Act Like You Love Me (Jessica) novel Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Chapter 40

Jessica’s POV

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I hunched over the small desk I’d crammed into the corner of our living room, my textbooks splayed out like a chaotic battlefield.

Notes were scribbled in margins, highlighters running dry, and my laptop screen glaring back at me with endless tabs of study guides.

Finals were just a week away, and my brain felt like mush-overloaded with facts on media ethics, investigative techniques, and a dozen case studies that blurred together after hours of staring.

Why did I think journalism would be all thrilling exposes and no soul-crushing exams? I rubbed my temples, willing the words to stick.

Come on, Jess, focus. You’ve got this. But honestly, who was I kidding?

My eyes burned, and my back ached from this awkward chair.

I just wanted to graduate, dive into the real world where I could chase stories that mattered, not regurgitate theories for a grade.

Eight eternal months still separated me from graduation-my release from this academic hell.

I groaned, feeling the weight of the remaining workload, and grudgingly turned the page.

The thought of success, of finally holding that diploma, was the only thing keeping my eyelids from sticking permanently shut.

Night was creeping in, the sky outside our window shifting from dusk to full dark, streetlights flickering on like reluctant

stars.

My stomach growled loudly, a reminder I hadn’t eaten since that rushed sandwich at lunch.

My limbs instantly felt weighted, the exhaustion slamming the brakes on my attention. I was starving, my head throbbing, and the thought of another all-nighter made me want to cry.

I stood up, and stretched my arms overhead with a massive yawn that cracked my jaw.

“God, I can’t wait to be done with these exams,” I mumbled to the empty room, my voice echoing off the walls.

The door to our bedroom creaked open, and Aaron stepped out, rubbing the back of his neck.

He was in his usual lounging gear: black athletic shorts that hugged his thighs and a fitted black vest that showed off the muscles he’d earned from years on the court.

He’d been holed up in there most of the day, like he had been since quitting his coaching gig at Arcadia. Laptop glued to his lap, typing away at who-knows-what-scouting reports, maybe, or planning his next move.

Some evenings, he’d head out to shoot hoops with Jason, his buddy from college, coming back sweaty and energized.

But today? Indoor mode all the way.

Our eyes met across the room. He took one look at my disheveled bun and the dark circles under my eyes and offered a highly unwelcome assessment.

“You look like you just crawled out of a crypt, Jess. A sexy, study-stressed zombie, but a zombie nonetheless.”

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Chapter 40

I rolled my eyes dramatically, deliberately ignoring the fact he’d called me sexy.

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I focused solely on the “zombie” comment to avoid turning into an overripe beetroot and to control the ridiculous flurry of butterflies that had just taken flight in my stomach.

“You should be grateful, Tyrone. This zombie is studying hard so she can make you famous.”

He raised a skeptical brow as he padded toward the kitchen. I followed him, drawn by the irresistible promise of food.

“Whatever do you mean, Jess?” He asked as he reached for the fridge door, pulling it open to scan the contents.

I leaned against the kitchen island, taking a banana from the fruit bowl.

“I’ll be a high-profile investigative journalist, hence I’ll be in the perfect position to give you exclusive coverage and highlights, therefore boosting your popularity and helping your brand. Bingo!” I finished with a triumphant bite of the

banana.

He pulled out the tray of chicken and set it on the counter, turning to face me with a skeptical shake of his head.

“You think I need your help for coverage? I’m Aaron Tyrone. The media follows me.”

“Oh, is that so?” I countered, peeling another finger of banana. “Well, I’ll be the one writing the glowing, Pulitzer-worthy profile that elevates you from ‘mere star’ to ‘cultural phenomenon.’ So, yes, you need me.”

“Oh yeah? So basically, you’re planning to stalk me for scoops? Careful, I might charge for interviews.”

“Stalk you? Pfft, you’d beg for the spotlight. Admit it-you need me to keep your ego inflated.”

He took a swig, eyes sparkling with amusement.

“My ego’s fine without your help, flower. But sure, if it gets you through exams, dream big.”

I laughed, feeling the tension from the study session finally ease. “Thank you, Mr. Tyrone.”

“Are you making dinner?” I asked innocently, even though the thawing chicken was obviously his doing. I loved getting him riled up with pointless questions.

He didn’t even look up from the cutting board.

“No, Jess. I brought the chickens out to give them a shower. They were looking a little dusty.”

His sarcasm dripped like honey, and I couldn’t help but burst out laughing, the sound bubbling up from my tired chest.

“Smartass,” I shot back.

I didn’t have the energy in me to continue our silly fight. I just wanted to eat, take a bath, and get back to my textbook bunker.

Knowing how meticulous Aaron could get in the kitchen-he often treated cooking like assembling a championship roster, which definitely slowed the meal prep-I decided to lend a hand for a swifter outcome.

I started chopping vegetables while he expertly handled the chicken.

Deep into the cooking, I was blending some fresh tomatoes for the sauce when he called my name, his voice barely cutting through the loud, grating buzz of the blender.

“Jess.”

I hummed in response, not moving as I finished liquefying the tomatoes.

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Chapter 40

“We’re going on a cruise ship trip after your exams.”

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I didn’t move for several seconds, my hand hovering over the blender switch, trying to process the information. A cruise? That sounded ridiculously fancy and terrifying.

I spun to face him. He leaned casually against the island, arms folded across his toned chest while he watched me with an unreadable expression.

“Why? I mean, aren’t your family and their social circle going to be there?” I asked, immediately uncomfortable.

He nodded, his expression relaxed.

“Yes. It’s an annual summer cruise my family hosts. Jess, but that doesn’t matter. I want you to come with me. The only way I would agree to you not coming is if you give me a very valid, concrete reason.”

My mind raced with reasons-a whole list, really. His family didn’t seem fond of me, especially Lena, his bitchy cousin.

And Fiona? His ex, the one who’d left scars I wasn’t sure had healed would be there. Despite whatever was blooming between Aaron and me-the kisses, the confessions-I still didn’t know where I stood

Was I a rebound? A friend with benefits? I had no idea.

And the biggest reason, the one that made my stomach twist, was Kennedy himself. I had been successfully ignoring all his follow-up emails and calls, pretending that the danger wasn’t real.

I knew one day I’d have to answer to him, but not while trapped on a ship full of Aaron’s elite contacts. No thanks.

I sighed, pulling myself away from the island and moving to the stove to check on the pre-sautéed onions to buy time before I gave a response.

“Aaron, you know I have free will to do what I want,” I said quietly, stirring the pan. “I don’t want to go.”

He walked over quickly, his hands grabbing my arms gently and turning me to face him, the pan of onions forgotten for a

moment.

“Come on, Jess. It’ll be good for us-a break after your exams.”

“But your family-”

“Look, if it’s Fiona or Lena that’s the problem, you don’t have to worry about them. They’ll be on the ship, sure, but the possibility of seeing them is low. The ship is massive enough to be its own small city; we can easily avoid them.”

His voice then dropped an octave, eyes narrowing slightly, like he was piecing together a puzzle.

“Or else,” he said, his gaze becoming intense, “you have something or someone else you’re avoiding.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, feeling the heat rising in my face. The last person I wanted to see on a boat in the middle of the ocean was a man who wanted me to commit corporate espionage.

“Uhm…” I blinked rapidly, trying desperately to look anywhere but into his penetrating, chocolate eyes. The intensity of his scrutiny felt like a spotlight on my secret fear.

Guilt twisted in my gut; Kennedy’s secret loomed, but spilling it now? No, not yet.

I eventually broke out of his light but firm grip and pushed him slightly away, pivoting toward the stove.

“The gravy is burning,” I mumbled, grabbing the wooden spoon to stir the darkening onions, hoping the simple domestic crisis would distract him.

13:13 Mon, Jan 12.

Chapter 40

Icould feel his burning gaze focused entirely on my back, but to my immense relief, he didn’t press the issue.

We finished cooking in tense silence, the easy rhythm from earlier completely shattered.

The chicken stir-fry turned out decent-juicy meat, crisp veggies, tangy sauce-but the atmosphere was thick, and heavy with unspoken accusations.

Aaron plated the food, and we ate at the counter, the clinking of our forks against the ceramic plates sounding abnormally loud in the abrupt quiet.

When we were done, I automatically reached for the plates to clear the dishes, but Aaron stopped my movement with a hand on my forearm.

“Leave it to me,” he said, his voice softer now, pushing away the tension. “Go take a bath and rest so you can get back to studying. You need a break.”

My heart warmed instantly. The kindness felt huge, especially after the strained silence.

“Thank you,” I murmured before dashing to the bedroom to take a quick, much-needed shower.

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