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“Right,” I laughed, tipping my head back.
“I don’t do relationships, either. I don’t fall for women. I don’t bother with all the stupid shit that comes with it—and this is why.”
“Because people might have feelings about being ghosted? I mean, I have no problem with you being unattached, but at least say it, so we don’t have to be so…awkward around each other. My best friend is engaged to your best friend. We’re going to see each other more.” I folded my arms across my chest, hating the way that Jackson was suddenly looking wounded.
“Okay, fine,” Jackson muttered. “I’m sorry for ghosting you. You wanna be friends now?”
I pursed my lips, my heart thudding in my chest at his answer. “Yeah. We can be friends.”
“Friends don’t date each other’s friends.”
I furrowed my brow. “Are you talking about Colt?”
“Yeah.”
“That’s a funny rule, but it doesn’t matter. It wasn’t going anywhere, anyway,” I laughed, shaking my head.
“Not exciting enough for you?”
I shook my head, side-eyeing him. “I don’t know.”
“Nah, you do know, don’t you?” He took another step closer to me, his eyes holding mine in a way that made all of my insides come to a screeching halt.
“No…I don’t think so.” I swallowed hard as Jackson pushed a strand of hair out of my eyes. I almost swatted him away, but didn’t, the trace of his touch feeling warm on my cheek. No matter how much I hated Jackson, I wanted him to touch me.
And that was the most dangerous and infuriating feeling I had ever felt before.
16
JACKSON
Ihad given myself one rule for the evening: Don’t be alone with Lena.
And well, I was a rulebreaker, so I guess it was only natural that I found a way to get her alone—and away from her date—but now all the sirens were going off in my head…
And there had to be some way to settle it.
By running away as fast as I can.
I dropped my hand from her face, the thought enough to break my brain away from her potent gaze. I had told her we were friends, and honestly, I didn’t fuck anyone I called a friend.
So that fixed that.
She let out a heavy sigh as I shifted my eyes to look out the dark window—like there was something to see other than just darkness.
“I should probably go…” Lena’s voice came out timid, and maybe even a little disappointed. “I don’t want Maeve to think I’m trying to avoid talking to her about the whole…getting engaged thing.”
I nodded, fighting the urge to grab her and do all the things my body wanted me to do. “Yeah, you should probably go.” The last thing I needed to do was complicate this awkward relationship any further. My eyes drifted toward her, and I nearly smiled as she looked at me with pursed lips. “What?”
“Nothing,” Lena quipped, shaking her head and slipping right past me. “Have a good night, Jackson.”
“You too, Lena,” I called out as casually as possible. I had a mixture of feelings swirling around in my chest as I watched her disappear out that door…
But it was better to let her go.
“Wow, do we have a lot to discuss this morning.” Genna clapped her hands, and the screen lit up with Maeve and Tyson, their engagement plastered on one of those tabloid pages. “You know, I thought this was a joke at first.”
I chuckled, leaning back in my chair as Tyson’s face went beet red. It was about time for the spotlight to be put on someone else in the band for once—not to mention, I was too fucking tired from the party last night to be in the mood for a lecture. Lena left right after she gave Maeve some personal congratulations, and that left me with nothing to do but try to pretend like it didn’t bother me she was gone.
