Jackson was fixin’ to do was break her heart, and I’d be a horrible friend to let it happen right under my nose. I already allowed him to hurt her too many times. The last occurrence was pretty brutal. She’d left me stranded at Noah and Skyler’s anniversary party to run to him. Apparently, ’cuz some shit went down between him and his old man.
However, it wasn’t my story to tell. All I knew was she came crying to me after he tore into her on the roof of his house. Jackson’s sharp ass tongue cut like mine.
It was the only thing we had in common.
I was about to cut in on their slow dance when a little hand grasped mine from below.
“I gots to go potty.”
Smiling down at Journey in her flower girl gown, I replied, “Alright, darlin’, let’s get you to a bathroom, huh?”
She eagerly nodded. “Yes, peeze.”
Grabbing hold of her tiny fingers, I led her inside toward the restrooms.
“Cash, do I wook pwetty?” she asked, twirling in a circle in her silly, yet adorable way.
“You’re as pretty as a peach, darlin’.”
Her eyes lit up, giggling, “Dat’s ’cuz I June.”
I laughed, shaking my head. Opening the bathroom door for her. “You okay by yourself?”
“I big girl. I do it.”
“Alright.” I nodded, watching her walk in.
She wasn’t gone for more than a second before the quarterback made his presence known, warning, “Stay away from my girl, McGraw.”
My eyes snapped to his, snidely smiling. “Which one?”
“Don’t fuck with me, pussy boy. You think it’s okay to mess with my baby sister like that?” He cocked his head to the side. “What’s wrong, dickwad? Can’t find any girls your own age, or did Harley finally run away from you?”
“Oh, come on, quarterback. She’s a little kid. I’m just tryin’ to make her smile. Besides, we both know the only guy Harley is ever runnin’ from is you.”
He growled, getting in my face.
I didn’t back down. If anything, I stood taller. Jackson didn’t faze me. In my eyes, he’d always be a pansy ass pussy.
“I don’t need the attention of a little girl when Harley does plenty to keep me occupied.”
He jerked back. “The fuck does that mean?”
“Baby girl,” I taunted, only to piss him off, “comes runnin’ into my arms whenever you piss her off. Makin’ it so fuckin’ easy to constantly be her hero. And uh...” Mockingly, I looked him up and down, grinning. “Nobody smells like Harley does. The strawberry scent of her hair, her soft vanilla scented skin, and my personal favorite, her cherry lips.”
“Motherfucker, like you would know a damn thing about how her lips taste.”
I scoffed out a chuckle. I didn’t, but he didn’t have to know I’d never kissed Harley. It wasn’t like that between us. Never had been, never would be. But in that moment, I would have said anything to keep him away from her.
No one was gonna hurt my girl.
No one.
“Well,” I challenged, eyeing him up and down again with a menacing regard. “I can say I’ve done more with her than just holding hands on a roof and forcing my tongue down her throat. Unlike you, Harley gives it to me without having to steal a fuckin’ thing.”
His eyes widened, completely taken aback.
Harley told me everything, including about their first kiss and how he stole it. Spending the last few years resisting the urge to knock his ass out ’cuz of it.
He quickly recovered, biting back, “Have you seen the amount of pussy that gets thrown my way? I didn’t force shit on Harley. Actually, now that we’re talking about it ... didn’t she ditch your ass at the anniversary party to come check on me?”
It was my turn to glare at him, snarling.
“Stings doesn’t it? Knowing all you do is get my sloppy seconds. So the real question is, how’s my tongue taste, bitch?”
I shoved him.
Making him laugh. “Oh, so pussy boy does have some balls. Seeing as you love to live up Harley’s ass, it’s a little confusing.” He got right back in my face, threatening, “Keep your hands off my girl, or next time it’ll be your balls I’m forcing down your throat.”
I shook my head, glaring at him again. “Jackson, ya think I’m scared of you? Quarterback, I pray for the day there aren’t people around us, so I can finally lay your ass out. And trust me, it will happen. But until that day comes, I have the peace of mind knowin’ every move you make