Believe in Spring (Jett #8)(3)
“You’re a grown man, you know that right?” she says playfully, her nails scratching lightly down my back as I hold her close to me. “Nineteen years old and you can’t even pack a suitcase.”
“I can pack it, I’m just not good at it.” I make a pouty face and she rolls her eyes.
“Don’t worry, I got you.”
I slide my hands under her ass and lift her off the floor. She wraps her legs around my waist as I carry her to my bed and sit her down carefully. “I love you,” I whisper, my lips against hers.
“Do you love me, or do you love my packing skills?” she whispers back.
I kiss her. “Both.”
She laughs and pushes me away. “Let’s see what train wreck you’ve assembled here,” she says, going through my clothing. “There’s not a single shirt… were you planning on spending all week showing off those abs?”
I lift my shirt and flex the six pack I work so hard to maintain. “Sounds like a plan to me.”
She rolls her eyes and stands up, heading to my closet. “I will get you some shirts, you dork.”
I turn on my TV and set it to the YouTube app so we can listen to music. “Are you packed yet?”
“Yeah, I left my suitcase downstairs by the back door because it’s ridiculously heavy,” Keanna says. “I brought those books for Aiden’s sister.”
“She’ll love that,” I say. Aiden is also on Team Loco, and he has a little sister who is as obsessed with reading as Keanna is. She had an extra set of some teen romance series after she won an autographed set online, so she promised to give it to her.
I walk up behind Keanna while she takes my clothes off hangers and folds them neatly into my suitcase. I slide my hands up her back and rub her shoulders. I hear her release a soft sigh, see her head tilt to the side as I massage her back. But she keeps working, diligently sorting my outfits for the week. I lean forward and kiss her neck. She freezes.
“Baby, I can’t focus if you do that.”
“Who needs focus?” I whisper, kissing her again. I grab her waist and tug her up against me.
She giggles. “Let me finish packing and then we can continue this.”
I heave a big sarcastic sigh and then rest my chin on her shoulder, watching her continue to fold clothes and ignore me hanging out behind her. “Okay, I guess I can wait.”
“Such a horn dog,” she mutters, but I can hear the smile in her voice.
“I upgraded to the paid Spotify subscription so we’ll have awesome tunes while we drive,” I say, trying to change the subject since I’m all ready to strip her clothes off and throw her on the bed. “Should make the trip more fun.”
“Awesome,” she says. “I’ve been to Dallas and San Antonio a million times, but I’m excited for Vegas.”
“Yeah?” I say, watching her face light up with excitement.
She nods. “It sucks that we aren’t old enough to drink, but I can’t wait to see the Strip all lit up at night. And I want to try that Vegas Cupcakes place. All their cupcakes are ridiculously fancy and are supposed to be the best ones in the country. I think it’ll be awesome. It’ll be even better if you win your race.”
I grin and watch her work, helping me once again do something I’m not good at. This girl is my angel. Vegas will be really fun because we’ll have three days there and I only race one of those days.
Maybe I’ll find a place in Vegas that would make the perfect spot…
I grin as my heart fills with anticipation and excitement.
Yes. Vegas.
Maybe I’ll do it then.
Chapter 3
Keanna
Jett is being a lot more affectionate than usual. I mean, it’s not like he’s ever been distant or cold toward me, but lately it’s like he’s metal and I’m magnetized and he can’t stay away from me. I like it, but it makes me wonder. Is he being overly affectionate to make up for something I don’t know about?
I try to shrug the thoughts away. I remind myself that Jett is mine, and he’s the greatest guy ever, and he’s loyal and loving and would never lie to me. It helps a little.
I check the time on my phone—it’s three in the morning. I keep falling asleep and then waking up half an hour later, filled with bad thoughts about Jett and worries over nothing. I roll over and look at Jett in the darkness. The moonlight filters in through the window just a little, and I can make out the outline of his face sleeping peacefully next to me. I scoot a little closer and rest my head on his shoulder.
On instinct, his arm goes around me. His breath stays steady, and he remains asleep, but even when totally passed out, he remembers to hold onto me. It warms my heart and I slip back to sleep, telling myself I was stupid to worry about anything.
*
We arrive in Dallas, Texas around ten in the morning. There’s a stadium next door to the hotel we’re staying at and that’s where the arenacross races will be tomorrow. For now, we have the day to rest and Jett plans on taking it easy to prepare for the race tomorrow.
“This hotel is pretty nice,” Jett says as we step off the elevators on the tenth floor.
“Damn,” a voice calls out from down the hallway. I recognize it immediately as Zach Pena, a fellow Team Loco racer. “They let anyone in here!” he says, winking at me. “I thought this hotel was for classy people only,” he says to Jett.