AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“The bonfire,” I decide.
Jackson works his jaw, nodding slowly. “You’re an asshole. You’ve been lying to me for that long?”
I strive for a calm that’s growing difficult to maintain. “I told you—”
“You just want a side piece with easy access,” Jackson accuses. “What happens when we go back to campus? She hasn’t seen that side of you.”
My jaw clenches and I ball my hands into fists to keep from decking him for talking about Tate that way. He’s playing overprotective brother, but I’m not just any guy. An impulsive urge hits me and I give in to it, digging my phone out. In quick succession, I edit my TikTok and Instagram profiles, adding a heart emoji and Tatum’s handle in both bios. When I’m done, I shove my phone at my best friend.
“I’m serious about her,” I insist. “I get you want to protect her when you know what I’m like—”
“Exactly, man.” Jackson shifts his glare from my phone to me. “I know what the fuck you’re like. You don’t do feelings. You barely did girlfriends until Kayla.”
Frustration rakes over my patience. I can’t believe I thought what I had with Kayla was a real relationship. What I have with Tate is more real than what we shared, and what we have is fake. The things I craved when Kayla was with me—having someone want me for more than a warm body, being needed, being there as someone to lean on—are all ten times better with Tatum.
“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. I’ve changed. Being with Tatum—” I ignore the pained grimace that crosses his face. “—helped me realize what I want.”
His frown deepens. “What about all those chicks you cycle through? Kayla?”
“I’m done with them.” I slash a hand through the air. “All of them.”
Even before all this with Tatum, that’s the direction I was headed. I’ve outgrown that guy.
My phone buzzes in my hand and the moment of finally believing me vanishes when he catches sight of my screen. It’s Kayla calling me. My blood boils and my grip tightens on my phone.
“Okay.” A caustic laugh punches out of him. “Yeah fucking right.”
“Just—wait.” Gritting my teeth, I answer the call. “What?”
“Baby, what the fuck?” she hisses across the line. “Why is there some other bitch’s name in your Insta and TikTok bios? You never did that for me. I’ve been trying to c—”
“Kayla.” She keeps trying to speak, so I talk over her, keeping my tone firm. “We’re done, girl. We’ve been done after the last time you started a fight. I’m not yours. I’m not falling for your manipulative shit again. You need to lose my number. I’m seeing someone else.”
Her screech is enough to make me hang up and block her number. It feels good to tell her how it is after leaving her on read a few weeks ago when she tried to say she missed me in the middle of the night while she was drunk. Jackson watches the entire call with a guarded expression. I lift my brows pointedly.
“I’m not that guy anymore,” I mutter. “And I’d never do anything to hurt your sister.”
Jackson scrubs a hand over his mouth. “You’re for real?”
“Yes. Are we chill, or are you going to punch me again?”
The corner of his mouth lifts and the tension ebbs out of my shoulders. He holds out his arms and puckers his lips. “Fine. Kiss and make up?”
I saunter across the driveway and plant a hand over his face. “I’d rather kiss your sister.”
He shoves my hand off with a groan. “You’re still a dick.” He grabs me by the collar of my t-shirt, his amusement vanishing. “You hurt my sister, I break your face.”
“Got it.”
Jackson grins. “Sweet. Go get the ball. I’m going to kick your ass on the court since I can’t beat you up for this.”
TWENTY-FIVE
TATUM
When Cooper comes back inside, he thanks my parents for dinner, then snags my hand. My stomach dips. I’m only holding hands with him, and it’s just Cooper, but still.
“Come out for a walk?” Cooper asks me with the crooked grin that makes my heart clench.
