Whispered Promises

Chapter 15 - Sneaking around

Jackson's POV

Practice had run late again, and the sun was already dipping low over the horizon, casting long shadows across the football field. I wiped the sweat from my brow, my muscles aching from the brutal drills Coach had put us through. Official training might have been over, but for Levi and Alex, the night was just beginning. The two of them were at it again, running extra plays to try and work through their issues on the field. I could hear Levi's sharp commands and Alex's retorts in the distance. It was becoming a familiar scene—those two butting heads, neither willing to give an inch.

I watched them for a moment, amused by the way they always seemed on the verge of tearing each other apart. There was something brewing between them, whether they wanted to admit it or not. Maybe all that extra training was going to pay off in more ways than one.

But my thoughts weren't really on Levi and Alex. Not tonight. My mind was somewhere else—someone else, to be exact.

Josy.

She was over at Alex's place tonight, supposedly for a girls' night, but I wasn't about to let that stop me. Especially, after I know Alex is going to be occupied with training for another hour or two. I'd been thinking about her all day, her laugh, her smile, the way she always seemed to brighten everything around her. We might have started this whole thing as a joke—a fake relationship to secure my spot as captain—but it starts to become something much more real. I found myself craving her presence, her touch, in ways I hadn't expected.

The thought of sneaking over to see her made me grin, a thrill of excitement running through me as I slung my duffel bag over my shoulder and headed toward the parking lot. I couldn't resist. After a long day of practice, all I wanted was to see her, to hold her for a little while and maybe steal a few kisses before heading home.

It didn't take long to reach Alex's house. I knew Josy would be waiting there, probably lounging on the couch with snacks and whatever chick flick Alex had begrudgingly agreed to watch with her. I slipped through the side gate, careful not to make any noise as I approached the back door. I knew Josy had left it unlocked for me—I told her I might wanna try to outrun Alex tonight.

I quietly eased the door open, peeking inside. Sure enough, there she was. Josy was sprawled out on Alex's couch, her feet kicked up on the armrest, chinese take-out her lap. She looked up the moment I walked in, her eyes lighting up with surprise and delight.

"Jackson!" she whispered, quickly sitting up and setting the box aside. Her voice was soft, excited. "What are you doing here?"

I grinned and shut the door behind me. "Couldn't stay away," I said quietly, moving closer until I was standing right in front of her. "I figured I'd come by, grab a bite to eat... maybe kiss you a little."

Josy bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile, but she didn't do a very good job of it. Her eyes sparkled with that playful mischief I loved so much. "You know Alex will kill you if she finds out you're sneaking around in her house, right?"

I shrugged, lowering myself onto the couch beside her. "I'll take my chances."

Josy laughed softly, scooting closer to me, her body warm against his. The scent of her shampoo filled my senses, and I couldn't help but lean in, pressing his lips to her temple. Her skin was soft, smooth, and I could feel her smile against me as I lingered there for a moment, savoring the closeness.

"Well," she whispered, her voice teasing, "since you're here, I guess I can share my food with you."

I chuckled and pulled back just enough to look at her. "Forget the food," I said, his voice low and playful. "I'm here for you."

Josy's smile widened, her cheeks flushing a little as she leaned in, closing the small distance between us. My breath hitched as our lips met, the kiss soft at first, tender. It felt like coming home after a long, exhausting day. Her lips were sweet, and the way she kissed me back—eager, hungry, like she'd been waiting for this too—sent a thrill down my spine.

We kissed for a long moment, the world outside of Alex's living room fading into nothing. It didn't matter that we were sneaking around, that Alex and her parents could walk through that door any second. All that mattered was Josy, the way she felt in my arms, the way her fingers curled into my shirt as she pulled me closer.

When they finally pulled apart, Josy was breathless, her eyes heavy-lidded with a mixture of affection and desire. She tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, looking up at me with a grin that made my heart do a strange little flip.

"You know," she whispered, her voice soft but teasing, "if you don't leave soon, we're going to get caught"

I smirked, brushing my thumb along her jawline. "Worth it."

Josy laughed again, leaning her head against my shoulder. For a moment, we sat in comfortable silence, our fingers intertwined. I let out a contented sigh, feeling at ease for the first time all day. Being with her like this—it made everything else seem so small, so unimportant.

Just then, the sound of arguing broke through our peaceful moment. My head snapped up, and I could hear Alex's sharp voice coming from the front yard, followed closely by Levi's deeper, frustrated tone. The two of them were at it again, no doubt disagreeing over some stupid play that hadn't gone right. Either their training was already over or I lost track of time completely.

Josy sighed dramatically, lifting her head from my shoulder. "Think they'll ever figure it out?"

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Doubt it. They're too busy pretending they hate each other to see what's right in front of them."

Josy glanced toward the door, listening to the muffled argument for a second longer. She smiled and turned back to me.

Before I could say anything more, the front door suddenly swung open, and Alex appeared, looking flustered and irritated. Me and Josy jumped apart, trying our best to look casual, but Alex's narrowed eyes said she wasn't buying it.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Alex demanded, her gaze fixed on me. "This is supposed to be girls' night."

I cleared my throat, rubbing the back of my neck. "Just, uh, grabbing something to eat."

Alex raised an eyebrow, her arms crossed. "Yeah, sure."

Josy grinned and stood up, grabbing my hand and tugging me toward the door.

As I slipped out the door, Josy gave me a conspiratorial smile, fingers still laced through his. "See? Worth it."

I laughed, pulling her close for one last kiss before I headed out into the night. "Definitely worth it. Get home safely. See you tomorrow"

"I hope this moron left me some food, I am starving" Alex grabbed one of the boxes. "Don't worry I ordered enough. Besides, he didn't really have much time to eat" I sat down next to her on the couch. She gives me a side eye and looks down to where she is sitting.

"I swear if you guys did it on my couch, you owe me a new one" I roll my eyes.

"Uh never, besides we are not that far yet" Alex almost choked on the food she had in her mouth "Yet?! You better tell me what happened in the last couple of days"

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