Chapter Eight (Missed Missy)

Miami || 10-05-2015
[Off Camera]

He'd let it slip right out in public on Twitter with that 'goddamn I love you' and Missy had just smiled so much her face hurt. Jax loved her. It was a happy little refrain pushed down in her mind but still quite obviously there. It had led to a few interesting things happening, like her own little not-so-public slip when she'd gone for a run and brought him back a cup of coffee. Her skin had felt sticky from the drying sweat and she'd handed him the cardboard cup with the waffle-textured to-go holder with a wry grin, flung her hat vaguely in the direction of 'behind the counter' and undid her soaked braid, forking her fingers through her tangles before heading for the stairs with a perky bounce to her steps. "I'll be back, I'm dying for a shower it's so humid still, isn't it supposed to be Fall?" A smirk as her sneakered foot hit the bottom step and she couldn't remember what she'd actually meant to say as she paused to turn partially back, but what came out was, "I love you." Her eyes went wide and she ran up the stairs two at a time rather than see what his reaction might have been.

The coffee cup slipped out of his hand, his stupid, numb fingers betraying him but she was gone before it hit the rubber floor, pumpkin spice latte soaking into his shoes, scalding his bare legs even as it filled the space with that damning scent. "Goddamnit." He wanted to call after her, to beg her to explain, to list off the reasons how and why something so unexpected could happen. For half a second he stood there with his hand still outstretched, as if he expected the Starbucks cup to refill itself and leap back into his hand before he shook it off. The mess wasn't going to clean itself and they were opening in less than half an hour.


Miami || 10-06-2015
[Off Camera]

Missy had an idea. Now that the walls had come down it was easier to say things like how it felt to know he was her guy. It was still a trip, because she never thought she'd have that let alone with him. It was right that it was him, he'd been the only one to ever make it all the way in past the defenses she built and he kept the Silence filled.

But what wasn't proving easy was saying that she loved him, deliberately and on purpose. She did, her actions showed that loud and clear. But she wanted to be able to give him that, wanted to be able to just... say it, but it felt fraught to her. The more she thought about it, the more weight it carried, but she wanted that first on-purpose to be perfect. To somehow just make those words come out with all the emotion behind them, because she'd promised to always tell him the truth. So today, she practiced. Whenever she was near a mirror, mouthing the words, trying to see how her expression would be, trying to get the tone just right, just perfect. Except of course that it wasn't. Too high, too whispery. Too loud, too quiet. Goddamn her voice even cracked once. Frustration built, her fingertips rubbing her temples to release that tension and she could hear him messing around in the other room. Something snapped, and her head came up. Hair disheveled like she'd just rolled out of bed, t-shirt riding up on her ribs from the deep breaths, eyes shimmering suspiciously but she marched into the other room, with a slightly truculent expression to stand right in front of him.

Say it. Say it now. Oh Goddamn it he's looking at me with that curious... say it, don't be stupid. It's just three words...

So her lips parted, nothing came out. Missy swallowed, and tried again... nothing. Finally her brows drew together as her hand raised of its own volition and her finger poked him in the chest as the words spilled out. "Fuck it, I love you!"

Dammit.

She whirled, quite intent to stalk back out the way she came. Instead the soft rumble of laughter came from behind her, that deep chuckle that usually accompanied that lascivious smirk of his. "Not sure what brought that on, but... okay?"

Missy froze at the sound of that laugh, letting it wash over her like one of his warmer touches. It colored his words too, and she risked a glance back at him before turning fully around, her hands going to her hips. "See, it's that right there." She couldn't help an answering laugh, a tiny bit rueful and sarcastic but pure Missy. "I've been trying all day to get that right you know and there it is. I mean, damn." Those dark eyes looked him up and down but didn't quite make it to eye contact.

Jackson nodded, licking his lips as he studied her. "Damn's pretty much where my head's at right now. That's not why I hired you. You know that, don't you?"

Missy's eyes narrowed slightly, though the twist of her lips wasn't displeased. "Well of course. I have good skills besides all..." a gesture up and down her side. "I actually do know what I'm doing." A pause. "Despite my obvious issue a minute ago finding the right way to say something that simple."

"Right. You're good at what you do. Your references all checked out and it wasn't that smart mouth of yours or those fantastic tits or the art or..." his lips twisted in that wry smirk as he snorted a laugh, shaking his head. "Or those eyes..." he closed the gap between them, reaching out to hook a finger under her chin, tilting her head up so she had no choice but to make eye contact. "You said it... you feel like you wanna go back on it, or are you gonna fucking own it?"

She didn't even hesitate, locking her eyes with his. "I'm owning it. I said it because I meant it. Even if it didn't come out romantic and pretty and perfect. So...there." She had that air about her that was almost defiant, but not at all like she was fighting him. "I promised you, truth. Not taking that back either."

"Sounded pretty goddamn perfect to me." That smirk softened a bit, the pause a bit too long before he cleared his throat. "Sorry I wasn't really....besides Brie's simp cousin, it's not like I usually hear stuff like this so I was a little thrown."

Missy snorted. "Her. I'mma cut her, you know that right?" Her eyes narrowed a little making it less a joke and more a statement but then she shook it off. "We'll just go with the pretty goddamn perfect to you, I like that." Her hand lifted and touched his chest where she'd poked him a minute ago. "I like..." she bit her lip a moment then released it. "I like that you're my guy. It's so strange, I never thought that was for me. But this is. It just... is."

"Yeah. I like that. All yours... and if any other stupid bitches out there try to move in, I'll hand you the knife." He grinned, "because this right here... smokin' hot."

"Oooh... you silver tongued devil you. Keep talking like that and you're going to get it." Missy's smile got flirty, she really couldn't help herself - not that she even tried.

"Nah. Tonight, you're gonna get it." He grabbed her, sweeping her right off her feet with another chuckle. "You fucking earned it."

Missy's breath came out with a little sexy squeal, absolutely not what she intended but her laugh after made up for it. "I love how you think, Boss." She paused, taking that moment to melt against him. "I really, really do."

Don't tell her, you fucking tool.

He stared at her for a few seconds, his eyes so dark they almost looked purple-black before he ground out a single word, "ditto."