Carrington?"

I didn't answer her.

"She's beautiful."

I shrugged and grabbed a couple of beers out of the refrigerator.

"She looks different in the photo. She's not nearly as fragile as you make her out to be."

"I never said she was fragile."

"Her and Richard seem to be getting along."

Richard had not left Carrington's side since he arrived. They sat next to each other on the couch, and I tried to ignore how close they were sitting. Every time she touched his arm or leaned into him, my body grew hot, and I wanted to hit something.

I carried the beers out to the living room. Tiffany attempted to follow, but Kayla walked into the kitchen and stopped her.

"Oh my God, that spinach dip is amazing. How do you make it?"

I didn't wait to hear the answer. I took Jeff his beer. Jeff stood up behind the couch surveying. He liked to do that.

"What is Richard doing?"

"Dude, looks like he's flirting with Carrington."

"He told me to stay away from her."

"Now we know why." Jeff took a swig of his beer. "J, dude, are you jealous?"

"Shut the fuck up." I pushed him away and walked over to Carrington.

"Hey, you want to see the rest of the apartment?"

"Okay. Excuse me, Richard."

"I'll save you a seat." He smiled and Carrington hesitated. 

I grabbed her hand and pulled her up, but Tiffany's voice rang out from the kitchen.

"Baby, I need you to check on the chicken. I never know when it's done."

"Maybe later," Carrington said. I dropped her hand. I rubbed the back of my neck and headed back into the kitchen.

I shouldn't have been so obvious, especially with Tiffany watching, but I couldn't help it. I couldn't stand watching her flirt with another guy. I couldn't bear to watch her for another second waste those flirty glances, touches and giggles on someone else. Those gestures were meant for me.

#

C
arrington Olivia Butler

Between Jackson, Kayla, and Jeff playing catch with Jack, he wore himself out. He never made it to dinner.

"Where can I put him down?" I asked Jackson.

"Oh, you can put him in our room," Tiffany answered. "Follow me."

I tried not to choke on the
our room
reference and followed her.

Jackson and I avoided each other's gaze all night, but I locked eyes with him and took in a breath. He had no expression. I turned toward Tiffany waiting for me at the bottom of the stairs and shrugged my shoulders. I followed her and ignored the lump growing in my throat.

Jackson’s room was how I pictured it. I kneeled on his king-size bed that was centered on the far wall. The sunlight from the picture window over the bed shot rays across the bed. The sun would feel amazing on my skin as I lounged on his deep garnet comforter and drifted off to sleep. Tiffany watched me. I should feel guilty, but I didn't.

An entertainment center sat in the corner with a desk and chair in front of it. Jackson's computer and several remotes sat on the table. I glimpsed the bathroom decorated in all white tiles on the far side of the room.

I laid Jack in the middle of the bed, took a few pillows and placed them around his little frame. He wouldn't roll off the bed, but better safe than sorry. He'd yell before moving too far.

"He's really cute."

"Thank you." I brushed his sandy blond hair off his face and leaned over and kissed him before exiting the room.

"I'm happy we finally got a chance to meet. I know how important you and Jack are to Jackson. I hope we can become friends."

"Sure."
Why the hell not.

"Jackson said we needed to help you in any way we can."

"I'm sorry? Help me?"

"You know, I mean. I know about what happened, and it might be hard for you coming back to school with no friends. Jackson explained to me how it would be good for us to help you meet new people and have as much of a normal college life as you can. You know, considering."

My stomach clenched, and I stared at her.

"Well, I need to check on dinner." Tiffany backed out of the room and turned at the last minute.

Was I Jackson's charity case? Was that what he thought of me? My chest tightened, and I sat down. I placed my hand on Jack's back. My heart rate returned to normal.

Jackson didn't need to take care of me. I was more than capable of taking care of myself. I wasn't starting all over again. I had Kayla.

I leaned over and kissed Jack and felt centered. I walked back to the living room, and my eyes locked with Richard.

I could have Richard, too.

I smiled as I entered the living room.

I ignored Jackson but felt his eyes on me as I sat next to Richard on the couch.

"Little guy conked out already," Richard said.

"Yeah, he's not really into the dinner party scene."

"Neither am I. I heard we got three courses," Richard whispered. "I'm sorry, when did we become forty-year-old suburbanites."

I laughed and found the entire house staring at us.

"Dinner is ready, Tiffany said.

Richard stood up and grabbed my hand to help me up and held on to it as we walked to the table.

"Sweetie, at the head of the table, and Richard, you sit at the other end," Tiffany directed.

Kayla and Jeff sat on the other side and Tiffany positioned herself between Jackson and me.

As we sat, a mixed green salad with dark purple dressing and cheese crumbles was placed before each of us. Tiffany stood near the table and described what we were eating.

"This is a mixed green salad with beet dressing and blue cheese crumbles. Enjoy," she said in a
Top Chef
cheftestant voice.

I suppressed a giggle when Jeff made a face.

"Honey, can you make sure everyone has wine." She handed him a bottle and he got up and poured a glass for each of us.

Tiffany slipped into her seat as Kayla said, "I'm sorry, I'm not drinking at the moment. Do you have any club soda?"