Hope for Her (Hope #1) by Sydney Aaliyah Michelle Page A

not just some girl."
    "Do you like her?" I asked the question, although I knew the answer and it tied my stomach in knots.
    He paused before answering.
    "Yes, but it's not what you think." 
    "What is it?"
    "She's special, and I'm pissed off that you don't see that."
    I paused before answering. I wanted to tell him he was right. Carrington was smart, amazing, and beautiful. I understood that about her before we met. I saw it in her eyes and in her smile.
    If I shared all of that with Jackson, I would be acknowledging his feelings and that wasn't going to happen. I wanted Carrington all to myself.
    He got tired of waiting for me to respond and took off again. This time I allowed him to leave.
    I respected Jackson. I loved him like a brother. I knew him so well; I could tell when he was lying. I could call him on it, but we both knew I wouldn’t because doing so would mean I might not get what I want.
     

Chapter Eleven
     
    Carrington Olivia Butler
    Since our dinner date, Josh and I have spent a lot of time together. We ate together; we studied together. We did everything short of sleeping together. He pushed often but backed off before I had to tell him. He never took it too far.
    Josh and I started opening up to each other more, too. The details of his home life fascinated and frightened me all at the same time. His connection to his family seemed more parasitic. On one hand, they needed each other, but on the other hand, they hated their dependence on one another. He never came right out and said it, but I sensed it the more I got to know him. So when he asked me if I wanted to drive down to meet his sisters, I could hardly hide my surprise.
    Josh’s brother in law played for the Arizona Diamond Backs and they were playing Tampa in a playoff game.
        "Do you think it's a good idea for me to meet your family so soon?" I asked feeling his disappointment even before he spoke. He thought all of his ideas were great ideas.
    "Of course. They are going to love you."
    "Your dad's not coming?"
    "No, he hates baseball."
    Interesting, considering his daughter married a baseball player.
    "I have to go to class on Friday."
    "Okay, we can leave right after class and make it for the opening pitch. Then, we can get a hotel room, and if everything goes okay, we can stay for the next day’s game, too." He lingered on the word hotel with a lusty smile. I cleared my throat.
    "Why don't you go alone?"
    "I haven't seen my sisters in a while, and I want them to meet you."
    "Why haven't you seen them in a while?"
    "Amanda lives in Arizona."
    "She is your older sister? The one with four kids?"
    "Yeah."
    "Are your nieces and nephews coming, too?"
    "Yes, along with my sister's assistant and two nannies."
    "Wow. Is that how you grew up?" He usually shut down when I broached personal questions. Tonight, I took advantage of his talkative mood and grew bolder.
    We were sitting on the couch in his dorm room watching a movie.
    "Pretty much, but my mom and I spent a lot of time together."
    "That's cool. What's your mom like?"
    His eyes darkened, but his phone rang, interrupting our conversation. He stood up and walked over to his bed to answer it.
    "Hi, Dad."
    My ears perked up, and I tried to listen but only heard muffled sounds coming through the phone.
    "Yes, I told her I was going."
    Josh looked over.
    Of course, I was listening.
    "I told her I was bringing someone."
    I guessed his father had asked who.
    "A girl I've been seeing,” he said in the phone as he walked out of his room and continued his call in the hall.
    He returned five minutes later. His face was flush and heat permeated out of his pores.
    "You okay?" I asked.
    "Yeah. Um, I need you to come on Friday, okay?"
    The way he asked the question didn’t leave me with a choice of answers.
    I flinched as his tone turned rough from his last question. Josh must have sensed it because he switched tactics. He pulled me into his lap and nibbled on my neck. His anger subsided as he planted