Page 35 of Kissing Chaos
I glance up. “That’s a good musical. Hey, did you know number thirty-two is actually from Steele Valley? I met him a few times before he went to the big leagues.”
Noah laughs. “Yeah, I know Harrison. He’s a cool guy.”
13
Noah
The look on her face is priceless as Jett shoots up from the blanket, her jaw slack.
“Wait. You know Silas Harrison? Like,knowhim?”
Chuckling, I slip my arm off the couch and pull her closer. “We grew up together. He and my sister dated for a while.”
I thought he and Oakley were solid. Hell, I expected him to put a ring on her finger pretty quickly, but they split right before he signed his entry-level contract. Oaks still won’t discuss it, so I’m clueless about what went down between them. I know she still keeps up with his games, and he always asks how she’s doing when we talk, but both of them remain tight-lipped about anything else.
Jett is still awestruck as I turn my focus back to the game. Or so she thinks. I can’t stop watching her.
This girl.
She isn’t mine—yet—but I already don’t want to let her go. I have never fallen this fast for someone. I rarely enjoy the company of others, found family excluded. Even then, it usually takes months of constant interaction, getting to know them on a deeper level, and connecting with them emotionally.
Butthis girl. This chaotic windstorm in pint-size packaging owns me on a level that is terrifying for a man who has experienced as much loss as I have.
For weeks, I have been battling my instincts, certain that logic would win out. Emotional connections do not happen at first glance. Love at first sight is a sham. Something that sells in the box office.
Except, it isn’t. Because I have been in love with Jett Taylor since the words “holy fireballs” slipped through her plump little lips. And as she sits here curled into my side while watching my childhood best friend lead his team to victory, I pray she will let me into her beautiful mind someday soon.
***
A crash followed by Sadie’s whimpering wakes me from a dead sleep.
I lay still for a few seconds, trying to gain my bearings. It isn’t until another crash is followed by the sweetest voice yelling profanity that I realize it’s coming from Jett’s loft. The realization kicks me into gear as I toss the covers off and rush toward the front door, grabbing my set of spares from the hook by the coat rack.
I’m not a creeper. I do knock. Twice, actually. But after a minute of Jett not opening the door, my patience runs out and I use my key.
I have never been more out of my league than I am right now. Jett and I have the same floor plan, but where mine is organized, clean, and minimalist, Jett’s is living up to my nickname for her. Pure and total chaos. It looks like a bomb went off. Everything from blankets to pens and notebooks to shoes and clothes cover the entire kitchen and living room areas. A few containers are dumped onto their sides. I assume that’s what caused the crashing sounds.
“Jett? Everything okay?” I ask, taking in her appearance. She is still in the same clothes as earlier, and every ounce of her screamsfrazzled.
“What the hell? You can’t just break into my apartment. Can’t you see I’m busy?”
I stay put, not saying anything. My face must look at least a little shocked. I can honestly say I was not expecting pure fire when I walked in.
“Ah, hell.” Jett turns away from me, tugging on her messy ponytail. “This is exactly what I never wanted you to see.”
Taking the opportunity to step closer, I gently grip Jett’s shoulder and turn her toward me. As I cradle her cheeks in my hands, I can’t help but marvel at how delicate she is compared to me.
“It’s three in the morning, and it sounded like someone had broken in. What’s going on?”
Her ears and cheeks have taken on a shade of pink that makes me want to never let her go as she fights back the moisture gathering in her eyes. I’d give anything to know what caused the spice to come out full force, but that can wait until whatever caused her panic is handled.
“Jett,” I whisper while tucking a loose hair behind her ear.
She leans into my palm but finally answers.“Squishy is missing.”
That’s…not what I was expecting. “Squishy?”
“Yes, Squishy.”
