The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0238

“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.”

women like me – I

any women –

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,

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.

turns his head slowly to look back into Jesse’s

so

this

the right thing to say?

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

about why Jesse is being so damn nice to him right

in playful frustration. “Because you’re my friend, even if you don’t yet realize

like…why?” Jackson asks, smiling a little more and shaking his head. “Why

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

don’t just….like me because I’m Ariel’s mate?” Jackson’s voice is so

impulse to wrap Jackson in a bear hug. “Because

nods once, decided. Then, to Jesse’s shock, het starts to stride away, a new confidence in the