The Sophomore (College Years #2) - Monica Murphy Page 0,48

complete stop, glaring at him. “What do you mean?”

“Flirting it up with ol’ Carson over there. How convenient that he showed up tonight,” he says.

I absorb what he just said. The look on his face. My gaze goes to the drink in front of him. Looks like iced tea. Maybe he does know Chuck. Maybe he thought he could come in here and kill time before I’m off work. Maybe I’m overreacting about him showing up when I don’t necessarily want him around.

But then again, maybe it’s a good thing he did show up. I don’t think I’m overreacting when I think this but…

Pretty sure Jackson Rivers is jealous.

Fifteen

Jackson

I showed up at Doghouse Grill a little early in the hopes I could just hang out until she’s ready to go. Maybe talk to Ellie for a little bit, watch her in her element. Plus, this is a favorite spot for me and my friends to come eat. The food is good. The atmosphere is fun. You always run into someone you know here, like it’s one big party.

Pretty dead tonight, though. And I already ate dinner, so I’m not hungry. Chuck the bartender is a Bulldog football fan, so he’s easy to talk to. I’ve chatted him up before, and he knows I’m on the team. He waved me over when he spotted me walk in and offered me a free iced tea so I’m not going to turn him down. Wish it was laced with something else, but I’m underage, which sucks major ass.

What I didn’t expect was to see Ellie’s potential new love interest here with his dorky friend. Making eyes at her as if she’s the prettiest girl he’s ever seen.

Here’s where I’m getting real.

I have been with beautiful women. Talked to them. Kissed them. Had sex with them. I moved around a lot when I was younger. I have seen a lot of parts of this country and done a lot of things. The summer tour only reiterated my feelings about my life, and what I can do with it.

As in, I don’t want to settle down. Especially not now. I’m young. There are plenty of women out there I haven’t met. Beautiful, gorgeous, down for anything women.

My favorite type.

Here’s where it gets tricky.

There is something about Ellie. She’s pretty. No, more than that. She’s beautiful. On the outside, as well as the inside. She’s got that sweet, girl next door vibe going for her, and I can’t help but find it attractive.

As in, I’m attracted to her.

There. I admitted it.

But.

Isn’t there always a but?

I am not good enough for her. I will only disappoint her in the end. What I want, she can’t give me. She’ll get too involved, because she cares too much, which is one of her best traits. And while I will do whatever I can to help her, to be there for her, to be her friend, that’s all I can do.

I realized this last night, after I went home and jerked off in the shower to thoughts of fucking Ellie in the back seat of my car. I don’t know what possessed me to say those things to her. To touch her like that. It’s been a while since I’ve had sex. I need to rectify that.

I need to get laid.

Watching her talk to Carson just now, though, did something to me. Twisted me up inside. Filled me with this weird, unfamiliar sensation that I can’t quite describe.

I think it’s jealousy.

I turn around on the barstool and watch her blatantly flirt with Carson. Well, as blatant as Ellie can be. She’s not that great at it. This is why guys treat her as a friend. She’s cute, but she’s not particularly flirty. She’s nice. Sweet.

Damn it, she’s beautiful and even though her T-shirt is stained and her hair is a bit of a mess, she’s got denim shorts on that make her legs look endless and I wonder what they would feel like circled around my hips while I drove myself into her…

I snap to attention when she makes her way over to the bar area. Turn around on my stool so I’m facing Chuck once more.

“You playing this weekend?” he asks me.

“I hope so,” I tell him. “Though I’m more of a pro-benchwarmer right now.”

Chuck laughs. “You’ll eventually get your chance.”

“Sure.” I sound doubtful because I am. Feels like I will never get my chance, which I’m okay with because swear to God, right now it feels like being