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“That's why I'm going.”
“Shit, baby, I knew you were kinda a sadist but this is a bit much.”
I get a pinch and a side-eyed withering look for that one. “I'm going for you, brat. Thought it'd be a little better if I was there.” Jackson shifts to face me, head cocked, almost daring me to disagree. “Unless I'm wrong?”
I only hesitate for a second.
“You're not wrong,” I confirm quietly, lacing my fingers with his and bringing his hand to my lips.
Definitely not wrong. If there's anything that can get me through this shitty night, it's Jackson. The thought of asking him did cross my mind but... I don't know. He's got a lot of shit going on. I didn't want to burden him with anything else. And he pledged his fucking love for me and I… well, didn’t, I thought it would be selfish of me to ask.
A silly thing to think, obviously.
* * *
The moment Pen spots Jackson through the windshield, she screams.
“Thank the fucking Lord.” Her half-groan, half-squeal rings in my ear as she yanks open the passenger door and drags me into her arms. Cheek smushed against mine, she squeezes hard enough to make my lungs scream. “I knew you'd get your head out of your ass eventually.”
Rolling my eyes, I pinch my sister on the side. She slaps my hand away and pinches me right back, shoving me halfway up the driveway, kicking at my ankles like the overgrown child she is. I hook an arm around her neck and drag her after me, ignoring her screeching about ruining her hair.
The sound of laughter from behind causes us both to pause. Glancing over our shoulders, we find Jackson watching us with a smile. “What?”
“Nothing.” His lips twitch. Wrapping his arms around me from behind, he leans down until his breath tickles my cheek, his lips just grazing my skin. “The fact that there's two of you in the world is terrifying, you know that right?”
I elbow him again, twisting my head so I can kiss the smile curling his lips as Pen shouts for her parents.
“We're in here, honey!” Her mom hollers back.
And just like that, the mood sobers.
Both Pen and I go straight-backed, the smiles dropping from our faces. Both my hands clutch one of Jackson's in a death grip. He kisses my temple once, twice, three times before following Pen into the living room, dragging me behind him.
Pen makes a beeline for her mom, kissing her cheek and completely ignoring the man beside her. “Mom, this is Jackson. Luna's boyfriend.”
I don’t correct her.
And even if Jackson didn’t return Mrs Jacobs smile–the same one she always graces me with, a little wary but bright and genuine and so damn kind–and hold out a hand to shake before I could get a word out, I don’t think I would.
“Nice to meet you, ma'am,” Jackson greets smoothly, and in the blink of an eye, Mrs Jacobs’ wariness disappears. “I hope you don't mind me intruding like this. Lu mentioned how good your cooking is and I couldn't stay away.”
I resist the urge to snort. Fucking charmer.
His words, and his smile, work exactly as intended; Mrs Jacobs is all but simpering for the guy. “Any friend of Luna's is always welcome here. Right, Robert?”
Robertdoesn't look like he agrees.
Stony-faced, Professor Jacobs reeks of disapproval as he stares my boyfriend down. A sentiment Jackson is more than returning; he offers the older man nothing more than a nod and a curt, “Sir.”
Jacobs doesn’t like that. He stands, demanding a handshake too and cutting me a disapproving look. “A little notice would've been nice.”
“Robert,” his wife chides him, earning her some side-eye too.
Before either can say anything else, another voice chimes in. “Jackson?”
Ma dithers in the living room doorway, surprised confusion all over her face, and I tense at the sight of her. I didn’t think she’d be here. I wasn’t prepared for her to be here. After the other day…
Jackson squeezes me a little tighter. His smile dims a fraction—for my sake, I’m sure—as he greets Ma. “Nice to see you, Isla.”
