Page 5 of Jackson

“See you then cutie,” the older lady said as she snapped a picture of him before he bolted back to the store.

Maya is not going to get the last say every time.

Game on.

Chapter Six

"Braxton Ranch, please," Maya said, her voice clipped as she fixed her gaze on the passing storefronts, trying not to think about Jackson in his underwear.

She paid the fare with a generous tip and hopped out onto the sidewalk outside Sarah and Kane’s house, hoping that Jackson hadn’t already tattled to Sarah’s husband in the short timeframe.

"Maya, you look like you need a drink," Sarah said the moment Maya stepped into the living room.

"I feel like I need a whole bottle," Maya sighed, dropping onto the plush beige couch. She kicked off her heels and tucked her feet beneath her. "Jackson and I had a fight. Well, maybe not a fight, but it was a something."

"Ooh, the clothes-ripping kind of something?" Sarah asked as she perched on the armrest.

"Well he wasn’t dressed, but I remained fully clothed," Maya snorted. "Let's just say if Jackson gets a cold, he has no one to blame but himself," Maya replied, a wry smile flickering across her face. “It's like... he's just so infuriating! Always pushing my buttons, challenging me."

"Sexual tension?" Sarah arched an eyebrow, a smile titling the corner of her mouth.

"Sexual tensi—no!" Maya waved dismissively. "It's not about that. It's like we're stuck in this perpetual cycle of 'who can shout the loudest'."

"Maybe you need a distraction. Something—or someone—to write about. Get your mind off Mr. Tighty-Whities." Sarah's tone took a turn toward the mischievous as she leaned in closer.

Maya glared at Sarah. “You knew before I even walked in the door, didn’t you?”

Sarah laughed. “Nothing gets past Kane, and I have alerts on for the fundraiser. It all of a sudden went off about twenty minutes ago showing a near naked Jackson leaning over someone in a cab. I’m assuming that someone was you?”

“Social media takes the fun out of everything.” Maya grinned, “But at least he will sell more tickets for you.”

“What the hell was he doing in his underwear, chasing you in the street? Did he start something he shouldn’t have? By God, if that man did something inappropriate, he won’t be able to walk at the fundraiser.” Sarah grumbled.

Maya shook her head. “No. He didn’t do anything I didn’t provoke him to do.”

“Then why look so sad?” Sarah questioned as she looked at her friend slumping on her chair. “On wait. You wanted him to do more, didn’t you?”

Maya grinned at her friend. “I wanted the option of saying no to more,” she said. “I still haven’t forgiven him for walking away. He does need to squirm more before I decide.”

‘So, you want him,” Sarah said as Maya nodded at her. “But on your terms only. I can work with that.” Maya didn’t like the look that flittered across Sarah’s face. “In fact, I have an idea."

"God help me," Maya muttered.

"Use Alex. Maybe you can follow him around for the next few days as well as Jackson. Nothing like a bit of competition to make Jackson work harder to get you.”

“But Alex isn’t interested in me.” Maya sniffed.

“I know, he interested in someone else,” Sarah said, “but he would be interested in messing with Jackson. Those guys are always playing pranks on one another.”

"I think you’re onto something. Make him work for it. " Maya said, a smile creeping onto her lips. The idea had merit; a little crazy, and exactly the sort of thing that could break her cycle of frustration and make Jackson see what he missed.

***

Maya breezed into the Book Nook Café, nodding at Eve, the owner as she walked by. She spotted Alex tucked away in a corner booth.

"Thanks for this,” she said as she slid into the booth across from him, “I’ll owe you a huge favor.”

"Maya," Alex looked up from his book. "Sarah asked me to meet you here. I grabbed you a cup of coffee.”

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