AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Come on, man,” I bite out. “Calm down.”
“Not until you fucking answer me,” Jackson growls.
“It’s none of your damn business,” Tatum says. “God, why does it even matter who I kiss?”
The laugh that escapes him is disbelieving. “Are you serious?”
“This is ridiculous!” A look of fierce determination settles on Tatum’s face. “Stop, you freaking heathens!” Like a tiny, unstoppable bull, she wedges her way between us, fearless and stubborn. My heart pangs with longing as her back plasters to my front to face her brother. “Jackson. Look at me.”
Panting, he narrows his eyes and gives her attention while still locking my head in his arms. She plants her hands on his chest and shoves hard. He finally backs up, swiping the back of his hand over his mouth.
Huffing, Tatum gestures to me. “We’re dating and we didn’t know how to tell you. You and I had a promise, and you had the same one with him. It just happened. It’s—new.”
Jackson blinks. “What?”
“Coop is my boyfriend. He has every right to kiss me.”
My chest heaves as I try to catch my breath, my eyes widening as the lie she spins to cover our asses filters into my brain. I want to ask her what the hell she’s doing, but I also can’t blow up our spot with the truth or make Jackson realize this is another lie. This is what we trying to avoid—why the fuck is she telling him we’re dating?
Her move makes sense when Jackson’s brows furrow and he sighs. “For real?”
There’s no taking back the kiss he saw. He knows there’s something. If we have to pretend to date as a cover for what we’ve really been doing, so be it. This is more acceptable than the truth. It’s not like I have a girlfriend to worry about. The only girl who has stirred my heart lately is the same little firecracker standing beside me.
“For real,” I say hoarsely.
If we’re going down, we’re doing it together. Clearing my throat, I put a hand on her shoulder in support, squeezing. She plows on, ignoring me.
“We didn’t want to make it awkward if it didn’t work out.” Tatum shrugs. After a beat, she backs up until she bumps into me, standing as a united front against her brother.
I gauge his reaction, afraid he’ll tackle me if I touch her the wrong way in front of him. I settle for putting my hand on her shoulder again. It’s a neutral place, in no way sexual.
Jackson’s nostrils flare anyway. His gaze bounces between us. He doesn’t say anything, but anger still rolls off him in waves, his shoulders tense and his jaw clenched.
“I’m sorry we lied to you,” Tatum says with genuine regret. “But you don’t have a right to control who I do and don’t have feelings for.”
My chest tightens at the hitch in her breath. I’m impressed by the conviction infusing her words. Even I believe her lie.
Part of me—a selfish part—wishes it were true.
Now I have another fake thing I can’t have. Permission to touch and kiss Tatum whenever I want—but it’s still not fucking real.
Without responding to Tatum’s apology, Jackson shakes his head, working his jaw. He spears me with a hard look that makes me want to fall back a step. We were fine ten minutes ago until I screwed everything up. Damn it. My best friend since we were kids looks at me like he hates my goddamn guts. And it’s all my fault.
Jackson turns on his heel and stomps away.
“Where are you going?” Tatum calls.
“To blow off steam,” he says. “Don’t follow me or call me. Tell Mom and Dad I’ll be home late.”
“Jackson—”
He cuts me off without looking back. “Don’t. We’re not cool.”
We both watch as he gets in his car and slams the door before driving off with a squeal of tires. Tatum sighs, rubbing her temples. The fight bleeds out of her and she leans back against me. It makes my insides feel weird, but I’m happy she still naturally turns to me for support. I wrap my arms around her in a hug and rest my chin on top of her head.
“Thank you, big mouth,” she mutters.
“Mine or yours?”
