Same Time Next Week (Ch 31)

Welcome back to my interracial rock star serial romance! If you’re behind, or just found this serial, drop back to the INDEX for this book’s blurb and previous chapters.

This serial is a subscriber only project from Chapter 21- the end. Subscribe at only $5/month!

Jackson and Shelby enjoy an evening filled with playful banter and simmering attraction. Their flirtation is laced with deeper complexities, as Jackson's casual touches and jokes hint at a desire for a closer connection, while Shelby maintains her independence and sets clear boundaries about her past. Despite her insistence on keeping things casual, Jackson's intrigue about Shelby only grows, creating a palpable tension between them.

"I can't tell you everything about me, Jackson. And you don't want to know. Please trust me on this. You and I both know what this is." She indicated the two of them with a finger back and forth. "Let's not turn it into more than that. I guarantee you that it will not turn out like you want it to."

"So I figured we'd hang out and whatever and then we could go back to my place, if you want. I stopped and picked up a chocolate torte, for later. And some wine."

Jackson kept his eyes on the road but let his hand wander across to her seat, finding her thigh and squeezing it. "I thought we could try something different tonight, but old faithful chocolate will do fine, if that's what you want."

"Well, I really want you to come back and hang the TV I got for my bedroom."

"See. I feel used."

"You offered!"

He shot a quick look at her, while stopped at a red light. She was smiling, disregarding his playful rant. "I'm happy to help, honey. I'll definitely hang your TV for you." He squeezed her thigh again. The light turned green and the car was in motion again.

"You play much pool?"

He shrugged. "Now and again. I don't suck at it, but I'm not an expert or anything. You?"

"I totally suck at it."

"Oh. We don't have to go to this place if you don't want to.  I thought it would be fun and kind of out of the way–"

"Jackson." She gave a pat to his hand, still gripping her thigh. "I love pool. I just suck at it. Maybe you can show me some tips." A nail dragged across his wrist and up the inside of his arm. He squirmed in his seat. "You know… give me some pointers?"

"I'm giving you a pointer, right now."

"Are you, really?"

Jackson glanced down at his jeans, then up at Shelby. "Definitely."

"May I?"

"In the car?"

"Why not?"