Page 12 of Casualties

“What were you drinking earlier?”Jackson starts lifting up bottles.

"Umm...I'm okay for now, thanks."I don't break my own rules; no stranger will be making me drinks.

I peruse the crowd again to see if I can spot my people.I don’t see them, so I point in the direction of the front door.Might as well get to know Jackson better while getting some fresh air outside.He is hot, and has muscles for days.Why not let him occupy my time at this party?

“What are you majoring in?”A laugh escapes my lips as I ask, and when he looks at me puzzled, I calm my giggles.

“Wow, that was so lame, as if I couldn’t think of anything better to ask you.”I’m embarrassed, and rightfully so.I have never done this whole flirting thing.The only boy I have ever been into made it clear any and all feelings were unrequited.

“I don’t think it was lame.I’m a business major, and the quarterback of the football team.”Now it's his turn to laugh.

“Now it seems I am the lame one.I wasn’t dropping the quarterback title as a flex.It just came out.”He looks bashful, his cheeks a light shade of red.

“It’s ok, I didn’t take it that way.Wow, quarterback?That’s impressive.I don’t watch sports, so I won’t be able to talk about where the ball goes and what kicker scored into the net, but still impressive.”Jesus, can I just shove my three-inch platform Docs in my mouth?

“Well it’s not a net; it’s a goal post, and trust me, I have no intentions of talking sports with you.Not that I'm saying we can’t, but judging by your knowledge of football, I think we can skip the topic.What’s your major?”He wiggles his eyebrows at me with a devilish smirk.

“English major.The goal is to become a published author.”I hope he doesn’t think I’m lame.It was not only hot in the house, but it’s also hot outside.I can feel the beads of sweat fall down my back.I grab a magazine on one of the porch tables and start fanning myself.Jackson notices and glances at my chest, but then quickly moves his eyes back to my face.Caught you.

I lean over the porch railing, looking at the stars.It’s so clear tonight, I can see everything the sky has to offer.I'm still warm, but there is a light breeze now.I feel Jackson move closer to my back side.He gently grabs my forearm and turns me around to face him.Is this going to happen?Am I going to get my first kiss?

Another thought pops into my head.Ace.In every daydream and fantasy, I thought Ace would be my first kiss.It pisses me off how delusional I truly was.

My heart is racing, and I know that once the nerves kick in I will spit out my word vomit.

“Are you going to kiss me?”And there it is, folks.I ask it so fast, who even knows if he understood what I said.Oh my God.He looks surprised, and then starts a full-belly fit of laughter.I am mortified...But then he slowly leans into me.

“Do you want me to kiss you?”His breath—minty, with a hint of some kind of liquor—blazes my senses.Wow, he put the ball in my field…or whatever that saying is.Again, sports?Not my thing.He leans so close his lips are a fraction away from touching mine.All I would have to do is lean in...

“I don’t know, I just met you, and maybe this is going too—” My words cut off as Jackson is ripped back.

“Don’t fucking touch her, quarterback.She’s off-limits.”Ace looks pissed off, but still oozes his typical cocky attitude.Jackson seems thrown off by the sudden confrontation.

“Ace…What the fuck are you doing?We were just talking!”I know my face is bright red with anger, and I am fuming at this point.Fuck him.Someone finally shows interest in me and he acts like this?Why does he care?

“Ainsley, take my keys and get in the car.I’m taking you home.”He shakes his keys in my face like I’m supposed to eagerly follow orders.I don’t think so.

“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are, bossing me around like you have some sort of say in what I do, but newsflash pal, you don’t.”His eyes flash open wide in surprise at my cold words.

“Maddox, come on man, we are just getting to know each other.What’s the problem?”Jackson throws his arm over Ace’s shoulder in a friendly gesture.Wrong move.

Ace shrugs Jackson’s arm off aggressively.“Get the fuck off me Davis, and no you aren’t getting to know her.She isn’t yours.”The anger in his voice is palpable, but now I’m raging as much as he is.

“I don’t belong to anyone!Come on Jackson, let's go on that walk.”I brush past Ace, hoping he gets the memo as I reach to grab Jackson’s hand.

“Like fucking hell you are, Ainsley.I drove you and it’s late.Morgan and Cassie are already stumbling to the car.Do what you’re told.”His voice hasn’t softened, and the rigidity of his jaw tells me I won’t be getting my way.I can’t argue with him if Morgan and Cass are heading out to leave, too.I shake my head and begrudgingly take the keys from him.

Right as I am about to walk away, I get an idea.Turning toward a confused Jackson, I smile and move closer.Before Ace has a chance to stop me, I grab the collar of Jackson’s shirt and pull him down for a kiss—my first kiss.

Oh my God.Am I doing this right?Fuck, is he doing this right?

For my first kiss, it’s not what I expected it to be.The butterflies aren’t fluttering, and the angels aren’t singing.Luckily there’s no tongue, so I don’t have to stress about that.I slide my hand around to his back and make my way to the back pocket of his jeans.Pulling out his phone, I stop the kiss and place the phone in front of his face to unlock it.I’m shocked at how smooth this is going.Looking for the green phone icon, I dial my number and call it, and pull my phone out to show him.He looks confused until the lightbulb clicks on, and he knows what I’m doing.

“Now you have my number…use it.”I wink at him—seriously, wink.I don’t know if it’s the booze or just my new sense of confidence, but I’m here for it.

“I will text you tomorrow.”He nods his head and sideeyes Ace, giving him a “haha, motherfucker” look.I’m not one for a pissing match, nor have I ever been the center of one, but the pissed off look on Ace’s face has me reeling with excitement.

I smirk at Ace with my newfound confidence.“If you’re driving…by all means.”I motion my arm in a Glinda the Good Witch kind of way that I hope says “follow my yellow brick road, asshole.”

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