“Good! You’re a freak, Jackson.” My legs felt wobbly. I knewexactlywhat pair he had, and why. I tried—and failed—to clear the memory of him taking them off me from my brain.
He laughed at me again before standing straight. He crossed his arms and settled his eyes on me with a smile. “I just wanted to make you laugh.”
“Well, you didn’t. That wasn’t funny.”
I leaned back against the sink, staring him down with my angriest glare.
The smile on his face didn't falter. "I have to go." He shook his head and grabbed his smoothie. “I’ll text you.”
“No, you really shouldn’t,” I said.
“Bye, Addie.” He gave me one last wave before walking out the front door. I turned the dead bolt before he even made it down the porch.
Chapter 10
BEFORE
February, Thirteen Years Ago
The Saturday after my fifteenth birthday, Julie picked me up for my shift without Jackson. Nothing had happened between us again since the day Julie caught us in the kitchen. We didn’t even acknowledge that anything had happened at all; it was a mutual understanding that I needed this job, and messing around wasn’t worth it. It didn’t mean I didn’twantto. If I ever felt like he was watching me during our shifts, I made sure to avoid meeting his eye.
“Where’s Jackson?” I asked, turning down the radio.
Julie kept bopping her head along to the music as she answered, “He’s home sick today.”
“Oh, is he okay?” For the six months that I had been working at the restaurant, Jackson had never called out sick. Even when he had a cold so bad that he was sneezing every five minutes and sweating from what was probably a fever, he never went home. A small rush of anxiety slithered through my stomach.
“He’s fine,” Julie said nonchalantly. “He had surgery this morning, so he’s been sleeping.”
My eyes widened. “Oh my god, what happened?” I was overcome with worry. Surgery? And why was Julie acting like it wasn’t a big deal?
She looked over at me and smirked. “Seriously, it’s no big deal. He didn’t want you to worry.”
I couldn’t focus at all during my shift. Jackson had surgery, and he didn’t tell me about it. He didn’t even text me to tell me he wasn’t coming into work. My mind was racing with a million different thoughts, and after Julie dropped me back at home that night, I didn’t sleep for the rest of the weekend.
On Monday morning, Jackson finally sent me a text to say he wasn’t coming to school, and I went into full panic-mode. I was so sick with concern I couldn’t even eat my lunch. I didn’t even sit in the cafeteria, partially because I had no idea who to sit with if Jackson wasn’t there to pick what group of people to join.
After school, I walked around to each of Jackson’s classes and collected his homework for the day, even though he didn’t ask me to, and I hadn’t texted him to ask if I could come over.
I rode my bike to his house, ringing the doorbell as I anxiously bopped from side to side on his porch.
Julie answered the door, a surprised look flashing across her face before she said, “Hey.”
I held Jackson’s homework papers to my chest. “I uh, brought Jackson his homework.”
Julie shook her head with a laugh, but motioned for me to come in. I followed her to the couch, where Jackson was laying under a blanket, watching TV. He didn’t look pale or sweaty, just like he hadn’t showered in a couple days. I was so relieved to see he looked okay.
“Surprise visitor,” Julie said as we walked into the room.
When Jackson saw me, his eyes widened a bit before he muted the TV. He stayed laying down, not attempting to sit up.
“Hey, I brought you your homework. How are you feeling? Julie said you had surgery.”
Jackson narrowed his eyes at Julie, and she let out a laugh. I looked back and forth between the two of them.
“Julie, I told you to keep your big mouth shut.” Jackson looked pissed. “Addie, it wasn’t a big deal. Seriously, I’m fine.”
He looked embarrassed now; splotches of red crept up his neck.