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3
Day Three
I woke this morning a bit exhausted. Sleep was pretty much non-existent last night as I couldn’t get my mind off of Jackson and his plan to pretend he’s my boyfriend. It’s childish, and I can’t believe I’m seriously considering it. But, like he said, we’ve already set precedence, and I’ll be damned if I give D'Andre another thing to judge me about. Then again, if it all blows up, he’ll still have something to ridicule me over. Ugh, why is this even a thought? Fuck it. I’ll just come clean and be done with it all. I never intentionally openly claimed Jackson to be mine, so I can easily sweep this under the rug if I cut it off now.
“Yes, that’s what I’ll do.”
I reach for my phone on the bedside table and check the time. It’s half past eleven, and if I remember correctly, there’s a midday poker game starting soon. While I don’t understand poker, I have a keen feeling I’ll find Jackson there. His vibe and his discussion last night let off that he’s all about his money. So, I figure he’d be up to winning some.
With my mind made up, I hop out of bed, nearly tripping over the covers and head for the shower. I quickly go through my morning routine and, when done, I throw on a pair of lace shorts and a cute racerback tank. I slide my feet into my black Gucci t-strap sandals and move for the door. Realizing I forgot my map, I retreat to its place at the foot of my bed and leave to start my day.
I expected to see more people here, but it seems not many are interested. But as I’ve guessed, I find Jackson sitting at a table among three other men, engaging in what seems like a serious conversation. I can tell by the tension in their shoulders. One guy is shuffling a deck of cards when he notices me approaching. The others follow suit, directing their attention to me. Except for Jackson, who is taking a pull from his beer bottle. Finally, after a few minutes, he turns, a smile instantly adorning his face.
“Excuse me for a moment, fellas,” he says, pushing his seat back. He faces me, his grin never wavering.
As he heads toward me, I walk to the far corner of the bar with him not far behind.
“There’s Cinderella. Though you didn’t leave a glass slipper for me to find you.”
“Ha ha,” I say, trying not to laugh at his banter. It’s actually pretty funny considering that I did run away without notice, except it wasn’t twelve and I’m no fairy tale princess.
“To what do I owe this pleasure?” he asks, amusement still lingering in his voice.
I came prepared to tell him I wasn’t interested in pretending to be in a relationship. That I thought it was a childish and unnecessary thing for him to suggest, let alone do. But he beams down on me, his brown eyes teasing and calling for me to accept. The strange thing is, Jackson’s made no pressing moves in this moment, yet standing in front of him, I’m no longer convinced of my own plan. Sweat invades my palms, and I shift from one foot to the other, rubbing my neck.
“If we do this, there has to be boundaries. No kissing, at least not with tongue. Your hands never go below the small of my back, and don’t you dare get any ideas of having sex with me. It’s not happening.”
Jackson’s expression never falters, making it hard for me to know what he’s thinking.
“Do you have anything to add?” I prompt when he doesn’t answer me after a full minute.
He leans against the bar. “No, I got it.”
“Oh… Okay, well…good.” I tap my shoe against the carpet. “Uh…guess I’ll see you around then.” I spin on my heels, not waiting for an answer. With my back to him, I make a dash for the door. What the fuck, Sabrina?
“Hey!” Jackson yells across the room. “Be ready at eight. Meet me back here at the casino,” he says when I turn around.
“Why?”
“It’s a date, duh.” He smirks. “You know, for appearance’s sake.” Jackson shrugs and rejoins his group at their table.
I look around, hoping no one is watching. I mean, what’s the point of pretending if he’s just going to announce it to a room full of people? Thankfully, no one seems to notice, and that pleases me. Honestly, I don’t know why I care. It’s not like I personally know any of the passengers here. Growing up, I learned that if you act natural and as if nothing is out of place, most people won’t care to challenge that. Not unless they have firsthand knowledge that tells them otherwise. It wouldn’t hurt to live by that advice right now, and who knows, this could end up being something fun if nothing else. Truth is, I’m actually excited about it.
I didn’t realize how excited I was for this date until now. Waiting outside the casino, I gawk at my reflection in the glass, wondering if I’m under or overdressed. Jackson didn’t give me any real clue as to what we’ll be doing. If we are joining in on one of these gambling tournaments, I could have worn jeans instead of this denim off-the-shoulder dress with a frayed hem and buttons down the front.
My sight adjusts, and I focus on Jackson and the bow in his legs as he descends the stairs behind me. I continue to take him in, admiring his confidence. “This man knows he’s fine,” I whisper to the glass then bite my bottom lip. The blue Copen shorts with what looks like tiny flamingos printed on them, fit him loosely, yet does a poor job of masking the slight bulge in his pants. On his left calf, the tail of a scorpion wraps around the front, only accentuating his finely sculpted legs. I didn’t peg him for the tatted-up type, maybe one or two, but I’m counting at least eight mostly covering his biceps and forearms. Knowing this stirs my arousal, and I bite down harder on my lip. A man with ink is a weakness of mine and gets me almost every time.
Jackson inches closer, and before turning to face him, I exhale my lust and inhale a smidgen of composure.
“Have you been waiting long?” he asks when he’s only a few steps away.
“No, just a minute or two.”
His short-sleeved, powder-blue button-up brightens the soft brown of his eyes, and I melt.
“Awesome. Are you ready?” he asks, his shoulders hiked up near his neck while he rubs his hands together.
I can’t tell if it’s out of excitement or because he has some mischievous plan for the evening. Either way, I am eager to see what’s in store.
