AllFreeNovel
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I wave her off.“I don’t know if you brought us here for a lecture, but it’s not happening. I won’t discuss my personal life with you unless I want to. And I don’t. So, have a nice night. We’re leaving. Come on, Greyson.”
Every mouth in the room hangs agape. My legs are shaky when I stand. I’ve never spoken to my parents this way. But it feels good. Greyson gently guides me out the door and down the steps to the driveway.
When we’re clear of the house, he turns to me. “That. Was. Awesome.”
I chuckle softly. “I can’t believe I just did that. I’m never going to be able to face them again.”
“No. They’ll forget about it. They kind of deserved it. Maybe they’ll actually back off some now.” We shake our heads in sync, and simultaneously declare, “No, they won’t.” That sends us into another fit of laughter.
It feels good to laugh.
“How about some dinner?” I ask. “This wave of confidence made me hungry.”
He smiles. “Absolutely. After that free show, I’ll buy.”
***
The doorbell rings, jolting me from my studies. Jackson stands in front of me when I open the door. “Jackson. This is a surprise. What are you doing here?"
He grins and holds up his bag. "I come bearing gifts. Ice cream. I said I owed you one, remember?”
The baby shower gift.
“Yes, come on in. I could use an ice cream break.”
A tiny jolt of electricity tingles through me as our shoulders brush on the way to the living room. I’m impressed he remembered our conversation. It's an unexpected gesture and much appreciated.
We settle on the couch, sharing the sweet treat and enjoying a rare moment of simplicity. The challenges of our complicated arrangement linger, but for a moment, we can set them aside and indulge in comfort food.
"I really appreciate what that you’ve done for me, Brinn,” Jackson says, putting his spoon down. "Not just the gift or how you kept me from causing a scene at the shower,” he hesitates, “but everything.”
His head droops. “I never imagined it would get this complicated. I really am sorry. I just don’t know how to fix it anymore. Even talking to my grandfather won’t help at this point with the whole world knowing about our engagement.”
I lift his chin gently, guiding his gaze to meet mine. "Can I ask you something?"
"Sure, anything.”
"How are you dealing with all of this? The fake relationship, the public attention… all of it."
He carefully considers his words. "Honestly, Brinn, I don’t know. It started because I had to be married to take over thecompany. But now, it's taken on a life of its own. And you…" He trails off.
"And me?" I prompt him to finish.
"You've been more than just a partner in this act. You've been supportive and understanding. You’ve helped me learn to live again, to heal.” He smirks. “I may also enjoy your company more than I thought I would.”
His honesty takes me by surprise, but he’s still holding back. "Thank you for that. But how do you feel? Is this just a charade, or is there something more?"
I’m really embracing this newfound boldness.
Jackson fidgets, one leg tapping quickly on the floor. His internal struggle is obvious. Why won’t he just tell me how he feels?
Another wave of unexpected confidence surges through me. I take Jackson’s hands in mine. “How about I start?”
His relief is tangible.
“So, I don’t want to get too deeply into it, but you really hurt me growing up.” His head pops up unexpectedly. I squeeze his hands, reassuring him. “That’s in the past, though, and I’ve left it there. It wasn’t easy, but I did it.”
Now his eyes lock on mine, unblinking. It makes continuing more difficult, but I do. “I only agreed to this arrangement to help my career. I wasn’t thinking about you at all. But now, I can’t stop thinking about you. Memories of your touch invade my day, the thought of your lips on––”
