Hope for Us (Hope Series Book #3) Read Online Free Page A

across from me and sat down. I felt his eyes on me, but didn’t acknowledge him.
    He sighed and returned to the table and sat down.
    “Adam said you might want to have your agent on the phone while we go over this. You want me to call him.”
    I felt his stare. It warmed my skin, but I kept my eyes on the paper. I didn’t trust myself to look him in the eye. I wasn’t ready to deal with it all over again. It hurt too much because I knew he was right. I found a loophole to avoid being with him.
    Jackson flew out to Dallas for Jack's first birthday and we spent the most amazing night together. Jackson and I connected in every way possible. It was months later when I found out he was dating someone else. That night I thought were was no way in the world my Jackson would hurt me. Turned out, he hurt me worse than anyone and from then on, I didn't trust myself.
    Jackson didn’t answer me, but picked up his phone and dialed.
    “Hey, J. You made it?”
    “Yeah, I have you on speakerphone here with Carrington Butler. She’s going to go over the contract with us.”
    “Carrington?”
    “Yeah.”
    The guy on the phone paused and stifled a chuckle. Jackson had his head down, reading over the contract.
    “Well, nice to meet you, Carrington.” He said my name like he knew me. “I’m Michael Murphy.”
    “Nice to meet you.”
    “J, I’ve read through it pretty well, so give it a read through and then let me know if you have any questions.”
     
    I sat back and watched as Jackson and his agent went over the contract. I followed along on my copy, but I wasn’t really listening. I studied Jackson’s hands. Wondering if they would somehow feel different. Would they be rougher or maybe as a big-time NFL quarterback, he took care of them more. His nails were clean and buffed.
    A fine layer of dark hair covered his arms, but the muscles weren’t obscured in any way. I missed it before, but he wore a silver chain around his neck. I couldn’t tell if anything hung on the end because it disappeared into his shirt.
    “Carr,” he said.
    “What?”
    “I said, do you have anything to add?” Michael asked.
    “Uh, no. It’s all pretty standard.”
    Jackson smirked as he initialed each page.
    “Okay, buddy. Have a good time at training camp and I’ll be down to check on you soon. And, Carrington, I have to say I am really happy to finally meet you.”
    “Goodbye, Michael,” Jackson said before I could respond and then hung up the phone before Michael could say anything else. He looked at me and his cheeks tinted a slight shade of red. He smiled, and he returned to signing the contract.
    “You told him about me?” I asked.
    “Might have mentioned you once or twice.” Jackson said, but his face remained on the papers.
    “What did you tell him?”
    He finished the last signature, clicked the pen, gathered the papers in the folder, and handed them to me.
    “Why do you want to know?”
    “I don’t know. I’m surprised that’s all.”
    “How’s Jack?”
    Way to change the subject. I let it go.
    “He’s great. He already caught wind of your trade and has been blowing up my phone.”
    “Mine, too.”
    Jackson unlocked his phone and handed it to me.
     
Jack:  Is it true? Are you coming to Arizona? Yesssssssssss!!!!!!!!
     
    “You didn’t answer him, yet?”
    “I thought I should probably talk to you, first.”
    “Thank you.”
    “About the only good things so far about this trade is getting the chance to spend more time with Jack. If you’re okay with that?”
    “Of course. Jack loves you. I would never prevent you from spending time with him.”
    “I want to spend time with you, too.”
    “Jackson.”
    “Listen, I’m not saying we should get back together or anything like that, but before all of it went to shit, we were really good friends. I miss that.” He paused and stared. “I miss you.”
    Words left my brain. He made it sound so simple, but it wasn’t simple. If it was, then why weren’t we