His Rebound Love

by Melissa Bender

  “Oh, um… no. Definitely no boyfriend.” Ever. Never had one, but I couldn’t really say that. That would’ve made me sound even more boring.

  The last thing I wanted was for him to think I was some loser who couldn’t get a date. Guys just never paid that much interest in me. I was unable to throw all the blame on them, though. I was very focused on my job. I worked hard

  Growing up, I had very few friends. My red hair got me teased quite a bit. Well, I guess no one wanted to hang out with me. The two girls I grew up with are still my friends, though. Both had serious relationships, and it was awkward being the fifth wheel on movie dates or when we went bowling. They tried to set me up on random dates, but I never agreed to go on them, worrying that I would be rejected on the spot when they saw me for the first time.

  Hell, I was even too boring to sign up on Tinder.

  Probably why my Mum was worrying that her only daughter was going to end up a crazy cat lady. She was eager for a litter of offspring and couldn’t understand why I decided to go and get myself a job that had insane working hours. I wasn’t a cat girl, though. That was why I had Sammie, a gorgeous brown and white purebred Saint Bernard who slept at the foot of my bed. She took up most of it, but my toes never went cold during the winter.

  Oh, Sammie. I could have screamed when she took off before I could clip her leash up properly.

  He gave my shoulder a playful nudge with his arm, and my nerves slowly faded away. He made me nervous, like super nervous. “What about you? Am I going to get bitch slapped if we go for a walk?”

  He kept silent, watching me as I brush a loose piece of my hair that had fallen from the hair tie keeping the rest of my long locks from blowing in the wind behind my ear. Something wiped the smile off his face for a split second, and his jaw tensed. It was definitely a look of anger. I now thought he really did have a girlfriend.

  That would be right. All the good ones were taken.

  I was just about to hightail it out of there when the worry line went away, and the dimples were back on full display as he shook his head. “Nope. No girlfriend… or wife, if you were wondering about that as well.”

  Heck, yes! I was grinning to myself. I wanted to bang my head against one of the trees we passed by. God, Sienna! It was just a walk in the park, not a freaking date or anything. We're just friends, I secretly scolded myself.

  Wait, were we friends? Maybe we would never see each other again after this. This was why I had no social life. Work was my life. It was the one thing I knew I could do well.

  “Good,” I said with a coy smile. “That’s good.”

  “Good.” He repeated back, tasting the word against his tongue, looking somewhat clueless and confused. His blue eyes are now on mine, and the right side of his lip twitched up into a smile. “And, why is that a good thing?”

  How could I answer that without telling him that he was damn fine? I just shrugged, looking ahead as my face burned with embarrassment.

  I was blushing too much. He might think I was not worth seeing again at this rate.

  He just made me blush this way. Not even my work partner Archer made me blush, and he was a major hottie, a big time ladies’ man with his tatts and black, slicked over hair. “Cause if I tell you to buy me lunch, I won’t feel so bad about it if you’re single.”

  He laughed, which in turn caused me to look back at him. His head was tilted back slightly, and his lips parted as a deep chuckle rumbled throughout his body. That sound… Oh, my! I was swooning hard right now. My ovaries were aching, and they never ached in such a way except when I was around babies. I loved them.

  Cocking a brow, he smirked. “Lunch? You dropping hints for me to ask you out?”

  I grinned, unable not to when his own smile was so damn infectious. Those dimples! “Your words not mine, but a girl wouldn’t say no to burger and fries.” I nodded towards the small café up ahead from where we were standing.

  Where did this sudden confidence come from? I was mortified with my own words. There was just something about him that made me at ease. Our interaction felt relaxed and normal yet at the same time, so very frightening. My heart hadn’t stopped pounding against my chest since I laid eyes on him for the very first time.

  “Well then, Sienna you look hungry. Care to grab something to eat with me?” His eyes twinkled with humour.

  I nodded but frowned slightly. “Wait, are you teasing me or are you serious?” I couldn’t tell. No one had ever asked me out to lunch except Archer, but he didn’t count.

  Why was I second guessing everything? All the childhood taunting came into my mind. Blame my high school years of hell. All the name-calling and bullying shattered my confidence to nothing. Here I had grown into a strong woman with no debt and good savings from an incredible job, but I still felt unworthy of anything.

  His pace slowed down, and his expression mirrored my confused look. “I… uh.” His arm came up, nervously scratching the base of his neck. “I was going to ask you. I’ve been working up the courage to ask since we started walking, but I didn’t want to come off as some creep in the park.”

  “Really?” I asked, surprised. He was so cute when he looked shy. He was confident, but there was a little shyness in him.

  We had both stopped walking now, and the dogs were sniffing around each other. Jackson looked me dead in the eyes, and I felt my heart hammering faster. “I’d like to… How about we grab some lunch and sit back over by the bank if you want?”

  Oh, I want, baby. I want that so bad.

  “Yes, please.” I smiled, secretly wondering if this was classified as a lunch date. I doubt it, though.

  We made our way towards the grounds again after grabbing burgers, fries, and a shake each for lunch. I slid onto the grass after making sure it wasn’t wet. Jackson put the light blue straw between his teeth and took a mouthful, his tongue sweeping across his lips afterwards with a slight smile. I was hypnotised.

  “My mother will kill me. She’s got a hot dinner cooking.”

  “You go there often for dinner?” I asked. A man who sees his Mum often was a major plus.

  “I’m actually living there right now. I did have my own place but needed to go back home for a bit.” His tone came out coolly as if this was well practised. Yet, his body language gave more away. Something about the way he told it made me think there was more to the matter. “I told her today I was looking for a place of my own. She’s not too thrilled, but it’s either that or move to my sisters, and I really don’t need to listen to her and her husband going at it.”

  I almost snorted in disgust. “Going at it? I’m so glad I’m an only child.”

  “Your folks around here?”

  I hated this question or any question regarding my parents. I shook my head. “No, Mum lives an hour away, and I never knew my dad. He’s what one would call a sperm donor.”

  Not knowing him never bothered me. I had my mother, and that was all I needed to be happy.

  The dogs took my attention as they both devoured their ham and cheese sandwiches. Yes, we brought them something to eat. Jackson did. He paid almost seven dollars for them and our lunch since he wouldn’t let me pay for my own. I had been calling him Jax as I was on a Sons marathon and slightly obsessed with it. He was nothing like Jax Teller, but the irony in their names was just too uncanny not to call him that.

  When I said he was nothing like him, I meant he was so much more.

  I didn’t want to leave and go home.

  My eyes widened and suddenly grew excited as I grabbed and gave his wrist a slight shake. “Oh! Oh!” I grinned with great eagerness. “I forgot! There’s a place in the apartment building that I rent. It’s coming up for lease soon. It’s close to the city, and rent’s really good.” Realising what I had just done, I let go instantly. What did I bring that up for? “Not that I’m telling you to move into my building… You know, since we just met and all, and now you probably think I’m some crazy stalker woman.”

  I really needed to
stop rambling on.

  Thankfully, he didn’t make me feel like a complete loser when he smirked. “Stalker, huh? Well, at least you’re pretty. The apartment sounds cool. You’ll have to give me the address so I can check it out. I work in the city, so that would actually be convenient.”

  Everything he just said was lost to me. He thought I was pretty. No one had ever called me that before.

  “I think I can manage that.” I smiled back, trying not to blush once again when I caught his gaze.

  After exchanging numbers to make plans for another walk and letting him know the address of the apartment building, I headed on home with Sammie who, by the way, wasn’t too impressed with having to leave her new friend, Colt. Of all the dogs to come across today, it had to be the male version of her.

  Kicking off my Rubi sneakers, I unclipped the leash and closed my apartment door, slumping against it as I yawned loudly. The shift work was slowly beginning to catch up with me. The rest of my day was going to be spent lazing around and eating takeout, either on the couch or in bed.

  I decided it would be my bed after I showered and had a well-earned snooze.

  My apartment wasn’t that big. Really, it was mostly for sleeping in. It only has one bedroom, but the view was worth it. Plus, the neighbour down the hall has a heart of gold. She was an amazing woman who watched Sammie when I couldn’t.

  Sammie went to her usual spot by the window where the warmth of the sun hit most often and where she would usually day sleep beneath. I undressed and slipped into some boxers and an oversized shirt. Snuggling down underneath the covers, I closed my eyes, all for a long twenty seconds before my pager buzzed on the dressing table.

  Did they not realise that I was on my day off? Lying there, my eyes half shut, sleep was taking me, and I could vaguely hear the buzzing. Normally, I had have replied and let them know I could go in, but I knew I wouldn’t be of any use there tonight. I was completely drained and needed sleep. They knew that if I didn’t answer within the first minute, then I wasn’t coming in. I just couldn’t. Sleep was consuming me.

  Today with Jax was the first fun day I’d had in a long time other than being out with the girls for our usual round of drinks on a Friday night. Sometimes, I joined the guys at the hospital. They were really the only people I saw daily. Making new friends wasn’t easy. I didn’t have the time to socialise like a normal human being.

  Sleeping soundly for a few hours, I woke up and reached for my phone, realising that I had missed her call. If I didn’t call back, she would worry, and that meant coming over. I didn’t want her to worry. Hell, no one needs their mother on their arse about not answering on the second ring.

  Giving my mother a call back after my order of Thai had arrived, I sat in the bed listening to her tell me about my cousin who was having her third baby. I zoned her out. It was always the same conversation, one that I was getting sick of. As she spoke, I picked up my iPhone with the cordless still held in between my ear and shoulder, keeping it in place.

  Jackson crossed my mind. Well, he had barely left it.

  I wanted to send him a text, but I wasn’t sure if I should or not.

  Was it too soon?

  Heck. You only live once, right? Unless you get a heart transplant.

  Sammie misses Colt! I typed. That was original, right? Nothing too desperate.

  It took a whole two minutes for a reply. It felt like hours, and my heart thudded like crazy as I opened it up to read.

  Seems as if I have the same problem here. He’s still sulking. I was going to message you first, by the way.

  I laughed. Typing my reply with a big cheesy grin. You or Colt? And sorry, you can write first next time.

  His reply had me smiling from ear to ear. Ha, alright then! How about we do lunch next time without the dogs?

  I was so distracted by his question that I had forgotten about my mother until her voice rang in my ear, startling me. “Sienna? Are you listening to me?” her voice rush out the receiver. She knew I’d never hang up on her. I didn’t have the courage to do that.

  I roll my eyes with a soft laugh as I dipped the wooden chopsticks into the tub of beef stir-fry. “Yes, Mum. I’m still here.”

  What was the question again? Luckily, she repeated it for me. “Well, what did you think? Are you going to come to Annie’s baby shower?” I push aside the Thai, suddenly not hungry from this line of questioning. She knew how to get to me.

  “It’s her third baby, does she really need one for each child?” I asked with a sigh, twirling a piece of my hair around my forefinger. “I mean, I might be working, anyway. I haven’t asked for it off.”

  My mother sighed and clicked her tongue. “Sienna Dalton, I raised you better than this.” She scolded. “You never visit me.”

  Staring at the text message still, I smiled and replied, Sounds great! Although she may get jealous. I think she was looking forward to seeing you again.

  I heard my mother click her tongue once more, and I laughed, agreeing on something I wasn’t quite sure of. I hadn’t been paying attention to her well. “Alright. Fine, I’ll go. Just stop with the guilt trip and don’t go on about me having a baby or whatever. I’m not even dating anyone.”

  “You never know what each day will bring, sweetie. He may come around when you least expect it,” I could tell she was smiling as was I.

  As another text popped up, I let out a dreamy sigh. I’m looking forward to seeing you too, Sienna. Sleep well.

  Sleep well? Gahh, I was going to fall asleep with a huge ass smile across my face, all thanks to him.

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  “Mum, I’m not moving across the country! Stop crying.” I groaned, running both my hands through my hair and over my face in exasperation.

  I was ready to pull my hair out. Who knew my mother would turn into a guilt tripping, blubbering mess when I mentioned shifting out over the weekend? I mentioned that four days ago, and the day I move out, they were trying to pull some intervention on me to get me to stay.

  Yeah, that was never going to happen.

  I wanted to have a wank without worrying whether my mother was going to walk in or not. She hadn’t been luckily, but I still wasn’t game enough to do it when I knew she was awake.

  “You’ve just come home, and now I’m losing you all over again.”

  “Oh, for fuck’s sake,” I muttered heavily under my breath. “You’ll still see me.”

  Her eyes narrowed as my sister smacked me around the back of the head. “Language brother, and Mum, come on. Jackson had to move out eventually. It’d be embarrassing for him to bring women back here when his mother is in the room beside his.”

  That stopped her crying.

  Her brows arched up and a twinge of a smile begun to form on her thin, pink lips. “A woman? Jackson, are you dating someone?”

  Oh, hell.

  “No, Mum,” I groaned once more, shooting Lauren a glare. I didn’t have time for this interrogation right now. “There’s no one, and won’t be for years, so just stop it.”

  I may have lied a bit. Since that lunch date with Sienna, we had been texting daily. I wouldn’t deny that the twenty-three-year-old redheaded hottie had caught my attention big time. I have never texted anyone so much in my life. If she was working, she would fill me in on what she was up to all hours through the night. I would fill her in on my day, and whenever I had a break, I was always eager to check what she had written. She had even convinced me to get on Snapchat.

  Jasmine had never been able to succeed in getting me to download anything to do with social media.

  It felt like an addiction. I couldn’t get her off my mind.

  She was a great friend. Yes, that was all it could be.

  I couldn’t tell her that I imagined her blowing me in my fantasies, though. That was one reason for a restraining order.

  “Listen, he doesn’t need to get himself tied down. Go out, spread a few legs, and enjoy yourself.” My father joined the conversation with his father
ly advice. “You’re young, may as well enjoy it before it ends altogether.”

  Mum slapped him on the back of the head for that one. He did deserve it. “Jackson isn’t like that. Are you, dear?”

  Lauren snorted. “Yeah, he’s virginal alright, Mum.” I shot her a curious look, and she shrugged. “You’re good looking; don’t deny you haven’t hopped from bed to bed.” Well… I wasn’t going to deny that. I wouldn’t ever admit to it either. She made me sound like some man whore who went through women like underwear. It wasn’t the case.

  “Don’t you have a husband to go home to instead of worrying about my sex life?” I suggested, trying to get rid of her. “I’m sure your lawns need mowing again, or maybe there’s a fence you can build.”

  She glared at me, her eyes narrowing. “Shut your face. He knows I’m helping you move.”

  Like hell she was doing that. “Is that what you call this?” I asked. “You know what? I think you are all insane, and I’m glad that I’m moving out today. I don’t need help. The place is fully furnished, and I have my bag. Don’t make this more than what it is.” It was just an apartment, a bachelor pad.

  “It may be furnished, but you need towels and silverware. You cannot eat greasy pizza each night. You should be learning to cook. I’ll go to the mall and buy you some things. Lauren can come with me.” She was already heading to get her brown leather handbag that we had brought her for Christmas around ten years ago. She didn’t like to change things unless they were broken.

  “Mum, that’s really…” A thought soon hit me. “You know, that’d actually help out a lot! Get a cookbook and anything else you find useful. Thanks,” I say with fake enthusiasm. I would say anything for her to leave and let me move in peace.

  Four hours later, and I was finally standing inside my apartment. It wasn’t anything overly exciting. There was a bedroom, a bathroom, and the rest was pretty much open space. It was a nice place, well worth the two hundred dollars a week I was forking out for it. Colt had taken the spot by the window, just near the sliding doors off the deck. He was sprawled out in the sun and closing his eyes.