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“I am not a kid. Fuck you for making me feel that way. I want to see what the world has to offer.” I saw anger flash through his eyes. I never cursed in front of my family, but it was necessary now.
“Jackson made you this way, didn’t he? What the fuck was I thinking having you stay here? I thought he would honor our friendship, not fuck my sister.”
I blanched at his words as they hit me in a gut, knowing they weren’t even true.
Jackson unlocked the apartment door and shoved us inside since the argument was starting to attract attention.
“Greg, I fought my feelings for Em, but we gave in. We gave in. I didn’t coerce her or make her be with me… she wanted it, too. It’s so much more than I’ve ever had with anyone else.”
Rage crossed Greg’s face.
“Son of a bitch. You slept with her? What fucking diseases have you given her?”
“We’re not like that. We have a real relationship and we talk about everything. We’re both being careful, and I haven’t been with anyone else for a long time. This is everything I’ve ever wanted,” I screamed. Jackson pulled me back. “He’s going to take care of me. He’s protective to a fault sometimes and while it drives me insane, I know that he cares about me. I know that he loves me.” Greg winced as I kept going. “We’ve all been so close for so long. Are you going to end a lifelong friendship over this or give us your blessing? We would both miss you in our lives.”
Those words seemed to hit him hard and Greg turned away to drop to the couch. “You would do that?”
“No, you would. You are. You want to rush me out of here like nothing ever happened and pretend that you never knew this. I won’t let that happen. Let me go,” I demanded. “I love him, Greg.”
Jackson watched us closely as silence filled the room.
“Do you love her?” Greg asked as he stared accusingly at him for a moment. There was no warmth in his gaze and I shivered.
Jackson nodded.
“I do. I am going to keep her safe, just like you would. She’s my everything,” Jackson assured him as Greg looked at me.
I let out the breath that I’d been holding for a while. There was a part of me that was glad he knew now, particularly when he let out a sigh.
“Take care of her.”
I knew how hard the words were for Greg to say and I gazed at him in wonder.
“Really?” I whispered, but he nodded.
“How long has this been going on?” Greg asked.
“Just a few weeks. We fought it as long as we could and even after that, we fought it. This is scary for all of us, Greg. I just don’t want to lose you over it.”
Greg stared at me incredulously.
“That sounds so grown up coming from you, Emma. Maybe you aren’t a little girl anymore.”
“I’m an adult, but we can’t have a relationship based on respect and love unless you understand that I am a grown up and in charge of my life.”
“I’m going to get some sleep. I need to head home tomorrow,” Greg told us, standing up to run a hand through his hair. “How did the game go?”
“Shitty. We won, but it wasn’t due to my awful play. I need to improve or else,” Jackson said. “My mind wasn’t in the game. I can fix that… now.”
Greg hugged me closely, telling me to be careful before he clapped Jackson on the back. He walked slowly to the extra bedroom, closing the door behind him before I fell against Jackson. “He’s okay with us.”
“I almost think that he’s going to come out and tell me to fuck off.”
Jackson wrapped an arm around me and stroked my shoulder. “I can’t believe you said all that to him, Em.”
“I knew that it would make him listen. I know how to get a point across but the only time I want to use that word again is when we’re in bed.” I whispered the last words, and he chuckled.
“That won’t be happening tonight. I want the place quiet until he’s gone but I do want you to spend the night with me. I’ve missed you,” he said, and I smiled as he kissed my hair. “I want things to go back to normal.”
I texted Bella things were fine and that I’d be staying here. I followed Jackson through the dark living room to his bedroom, watching as he undressed to boxers.
“Don’t. I’m not doing shit with him across the hall,” I heard the warning in his voice and smiled ruefully as I changed out of my shirt to one of his, slipping off my pants before I crawled under the covers.
“I do want you back here, sleeping with me every night. I want to give this a real go, Em.”
