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This book is for everyone who had a plan that didn’t quite work out. Don’t give up. You might just have needed a different route.
Though not Jupiter as I knew him. Gone was the perfect smile, the mischievous glint, the fun. Instead, those sensuous lips were schooled into a hard line. I’d never seen him look so… menacing. Thick forearms crossed over his chest, almost covering The Lions logo embroidered on the left of his shirt. Huge biceps bulged and strained under the fabric; biceps covered in tattoos. So many tattoos you could barely see his bronzed skin. My mouth dropped open, and I couldn’t have stopped it with a gun to my head. He’d been wearing a hoodie when I’d seen him on Saturday, so I never imagined underneath…
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Stars. Even from this distance, I could make out dozens of stars running up and down his heavily muscled arms, all different sizes, before disappearing under the fabric. Stars in between – I squinted – were they planets? Words? Squiggles?
REEVES was printed along the top of both, above the number five. It’s gonna be my number, Star. Five. I’m the fifth planet. And then he’d kissed me, and I forgot anything after that.
“The only reason Jupiter came to play at The Lions was to get you back. That’s why you’re here.”
“He would only come to The Lions if Penn found you and offered you a job. I think he wants to try and win you back,” she said simply, and not in any way like that news didn’t hit me as hard as an asteroid. No, not hit. Wiped me out was more accurate. Lowe nudged her but looked at me. “He definitely wants to win you back.”
Private: We’re back in the same city, Star. Hope you’ve had a great first day. X
Even if she wasn’t burned into my soul or tattooed on my body, I’d recognize her anywhere.
“Right, listen up,” I began quietly. “No one, and I mean no one, is to go near Marnie Matthews. I don’t give a fuck if you are scheduled to see her. I’m canceling all the appointments now.”
“No, it’s not like that. We were in high school together. She was my first girlfriend, the only girlfriend I’ve had. The only woman I’ve ever loved. I broke up with her the day I was drafted. It had to be done, but I’ve regretted it every single day since. I never thought I would ever have the chance to make it up to her, but then Penn Shepherd came to see me. I said I would only play for The Lions if he found her and offered her a job.”
It was another second before I realized that someone was my someone. Fuck. “Marnie.”
“You know I can hold my breath for a long time. Have you forgotten?” I leaned in slightly and winked. She blushed that shade of pink I used to get a boner for… and apparently still got a boner for.
“Yeah, something like that. This is the N.A.S.A. space shuttle logo. I want to work there one day.”
“I make you nervous?” I used my teeth to ease a LifeSaver out of the packet she’d given me. Cherry.
“You’re welcome.” And because I wanted to see her blush again, I couldn’t help adding, “I didn't know geeks looked like you.” “Like what?” “Hot.”
The one who made sure the last thing he did every night was kiss me.
In case you need them. x
Staring back at me were boxes and boxes and boxes of LifeSavers.
There were easily a thousand bright red rolls. Jupiter’s favorite.
Before I could stop it, an onslaught of cherry flavored memories slapped me upside the head; his demands to kiss me whenever I had them, because he loved the taste of them on my tongue.
And then what else his tongu...
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Like he’d always been able to. He walked backward for ten paces, all without dropping his piercing gaze. His jaw popped, followed by a slight curve on the corner of his mouth. Then he winked. That fucking wink. And I wish I could say my panties were still dry, but winking was all he’d ever had to do to have me desperately needing to jump his bones. Need. Not want.
I’m so fucking happy you’re here, Star.
I love him!
The Jupiter I’d known with his dimples, winks, and toothy grins was impossible to deny. The Jupiter with the tattoos and arrogance, all man and muscle, was becoming harder to ignore. A combination of the two was deadly. And it was anyone’s guess how much longer I’d be able to hold out.
“Starlight, star bright, you were the first star I saw tonight. Wish I may, wish I might, have this kiss with you tonight.” He smiled, nervously, “I changed the words a little.”
But the single reason for me leaving the Los Angeles Dodgers was sitting to the left in the stands as I walked out. I glanced over; and even though her gaze was mostly hidden by the peak of her Lions ball cap, I could see enough to lock eyes with her for a split second. It was all I needed. I stepped into place. Much had been written about my rituals every time I was at bat; what I did, why I did it, what it meant, and every time I merely offered the reporter a shrug and a “just one of those things, man,” then continued with the interview. Using the tip of my bat I drew out the letter M. M for
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might not have known where she was for the past fourteen years, but writing her into the sand by the plate meant I had her with me.
An intricate drawing of a brilliant star sliced in two, one half lying on the ground, and inside the other half was a beating heart. Hers. Mine. Our tiny initials intertwined in the middle. The exact replica of initials we’d carved into the palm tree I used to climb up to her room.
“The Milky Way,” she rasped. “Jupiter…”
“The day we met.” I raised my other arm slightly higher, pointing to an identical entry. “And this is the date of our first kiss.”
It was my favorite color.
Because the reason the guys no longer need to see her? Coach had appointed me club liaison. And for the foreseeable future, I would be the only team player working with Doctor Marnie Matthews.
It was the scent of California; of summer on the beach, of nights under the stars; of home.
“I don’t give a fuck! The field is the only place I play fair. When it comes to you, all bets are off.”
I wanted to drag my tongue over the outline of stars and through the constellations, along the Milky Way imprinted into the thick divot of muscle over his left hip and splayed across his body; it had been so perfectly captured that for a second I thought I’d been looking at the night sky. And I wanted to look. I’d wanted to follow it under the pajama pants, especially as I very clearly remembered what would be there waiting for me.
“Maybe you could come over to my place then? I can show you my telescope…” His eyes flashed with mischief.
I still hadn’t gotten used to the kneejerk reaction I had to smile whenever I thought of Marnie, or the way my heart pumped harder. It was pointless trying to hide it now. “Her name’s Marnie. Marnie Matthews.”
It had been a month and I was still marveling at how I’d never really noticed her around school, because now I’d seen her, it was beyond me how I’d ever missed her. She was so beautiful. More than beautiful. She was a star-filled night beautiful.
“My girlfriend is so beautiful.” My heart squeezed at the laugh she let out. “Well, my boyfriend is the most handsome boy in school.” She smiled back softly, her thick black lashes dusting across the tops of her pink cheeks as she dropped her gaze.
“Kiss me, Marn.” It was so gentle it nearly broke me. Her tongue slipped past my lips and tangled with mine, tasting me as I’d tasted her. My fingertips took on a life of their own, running up and down the warm path of her panties, right through her center; the one getting wetter by the second. “Oh… ohhhh, Jupiter,” she groaned into my mouth as I grazed my thumb over her clit. “I know,” I whispered against her lips. “I’m gonna make it feel so good.” Though in actual fact, I didn’t know whether that’s what I was doing; I only hoped and prayed I was, because I realized that these little moans
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But none, not a single one, had looked at me the way Marnie was looking at me now – like I was the answer to every question she’d ever asked. It engulfed me until I couldn’t breathe. Until my heart was pumping so hard I was convinced I was having a seizure. And if I’d had a mirror, I’d have found the exact same expression on my face, too. Because if I was the question, Marnie Matthews was my answer.
😭😭😭
For stargazing. And as you’re not inviting me over, here are the coordinates for my roof terrace the next time you want to see me and my body… all that. 40.7336° N, 74.0027° W
I spun around just as I reached my office; Jupiter was jogging toward me. It wouldn’t be possible for him to get more stunning every time I saw him, and yet he did. Or maybe I just forgot how utterly beautiful he really was, because for a split second, he stole my breath. Every time.
“No, I’m divorced. I got divorced when I realized…” I stopped talking. Jupiter stopped moving, his brow furrowing deep. “Realized what?” I took a beat. This wasn’t the time or place to tell him. I didn’t want him to know in the midst of a somewhat heated conversation. “It doesn’t matter.” His face dropped closer, nearer to my height. He wanted to see the look in my eyes, because he knew exactly why I’d divorced my ex-husband.
“And he hasn’t already broken my heart.”
I peered around slowly and watched; her hair was up, her glasses were on – not even resting on her head. They were on her nose. My heart leapt, actually fucking leapt, and it was possible you’d have seen my grin from space. Marnie Matthews might have gone on this fucking date, but she definitely didn’t want to be there. Ace had been right.
“It’s okay. I promise, it’s okay. Do what you need to do. I’ll give you the space, and I’ll be waiting when you’re ready. However long it takes.” Her trembling jaw punched me right in the gut. “Just don’t ask me to stop believing in us. I can’t do that.”
I didn’t know it could get better… I was wrong. Every touch supercharged my skin, slowly driving me crazy as my body bent to his will. I wasn’t even sure my body belonged to me anymore from the way it reacted whenever it was within a hundred yards of him, because since the first time we came up here – every time we were up here – he showed me exactly how he owned me. I wanted his hands everywhere. I wanted to feel him everywhere. Jupiter Reeves had taken residence in my head – which turned to mush – and my heart – which flip-flopped – every time I saw him. And it was only getting more
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“I’d do anything for you, Star.”
“No one’s ever looked at me the way you look at me,” he grinned. “Do you think it’s possible to be addicted to a person? Because I think I’m addicted to you.” Yes, I did, because I knew I was addicted to him.
