Page 17 of A Heart Worth Finding
But a shiver worked its way down her spine, and she couldn’t deny how drawn to Jack and his steady confidence she was. So she said, “You’ve got yourself a deal.”
NOW: October 7, 2023
“Where the fuck haveyou been?” Silas hissed as he clapped along to the chant the band and cheerleaders were leading. Jessica had just reached his side in the sea of the student section, and she’d known even before she was within his reach that he waspissed.
Which, quite frankly, was bullshit. He’d known where she was going, and had been content to tailgate with his brothers instead of coming with her.
“With Kenzie,” Jessica said with a forced smile.
She felt more than heard his exasperated sigh. “She’s a bad influence.”
“How, exactly? I’m here, aren’t I?”
“Yes, but you stink of beer. What were you doing, keg stands?”
“No, I was playing beer pong at the hockey tailgate.”
In one smooth move, Silas turned and pulled Jessica to his chest, settling his hands low on her hips, pressing his mouth to her ear. To those around them, it would appear as nothing more than a lover’s embrace, but the ferocity with which his fingers dug into her skin and his scathing words told a different story.
“Why were you at the hockey tailgate and not with me?”
“Because Kenzie is dating one of them, and she invited me. And need I remind you,Iinvitedyou.”
“Yet another check in the con column of Mackenzie Jean,” Silas said. “And I would rather chew my arm off than tailgate with the hockey players.”
Jessica shifted so she could look up at him.
Silas wasn’t overly tall. He was what those in the bookish community would consider a “short king”—five-foot-nine and…lean.
Jessica and Silas had met freshman year at the basketball campout, where students literally camped outside on the field in front of Munn. Student section basketball tickets were hard to come by, especially lower bowl ones, and events such as the campout were a way to earn students points in the hopes that they’d get enough to secure one of those coveted spots. It was the unofficial kickoff to basketball season, and one of Jessica’s favorite events of the year.
Silas was a journalism major, and his dream job was to become an athletic director at a Power Five school. He’d attended the campout his first year at MSU not to get tickets, but to network.
They’d officially met when he’d interrupted her conversation with one of the student assistants—he was a high school classmate of hers—saying, “Sorry miss, but I just have to pickthis kid’s brain about the season. You understand,” and shooting her a flirty wink.
She hadn’t understood, not really, but her friend had given her a tight, apologetic smile, and Jessica trudged off in search of her roommate.
A few hours later, Silas had approached her, once again butting into a discussion with her friends.
“Hey,” he said.
“Hi…”
“Look, I’m sorry about earlier. I’m just trying to make the most of my time here, and that guy can get me in with the basketball team. It’s nothing personal.”
“Okay,” she said simply, then turned back to her friends.
Silas had not liked that blatant brush off, and he’d lightly wrapped his hand around her upper arm and towed her away from the group.
“What are you doing?” she asked.
“I’m trying to apologize.”
“You’re not doing a great job.”
“I know.” He ran his hands through the thick waves of his hair, seeming a little exasperated. “Look…how about you let me make it up to you.”
Jessica scoffed. “It’s really not that big of a deal.”
