Colliding with You

Chapter 1-2

Jesse read the text once more before tucking his phone in his pocket. He didn’t have time for Maggie’s s**t. His ex-girlfriend loved to f**k with his head every chance she could. Not tonight. He needed to have his s**t together. Being a part of Theo’s wedding party was enough to deal with.

He hated the thought of wearing a tux, but he couldn’t refuse his oldest friend’s request. At least he wasn’t the best man. That honor went to someone who was responsible enough not to lose the wedding band. With his luck, he would misplace it. Thankfully, Jonah had accepted the task, and being Theo’s older brother, the role fit.

Once his phone was secure in his pocket, Jesse glanced at the church, feeling somewhat guilty for being there. It had been many years since he’d stepped foot inside this place. It wasn’t from lack of belief. Going to church made him feel like a hypocrite.

He wasn’t living the best life. Willful sinning is what his mother called it. While she didn’t mean to condemn him, it didn’t ease his mind about coming to this place.

The things he did for his friend . . . At least he knew Theo appreciated his being there. In the end, that’s what mattered most.

A puff of smoke blew his way when he turned to meet Allen. The cherry on his cigarette burned brightly as he took another drag. The grin on his face made Jesse chuckle.

“Something amusing you, my friend?”

“I just think it’s funny how you keep ignoring Maggie’s texts. You know she won’t leave you alone until you answer her.”

“She can text me all she wants. I set my phone to “do not disturb”. If she keeps it up, I’ll block her.”

“You can’t block her, man,” Allen snickered. “She’s Jensen’s assistant. He’ll tear you a new a*s if you don’t answer her calls.”

“Good thing we aren’t inside yet. You’d be damned for cursing in church.”

Allen laughed heartily. “Saying butt wouldn’t have the same effect.” He threw his cigarette against the pavement and stepped on it, never once breaking eye contact. “Dude, I told you not to mess with that chick. She’s nuts.”

Allen was right about one thing. Maggie was insane, like stalker insane. Guess he was right about more than that. Allen had warned him not to mess around with a label executive’s assistant.

Like his friend had room to talk. Jesse couldn’t count how many times he’d caught Allen flirting with Nora, the receptionist at the recording studio. She may not be an assistant like Maggie, but she was Cassie’s right hand.

If Allen did anything to hurt Nora, Cassie would eat him alive. Then he’d have Theo to answer to. God knows the man was protective of his soon-to-be wife. Hell, Theo had always been protective of Cassie, even before they were a couple.

“You’re one to give me crap. I’ve seen the way you flirt with Nora. You know Cassie will kill you if you mess with her. Of course, that would mean you’d have to grow a set and actually make a move.”

He chuckled when Allen flipped him off.

“So what are going to do about Maggie?” Allen surveyed the area around the church. It wasn’t his first time in Jesse’s hometown of Savannah, but Allen had only left city limits to go to his house. They’d never been in this part of town.

“I don’t know what to do to get Maggie off my case. I need to talk to Josh or Joel. Then again, Joel is the one who got me into this mess.”

“He didn’t tell you to put your d**k in her, man.”

Jesse grumbled under his breath as he stared at the doors of the church. He knew Allen was right. Joel had nothing to do with his s*x life. He was just the one who insisted that Jesse talk to Maggie. Joel had good intentions, but he needed to stick to his day job. He was a kick-a*s agent. When it came to matchmaking, he was horrible.

“If I had an answer for your question, I wouldn’t be in this mess.”

“You know what Theo would suggest, right?” Allen waited until Jess shrugged before he continued. “You need to find a new flavor of the month.”

“I don’t need to get involved with another woman when the last one is still calling me off the hook. No woman in the world would want to be involved with me under those circumstances, especially when I’m not ready to commit.”

Allen scoffed at his response. “You’d be surprised what some women would deal with. Maybe you need to dip your toe back in the waters of your home state and leave those Cajun girls alone.”

“You ain’t lying,” Jesse snorted. He’d definitely had no luck with women while he was living in Louisiana, not that he was searching for a special someone. He made sure women knew that upfront, but it didn’t stop them from getting pissy when he ended things.

Still, Maggie was the only one who wouldn’t let go. How was he to know that the blonde beauty from Beverly Hills was originally from the Deep South—or batshit crazy for that matter?

Leaning away from the brick wall, Allen slipped his cigarette pack into his jeans and strode closer. “I know you don’t want to think about getting involved with someone else, but another girl on your arm may be the only thing that gets through to Maggie. What do you have to lose?”

Jesse pointed to his temple. “Nothing but my sanity.”

Before Allen could comment, screeching tires drew their attention to the little red sports car turning into the parking lot. The engine revved a couple times before it shut off. The bass coming from the radio made the windows shake. They steadied when the volume lowered.

The moonless night made it difficult to see who was getting out of the car, but the nearby streetlight was enough for Jesse to notice two feminine figures shutting the door. He heard their giggles too.

“Who in the hell is that?” He muttered the question more to himself than to Allen.

“I’m not sure, dude. Maybe it’s your future girlfriend.”

Jesse slanted his eyes and gave his friend a menacing look. “Cute, man. You’re a f*****g comedian tonight.”

Allen didn’t respond. He was too busy laughing. His gaze flashed back to the approaching women, and he attempted to regain his composure. Something must have worked because it wasn’t long before he grew silent. His mouth opened like he was about to say something. The only thing that came out was a grunt.

When Jesse joined him in looking, he understood why his friend was speechless. Two of the most beautiful women were walking their way. And the craziest part was the fact that he knew one of them.

Cori Clarke.

“I’ll be damned.” He mumbled the words while staring in disbelief. No wonder he hadn’t recognized her back in the summer when their band performed at Midnight Blues, or even later when she invited them to party at a different club. If not for Theo explaining what had happened, he still wouldn’t believe it was the same person.

His baby sister’s longtime friend looked and acted nothing like he remembered. For all he knew, the girl standing next to her was someone he should recognize as well. He’d find out eventually, but for now, he wanted to enjoy the moment.

Cori was approaching him. The young, innocent girl he once knew had grown up, and she was just as gorgeous as her big sister. Scratch that thought. She was way hotter. He’d never thought about Cassie as more than a friend.

And Cassie never made his d**k twitch the way Cori did.