The Player You Need by Veronica Eden

Author:Veronica Eden [Eden, Veronica]
Language: eng
Format: epub

EIGHT

SIMONE

Jackson hasn’t made a scene. I’m grateful, but I sense he’s biding his time.

He came back to the reception in the middle of the last dance. Our eyes met and my heart climbed into my throat as my cousin kissed her new husband on the dance floor between us. That would never be me and Jackson.

As the wedding ends, he drapes his suit jacket over my shoulders when we head out through the courtyard to get to the suites on the other side of the hotel. I glance at him with a thank you on the tip of my tongue, but his focus is ahead, his jaw clenched.

Just a little longer, I silently beg, not sure if I mean keeping up the act as a couple or if I mean something I shouldn’t wish for in the first place.

Mom’s soft laugh echoes ahead of us. Dad smiles at her lovingly as he twirls her and tucks her beneath his arm. Past them, Marley and Trey are wrapped up in each other. My heart twinges.

When we make it to the hotel room, I return his jacket and search for my car keys thanks to one of my cousins following Dad to the hotel in my ride. He delivered them to the room for me.

“Thanks for going along with this plan. You really came through.”

Jackson pops off the wall from where he’s braced while watching me flit around the room. “Listen—”

“Not now, okay?” I take a fortifying breath, grabbing my keys before turning to him. “Just—thank you. We’ll figure out the rest of this mess later. Enjoy the hotel room.”

His brows furrow and the corners of his mouth turn down. “What, did you get the room on the other side of the connection? Didn’t trust yourself to share a bed with me after the tent?”

“No.” My voice is tight. I was planning on changing, but fuck it, I’m driving in the dress. I’m barely keeping it together. I need to go before I make another mistake. “I was never staying. My summer job starts tomorrow morning. There’s a brunch for the guests, though. You can hang out with Marley and Trey.”

“What?” Jackson tenses at my startled flinch, blowing out a harsh breath. He scrubs a hand over his hair. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to shout. Why didn’t you say anything?”

I don’t know if he means my plans after the wedding or if he’s talking about the secret feelings for him I’ve buried deep inside. I shrug, offering a shadow of my usual smile.

“This was f—”

“Don’t do that,” he interrupts in a low, unhappy tone. He takes a step to close the distance between us, halting with a frustrated rumble when I jump back a step. His outstretched hand falls to his side, closing into a fist. “Just let me catch you one time when you leap, gorgeous.”

“What?” I push out a laugh. “I’ve got to hit the road.”

“Damn it, Simone. What about what happened tonight?” His eyes flare with heat as they move over me in a heart-stopping drag.

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