Mine Would Be You (57)

“Will do, captain,” Roman says before returning to his food.

We fall into an easy conversation as we eat the delicious meal Harper made. Talking about the work that Roman is doing, the charity event that he’s planning in a few months and how Harper is going to help promote it with her photographs. Darkness settles through the windows. Jenko does his usual nighttime routine of moving from the windowsill to his food bowl before finally disappearing into my room for the night, making sure to flick his ear at Harper.

After helping clear the counter and clean some of the dishes I turn to say goodnight to the two of them, who have settled on the couch together. They send me a smile before I disappear into my room with my laptop and a fresh cup of decaf. I hate decaf, but I won’t sleep otherwise. Jenko is curled comfortably on my pillows. I pull out my notes from the interview and set them next to my computer, pulling my leg underneath me as I adjust. Luckily, before the interview, I marked my article where to add and adjust for new information, so I just have to plug it in and make sure the article sounds appealing while also getting the point across.

After a few minutes, my phone starts ringing with a facetime from Jackson, and I hesitate, wondering if he’ll be able to tell something is wrong. If he’ll be able to tell I’m second guessing everything. I swipe to answer it anyway.

“Well, hello there,” he says with a big grin. His free arm is resting behind his head as he leans on his pillows.

“Hi.” I take a sip of the hot coffee, making sure to lick the whip cream that lands on my lip before I lean my phone against my water bottle to stand it up.

“What’re you doing?”

Sighing, I let my head fall into my left hand. “Finishing up my article. I’ve gotta have it on my boss’s desk as soon as I get to work, and it has to be perfect.”

“Well, I don’t want to interrupt you. I just wanted to talk.”

My eyes flick back to the camera screen. “No, no,” I sigh, annoyed at the internal battle I’m having. I want to talk to him, and I also want to run. “Don’t hang up.”

Jackson sits up on the screen. “Is everything okay?” I type away for a moment before running a hand through my hair, feeling pathetic. “Nina,” he says gently.

Fuck, I want to cry. He’s too nice to me. He’s too good, and I won’t make it if this ends badly. “I’m just having an off day. I know I shouldn’t unload on you with your family and everything—”

“Nina, that’s not how this works. Please tell me what’s on your mind,” he interrupts gently, and I sigh.

“I’m just I can’t stop second guessing everything. If we weren’t doing whatever this is,” I avoid the word dating because it feels too real, “Myles wouldn’t be ignoring you, and your friendship would be fine. Emma wouldn’t be upset. And I am terrified for you to meet my parents. It scares the living hell out of me because Myles was the last person to, and I know you’re excited. I’m just scared. I’m scared of getting hurt again.” My throat tightens, and I stop talking before I cry on the phone, shocked by my own honesty.

This is surely not what he called me for.

He meets my eyes through the phone, unwavering. “None of this is your fault. Myles reacting the way he did is not on you. How he treated you, or any of us, is not your fault. You’re not dating him, you’re not just his ex, you’re a person, and you can do whatever you want. Please hear me when I say our friendship and his marriage are not your responsibility.”

My chest tightens. The difference between how he’s treating me when I’m upset, irrationally so, versus how Myles did, which is fresh from my memory, is astounding.

“And about your parents,” Jackson starts, and I look up again, staring at him through the phone. “If it’s too soon for you, that’s okay. I will take this at whatever pace you need, and I need you to understand that. If you want to think about it and let me know, that’s okay too.”

“Okay,” I say softly. Trying to soak in the words.

“Know that I have no intentions of hurting you. No intentions of taking you for granted or making you feel less than you deserve. I’m not going anywhere.”

The fact that he’s so willing to do whatever makes me comfortable makes my chest constrict. He is fully invested in this, in me, and I don’t doubt him when he says he’s not going anywhere, I just wish I could stop doubting myself.

Because Jackson Ross is too good for this world and too good for me. If I keep pushing him away, I’ll never forgive myself.

“No, I want you to come. I’m scared, but I want you to come. Please.”

He smiles, and I feel it through the phone. “I’d love to.”

I shake my head at myself. “God, I don’t know why you talk to me. I’m no fun.”

Jackson raises a brow. “You’re a ton of fun. Especially when you’re drunk and you can’t keep your hands off me.” I glare at him through the phone. He just chuckles. “Sometimes you’re a little snarky, like the glare you’re giving me, but I like that too.”

I feel the blush on my cheeks. “Stop flirting with me.” Inside, my heart swells at how we go from a serious topic to his bright, charming self. I love it.

“If it wasn’t clear, I like everything about you, Valentina Scott.”