Mine Would Be You (33)

He sets his wine down on the dresser and shuffles through his bags until he pulls out a hoodie with Georgia written on the front and pulls it over his head, ruffling his curls a bit. It’s rude that he looks that attractive in such a simple outfit, but it’s not surprising that he’s beautiful in everything.

I walk towards the French doors, and he follows, opening them for us, and leads us out onto the balcony. We stand side by side in the settling darkness. There aren’t nearly as many lights out here, and I can see the stars for once. They light up the sky in little twinkles, some flickering out of view and back in. I can hear the waves crashing onto the sand and the low call of seagulls. Goosebumps break out over my leg when a cool breeze rushes by.

I am acutely aware of how close we are to each other. His familiar smell wafts around me again, and this time I catch the underlying hints of vanilla that I like so much. After another sip I look away from the darkness that is the night sky and the ocean I can’t quite see anymore and turn towards him. A bright spot even in the dark.

And it hasn’t even been a day, a full day, but I’m so incredibly happy I decided to come. To spend this time with him. To let myself enjoy whatever this is.





I turn to look at Nina, who is standing on the balcony next to me, tucked into a crewneck, her hair tucked behind her ears. Looking as beautiful as ever under the stars.

“I’m happy you decided to come.”

She glances up at me, brown eyes warming. “I don’t think I stood a chance at resisting your methods of convincing.”

Chuckling, I shake my head. She was right. I had showed up at her work a few more times after the pizza, convincing her to come eat with me or even just walk with me. To be fair, I hadn’t really left the girl alone. But I was ever so slowly starting to chip at the walls. That was easy to see because I’d been on the receiving end of a few soft smiles. She even stood closer to me now. So, it was working. At its own pace, at her pace. It was working.

“So, you think I’m irresistible?” I ask, taking a sip of the wine.

Her eyes widen, and her eyebrows furrow. “That is not what I said.”

I grin, liking her flustered. “It’s what I heard.”

“Necesitas checar tus oídos,” she mumbles in Spanish, trying to hide her pink cheeks by taking a sip. I raise a brow.

I don’t understand much Spanish since the last time I took a language course was my freshman year of college. And I know that Google Translate isn’t the best, but I keep it up on my browser for when I really need it, at least until I buy myself a dictionary or full on course and start really learning. For now, I glean enough from her tone to know it was something sarcastic.

“I’m going to take that as you agreeing with me.”

She glares at me, but it’s an empty glare because her cheek twitches. With one hand, she grips the railing, swaying slightly, and I watch.

“You are impossible,” she mumbles, but finally, she smiles, and my entire body burns at the sight. Her entire face lights up, her molten brown eyes brighten, and it’s one of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen in my life. I’d do just about anything to keep that smile on her face. “When is your actual birthday?”

“July twenty-fourth.”

“A true Leo baby,” she says as a breeze passes by, and she stretches, pulling down the sleeves her crewneck, goosebumps appearing on the skin.

I cock my head. “Come on.” Instead of waiting for her response, I softly grip her hand and pull her inside and take a deep breath, motioning to my room. Reveling in the fact that she hasn’t pulled her hand from mine yet. “I figured since I picked all the music, if you wanted to, we could come up here and watch a movie or TV one night. Your choice.”

Nina doesn’t instantly deny it but raises a brow.

“Complete with a pillow wall, of course. I just got you here. I’d rather not chase you away.”

Again she smiles, looking at the floor before back at me. “It’s your weekend. I guess I can make that work.”

I rub my thumb over the inside of her wrist, brushing over her pulse before squeezing her hand gently and letting it go. Being around her is like breathing in the air right before it rains. It’s fresh and comforting. That’s the only way I know how to describe it.

And I am so selfishly excited that she came this weekend, that I can spend all weekend continuing to figure her out, what she likes, what she hates. I don’t know much, but I know a little from what I’ve picked up on.

She likes red. She wears it all the time, even right now with her crewneck.

She always wears a ring on her right pointer finger, and she spins it when she’s nervous.

And despite having that hard exterior, she blushes easier than anyone I’ve ever met.

I know those things, little things that are starting to add up and form the girl in front of me, but it’s already not enough. I want to know everything there is to know about her. All the little things, the big things, everything.

“What are you thinking about?” Nina nudges me, drawing me back into the present, with her empty wineglass in her hand.

My eyes roam over her face. The smooth skin, the freckles, the shape of her nose. “You.”

“Jackson,” she says it skeptically, and I frown.

“You asked, and I answered. I’m not making it up. I’m not bullshitting you. Promise.”