Jackson POV 3
636 Words
She wasn't expecting me to show up, but I was concerned about her. It's a cliché, but she was too beautiful to be alone. She was in a pair of purple pajama pants with a creamy oversized sweater that looked soft. Her hair was billowing around her shoulders as her smile faded from her lips. The first words out of her mouth was "What happened 13 years ago?"
Lilly snuck back outside and I said, "What do you mean?"
She tossed her phone at me and shouted, "They said you would know what I mean!"
"I do know what you mean," I whispered. "However, I'm not sure why I should tell you."
Angry tears trickled down her face. "Read the messages. you'll know why."
I felt my heart drop as I read the messages and I whispered, "Why would he do this?"
"Who," she hissed.
I ran my hands through my hair and scrubbed my face. I glanced at her and said, "I can't explain it to you. It'll put everyone at risk." I switched mid-thought from English to Russian as I pleaded, "Please, Kitten. don't push me on this."
She hesitated before saying, "Please. I need to know. What happened and what does it have to do with me?"
I shook my head. "Kitten, it has everything and nothing to do with you. I honestly can't tell you anything more." I reached out to touch her arm and impulsively pulled her into my arms. I felt her slowly relax and breathed in her seductive aroma. "I promise, Kitten. I'll tell you everything when the time comes."
I felt her shudder and heard her muffled sob as I held her tight. I pressed my nose into her hair and breathed deeply. I felt tingles every time we touched and it was addicting. The butterflies she gave me was just as surprising and addicting. I whispered in Russian, "What are you doing to me, Kitten?"
She gently pushed me away and said, "Until you can tell me what's going on, I don't think we should have anything to do with each other. "
There was a tightness in my chest and tears fought to form. I hesitated before saying, "I CAN'T tell you. It puts EVERYONE and EVERYTHING I love at risk. Please, Kitten."
"Cut the crap, Jackson. You just don't want to tell me."
I grabbed her hand and pressed it against my chest. "Feel this? You can tell I'm not lying. I want nothing more than to tell you everything, but it'll put everyone at risk. If I'm right, that's going to include you and your family."
She chewed on her lip and I gently forced her to look up into my eyes. She was so sad and so scared but I still felt inexplicably drawn to her. She blushed a pretty pink and I gently took her face in my hands. Before my brain could tell me otherwise, I leaned down and kissed her, feeling all sorts of sparks and a delicious tightness in my chest. She gently pushed me away and took a step back before looking at me confused.
She whispered, "I think you should leave."
I nodded. "I know it won't make anything better, but I'm sure Alex would want you to move on. It's been a year, Li."
I was kicking myself. Why did I go and do that? Everything was ruined! I just want to be her friend. why would I go and kiss her? I just wanted to know that she was okay. I scrubbed at my face again before texting Alex.
Was it you? did you tell her to ask me about 13 years ago?
A: YES.
Why?
A: BECAUSE SHE NEEDS TO KNOW WHO I WAS PRETENDING TO BE WAS NEVER ACTUALLY ME. IT WAS YOU.
- Writer
