Page 108 of Never Started
"I'd like to ask you the same damn thing," I say, sternly, grabbing her arm firmly and pulling her off the dance floor and away from the crowd around us.
"Oh, you can flirt with Bimbo Barbie over there, but I can't have fun?"
I can't help but laugh. "You know, jealousy is kinda cute on you, Beauty." Then I lean in and whisper directly into her ear as the corners of my mouth curl up into a smile, "And, if I remember correctly, you're the one in the relationship. Right? I'm the one who’s allowed to have fun. Still single."
She gulps audibly, and a brief flash of sadness overtakes her features, but it doesn't last. Before I know it, the feisty side is right back. This is a war she isn't backing down from.
She scoffs, annoyed. "I don't get jealous. I leave that job to the Beasts. Did you not see yourself just now? Who are you to get jealous?" Our eyes meet briefly, and I can feel our constantspark of electricity that's always been there with us flicker a little brighter than usual.
"I'll always be jealous when it comes to you," I sigh. "You wouldn't talk to me. Kandice, AKA Bimbo Barbie, is a friend. I asked her to put on that show to get to you." Leaning in even closer, I whisper directly into her ear again, "But let me be clear. If you want to drink, you fucking drink up, baby. You want to dance, you do you. But that sweet little pussy and perfectly round ass stay untouched. The next guy to lay their hands on you won't be warned."
"Jett, you have no right. I'm dating—"
"Give it up, Iz. I know you guys broke up," I interject.
Her face falls instantly. "Who told you?" Her voice is small, not argumentative.
"You did when you lied to me about him being at work. You should know by now that you can't lie to me. I see right through that shit. Always have. It wasn't hard to put two and two together. He and Ander work the same schedule. If Ander’s off, he’s off."
“Fuck,” she mutters under her breath. Her eyes flash to the ground as if she's embarrassed.
I reach my hand out, cupping her chin and angling her face to force her to look at me again. "So, I'll repeat what I said. If you need to fucking dry hump someone tonight, anyone, it will be me."
"I'm not yours, Jett," she says firmly, but I see her resolve fading behind her defenses.
I let out a soft laugh that doesn't hold any humor. "Beauty, you've always been mine. You will always be mine. Sooner or later, you're going to realize that."
With that, I turn and walk away.
Making it to the table, interrupting Via and Ander's love fest, I set my phone down on the table and sink into a chair. I glanceback over at Izzy. She's still standing off in the corner, trying to collect herself.
Fuck, I wish things with her were simpler. I wish she didn't fight me at every turn, but in the same sense, if so, then she wouldn't be the woman I fell in love with. When I fell for her, I fell for all of her. Exactly for who and what she is.
Pulling me from my daze, my phone vibrates on the table.
Unknown:
That was a nice show. Now we know your weak spot. Your girl sure is beautiful. I bet she would be worth a lot to you. Get my money, or it’ll be her instead.
Fuck. Me.
Chapter fifty-three
Maverick
November 2025
It’s been two days. Two whole fucking days with limited contact and I’m already driving myself nuts. Izzy sent me a short text letting me know she was going to the ranch with Via and Ander for Thanksgiving, and that’s the last I heard from her.
The thoughts of doubt plague my mind.What if she’s with Jett? What if she chooses to leave me for him? Or what if she just leaves me, period? What if I’m not what she wants anymore? Does she even know what she wants? I don’t think she does.
She asked for space.What the fuck could that even mean? Hell, at this point, it may be necessary, and I might need it too. But us leaving off on unsteady terms, it doesn’t feel right. None of it does.
I’ve tried everything I can possibly think of to make this work. I’m at a complete loss of what to do from here. Maybe time apart, time to miss each other, is what we both need.
I know what I want. I’ve made it as clear as one could possibly make it. However, it seems like the clearer I make my stance on wanting to move forward with her, the more unclear her feelings for me become. I don’t even know what to do with that information.
I hate feeling like I don’t know where we stand or where we’re headed. It makes me nauseous just thinking about it.
