We walk across campus, Cameron pointing out buildings, the campus bookstore, and the cafeteria.
I feel like a fraud as we pass by students and professors alike, strides purposeful and hands full of books. There are signs up everywhere for different events.
A group of girls, wearing green shirts with pink triangles on the front, sits in the middle of the courtyard, eating and laughing as boys slowly walk past them.
Cameron takes the lead, escorting us inside a modern brick building. “This is the Green Building, home of adult educational services.”
Jackson gives me a look, but I turn away. My ears turn hot. “How many people are usually in a class?” I ask.
“Ten. I like to keep it small, so that my assistant and I can do some one on one.”
“Hold up,” Jackson barks. “You’re her teacher?”
“Yeah, what of it?”
The two of them are practically toe-to-toe. Jackson seems larger than life, but I’m not sure if it’s because he’s wearing boots. Cameron’s more relaxed with his polo shirt, khaki shorts, and flip-flops.
Or maybe it’s just because Jackson has something Cameron will never have—presence. That elusive It Factor that makes regular people stars.
Whatever Jackson has that makes him a star isn’t the reason my skin tingles when he touches me. It isn’t the reason why when he kisses me, I can’t think or see straight. The first time we touched, I felt it… a connection, an attraction that no matter how hard I wished for it to go away, it wouldn’t.
That connection is bound to be the death of me.
*** *** ***
Jackson
Friend or not, Cameron’s throwing off some really obvious vibes concerning Bliss. He’s attracted to her, and it pisses me off to no end. Don’t even get me started about their meet cute in town. Wasn’t that how my ex and my brother first met? It’s like history’s trying to repeat itself, and if it does, I’ll be the one left in the cold again.
“What of it? Seriously?” I growl. “You’re panting after my wife, damn it.”
Cameron flushes. “You are completely wrong. Wasn’t I the one telling you to get your ass back home to your wife?”
“What you said then, and what you actually did behind my back, are two completely different things,” I grind out.
“I don’t sleep with my students,” Cameron says, his jaw working.
“Who said anything about sleeping?” Yeah, that helped this entire conversation, but all I can think of is my friend’s easy agreement to hang out with Bliss while I’m in New York. I’ve turned unreasonably jealous, something I’ve never been before, not even when Violet was with Cole.
Well, it wasn’t the same type of jealousy. I wanted what I had, not what I haven’t. Now all I want is Bliss, and I haven’t even had her. Yet.
Bliss’ gaze bounces between the two of us, but she scoots a little closer to me, and not him.
I smirk at Cameron. That’s right, asshole; she wants me, not you.
Cameron curses under his breath. “If you want a fight, I’ll give you one, but not over her and not where I work, or where your wife will be going to school to learn how—”
“If going here is going to cause problems between the two of you, I’d rather learn online or something,” Bliss says.
I open my mouth to agree with her, and then realize if she doesn’t have something to do while I’m gone, then she’ll be all alone. Or with Cameron.
Looks like my trip to New York will be postponed.
“Not a problem, baby doll. You’re all enrolled here. I’ll be happy to drive you to class each day and pick you up when you’re done.” Or buy her a car. She could drive herself. On second thought, I could buy her a car… and still take her to class and pick her up afterwards.
Flashing a smile as I snag my phone from my pocket, I text my publicist and Everett, and then takes Bliss’ hand in mine, lacing our fingers together. “Anywhere else she needs to see?”
Cameron eyes me. Yeah, he’s not convinced at my sudden change in attitude. “Not really.”
“Then we’ll be heading to lunch.” I tug on Bliss’ arm, and she follows. “I’d ask you to go, Cam, but I’m sure you have a lot of work to do.”
As we walk across campus, or rather, as I stride and Bliss jogs to keep up with me, she says, “Why are you changing your plans?”
“Excuse me?”
“Cameron said you were going to New York at the end of the week.”
That bastard. I’m going to kill him. “I said I might go.”
My phone vibrates as I hold open the passenger-side door and wait for Bliss to climb inside. Checking my screen, I’m more than a little surprised when Everett agrees to the change.