His Trouble Maker

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

I ask, trying

room/Just–off. He’s not

blink. I physically

He notices.

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Chapter 22

$5 Aug

dots I didn’t even know

squints

No words come out. My body’s already betraying me–heat crawling up my neck, fingers twitching like they want

giving you a

whatever. It’s fine.” I force the words out like they don’t taste like shit

can talk to him.

hurling it at him. “You’re so

like he’s trying not to laugh. But his eyes stay serious. “Come on, Jess. You can’t avoid

forever”

grab the first excuse I can think of to

the truth.

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

that he’s always 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

mess, and Pierce

I don’t care what happened with Grayson, but don’t make this harder than it needs to be,” he says, voice low,

twisting like I swallowed a live wire, “What the hell are

games you’re playing. But if you’re gonna do this whole thing, don’t get too close to him, alright? Don’t get

even trying to hide my frustration. “What the hell does

“You know exactly what I mean. Grayson’s

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 you think. I’m not

he’s trying to find the right words without making it worse. “But I know you. And I know

to argue, but something in his voice stops me, makes me freeze for a second. He’s not wrong, Grayson

second, I want to tell him everything. To explain why I even

with less force. “I’ll deal

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Chapter 22

he sighs, his shoulders slumping in resignation. “Fine. But so

eyes widen. “And you’re

and I end up crashing to the floor in a tangled mess of

laugh rings out, sharp and loud, cutting through the air like it always does. “Smooth, Jess,” he

really know how to

My hands shake, frustration and panic swirling inside me. “What do you