His Trouble Maker

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

Chapter 22

JESSICA

I gave Grayson freaking Westwood a chance.

Oh, Moon Goddess! What did I do?

I sit up too fast, feeling the dizzy spin of my head, the ghost of Grayson’s hands still burning on my skin. I shudder, trying to shake off the residue of last night–the way I let him touch me, how I let it all happen. But the thought only makes my stomach flip more..

I shouldn’t have said yes.

I shouldn’t have let him get that close.

fix it later. I’ll fix it later.

However, I glance at the clock and realize later is now. Training starts in twenty minutes. I’m already late. For the first time, I don’t want to freaking gol I know I told myself I’ll play with him, but it feels so wrong. I am not a bad person. The whole thing feels stupid now.

“Jess! Open t

the door!” Pierce shouts from the other side, his voice laced with impatience.

I roll back into bed, pulling the blanket over my head, as if it could somehow block out the chaos in my mind. “Go away, Pierce! I’m sick,” mutter, hoping my voice sounds convincing enough to make him leave.

Thear him pause on the other side, a soft sigh slipping through the door. “Really? You’ve been fine all week. What’s going on with you?”

I groan into the blanket, pressing it tighter around my face, trying to push the reality of everything away. Why is he so persistent?

“I’m not feeling good. Just leave me alone,” I mumble, squeezing my eyes shut.

But before I can think any more, the door creaks open, and Pierce steps inside, all tall, broad shouldered, and looking at me like I’ve just done something he can’t quite figure out.

“What’s going on with you?” He crosses his arms, eyes scanning me with that sharp look I’ve known my whole life.

“I’m fine, okay?”

“You don’t look fine.”

“I am,” I snap, and immediately hate how brittle I sound.

He sighs, runs a hand through his hair. “Look, Grayson’s been acting weird all morning.”

My stomach drops

He says the name so casually, like it’s nothing,ke it’s not soaked in sweat and guilt and me

weird?” I ask, trying

steps further into the room/Just–off. He’s not

blink. I physically

He notices.

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Chapter 22

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even know I spilled. “Did something

He squints

out. My body’s already betraying me–heat crawling up my neck,

giving you a hard

It’s fine.” I force the words out like

I can talk to

at him. “You’re

his lips twitching like he’s trying not to laugh. But his eyes

forever”

with the urgency of someone trying to outrun their own mess. I grab the first excuse I can think of to shove him

the truth.

know I can tell when something’s up, right?” His voice softens,

been this way. Always protective. Always hovering. Even with Grayson. Especially with Grayson, Pierce has always made it clear that Grayson doesn’t belong in my world. That I should stay

mess, and

with Grayson, but don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” he

swallowed a live wire,

if you two are playing whatever little games you’re playing. But if you’re gonna do this whole thing, don’t get too close to

to

his eyes hard now, no trace of teasing left. “You know exactly what I mean. Grayson’s an ass. Don’t

laugh, but it comes out more like a bitter exhale than anything else. “Better than that?” I shake my head, trying to get the sting of his words out of my chest. “It’s not that simple. It’s not just black and white like

little softer now, like he’s trying to find the right words without making it worse. “But I know you. And I know him. He’s not worth it.” He stares at me for a second, making sure I’m listening. “Trust me. Don’t deal with him. It screw you

his voice stops me, makes me freeze for a second. He’s not wrong, Grayson is a mess of contradictions, and for some godforsaken reason, I keep getting

something–some kind of acknowledgment that I’m hearing him. And for a second, I want to tell him everything. To explain why I even let Grayson get that close, but the

with less force. “I’ll deal with it, Pierce,

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Chapter 22

for a moment longer. Then, finally, he sighs, his shoulders slumping in resignation.

“And you’re just

to my feet, but my legs betray me, and I end

loud, cutting through the air like it

“You really know how to make

hands shake, frustration and panic swirling inside me. “What do you mean he’s out there! What the hell is he doing waiting outside

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