AllFreeNovel
Share Us
He narrowed his eyes at me, appreciating I was talking to him like a man and not like a child. Jackson was no kid, he didn’t even look like most almost-thirteen-year-olds. He was definitely big for his age.
“What can I say? I can be an asshole.”
“Clearly.”
He smiled again, this time his eyes beamed. “You didn’t deserve it. You’re only here because of Skyler, we’re just a job to you.”
“What?” I shook my head. “No, Jackson, that’s not true at all. You’re not just a job to me. I’m here because I want to be. I want to help you. Your family. It’s obvious there’s more going on here than anyone is letting on. I mean for starters, where are your pare—”
He abruptly pushed off the fridge, ending our conversation by saying, “Journey needs you now. I’ll watch the food.”
Journey let out the loudest wail, agreeing with him.
“Alright, I’m going to go change her diaper. Just yell if you—”
“I can handle food, Camila.”
“Right, okay. I’ll be back.”
“Take your time.”
That should have been my first indication, the sweet talking, the smiling, the understanding … he was trying too hard. And I fell for his act.
Hook, line, and sinker.
The little terrorist dumped every hot sauce imaginable into the food I was cooking. I spent over three days trying to get my taste buds back. Did I fail to mention, I was also pissing hot sauce when I went to the bathroom? Though nothing outdid the hours I spent trying to get the fire sensation out of my mouth and nose.
After, I threw up, out of said mouth and nose.
I was a hot mess, literally.
As retribution, I fed it to him the next day. Sneaking it into his sandwich for lunch at school. Carelessly forgetting to pack him a drink with it.
Ever since then he’s packed his own lunch.
Jackson: 2
Me: 2
Even battlefield.
By the third week, there was a mutual understanding that our war had only just begun. Jackson decided to take it upon himself to play professor and scribbled and messed up all my anatomy notes for my nursing class. I could have strangled him, they were the only notes I had to study from.
Needless to say, I failed the impromptu quiz the next day.
While I sulked over the fact that it was the first test I’d ever bombed, I savored in the thought of Jackson’s face when he opened his gym bag for football practice. Wrapped in his jersey was an entire box of tampons covered in Kool-Aid, but he didn’t know that.
The expression on his face as soon as he rushed through the door later that day, darting straight to his precious room, was enough to have Journey and I laughing our cute little booties off for hours on end.
“Got ‘em, Journey!” I celebrated, blowing raspberries on her belly.
Jackson: 3
Me: 3
Once again, we were even.
He should have known better than to mess with someone twice his age. I was older, wiser, and knew how to fight dirty if need be.
