Total pages in book: 67
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 68066 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
“Yes. We talk about it often.”
“You do?”
“Mmm hmm.”
“Whoa.”
I looked out at the water, watchin’ the waves crash into the shore. Tryin’ to reel in everythin’ she was tellin’ me.
“We were all your age once.”
“Let me get this straight. You guys think Jackson is in love with me?”
“Yes... we think you’re both in love with each other.”
I jerked back. “You think I love him?”
“It’s kind of obvious.”
“To who?”
“To anyone looking. I mean you spent the last hour staring at him dancing with another girl from across the room.”
“That’s only cuz Willow’s dress is hideous!”
“Harley...”
“What? Did you see what she’s wearin’? The girl is so cliché. She has no sense of personal style. I’ve seen that dress in every store. Like come on, have a little bit of self-expression.”
“Is her dress bothering you as much as her having Jackson’s attention?”
“A bird can have Jackson’s attention, it don’t take much.”
We laughed.
“Besides... her boobs are all out, so... he’s mostly been starin’ at those.”
“Well, he was staring at yours earlier and most of the night.”
For some reason her comment made my heart speed up. “He was?”
“Do you know he has videos and photos of you on his phone?”
My eyes widened. “You’ve seen them?”
“I’ve seen him staring at them. A lot.”
“Are we talkin’ about the same Jackson?”
“The pain in the ass that is now officially my son? Yes, that one.”
“I heard about that. Congratulations, and I’m sorry.”
She giggled. “I love Jackson. He’s very much like his father. Stubborn, always has to be right, but loves with his whole heart and soul. You’re very lucky to have him.”
“His mom used to say that to me all the time.”
Bailey was constantly reminding me how much Jackson cared for me in one way or another. I still remembered the last time I spoke to her before she lost it completely.
It was the best and worst day of my life. Yet, here I was four years later.
Still waiting for the right time to—
“She was a very smart woman,” Camila interrupted my train of thought.
“Aunt Bailey was the best.”
“Willow doesn’t mean anything to Jackson.”
“I doubt that.”
“She doesn’t, Harley. Boys will be boys, and he is no different.”
“They’re together a lot.”
“Only because she’s over for Journey, but he doesn’t care about her like he does you.”
“That’s exactly it, Camila. I never know where I stand with him. One day I feel like he hates me, then the next, I feel like I maybe gettin’ somewhere with him. And then we’re back to square one.”
“Do you love him?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Yes, you do.”
“Do I care for him? Of course, I do. He’s my family. Other than that, it’s all very confusin’. Sometimes I see these moments in him where he’s so real... like that wall he’s built comes down a little and he lets me in, and then when he realizes he did... he pushes me away again. I wanted to be his friend. Especially that night when his dad hit him, but he was so cruel. After that night, I just couldn’t deal with his bs anymore. It’s exhaustin’. He’s exhaustin’.”
“Most men are, honey.”
The music from the reception picked up, thumpin’ through the windows that lined the back of the buildin’. I wanted to turn around and search for Jackson, but I willed myself to stay put.
“I want a guy who wants to be with me. The one who will do anythin’ to make me happy. The man who puts me first before everythin’ and anyone. I want the fairytale, my own Prince Charmin’. I know my worth, and I won’t stop till I find him. I refuse to settle. It’s just not in me.”
“That’s beautiful, sweetheart. Most girls your age don’t realize that until they’re much older.”
“I don’t think Jackson would ever put my needs and wants before his. He’s too selfish.”
“I think he already has in ways you can’t see yet.”
“Like how?”
“I can’t point them out for you, Harley. It’s something you need to realize on your own. What I can tell you is you have his heart. I’ve known that since the first time I met you. The way he looks at you, the way you make him laugh and smile, the way he watches you when he knows you’re not looking. You have that boy wrapped around your finger, babe.”
“You think?”
“I know.”
I smiled. I couldn’t help that either.
Maybe she was right.
“There you are, my tiny dancer,” Uncle Aiden chimed in, comin’ up behind her. He wrapped his arms around her neck, pullin’ her closer to him. “Harley, that’s quite a dress.”
“Thanks, I made it myself.”
“What are you two doing out here?”
“Talkin’ about your son,” I replied for her. Trustin’ him.
“I see.”
“Do you think Jackson loves me?’
“Of course, he does. What’s not to love?”
“You’re supposed to say that.”
He smiled, remindin’ me of his boy.
“When you were first born, Bailey was already planning your wedding.”