my time. My parents hadn’t said anything about my decision. I figured they didn’t want to push either of us where our relationship was concerned in case it made things worse. Knowing those two, they probably thought we would eventually hug and make up if given enough time.
But while I would admit I did kind of miss the asshole, I had zero plans for ever forgiving him for what he’d put Violet through. My loyalty was first and forever with her. Maybe if she forgave him one day, I would think about doing the same. But until that small miracle happened, Cannon was out of luck.
“Shaw should definitely be my assistant tomorrow night,” Jagger told Mom. “Then you three can just chill at the hotel all evening.”
“Or not,” I muttered. “I’m going to be exhausted after working all day.”
“If she has to be your assistant tomorrow night, then you should be hers all day tomorrow,” Dad cut in.
“Seems fair to me,” Uncle Nik agreed.
“Deal,” Jagger said before I could pick my jaw up off the floor where it had fallen at my father’s ridiculous suggestion.
“Perfect,” Mom said as she sat back and crossed her long legs.
“But—” I broke off, trying to figure out a plausible excuse that would get my mom to relent. “What if I need help with my wardrobe changes? Jagger can’t just…”
“That’s what the seamstress and stylist are there for, sweetheart.” Mom waved off the excuse before I could even fully form it. “And he’s seen you in a bikini plenty of times.”
“Yeah, Dimples,” Jagger agreed, his eyes skimming over me hungrily. With him sitting in the seat facing me, his back was to our parents so they couldn’t see the provocative way he was looking at me. I felt my body responding to his appraisal, my heart pounding against my rib cage. “Didn’t I see you in one just the other day?”
Muttering a curse under my breath, I kicked out my leg, connecting with his shin.
He had seen me in a bikini Tuesday when he’d shown up at my house after school. I’d been on the beach trying to get a little sun since it was so warm out. At one point, I’d turned over after having fallen asleep and found him in the lounger beside mine.
His eyes had devoured me then just as they were doing now. But on Tuesday, I’d been able to run into the house and lock him out, whereas I couldn’t get away from him so easily now.
Couldn’t run away from the feelings he kept forcing me to acknowledge. Fighting my need and love for him was annoying. And painful. But I did it anyway.
Ever since Remington’s party, Jagger had been showing up even more often at places I happened to be. There were plenty of parties Vi and I had gone to that he’d mysteriously gotten an invite to. It pissed me off that he was basically stalking me.
Even as it did something funny to my heart—the stupid thing.
Apparently the damn organ hadn’t completely gotten the memo that we weren’t going to let anyone—especially this dickhead —have even a small part of my heart. There was no fucking way I was going to get involved with him.
Or any guy, for that matter.
They weren’t worth my time. Having a relationship was like begging to have my heart broken. And that was a big hell no for me.
But being around him so often made it so damn hard to fight my feelings. I wanted to melt into him. Let him ease the pain in my heart—and the other, more pressing ache that kept me up at night because he wasn’t there to make it better.
I knew it was his goal. To wear me down until I caved and gave him a chance.
Only, I knew as soon as I did, he would break my heart, and I’d be a shattered mess just like Violet.
Yeah, no thanks.
It wasn’t long before we were in the air. I put in my earbuds and tried to ignore the guy sitting in front of me. He’d tossed his hat and glasses into the seat beside him and reclined back. Hands folded behind his head, he continued to watch me like it was his favorite thing to do, and I did my best to pretend like he didn’t exist.
Eventually, my exhaustion caught up to me, and I dozed off.
When I opened my eyes an indeterminate period of time later, it was to find myself lying on one of the