Page 33 of What If It Was Us
He pulled his arm back slowly, rubbing his hands up and down his face before staring out the windshield. “We can’t,” he said with finality.
I stared at him for a while, wondering if he would change his mind. A muscle kept popping in his jaw from how hard he was clenching it.
I reached a hand toward him, for just one touch, but he pushed himself against the window and closed his eyes like I was about to burn him.
I put my hair behind my ears before grabbing my gifts and hopping out of the truck.
“Happy birthday, Addison,” he said without looking at me.
I knew he was fighting his feelings, because Jackson would’ve carried my presents to the door for me if we weren’t alone. That meant he didn’t trust himself to follow me to my front door. I shouldn’t have felt happy about that, but I did. At least it meant he wanted me, too.
Chapter 16
NOW
June
On Sunday morning, I drove out to a bookstore to pick out some summer reads. Then I went to the mall and walked around for hours, letting myself buy some new clothes since I still hadn’t attempted to clean my old bedroom, or even stepped inside it. I had been sleeping on the couch, instead. I also bought some more cleaning supplies for the bathroom, which was next on my list to tackle.
The next day, I Facetimed Mia again before starting in on the bathroom. She had just gotten an expander put on the roof on her mouth that Wren had to turn with a key every night. She had her head tilted back, trying to get a good view of it for me.
“Wow, that’s a lot of metal,” I told Mia.
She nodded her head so dramatically I was sure it would roll right off her neck. “Right! Did you ever have orthodontics?”
“Nope, couldn’t afford it. How are my teeth, anyways?” I smiled brightly into the camera, fluttering my lashes as I did. I never had braces, but I lucked out and had straight teeth anyways.
Mia giggled. “You’re so lucky! I keep scratching my tongue on this thing.”
The phone moved, and suddenly Wren was on the screen, telling Mia to go brush her teeth. They went back and forth for a little until Mia finally agreed and stomped off.
“So, how’s it going there Miss Fixer-Upper?” Wren asked me.
“Jackson and I finished the basement, so that makes me feel better. I’m about to tackle the bathroom next.” I was perched on the sink, both of my feet dangling off. I moved the phone around to give her a full three-sixty view. “These rust stains are going to suck so bad. My biceps will be huge by the time I’m done with it.”
“How are things with Jackson?” Wren gave me a waggle of her eyebrows.
“Still engaged.”
She laughed at me and I sighed. “It’s complicated. My head keeps telling me to be mad at him over everything that happened between us, but another part is just really attracted to him still.”
“I don’t blame you. The boy is handsome.”
“It’s so annoying, right? He’s absolutely gorgeous.” I frowned, missing how easy it was to talk to Wren. “I already miss you guys again. Two weeks, and I promise I’ll be back. I want to finish this stuff ASAP.”
Wren pulled in her lips to hide a laugh and pointed like there was something behind me. I raised my eyebrow before turning around and letting out an ear-piercing scream, my phone falling to the floor.
Jackson was in the doorway of the bathroom, arms crossed and smirking at me. Why the hell didn’t I lock the front door!?
I scrambled to pick my phone up off the floor. “Gotta go, Wren. Love you, bye.” I shoved my phone in my backpocket and whipped around. How much of that conversation did he hear? I could tell my cheeks were red from how hot my face felt.
“What the fuck, Jackson?”
He was trying not to laugh, and failing miserably. I wanted to smack the smirk right off his face. “I texted you that I was coming over.”
“I was Facetiming Wren and Mia, I didn’t see it.” I pulled my phone back out my pocket. Sure enough, Jackson sent me a message fifteen minutes ago.
“So, you think I’m absolutely gorgeous?” Jackson asked as he cocked his head to the side with a smug look on his face.
