Mine Would Be You (69)

My lips pull into a smile because my mom and I are the same. She acts like she’s not sappy and in love but would literally do anything for my dad, and apparently, I am doing the same. I wish I could say I was surprised, but I’m not.

He pats my back and takes the pitcher and puts it in the fridge, falling into an easy conversation with one of our longtime neighbors. My mom finally stops chatting with my two friends long enough to really notice me.

“Mija, where is he?” She motions as if I wasn’t allowed to come without him.

I kiss her on the cheek. “He’s coming, Mamá, a bit later.”

She purses her lips and nods, patting me on the cheek. “Bien, bien. I have people who want to meet him.”

“People?” I raise my brows. “Mamá, what do you mean?”

I don’t get a chance to finish my statement because she quickly hushes me and pushes me in the direction of the backyard to go around and see if people need anything. My head is slightly blurred because I’m spinning over what she’s told everyone about my personal life. I quickly shake it off and make the rounds, leaving Sloan and Harper to fend for themselves.

In the end, I’m happy for the distraction because time passes much quicker as I walk around and say hi to people I haven’t seen in a while, and it means I’m not thinking about Jackson the entire time. Even though, in the back of mind, I still am.

I want him here.

Not even caring if him being next to me means unending questions or knowing looks. I know that he’d hold my hand, his thumb tracing small circles over my palm, or twirl the ends of my hair, and I would answer anything they asked with him there. Maybe I should be worried at how quickly all these feelings have come to fruition and how overwhelmingly beautiful they feel, but I’m not.

Finally, I finish my rounds and grab a drink before searching for my friends. The sun lands on my face as I walk through the open front door of the house to find them sitting on the stoop, watching people throw footballs back and forth.

I collapse next to Sloan and poke Harper on the cheek where she sits one step below, leaning on Sloan’s legs. My phone dings as I take a sip, and my lips tug into a smile.

Jackson: Walking up now. I didn’t realize I was dating a celebrity, sunshine. :)

The little smiley face pulls a quiet laugh from my mouth as I look up to the street. He’s nowhere to my right, but when I look to my left, I can just make out a blond head of hair. Soon, he’s close enough I can make out the small smile on his face.

But something is off. The dimples aren’t fighting to appear, and he’s talking on the phone, animatedly, while trying to keep the smile on his face. Even his shoulders are slightly hunched, when usually he stands like he doesn’t have a care in the world.

I won’t push right away, but it’s one of two things, and I hope he tells me. As he walks closer, he hangs up the phone, and his eyes land on me as I bring the cup to my lips, trying not to worry too much.

He sends me a wink, and even from a distance, the familiar warmth spreads up my neck and onto my cheeks. Certain people have figured it out as I see a few neighbors and friends glance between us, but I couldn’t care less. Jackson’s shoulders straighten as he picks up the pace just slightly as he nears me.

“Ah, here comes lover boy,” Harper snarks quietly, and Sloan tugs her hair.

“You’re one to talk,” I reply, insinuating the relationship between her and Roman. That she insists on calling a situation. And she shuts right up. Sloan laughs, and we share a warm glance.

“You guys are so mean to me,” Harper mumbles, but she smiles, not meaning it.

I stand and lean against the stone railing of the steps as I wait for Jackson.

One of my old family friends shouts, pulling my attention for a second. “Valentina Scott, is that who I think it is?” The grin pulls on Miss Lisa’s face, her deep-set eyes warming as she smiles, and my face immediately heats up when the entirety of the street turns their head.

Because if Miss Lisa, who I love, is anything, it’s loud.

I sigh. “Yes Miss Lisa, I don’t know what Mamá said, but yes.”

She smiles. “You got a pretty one, honey, make sure you keep him around.” She winks, and I just shake my head at her antics.

“I’ll do my best.”

Harper lets out a whoop in the background, and at this point, with every eye on me, I’m pretty sure I’m the actual color of a tomato. I glance back to Jackson, who is grinning now, both dimples on display.

“Miss Lisa?” he says, stopping in front of me, twirling his keys around his finger. She turns, raising her eyebrows with a smile and nods. “I believe it’ll be me who will be lucky enough to keep her around.”

I swear to god, at least five jaws pop open, including mine and Miss Lisa’s, as he says it. So casual, so unashamed, and I think I might be on fire. “Nina, if you drop him. One of us will snatch him right up,” Miss Lisa shouts, chuckles following her words before she turns back to her previous conversation.

“Hi, baby,” Jackson says, this time so only I can hear it as he leans down and presses a soft kiss on my cheek. His hand softly pats my butt through my jean shorts, effectively setting the rest of my body ablaze.

I gaze up at him over my cup. “Hi. Fair warning, my mom apparently told the entirety of Brooklyn her daughter was dating, and they all know who you are, so I’m apologizing now.”