Page 48 of Everything In Between
Glancing away from her TV where they’re recapping the game from last night, I take it into my hands and blink a few times. On her screen are the paparazzi photos from last night with the headline:
Love is in the air: Hayes Vogt and Jersey Matthews only have eyes for each other after Lightning game.
“At least they got my good side,” I tease, scrolling through the pictures. My chest expands with pride when I get to the one of our first kiss. One of my arms is wrapped around her smaller frame possessively, my other hand holding her chin as my lips are pressed to hers.
The chemistry between us is palpable, even through the photos. Moreso than the ones taken of us at the gala.
I want to get it framed, along with the one of her launching herself into my arms.
“I should’ve known they’d have those up for the world as soon as possible,” Jersey says. There’s a hint of something to her tone, and I look at her curiously.
“Are you okay with this?” I ask her. A hint of uncertainty niggles at the back of my mind. I know we talked about this already before she came to the game at all, but I wouldn’t blame her if she’s a little unsure, seeing the photos in real life.
She meets my eyes and her face splits into a grin. “I am. Are you?”
I slide across the couch, closing the distance between us and kissing her. “More than okay. I want the whole world to know I’m yours and you’re mine.”
She pulls away and runs her fingers along my jaw. “Andi will probably ask me about the photos in the interview on Monday. What should I say?”
“What do you mean?” I question.
Doubt flickers across her face and she backs away. “It’s dumb, forget it.”
“Jersey,” I press her.
She exhales. “I am your girlfriend, right?”
I swallow, nervous about why she sounds so unsure about her question. I know we discussed the implications of being seen together in public, I thought that the exclusivity was implied. “I’m all in, if you are, Jersey.”
“I’m in, too,” she says, her features relaxing into a smile. Relief crashes through me.
“Well then...” I push myself off her couch.
“What are you doing?” she asks, giggling as I walk across the living room to her balcony.
Sliding the door open, I step outside and walk over to the rail. The city bustles along below me, no one ever the wiser that I’m standing up here. I extend my arms out wide and yell, “Jersey Matthews is my girlfriend!”
“Hayes!” Jersey shouts and then laughs loudly. Her hands press down on my arms and she pulls me around to face her. Her expression is lit up with amusement. “Why did you do that?”
I grin down at her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “We’ve got nothing to hide, baby. Let the whole world know.”
SEVENTEEN
jersey
MONDAY, OCTOBER 14
“So, I’ve heard some rumors,”Andi, host ofPost It and Weeppodcast says. I’m sitting across from her during our exclusive live stream interview, pretty sure where she’s taking this. Bethany gave her a list of questions we approved since this is a live event and won’t be edited before the public hears it, but I get the feeling she’s about to go off script.
Giving a nervous chuckle, I say, “I should’ve known when I agreed to come on your show you’d want to dish about more than just my upcoming tour.”
“You do know me well.” She leans toward me, eyeing me across the table like the cat who got the cream. “You’ll have to tell us once and for all if they’re true.”
“That’s a lot of pressure,” I say, hoping my voice isn’t shaking. In my lap, I knot my fingers together and pick at the cuticle on my thumb.
“There’s been some rumors and paparazzi photos circling around of you and a certain quarterback,” she teases. My nerves dissipate at the mention of Hayes. “Are youdatingHayes Vogt?”
The mental image of Hayes standing on my balcony Friday morning fills my mind, and I fight off a smile. He will be overjoyed with me publicly claiming him on such a broad scale. Which is why I have zero hesitance right now. “Yes, Hayes and I are official. And we’ve been having the best time.”
