Getting Schooled (The Wright Brothers #1)(49)

“Because it’s lost either way!”

I scanned the bathroom one last time with bleary eyes, tuning out whatever the hell Jason was trying to say as I rummaged through the trash, dropped to my knees to check the corners, under the cabinet, everywhere. By the time I stood again, I was sobbing, and Jason was sitting on the edge of my bed, putting his prosthetic on.

“Reese,” he called as I stormed past him, wiping my face with the back of my hand. I ignored him still, going to my vanity to look around there. I distinctly remembered taking it off the in the bathroom to shower, and not immediately putting it back on because I was rushing to give Jason time. But still… maybe I’d picked it up and just didn’t remember.

“Reese.”

Jason grabbed my arms, stopping my movements. I struggled to get away from him because I didn’t want to look at him right now, because that necklace was—“I can get it, princess. Calm down. Let me get my toolbox out of my trunk. Aiight?”

I let out a deep, shuddering breath as I tried to stop crying, but still didn’t look at him. I sat down at the vanity as he grabbed his keys and left the room. A few moments later, he was back, and went right into the bathroom.

Ten years.

That’s how long I’d had that necklace and never, ever lost it. My father had presented me with a delicate white box at my Sweet Sixteen, and I’d been in complete awe. My first real piece of jewelry, with a tiny plaque engraved with my name, and I felt so grown up. More than his record player, more than his vinyls, more than my memories… that necklace a real, touchable thing. Given in love, in warmth, attached to one of those beautiful memories. It was a tangible connection between my father and me, and the thought of losing it… I felt like my chest had been split in half. What if it was—

“Hey.”

I sniffled as I looked up from my hands, and wiped my eyes. Jason was standing in front of me, still shirtless – had he gone outside like that? – holding out a dainty gold chain to me.

An unsteady breath flooded out of my lungs, and my shoulders sank in relief. I took it from him, covered in whatever gunk hung out at the bottom of the drain, and practically sprinted into the kitchen, my hands shaking as I washed it underneath the hottest water I could stand.

My fingers trembled as I grabbed both ends of tiny clasp, and lifted them around my neck. I tried and tried to make the two pieces connect, but my hands were quivering too bad.

“I’ve got you,” I heard from behind me, and the ends of the necklace were gently pulled from my fingers. I dropped my hands to my sides, and a moment later, my little plaque was hanging in its rightful place at the base of my throat.

I closed my eyes, not bothering to stem the flow of tears that escaped my eyelids as Jason wrapped his arms around me from behind, pulling me to him as tightly as he could. “I’m sorry,” he muttered against my ear, and I shook my head.

“It was an accident. I shouldn’t have reacted like that, I just—”

“Shhh. You don’t have to explain.”

I turned in his arms, futilely attempting to dry my face. “But I do. It was a gift from my father, and… it means a lot to me. Maybe more than it should, but—”

“Shh,” he repeated, using his thumbs to wipe my cheeks as I stared up into his eyes. “I get it. Trust me I do. My mother cried for days over losing an earring her mother gave her. I thought about that as soon as I saw your eyes well up.”

“I didn’t have to yell and curse at you.”

He shrugged. “You didn’t. And I started to make your mean ass wait, too.” I poked out my bottom lip, and he chuckled, shaking his head. “Uh-uh, put that thing away. When I realized it was about your dad though, I knew I had to go ahead and get it for you.”

“And I appreciate it. Thank you.”

He wiped my face again, then pressed a soft kiss to my lips. “You’re welcome. And I’m sorry for knocking it down in the first place. I probably could’ve been paying more attention to what I was doing.

“Ya think?”

Jason laughed, then swatted me on the butt. “So we’re good?”

“Yeah,” I nodded. “We’re good.”

“Good. You want to hit up Refill tonight?”

I lifted an eyebrow. “Are you asking me out on a date, Sgt. Wright?”

“I think I might be.”

“On a Thursday night… don’t you have classes tomorrow morning?”

He shrugged. “It’s the only night Dani Renee is gonna be there, so…”

My eyes wide. “She’s back!?”

“She’s back,” he grinned. “And since you missed her last time…”

Jason couldn’t even get the rest of his words out before I launched into him for a hug. “Yess!” I exclaimed. “What time?!”

“Eight,” he managed to say through my hair.

I had a big grin on my face as I pulled away, then entwined my fingers with his. “You are…”

“The most handsome, intelligent, funny, flat out best nigga you’ve ever dealt with?”

I rolled my eyes. “Well… you aiight, I guess.”

“Ah, well. You probably don’t want some little “aiight” chump taking you out then, huh?” Jason grinned as I squeezed his fingers a little tighter.