“Tell her I’m picking you up instead.”
God, he’s so demanding. And annoying.
“You don’t have to. You’ve done enough,” I tell him.
“I’ll text her and let her know,” he says, cutting me off. “What time are you off?”
“Around ten or so,” I say. “But really, Jackson. I’m fine. I don’t need you to pick me up.”
“See you then.” He ends the call before I can say anything else.
Annoyed, I immediately call Hayden and tell her what he said.
“Hmm. Why is Jackson acting like this?” Hayden sounds suspicious.
I didn’t tell her about my interaction with Jackson last night in his car. She only knows about my car breaking down and him coming to my rescue. The other stuff…I’m not ready to share yet.
“I don’t know. I’m sure I’m reading too much into it,” I say, deciding to be truthful.
“Yeah, but it’s weird, ya know? Is it one of those, I don’t want you, but no one else can have you either situations? If that’s the case, he’s a straight-up douche,” she says.
I’m quiet for a moment. “We already know he’s a straight-up douche.”
“True.” She sighs. “I think he has a hero complex when it comes to you.”
“What do you mean?”
“He wants to be your hero. Run to your rescue. Fix your problems so you’ll be indebted to him forever,” she explains.
That actually makes a lot of sense. “Maybe so.”
“It might give him a sense of power over you. I don’t know. I should’ve been a psychology major,” she says. “That kind of thing fascinates me.”
It fascinates me too, but only when it comes to Jackson. Most of the time I don’t understand his motives. And he doesn’t explain himself at all, which makes it worse.
“Should I still come and get you?” she asks when I haven’t said anything.
“No.” I sigh. “He sounded pretty determined about being my ride.”
“If he makes you mad, text me and I’ll come get you, okay? It’s not a big deal,” she says.
“I hate to ask you to do that when it’s so late.” I chew on my lower lip, glancing around the still very busy restaurant. It’s almost nine. Don’t these people have somewhere else to be?
“I don’t mind. I’m not that far and I’d probably make Tony go with me. He’s at my apartment right now,” she says.
“Oh, I don’t want to interrupt you guys. I’m fine. Really.”
“Text me if you want. I mean it.”
We end the call and I glance toward the front doors, just in time to see Carson walk through them with one of his friends.
Well, well. If that doesn’t make things even more interesting. I never told him I worked here, so he didn’t do this on purpose. This is again one of those random meet ups that we keep having.
>
Makes me wonder if he’s the guy I’m supposed to be with. Fate playing a part, maybe?
I sit up straighter, willing Carson to see me. Remembering what Jackson said to me last night. How I need to show some non-friendly vibes. More like some flirty, I want you vibes.