While You Were Pretending

Chapter Fifteen

I did my best to give her space but with the looming deadline of ten in the morning, I need things to be alright before she heads home. I hadn’t followed her into the Pullman’s, and when I got home, I texted Peyton everything. Around the time Jackie had commented she’d planned to go back to the hotel, I texted her, too.

Peyton was the one to text me back, saying she’d had a long talk with Jackie. Unfortunately, though, she didn’t have any advice on how to handle it. When I tried to ask what all her sister had said, she told me just to text her.

Texting one more time before it gets too late, I just left this out in the universe:

I would love to see you before you leave.

I’m sorry.

I just about had fallen asleep when my phone pinged.

Nine still okay?

God, I wanted to go there now.

Yes, of course.

See you then.

*

The entire drive there, I was a raw nerve. I was having so much anxiety, it was difficult to breathe. Every bump in the road caused me to twitch, every sound caused me to look around. Finally, I pulled into the parking spot and I pretty much had to yell at myself to get a grip.

Knocking on her hotel room door, right at nine o’clock, her voice is soft when she says “Just a minute!”

When she opens the door, I say “I’m so sorry,” as quickly as possible.

She gives me a soft smile and tilts her head back, “Come on in.”

“Jackie, please, I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to upset you or hurt you. I really, really care about you and -”

She holds her hands to my chest with an alarming expansion. “Babe, breathe.”

I look at her, confused and curious. When I take a deep breath, she nods. “We had a fight, we got some time to think, we’re okay.”

“I wasn’t keeping a secret, I wasn’t trying not to tell Peyton. I just… wanted us to be just us for a little bit.”

“Before our families got involved, I know. Peyton and I talked….” She walks over to where she’d been finishing packing. “I’m sorry I over-reacted, I just didn’t understand.”

I come to the edge of the bed, “I know, I’m sorry.”

She looks at me, rather exasperated. “Luke….”

I cringe, expecting her to say we’re not going to work. “Yeah?”

“Everything’s okay.” She comes over to me and wraps her arms around my waist. “We had a little fit, now we’re over it.” After she hugs me and I squeeze her so tight, she backs up, looking at me all concerned. “Babe, what’s wrong?”

“I just… I didn’t want this to end already.”

She reaches up to my face and laughs. “It was a miscommunicated. And now we’re communicating. It’s not like we’re going to have one fight and breakup.”

I stare into her gorgeous face, “Really?”

She bites her lip to stop laughing. “Welcome to an adult relationship.”

Completely relieved, I spread my hands on her hips and pull her close. “A relationship, huh? Boyfriend… girlfriend for real?”

She giggles and reaches up to kiss me. “Yes. Boyfriend and girlfriend, for real.”

I kiss her again, this time my hand reaching behind her neck. Fingers twisting with her hair, I use my other hand to pull her close. Her hands between us pull against my shirt, and she’s just as eager and happy. I could kiss her like this all day, but we eventually break to breathe.

My forehead against hers I whisper, “I like you.”

Her hands flatten against my chest as she steadies her breath. “I like you back.”

*

Jackie on her way to her dad’s, I find Peyton in the kitchen. Messy bun, pjs, she looks at me curiously as I walk through the backdoor. After a mouthful of Cinnamon Toast Crunch, she points the spoon towards, “You guys are too much.”

Compared to the night before, I feel like I’m floating on air. “Oh yeah?”

She shakes her head and digs into the bowl, “I’m starting to regret agreeing to live with her this semester.”

I slide into the chair across from her, “Oh?”

She shrugs and curls her legs under herself. “Well… she’s getting an apartment, of course,” she tries to have the same type of attitude as always. “And she asked me if I wanted the second room.” There’s a small smile before she eats another spoonful. A hard swallow and she sits back, “Guess she had trouble finding a roommate.”

I give her a look, “Oh, totally.”

But she laughs. “You really like her, huh?”

I lift my hands, “Yeah, I do.”

She pushed the sleeves of her sweatshirt up. “Who would have thought.”

“I’m glad my mom was right… things don’t always turn out as planned.”