Chapter 234

“Because!” Jackson bursts out, tossing out his hands. “It’s Luca fucking Grant, Jesse! Even I had heard of him, and I haven’t heard of anyone! And he’s…he’s good with women! And he can talk to her, and make her laugh! And he’s like…good looking, or whatever! How the hell am I supposed to compete with that!?”

Jesse stares at Jackson for a long moment before a slow grin starts on his face.

Jackson scowls, hating him a little bit. “What?” he snaps. “What are you smiling about? Are you laughing at me? Seriously!?”

“I’m not laughing at you, Jacks,” Jesse says, shaking his head but continuing to smile. “It’s just – you have no idea what you have going on, do you? This bridge you grew up under, did it not have a mirror?”

Jackson just stares at Jesse for a long moment before he cocks his head. Because…was that a… compliment? Hidden beneath all of those insults?

“Listen,” Jesse says, reaching an arm around Jackson’s shoulders and pulling him close like he’s sharing a deep secret, “I’m going to speak plainly, so pay attention - because this doesn’t happen often. But Jackson – women like you.”

“How can women like me - I don’t know any women –“

“Fine,” Jesse says, grinning, clearly enjoying himself. “When you get to the Capital, and you hang out with all of the girls we’re going to introduce you to? They’re going to like you. Like, a lot – in a romance kind of way. They’re going to like you as much as they like Luca, or more. But none of that matters, because Ariel really likes you, man! Despite all the odds, and in a way that I truly do not get – you make her laugh, just as much as Luca does!”

Jackson lifts his eyes just a little, remembering that they did laugh a lot that night during the Examination, remembering how good it felt to make her laugh. Jesse’s grin deepens.

“Luca Grant doesn’t have anything you don’t,” Jesse continues. “Okay? So…stop acting like it’s a done deal. I had to stop Ariel from chasing you out of that room tonight and leaving Luca Grant behind. That is…not insignificant, Jacks. And it’s the only thing you need to be concentrating on right now.”

Jackson turns his head slowly to look back into Jesse’s face, shocked at the weird wisdom of this guy who always seems so flippant, so easy. noveldrama

How…how does he know precisely the right thing to say?

“I’m here for you, man,” Jesse says, tightening his arm and giving Jackson’s shoulders a squeeze. “I’ll even give you a pep talk every day, if you want it.”

“Why?” Jackson asks, baffled about why Jesse is being so damn nice to him right now.

“Because I like you, you idiot!” Jesse laughs, punching Jackson on his arm in playful frustration. “Because you’re my friend, even if you don’t yet realize that I’m yours!”

“Wait, but like…why?” Jackson asks, smiling a little more and shaking his head. “Why do you like me?”

“Oh my god,” Jesse groans, laughing more and dropping his arm from Jackson’s shoulders. “Jacks…you seriously need some therapy. I like you because you’re a good guy, and you’re interesting, and you’re…well, you’re so weird that you make me laugh even when you don’t mean to. And also because you’re obsessed with my cousin, who I also like. And because we have the same stupid hobbies of running around and punching things. Why wouldn’t I like you?”

“So, you don’t just…like me because I’m Ariel’s mate?” Jackson’s voice is so hesitant that it breaks Jesse’s heart again.

“No, I’d probably like you more if you weren’t,” Jesse murmurs with a smirk, working hard to hide his impulse to wrap Jackson in a bear hug. “Because now I have to worry about walking in on you guys making out and stuff, which is…not ideal for a friendship.”

Jackson laughs, he can’t help it, and then he nods once, decided. Then, to Jesse’s shock, he starts to stride away, a new confidence in the set of his shoulders.

“Wait!” Jesse calls after him, hurrying to catch up. “Where the hell are you going!?”

“I’m going…” Jackson hesitates, looking between Jesse and the castle, “I’m going back, Jess, to get my girl! Like you just told me to!”

“Oh my god, you weird foundling, don’t do that now – you’ll look desperate!”

“What!?”

“You’ve got to let her sweat a bit!”

“Whatttt the hell,” Jackson moans, covering his face with his hands for what feels like the thousandth time that night. “Why am I supposed to make her wait!?”

“Because, Jacks,” Jesse says, slipping an arm around his shoulders again and making him slow his pace to the castle. “Ariel did you dirty over the past few months, you need to let her feel a little guilty about it, even if just for a night! If you just barge in there and tell her it’s all okay, then she’ll get the impression that she can do that whenever she wants.”