Something I Need (xoxo Nashville Book 1) (19 page)

Seb cocked his head to the side and said, “We can take things real slow.”

“But we work together, and I might not be in the States for very long.”

“I know. It doesn’t change the fact I’m attracted to you. Really attracted to you. I’m not asking you to make any long-term commitments. I’m just asking you out for one date.”

Hmmm…Seb definitely had a point. And maybe everything with Cash had happened to teach her a very valuable lesson – she shouldn’t rush into a relationship. Things between her and Cash had moved way too quickly, and its swift conclusion had left her feeling both stupid and empty.

“Okay. Let’s go to Franklin. But no movie, and it’s not a date.”

“Deal.”

T
wo days later
, Jonte feel in love with Franklin. On the drive over, Seb had explained how it had won a ton of accolades, including America’s Most Romantic Main Street. That little detail left Jonte feeling pretty clear about his intentions towards her, although she was still foggy on how she felt about everything. Best not to think, she reasoned.

The Main Street was amazing. Architecturally, there was nothing even remotely like it back home. Jonte loved the old buildings with their pretty arched windows and all the white accents. Coupled with the old-fashioned lampposts, scattered trees, and awnings on almost every shop, if you ignored the new cars parked along the street, it really did feel like you’d stepped back in time.

Side by side, they walked past The Franklin Theatre. It was a simple white brick building, with curvy 1950’s diner-style signage. She was disappointed they weren’t actually going inside today and was definitely coming back to go to the movies, with or without Seb.

The Shoppes on Main
was a few doors up from the theatre. The first thing that caught her eye was a pair of funky hand-painted guitar prints that were certain to brighten up her bedroom wall. She browsed the shop with Seb in tow and picked out lots of accessories: bright scarves to jazz up any outfit or wear as a bandana-like top, some pretty jewelery – mainly bangles she could layer up and a few drop earrings – and even a cute cream, navy, and pink handbag. Not once did Seb complain; he simply let her browse and seemed to enjoy watching her light up each time she found a new treasure.

They left, arms loaded up with shopping bags, and continued strolling along Main Street. Across the road, Jonte spied another clothing store.

“Do you mind if we cross?”

Seb chuckled. “See somethin’ you like?”

She nodded coyly, embarrassed that she kept dragging him into girly shops.

“Come on, we didn’t come here for me. We’re here for you to look around and enjoy a day outside of Nashville, so let’s go.”

Seb rested his hand on her back and guided her across the road. When they were safely across, he dropped it and she was almost disappointed. They entered the large white brick store called Philanthropy: Fashion + Compassion
.
Inside, the store was eclectic. Almost like a high-end, white-décor version of Goodbuy Girls
.
There was a vast range of items in the store – from clothing and accessories, to candles and photo frames – but unlike Goodbuy Girls
,
there was so much space that it didn’t feel cluttered.

“Welcome to Philanthropy,” the older saleslady chirped.

“Hi,” Jonte replied with a smile.

“Hey.” Seb nodded at the lady and followed Jonte around the store.

Jonte flipped through the racks and found some truly beautiful items, including a lacy cream slip dress. She was just about to put it back on the rack when Seb peered over her shoulder and said, “You should try it on.”

“It’s pretty, but I don’t normally wear dresses that are this girly.” It bordered on something her mother would buy for her, straddling the line between funky and prim and proper.

“I dunno, that glittery dress you wore to open mic night was girly. Come on.” He nudged her shoulder. “Try it on. It would look awesome with your boots.”

“Okay.”

Jonte made a bee-line for the change rooms but was stopped short when she spied a black and nude dress. It was totally over the top, but perfect to make a statement in, which was exactly what she needed to do when her audition finally came around. With a high-neck tulle bow tie, the super-short dress was lined in a beige stretchy fabric and accented with a free-flowing black tulle overlay, which was adorned with clustered dots and dangling black sateen discs. Utterly gorgeous and definitely 1960’s inspired, like that black and silver sequin dress Seb had just mentioned.

“I have to have this for my American Country Star audition,” Jonte said, breathless and beaming, not even bothering looking at the price tag. She’d done a reasonable amount of shopping with Dolly since arriving in Nashville and she simply knew that this was
the
dress.

“Wow.” Seb smiled back and raised his eyebrows. “Yep, you should take that one in with you too.” He playfully shooed her over to the change rooms.

Wearing the black and nude dress, Jonte spun around in the fitting room like a little girl playing dress-ups. The tulle was super soft and the fit was impeccable. Perfect.

“Can I see?” Seb asked from the other side of the thick drape that acted as a pullover door.

Slowly, Jonte peeled back the drape and then stepped outside.

Seb’s eyes practically bugged out at the sight of her. Eventually he composed himself enough to let out a low whistle. “Nice, very nice.” He nodded and rubbed his hands up and down his jean-clad thigh.

“Just nice?” Jonte replied, innocently batting her eyelids.

Crap, she was shamelessly flirting with him and she damn well knew it.

“This isn’t a date, so you only get nice.” Seb smirked and leaned against the doorframe casually.

“And if I showed up to a date wearing this?” She challenged with a raised eyebrow.

“I would say va-va-va-va-voom!”

“Better.” She grinned and stepped back into the small room, pulling the drapes shut. “Did you just quote Nick from New Girl?”

“You watch New Girl
?”

“Of course.” She shimmied out of the black dress and returned it to its hanger.

“That show is the shit. Did you see that episode where Winston was puzzlin’ and doing the puzzles all wrong?”

“No, I don’t think so.”

“We should definitely do a New Girl marathon sometime.”

“Sounds like a plan,” she said and walked out wearing the girly cream dress.

“Exquisite.” Seb looked her up and down, and her skin burned.

“Thanks.” Her face flushed. She was taking this dress too and would absolutely be telling Dolly about this place so they could come back sometime.

Jonte paid for her dresses, and when they stepped outside, Seb laced his fingers through hers. She glanced down at their hands and then up at Seb.

“What?” he asked and shrugged, as if the two of them holding hands was no big deal, but didn’t let go. “So let me get this straight. You want me to compliment you, but I can’t hold your hand?”

“Fine.” She rolled her eyes and smiled back at him. Besides, it did feel nice. They continued strolling, and a few doors up Jonte spied a Starbucks.

“I’m kinda hungry,” Jonte said.

“Pft, not Starbucks.”

“What’s wrong with Starbucks?”

Seb nodded up ahead. “We’re not having Starbucks when Sweet CeCe’s is like ten steps away.”

Sweet CeCe’s was a brick building with two swirling topiary trees on either side of the entry door.

“You like frozen yogurt?” She eyed him sceptically, remembering his candy obsession.

“Trust me.” Seb raised his brows and grinned back. He pulled Jonte across the street and into Sweet CeCe’s.

Inside, the walls and furniture were painted a rainbow of colors. Along one wall there were dozens of crank handle cylinders filled with sprinkles, nuts, candy, chocolate, and pretty much everything else you could imagine. Another wall housed yogurt dispensers – they looked kind of like the soft serve ice cream machines you’d see at McDonald’s. There were even more toppings on a buffet-style counter. Wow. Sweet CeCe’s was candy chaos. It was like Jackson Pollock had raided the Mad Hatter’s tea party and Willy Wonka’s factory to create this place!

Seb handed her an oversized paper cup. “You put anything you want into your cup, they weigh it, I pay, and then you eat.”

“Isn’t yogurt supposed to be healthy?”

“You want healthy, be my guest,” he replied with that adorable grin that Jonte was growing more and more fond of. “I’m gonna get me some old-fashioned butter brickle yogurt.”

Butter brickle yogurt? What that was? She opted for the safe vanilla bean one instead. She sprinkled on some cinnamon toast crunch, a scoop of mixed berries, and finished off with some chocolate raisins. There. Done.

Seb shook his head. “Dean’s gonna flip,” he said and snapped a photo of her yogurt mix on his cell. “This is how it’s done.”

Seb piled his yogurt base up high with Reese’s Pieces, white chocolate chips, crushed nuts, Oreos, chocolate chip cookies, pound cake, malt balls, and Andes mints – not that she’d ever tried those. And then he finished his creation off by dolloping on a large ladle of hot fudge topping.

Oh. My. God.

The boy was going to give himself diabetes if he ate like that all the time.

Seb paid for both their yogurts and some bottled water. They decided to sit outside. Jonte dug her spoon into her yogurt and scooped some up.
Mmmm, so fresh and delicious.

“This is crazy good,” Seb said, shoveling yogurt into his mouth. “Want some?” He offered up his already re-filled spoon.

His chocolate, candy and cookies mash-up taunted her. It really did look pretty damn yummy. She leaned in and let Seb feed her the spoonful.

“Mmmm.” Everything swirled around in her mouth. The hot fudge was so delectably thick. She bit down on the Reese’s Pieces and the peanut putter mingled with the chocolate.

“Experiencing some buyer’s remorse there, Miss J?” Seb teased before heaping up some more and eating it.

Jonte shook her head and ate some more of her own yogurt, which was perfectly enjoyable. It just wasn’t as appetizing as Seb’s concoction.

Stupid order envy
.

Seb leaned over and stole a spoonful of her yogurt. “Not bad for your first go.” He licked his lips. “But you need more chocolate. Chocolate is always the answer.” He chuckled at his words and offered her some more of his own.

Of course she took it.

I
t was
late afternoon by the time Seb pulled up outside Jonte’s apartment. He leapt out of his Jetta and ran around to open the door for her.

“So, did you have a good time?” He leaned against the bonnet of the car, his super sexy arms crossed over his chest.

“I did. Thanks so much.”

“Do you want a hand taking everything upstairs?”

“Um, I should be okay.”

Seb pushed off the car and went around to open up the trunk. But before he popped it, he spun back around and smacked right into her.

“Sorry.” He steadied her, his hands lingering on her shoulders.

“Forget something?”

“Yeah.”

Seb didn’t hesitate or anything, he leaned in and softly brushed his lips against hers. His hands moved to her face and he cupped her cheeks. Jonte tilted her head to the side and parted her lips. Boldly, his tongue snaked its way inside, searching as his lips moved more hungrily against hers.

Her legs wobbled, her face flushed, and her head declared itself all in, desperate for her heart to play a Seb-Seb-Seb rhythm to replace the funeral march it had been beating to for the man that would not be named.

* * *

C
ash was clearing
glasses at the open window when Jonte stepped out of a grey Jetta. Instead of turning away with the glasses, he watched her speak to that hipster – shit, what was his name? It didn’t matter. Wasn’t like she was going to bring him in here or anything.

Christ. Why did he keep subjecting himself to this shit? It was creepy to watch someone from afar.

It had to stop. He would stop. Today. Now.

Cash was just about to turn around when that hipster lunged forwards and kissed Jonte. His Jonte.

Fuck.

Not his Jonte.

Those supple lips. Not his lips anymore. Never his lips, really.

It was like a fucking car crash. He knew he should leave, but he couldn’t. When Jonte finally pulled away – it seemed like hours later, but in actuality was probably only a few seconds – she smiled up at the hipster.

Oh, how he missed that smile. Missed those lips.

They made googly eyes at each other, and then Hipster Boy popped the trunk and handed Jonte bag after bag after bag.

Fuck, what had she bought and where had they been?

None of his business.

Cash shook the questions from his head. What she did and who she did it with was none of his damn business.

Jonte waved to the hipster, who Cash definitely thought looked decidedly pleased with himself – and why wouldn’t he? Jonte was gorgeous and witty, a catch any way you diced it. She darted across the road, and as she made it safely up onto the curb, her eyes met his.

He held her gaze. Fuck, he missed those hazel eyes and how they used to practically glow and flicker when they were together. They were sparkling right now. But then she quickly looked away.

Tight. Everything felt too tight. Like someone had decided his insides needed to be squished, like one of those spongy stress balls. Jonte was blushing. Crap. Was the blush from the kiss with the hipster or from seeing him? Did it matter?

It mattered. He wanted it to be because of him. Not because he’d seen her kissing another guy. No. He wanted her to blush because of him and everything they’d done.

Selfish as fuck. That was him, and he damn well knew it. He didn’t call out, didn’t smile, didn’t do anything except watch as she scurried off to the stairwell.