Page 89 of Puck and Prejudice

The corners of his lips twitch up. “Have you met Chad’s mother and her best friend, Aunt Catherine? I bet they make it happen within a month.”

It’s surreal to see Jackson so keen on helping Chad and Jane get their dream wedding. I don’t have the heart to tell him there’s one big obstacle in his path: my mother. She won’t relinquish the reins of wedding planning so easily.

I guess taming the beast will be my task.

ChapterThirty-Five

IZZIE

Jane’s surgery went well, but we aren’t allowed to see her until she wakes up. I wanted to wait at the hospital, but Chad asked us to pick up some things at their house.

So here I am, back in Chad’s house with Jackson, packing an overnight bag for them. I’m handling Jane’s things, and Jackson is in charge of Chad’s.

“This is so strange,” I say as I put a few items of clothing in the duffel bag.

“What is?” Jackson asks from inside the walk-in closet.

“Going through their things.”

He walks out carrying a stack of sweatpants and T-shirts. “I thought you and Jane were close.”

“We are, but it’s different now. I wouldn’t think anything of it if we were still sharing a room, but here, in this house… I don’t know.” I shrug. “You probably think it’s stupid.”

“I don’t think that at all.” Jackson puts the clothes in the bag, then turns to me. “You still view this house as Chad’s place, not Jane’s. Once she puts her mark on the place, you’ll feel differently.”

“Man… you’re insightful. Did you take psychology in college?”

He laughs. “No. I only did one year of college before I joined the NHL, and all my classes were basic stuff.”

“What college did you go to?”

“Hannaford U.”

“Oh my God. You were our rivals!”

His eyes bug out. “Wait. Don’t tell me you went to Clayton U?”

“Yes!” I laugh, shaking my head. “I can’t believe it. If you hadn’t left after your freshman year, I probably would have seen you play.”

“I didn’t think you were a hockey fan.”

“Well… I wasn’t, but attending the games between the Jackals and Warriors was tradition.”

Jackson bobs his head up and down while a smile toys with his lips. I’m sure he had a great time playing college hockey.

“What class were you?” he asks.

“2021.”

“Oh yeah, if I had graduated, I’d have been class of 2019.” He smirks. “I knew there was a reason I didn’t like you at first sight. It was all that Clayton U yuck still clinging to you.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Excuse me? Clayton Uyuck? If anything has yuck, it’s Hannaford U!”

He narrows his eyes, then snakes an arm around my waist and pulls me close. “You take that back, woman, or there’ll be consequences.”

My heart speeds up, and fire spreads through my body. I’ll never admit it to Jackson, but I love this alpha side of him. “Oh yeah? What will the consequences be?”

His lips curl into a mischievous smile, and my toes curl right along with it. Suddenly, he throws me on the bed and covers my body with his before I can escape.

---