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I parted et hiaveof the mansion
So much for his insistence that ays sleep in the saht to da could ruin
Under the hot water,where Jackson’s stubble had abraded ht was shittily declining
Surely he couldn’t transfer his interest fro between us, right? So says the girl with such little boy experience
After I’d showered and dried my hair, I slipped on a dark jean ht over o barefoot None of Selena’s shoes had fit, and I refused to pull on my wet boots Besides, it was a cookout by the pool
I assessedNot bad, Greene My eyes looked bright, my hair clean and shiny The tank molded over my chest, which Jackson would surely appreciate
This wasn’t over One last glance, then I set off downstairs
Out on the lanai, Selena and Jackson were drinking beer and grilling the quail--while discussing bowstring tensions
Instead of announcingrecon on Selena
My mood soured once more when I saw her man-eater outfit: a slinky, off-the-shoulder couture blouse, a azed at Jackson
With his face clean-shaven and his new clothes--a black hunter’s T-shirt, broken-in jeans, and boots--he looked evenhe said, grazing her fingers over the scar on his forear no idea what that h, another round of beers popped open
Another brush of her fingers She see every opportunity to touch hi to sleep with irl in the ht it
Evidently he didn’t figure her for aup the attention Why wouldn’t she? Jackson was handso, an incredible protector
Not that Lara Croft needed any help in the protection departht next to Jackson’s crossbow, both within easy reach
How quaint
She didn’t even knoicked a kisser he was
Jackson see on her every word as their conversation ine horsepower and tire treads
Tire Treads
How could Selena know all that stuff? It was like they spoke a foreign language that I could never learn
My heart sank when she drank out of his beer, then gave the bottle back, as if they were a couple
Back at Haven, I’d wiped his flask with my sleeve
His attraction to s He’d liked me out of nécessité As he’d readily adive him a choice
He would never want to leave this realy archers
And I needed hiet there For no other reason At all
Maybe I shouldn’t roll over and let her have him so easily I recalled how possessive I’d been about Brandon I thought of what Mel would say: "Stop being a puss and take your toy back What are you--ain?"
He co dare
"Cajun is sooo hawt, JD"
JD? Okay, that was the final straw!
I strolled out onto the lanai, fake saze ht I detected approval in his expression, but then he looked away as if he could barely stand the sight ofready"
I surveyed the outdoor table, immaculately set with nice silver and crisp napkins Covered dishes steaus, and mushroom risotto Hot apple cobbler for dessert"
I smiled thinly Martha Stewart called, wants her shtick back "Can I help?"
Jackson snorted And Selena play-slapped his chest, like he was her mischievous boyfriend
At that, the initial mrowr pfft pfft I’d felt transformed into I will cut a bitch
No, no, no I had to think about this rationally! She ht help me discover more about the Arcana
But then, Jackson’s assistance was critical tohi beer bottle forI needed was to lose control, but I politely took a sip "Cheers"
"You guys take a seat JD, you’re over here" She pointed out the chair right beside hers, which putin, Jackson groaned at his first bite And she can cook, too
My , but I was too nervous I kept i to be without hi Not because he’d toldit sound like a prory?" Selena asked me
"Doan worry about her" Jackson spooned more risotto onto his plate "Plus pour nous" More for us
Seeirl’s ultihts down
Over dinner, I learned of all the things that JD and Lara Croft had in coa every time Selena said to Jackson, "No way! Me too!"
They loved to hunt and fish Both had been shooting a bow since they were little Selenafor Olympic archery before the Flash struck
Jackson looked far more impressed with that than he had with my dance trophies
She and Jackson were both soon to be nineteen Once she’d realized I wastotagalong "Oh, no, JD, I gave her a beer!" she’d cried, jabbing him with an elbow "Should we take it away?"
I hadn’t wanted my beer Now I dared her to reach for it
Wonder of wonders, Selena was also an ace ainst the boys